Looking at the transparent liquid gently swaying in the gourd, Shibuki took a deep breath.
He raised the transparent gourd in his hand to his lips and tilted it slightly.
Following his movement, the crystalline liquid inside the gourd flowed slowly, flowing toward the opening and into Shibuki's mouth.
After just a few drops had entered his mouth, Shibuki immediately lowered the gourd again.
Shibuki had heard from his father that if one were to truly use the power of the "Hero's Water," one must never consume too much at once.
Otherwise, before the body could adapt to the expanding chakra, that amount of chakra alone would be enough to kill him.
The moment he swallowed those few drops of the "Hero's Water," Shibuki felt his body rapidly heat up. At the same time, the previously dormant chakra within his body began to boil.
Shibuki's entire body couldn't help but shudder as a torrent of chakra erupted from him.
Pale blue chakra energy enveloped Shibuki's entire body.
A sense of power he had never before experienced brought a look of pleasant surprise to Shibuki's face.
"What incredible power! With this power, I can definitely save everyone!"
Shibuki clenched his fists tightly, his voice filled with excitement.
After speaking, Shibuki quickly took something resembling a stopper from beside him and plugged the gourd's opening. Then he secured it to his person.
Just a few drops of the "Hero's Water" wouldn't last long, and Shibuki believed that keeping it on his person was the safest option.
Shibuki turned, and with a movement of his feet, his body instantly vanished. When he reappeared, he was already standing by the pond he had emerged from earlier.
Pushing off with his feet, Shibuki jumped back into the water and followed the same route he had taken to return quickly.
Meanwhile, in Takigakure Village.
Hiyu surveyed her surroundings and found that there was still no movement, her face beginning to show impatience.
"That brat wouldn't have escaped, would he?"
Hiyu turned her head to look at Suiren, who remained perfectly calm beside her, speaking with a suspicious tone.
Hearing Hiyu's suspicious words, a hint of impatience flashed in Suiren's eyes, though her expression remained unchanged as she spoke:
"One must never be too hasty when doing anything. And as his former teacher, I know him better than anyone."
"Though his personality is a bit weak and his talent is somewhat lacking, he would never abandon the civilians of Takigakure."
Suiren's confident tone brought a look of interest to Hiyu's face.
Hiyu turned her head and glanced at the bound civilians nearby, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
"I see. In that case, let's kill one of the civilians to test him."
As Hiyu's words fell, a ninja quickly dragged a civilian from the crowd and pulled them toward the same pond Shibuki had jumped into.
Hidden in a large tree, Yuto watched this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at Konan beside him.
"Your Hidden Rain ninja named Hiyu is quite brutal."
As a ninja, intentionally killing civilians crossed the bottom line of what it meant to be a "ninja."
Konan's face grew somewhat cold, but her gaze was exceptionally calm. In her eyes, Hiyu was already a dead woman.
"She is no longer a member of Hidden Rain."
Konan spoke in a cold tone.
The peace that she and Nagato pursued, and the things they wanted to protect, were not like this!
Ninjas like Hiyu were one of the roots of wars in the shinobi world.
To kill civilians so recklessly... indeed, such a shinobi world needed a sufficiently powerful force to completely change it!
Outside.
Following the ninja's movements, the Takigakure civilian was forcibly dragged to the shore of the lake.
"I know you're still here. Since you won't come out, I'll start killing these people one by one until you show yourself and hand over the 'Hero's Water'."
Hiyu wore a brilliant smile as she spoke to the calm lake surface ahead.
After speaking, seeing there was still no movement, Hiyu casually waved her hand in the ninja's direction.
The ninja quickly pulled a kunai from his ninja pouch, aimed it at the struggling civilian, and thrust forward with his arm.
In that instant, the previously calm lake surface exploded. Then, a figure appeared at an incredible speed in front of the ninja.
The moment Shibuki appeared, he fiercely kicked the ninja in the chest.
Before the ninja could react, he felt a tremendous force explode in his chest, accompanied by a scream, as he was kicked away entirely.
The ninja crashed through several houses before finally stopping, and by then, the area around his chest was completely caved in.
Clearly, he was dead beyond any doubt.
Shibuki quickly crouched down and untied the ropes binding the Takigakure civilian, his face tense.
"Uncle Ishihara, are you alright?"
