Chapter 525: Pokémon Evolution
Inside the competitor lounge, the competitors all wore different expressions after witnessing Might Guy's shocking performance.
"So strong," Sasori thought. His face remained expressionless, but he was slightly startled.
That level of taijutsu power would likely be difficult for even his most defensive puppet to withstand.
Originally, Sasori had no need to pay attention to Might Guy at all, because he would only meet him if he advanced to the Four Finals. And once he reached the Four Finals, Sasori could simply forfeit, so there was no reason to care.
However, because he needed to assassinate Kakashi, and Might Guy was Kakashi's teammate, Sasori had started paying attention to Guy.
And once he paid attention, he realized that a frontal battle would be extremely difficult.
Kakashi and Guy were both ninja with high speed and high burst power. If those two teamed up, and Obito and the other two were added on top of that, then even if Sasori used the Third Kazekage human puppet, the battle would still be very difficult.
The reason was simple. The Third Kazekage human puppet was indeed powerful, but Sasori himself, as a puppeteer, was fragile. If Guy or Kakashi got close to him, he would be finished.
"After I perfect the technique, I need to modify myself as soon as possible. A body of flesh and blood is too fragile," Sasori thought to himself.
Sasori hated fleeting things. He liked eternity, and that included humans.
That was why he developed the Human Puppet technique, a method that could turn human corpses into puppets.
Because Human Puppets were made using the chakra of a person while they were still alive, they could use that person's Bloodline Limit and all the Ninjutsu they had in life.
As someone who pursued eternity, Sasori was naturally willing to turn himself into a puppet as well. The problem was that his Human Puppet technique was not mature enough yet, and modifying himself rashly could lead to an accident.
"He is becoming more and more of a monster. Can anyone really beat him?" Mei Terumi once again felt fortunate that her draw number was late, so she did not have to face Guy.
But after feeling relieved, Mei became worried again.
If Guy kept growing at this rate, then in ten or twenty years, he would probably be far more terrifying than the current Sannin of Konoha. If the Hidden Mist and Konoha clashed again in the future, she truly did not know how they would deal with him.
The Hydrification Technique of the Hozuki Clan was indeed very effective against a ninja like Guy who relied entirely on physical attacks, but it only protected the user from being injured. It did not guarantee victory against Guy.
Moreover, Guy would not be fighting alone on a real battlefield. If he teamed up with a Lightning Release ninja, Hozuki clan ninja would suffer badly.
Under the many looks from the competitors, Guy strode into the lounge with his chest out, head raised, and a loud laugh.
"My dear friend, I am already getting fired up!" Guy said excitedly to Kakashi.
As long as Kakashi advanced to the top eight, their battle would be in the next round.
Although it sounded a little cruel to Rin, Guy did not think she could beat Kakashi. In his eyes, Kakashi's victory was certain, with no surprises at all.
"Then maybe calm down a little. It is only the third match of the second round," Kakashi said calmly.
What had to come would come eventually. Although his odds against Guy were low in theory, there was still a chance.
As a genius, Kakashi believed in himself. He might still seize an opening and defeat Guy.
"Number thirteen, Rin Nohara versus number fifteen, Kakashi!"
The referee's shout echoed into the lounge.
Rin stood up, looked at Kakashi, and said with a smile, "Kakashi, please do not hold back just because we are teammates."
Even if it was only a match, Rin still hoped Kakashi would treat it seriously and not go easy on her. She wanted to experience the gap between them for herself.
"Mm." Kakashi nodded.
He had never planned to go easy on Rin anyway. At most, because they were teammates, he would be a little less harsh.
In fact, Kakashi felt that because they were teammates, he should not hold back. If he did, Rin might misjudge her own strength and make a mistake on a real mission.
Mission failure was one thing. What Kakashi feared was that Rin might lose her life because of it.
"Rin, you can do it! You are not without a chance. The current terrain is perfect for your fighting style!" Obito shouted as he cheered for Rin.
Aside from taijutsu, Rin also used Water Release. The small lake left behind by Kisame's large scale Water Release would make it easier for Rin to use Water Release and increase its power.
"Thank you for the encouragement, Obito. If I lose later, I will cheer for you guys from the stands," Rin said with a gentle smile as she walked toward the battlefield.
Rin wanted to win, but she also knew her limits. Beating Kakashi would be extremely difficult.
Kakashi had already mastered Lightning Release and Earth Release before she had even started learning Water Release. By the time she mastered the Constant State of Water Breathing, Kakashi had already become the first disciple to master both the Transparent World and Breathing Technique Chakra Mode at the same time.
