Clang, clang, clang—
The sound of intense combat echoed through the battlefield.
Qingming faced two opponents simultaneously, showing no signs of being overwhelmed.
After scanning the battlefield to confirm that everyone else had found their opponents and that the situation had stabilized, he focused all his attention on the two enemies before him.
Yes, up until now, he had only been using part of his attention to fend off the two Mist Village Jōnin.
This was partially due to his strength, but mostly because the two opponents weren't particularly strong.
Of course, that assessment applied only to him.
These two Mist ninja were still Tokubetsu Jōnin. While they couldn't compare to fully developed, well-rounded Jōnin, they could easily handle lower-ranking ninja.
In fact, the battlefield was primarily populated by such specialists, ninja with expertise in a specific area. Fully rounded Jōnin, like the ones Qingming had encountered before—Kawakawa Kōsuke and Kawada Yūhiro—were the exception, not the norm.
True Jōnin were the backbone of every major ninja village, often holding responsibilities in their villages. For this reason, their numbers were limited, and standards were strict.
Tokubetsu Jōnin, however, were different. As long as a ninja demonstrated exceptional skill in one area, even if they were lacking in general ninja arts, taijutsu, or genjutsu, they could still achieve that rank.
Of course, there were always exceptions—ninja whose abilities in a particular area were so extraordinary that the village had to recognize them. For instance, Might Guy.
Though his ninjutsu and genjutsu were virtually nonexistent, his expertise in taijutsu was unparalleled, earning him not only the rank of Jōnin but recognition as an elite Jōnin.
Ultimately, titles and ranks were just labels. True strength was what mattered most.
Qingming's thoughts quickly flashed through these considerations before he brushed them aside.
Since the situation was under control, it was the perfect opportunity to test the recently mastered techniques he had been eager to use.
Without hesitation, Qingming acted. After deflecting one of the Mist ninja's attacks, he abruptly stepped back to widen the gap between them.
In an instant, he sidestepped another attack from his other opponent.
Leaping backward several times in succession, he successfully created a safe distance.
Ignoring the wary looks of his opponents, Qingming swiftly formed seals. He then ran his hand along his blade, infusing it with a near-transparent layer of chakra that enveloped the weapon.
In an instant, his sword radiated a sharp, menacing aura.
Even before he swung the blade, the surrounding air seemed to tremble as though being sliced apart.
At first glance, this seemed similar to when he infused his sword with wind-natured chakra to enhance its cutting ability. However, this time it was entirely different.
This was not just a property of wind chakra; it was a full-fledged jutsu—Wind Release: Vacuum Blade.
As a B-rank offensive technique, its power far surpassed mere chakra manipulation.
A faint blue light shimmered as Qingming dashed forward with a Flash Blade Technique, targeting one of the Mist Jōnin.
Seeing his charge, the two Mist ninja exchanged a glance and wordlessly split up. They attacked him from both sides, attempting to catch him in a pincer.
The three clashed in the middle. Qingming twisted his body, evading the kunai thrust of one opponent, and swung his blade at the other.
Clang!
The sharp clang of metal echoed as the enemy blocked the strike with a kunai.
But then, a cracking sound began to emanate.
Both Qingming and the Mist Jōnin glanced toward the source of the noise.
At the point where the kunai and blade met, sparks flew, and cracks began to form on the kunai. It looked as though it might shatter at any moment.
Surrounding the cracks, Qingming's blade was surrounded by countless tiny wind blades, continuously grinding and slicing into the kunai.
Clearly, the cracks were the result of these relentless wind blades.
Crack—
The kunai shattered into dozens of fragments.
"What?!"
The Mist ninja gasped in shock, evidently unprepared for his weapon to be destroyed so quickly in a single clash.
However, as a Tokubetsu Jōnin specializing in close combat, his surprise lasted only a moment. With a quick backward roll and a push off the ground, he avoided Qingming's follow-up strike.
While retreating, he reached into his pouch and retrieved another kunai.
Clang, clang, clang—
Qingming closed the gap once more, resuming their duel.
This time, after several exchanges, the Mist ninja's weapon remained intact—it didn't shatter like the first.
From the corner of his eye, Qingming noticed the other Mist ninja preparing to use a jutsu. Without hesitation, he leapt backward, putting some distance between himself and his opponents.
From his brief exchanges, Qingming had already gained some understanding of the Wind Release: Vacuum Blade technique. While its offensive capabilities were undeniable, its duration was limited.
The initial strike held the greatest power and destructive force, but subsequent attacks were less impactful.
Thus, it was better suited for surprise attacks. During prolonged engagements, its utility became less significant.
Glancing at the chipped kunai in his opponent's hand, Qingming made a mental note of this limitation.
"Water Release: Whirlpool Water Wheel!"
While Qingming was deep in thought, the other Mist ninja completed a series of hand signs, conjuring rapidly spinning water wheels around each of his hands. He charged toward Qingming.
The technique was clearly designed for close-quarters combat.
Realizing this, Qingming didn't hesitate. He retreated again, evading a kunai hurled by the first Mist ninja and avoiding the charging water wheel attack.
Sheathing his blade, Qingming swiftly formed seals of his own.
As the Mist ninja drew closer, Qingming opened his mouth and released an air bullet.
Whoosh!
The projectile shot forward, targeting the charging Mist ninja's face.
Sensing the danger, the ninja dodged to the side just in time. The air bullet struck a tree behind him, leaving a fist-sized hole in its trunk.
Clearly, the attack carried significant destructive power.
And that was just the beginning.
Qingming tilted his head slightly, spitting another air bullet toward his opponent.
This time, instead of a single bullet, several were launched simultaneously. They sealed off his opponent's escape routes and aimed for vital spots on his body.
The barrage forced the Mist ninja into a desperate struggle. He even had to use the water wheels he had summoned to block some of the incoming bullets.
In the end, the other Mist ninja managed to close the distance to Qingming, forcing him to redirect his focus. Only then did the ambushed Mist ninja find some relief from the assault.
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