Uncle Ishihara shook his head, looking at Shibuki with concern: "Shibuki, you really used the 'Hero's Water'."
As Shibuki spoke with Uncle Ishihara, both Hiyu and Suiren's eyes widened, looking at the surging pale blue chakra around Shibuki's body.
The two didn't even pay attention to the ninja Shibuki had instantly killed, instead both showing expressions of excitement.
"This is the power of the 'Hero's Water'? For a weakling like this brat to obtain such power is quite impressive!"
Hiyu licked her lips, her voice containing a suppressed excitement.
Beside her, Suiren also wore an excited expression, though it was much more restrained compared to Hiyu's.
Hearing Hiyu's voice, Shibuki slowly rose to his feet and looked at her.
"I won't forgive you invaders!"
"Oh really?" Hiyu licked her lips, showing no sign of concern on her face, though her gaze had become somewhat serious.
The surging pale blue chakra around Shibuki was no joke.
Suddenly, a dull thud came from the ground, and Shibuki's figure vanished from where he stood.
His speed was incredible!
Hiyu saw this and narrowed her eyes, her body quickly jumping backward as she simultaneously threw several kunai toward the direction he had been going.
Clearly, Hiyu was using the kunai to temporarily delay Shibuki's movements.
At this moment, Shibuki's body, which had been rushing forward, suddenly stopped and turned into several streams of water that splashed to the ground.
Not good! A Water Clone!
Hiyu's previously calm expression showed its first hint of shock.
That meant that from beginning to end, Shibuki's true body had been hidden in the shadows.
If I were that brat, I would definitely use a Water Clone to distract my attention, then...
At this thought, Hiyu's eyelid twitched, and she quickly turned, pulling out a kunai to defend herself.
A crisp sound of weapons colliding, along with considerable force, traveled through her arm.
Hiyu smiled, looking at the surprised Shibuki opposite her and taunting:
"Brat, think you can talk big just because you gained a large amount of chakra? In terms of experience, ten of you wouldn't be my match."
Shibuki's expression didn't change. He forcefully pushed with his arms, and the two separated simultaneously, both jumping back.
Shibuki's mind raced as he quickly manipulated the chakra within his body, forming hand seals with his hands.
Water Release—Water Bullet!
One after another, bullet-like water spheres rapidly condensed from Shibuki's hands and shot forward.
On the other side, the moment Hiyu saw Shibuki forming hand seals, she began forming her own.
Water Release—Water Formation Wall!
Hiyu opened her mouth and spat out a waterfall-like torrent of water that rapidly formed a complete wall of water in front of her.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The water balls continuously bombarded the Water Wall, causing it to shake violently.
"Stronger than regular Water Bullets, probably because of the large amount of chakra? Quite a power!"
Seeing the Water Wall that was barely holding up, Hiyu showed no sign of panic on her face, only greed.
The "Hero's Water" was something she must obtain!
Boom!
With a tremendous explosion, the Water Wall was blown apart in an instant. Several extremely fast water balls struck where Hiyu had been standing, creating large craters.
But Hiyu's figure had long since vanished.
Water Release—Water Whip!
A shout came from one side, and at the same time, a long whip completely made of water shot out, binding Shibuki tightly.
Hiyu smiled, grabbing one end of the water whip and slowly walking toward Shibuki:
"Brat, hand over the 'Hero's Water' obediently, and perhaps fewer people will die here today."
"Hmph!" Shibuki let out a cold snort and struggled continuously.
Seeing that Shibuki seemed unable to break free, the cautious look in Hiyu's eyes faded slightly as she took large steps toward him.
After examining Shibuki, her eyes lit up when she noticed the bulge at his waist.
"So it's on you."
Hiyu said with a smile, reaching toward Shibuki's waist.
At this moment, Suiren, who was standing nearby, slightly frowned at Hiyu's actions but continued to watch quietly.
Just as Hiyu's fingers were about to touch the "Hero's Water," a surge of chakra suddenly erupted from Shibuki's bound body.
He broke free from the ropes with a mighty struggle and landed a punch on the unsuspecting Hiyu.
A mouthful of blood sprayed from Hiyu's mouth as the powerful chakra sent her flying backward, crashing into a large tree.
"Brat, you dare play me!"
Hiyu's voice, mixed with pain and anger, let out a low roar at Shibuki.
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