How could she defeat Kakashi with only a little terrain advantage? Rin felt that was unrealistic.
Standing on the water and looking at Kakashi in front of her, Rin's mind was instead unexpectedly calm.
After all, this was a battle she was almost certainly going to lose.
"Battle start!"
"Water Breathing, Full Concentration!"
Rin immediately pushed her breathing to her limit. Facing Kakashi, she did not dare hold back at all and strengthened herself with everything she had.
"Water Release: Water Clone Technique!"
Right after that, Rin quickly formed hand seals and created two Water Clones.
Normally, Water Clones only had ten percent of the original's strength, but in a water rich environment, their combat ability would be enhanced.
"Thunder Breathing, Full Concentration!"
Because of what Rin had said, and out of respect for her, Kakashi also pushed his Thunder Breathing to a high level. Then he entered the Transparent World and reached into his ninja tool pouch.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several shuriken flashed with cold light as they cut through the air and shot toward Rin.
Swoosh!
Seeing that the strange trajectories sealed off all normal dodge routes, Rin immediately used Water Instant Body with her Water Clones to leave her original position.
Rin's Water Instant Body was not slow, but it could not escape Kakashi's lock on under the Transparent World.
"Flash!"
Kakashi drew his White Fang short blade. Using the Lightning Release chakra he had already prepared to reinforce his body, he slashed at Rin's main body at high speed.
With the enhancement of the Transparent World, Kakashi could fully utilize his physical strength, whether in movement or sword strikes.
"Water Prison Technique!"
Speed was not Rin's strength. To avoid being dragged into Kakashi's offensive rhythm, her main body immediately cast Water Prison Technique and enclosed herself within it.
This way, even while Kakashi attacked, her Water Clones could still pressure him.
Swish!
But just as the Water Clones gathered chakra and prepared to attack, Kakashi suddenly switched targets and cut down one of the Water Clones.
"Flash: Double Strike!"
A lightning like slash flashed past, and one Water Clone instantly dissolved into liquid and dispersed.
That sudden shift in tactics was so fast that it caused the other Water Clone's attack to miss as well.
"Purple Lightning!"
In the next moment, dazzling Purple Lightning erupted from Kakashi's left hand.
Kakashi controlled the Purple Lightning and split it into multiple streams, instantly covering both Rin's main body and the remaining Water Clone.
The Water Prison Technique shattered under the electric force, and the last Water Clone also turned to water and merged into the lake after being struck by the Purple Lightning.
"Exploding Fist!"
Although the Water Prison had been destroyed, it had still blocked enough of the lightning's power. The unharmed Rin suddenly slammed the chakra she had been condensing and compressing into the water's surface.
Boom!!!
A massive explosion rang out. Under Rin's terrifying strength, huge waves rose into the air, and a powerful shockwave mixed with water surged toward Kakashi.
Swoosh!
Kakashi had already read Rin's movements in advance and prepared for it. He instantly reinforced his body with Lightning Release chakra, dodged at high speed, and counterattacked.
"Leaf Hand Blade!"
Kakashi channeled all his strength into his palm and sliced through the air at Rin, releasing a rapid invisible burst of force.
Because Tile Breaker was a rare taijutsu that could be used at both close range and distance, Kakashi had spent time learning it.
However, due to the difference in their raw strength, if he used it from a distance, Kakashi needed the Transparent World and Lightning Release reinforcement to produce enough lethality.
Bang!!
Rin was struck by the transparent burst and flew backward before splashing into the water.
"As expected of the inherently evil Kakashi! Rin is so cute, and you can still be this ruthless!" Obito felt his heart ache as he watched Rin being suppressed.
The pain on Rin's body felt like pain in his own heart.
At that moment, Obito's desire for strength grew even stronger. He keenly felt how powerless weakness was.
He was weaker than Kakashi, which meant that even if Rin lost, all he could do was curse Kakashi in his heart. He could not beat Kakashi in the next internal spar and avenge Rin.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Rin was momentarily disoriented and swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Then she endured the pain, formed hand seals underwater, and swam back up.
The moment she surfaced, she resumed her Breathing Technique, gathered chakra in her feet, and stood on the water again.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Rin immediately used the Water Release she had prepared to force Kakashi back.
"Summoning Technique!"
Right after that, Rin summoned Katsuyu, intending to use Katsuyu's healing ability to drag Kakashi into a battle of attrition.
As someone who had been Kakashi's teammate for a long time, Rin knew Kakashi's weakness very well. He could not fight at full power for long.
