The offensive and defensive positions had shifted. That split-second exchange had been incredibly perilous for Hagoromo.
In his previous battles, he had almost always held the speed advantage, allowing him to seize the initiative. Combined with his Lightning Style, which rarely gave opponents a chance to counter, he was used to achieving one-hit kills.
Now, for the first time, he was facing a speed-based ninja similar to himself, and he felt a momentary lapse in his rhythm.
If he were to use every trick in his arsenal—including abilities beyond those of a ninja—killing this opponent wouldn't be particularly difficult. But he refused to do so.
Ninjutsu against Ninjutsu. Fighting as a shinobi against a shinobi.
This was one of the combat principles Hagoromo had established for himself.
One might ask: isn't it idiotic to have a "cheat" and not use it? Since when is there fairness or justice in a ninja battle?
It wasn't about psychological fairness or sportsmanship. Hagoromo's insistence on prioritizing ninjutsu had a very practical purpose. Since there was no evidence yet that he was an idiot, his behavior had to have a rational basis.
The reason was simple: Live combat training.
Using his ultimate trump cards would solve the problem easily, but he wanted to use this enemy as a whetstone.
Even with his limited knowledge of the future "plot," Hagoromo knew that at some point, he would encounter far more powerful enemies—enemies whose "cheats" were much higher-tier than his own.
In this world, there were monsters capable of creating a whole moon. Could Hagoromo do that? Not yet. When one "cheater" meets a bigger "cheater," relying solely on the cheat won't cut it. In the end, everything would return to the fundamentals of ninjutsu.
He couldn't wait until he met those gods to start practicing. He had to adapt to the shinobi way of war now, through battle after battle. Perhaps, in these struggles, he would find a technique even more potent than his innate gifts.
"Lightning and Fire. According to our intelligence, those are the two elements you've mastered. Unfortunately, the Land of Rain is the worst environment for both..."
As Hagoromo retreated, the masked Fuma ninja didn't press the attack immediately. Instead, he watched Hagoromo like a predator watching prey in a cage.
This guy is definitely Jonin-level. But is he really so confident that the environment alone will let him kill me? Hagoromo ignored the taunt, but his mind snagged on a specific word the man had used:
"Our."
A person doesn't say "our" when they are alone. It was a plural.
The word sparked an unpleasant thought: Is there an organization out there actively collecting and analyzing my data? Hagoromo didn't think he was important enough for that kind of scrutiny yet. Why was this happening?
He was filled with questions, but he knew this wasn't the time for a philosophy seminar. Capture him? Interrogate him?
Impossible. Against an opponent of this caliber, holding back was a death sentence.
Hagoromo didn't crave blood, but he didn't fear the fight. Years in this world had long since completed his mental fortitude. Instead of retreating, he surged forward again, clad in arcing lightning.
As if playing with him, the masked ninja didn't meet the charge head-on this time. He backpedaled rapidly.
Ten meters!
He flicked a kunai at Hagoromo.
Hagoromo didn't slow down. He maintained his speed, tilting his head slightly to let the blade whistle past. Projectile attacks were of limited use against someone of his caliber.
Just as he thought the attack was too simple, a warning bell rang in his mind. Reaching back with his lightning-clad hand, he snatched the returning kunai between two fingers just before it hit his neck.
Long-distance manipulation? Chakra threads? Puppetry?
The theories flashed through his brain, but the reality was simpler. A thin, transparent wire was attached to the ring of the kunai. In any other environment, it might have been invisible, but in the rain, the droplets clinging to the wire gave it away instantly.
Hagoromo tossed the kunai aside, his momentum unbroken.
Five meters!
The enemy was backpedaling while facing him; he couldn't possibly outrun a forward sprint. However, the masked ninja didn't go for another high-speed physical strike. Instead, he opted for ninjutsu. By the time Hagoromo closed in, the man's hand seals were already complete.
He took a deep breath and exhaled a powerful, surging wave of water!
Water Style: Wild Water Wave!
Hagoromo had seen the seals coming. Anticipating a Water Style counter, his own seals were finished almost in synchronization with the enemy's.
Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!
A scorching fireball condensed in front of Hagoromo, and after a brief, intense buildup, the center of the flame shot forward like a piercing arrow.
At a point-blank range of five meters, Water and Fire collided!
Technically, Water counters Fire, but that's a general rule for equal-rank jutsu. Hagoromo was using a B-rank Fire Style to counter a C-rank Water Style. The raw power disparity made the "elemental disadvantage" moot.
The elements screamed as they met. Even through his mask, Hagoromo felt the searing heat. In an instant, his rain-soaked clothes and hair were blasted dry.
The air grew thin; a faint sense of suffocation took hold. Under the intensity of the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, the enemy's water and every raindrop in the area were instantly vaporized. In the middle of the freezing storm, a cloud of scalding white steam billowed outward, masking everything!