Because of his chakra reserves, Kakashi was always careful with every move, using his chakra precisely and making sure each Ninjutsu served a purpose.
Whether it was a powerful Lightning Release slash like Flash or strong Lightning Release techniques like False Darkness and Purple Lightning, Kakashi would not use them too many times in one battle, usually no more than twice.
But the moment Rin used the Summoning Technique, she felt a strange ripple.
For some reason, she sensed the thoughts of Feebas, who was far away in Konoha.
Feebas wanted Rin to summon it. Feebas wanted to help her fight, even if it could only block one or two Ninjutsu for her.
Rin did not understand why this was happening, but she quickly soothed Feebas in her mind and continued summoning Katsuyu.
How could she summon Feebas? Feebas did not even have offensive ability and was not much different from an ordinary fish.
If she summoned Feebas, it would only become a punching bag, and Rin could not bear to do that.
But then something even more surprising happened.
With a flash of white smoke, two figures, one white and one yellow, appeared.
Feebas had actually been summoned together with Katsuyu!
Rin's ninja knowledge was shaken. It was the first time she had ever seen the Summoning Technique work like this.
"Please, Lady Katsuyu, heal me with everything you have," Rin quickly told Katsuyu her task.
She had no time to dwell on the situation. Kakashi would not give her time to think.
"Understood, Rin. Leave the healing to me," Katsuyu said as she crawled onto Rin's back.
"Little Beauty, hurry and swim to the edge of the arena, or you will get caught in our attacks." After assigning Katsuyu, Rin did not forget to tell Feebas to stay away from the battlefield.
Fortunately, Kisame had turned the arena into a small lake. Otherwise, Rin would have needed to send out a Water Clone just to carry Feebas away.
After Feebas swam far away, it took advantage of Rin not paying attention and quietly swam back to a spot not far from her.
To avoid being noticed, it slipped behind Rin and hid deeper underwater.
"Why did Rin summon it? Does it not have any combat ability?" Kakashi stopped in place and grew cautious, suspecting Rin was hiding some kind of trump card.
If he actually messed up and lost to Rin here, Obito would laugh at him for the rest of his life.
Losing in a fight with such a large gap in raw strength would be humiliating enough that even if Obito said nothing, Kakashi would still hate himself for it.
Rin did not know what Kakashi was thinking, but she took the chance to heal herself with Medical Ninjutsu, then sent Water Clones to attack him.
Katsuyu spat acid at Kakashi, the Water Clones interfered with Kakashi's taijutsu, and Rin's main body formed hand seals to cast Ninjutsu.
"Water Release: Raging Stream Blast!"
Raging Stream Blast was a B rank Water Release developed by Mugetsu, and it was currently the most destructive Water Release Ninjutsu Rin had mastered.
However, Kakashi, who had mastered the Transparent World, dodged the water spear she had painstakingly condensed with absurd ease, almost as if he could predict the future, while casually dealing with her Water Clones.
"Is this the gap between me and them...?" Rin seemed to see an unbridgeable chasm in front of her.
Even with the terrain advantage, even fighting with everything she had, even after being injured and spending a large amount of chakra, she still could not even touch Kakashi's clothes.
"Leaf Hand Blade!"
Kakashi used the same move again and swung a transparent blade of force at Rin, intending to end the match.
In Rin's current condition, she could not withstand another hit like that.
Bang!
A yellow figure flew backward, and droplets of blood scattered through the air.
Feebas, hidden behind Rin, had burst forward with its greatest speed and thrown itself in front of Rin at the last moment, blocking the attack for her.
"Hm?" Kakashi looked at the Feebas that had been sent flying, confused.
He still did not understand why Rin had summoned it.
"Little Beauty, are you alright?" Rin did not even have time to scold Feebas for disobeying her. She quickly turned around and rushed to check on it.
Kakashi, who was about to finish the fight, hesitated slightly.
If this were an enemy, Kakashi would have put his blade to their throat and ended the match without a second thought. But Rin was his friend and teammate, so he stepped forward instead, wanting to understand what was happening.
Feebas crashed into the water and sank. In its dazed eyes, it could see Rin and Kakashi reflected above, with Kakashi holding his blade as he slowly approached Rin.
"Must... must protect Rin..."
Feebas's mind replayed every moment of its life with Rin since it was born.
Even though it had no combat ability, Rin had never disliked it. She took care of it every day with meticulous attention.
Rin even worried about its mental state. She often came to talk to it and tell it about her own life, even though Feebas could not respond.
The pain in its body stimulated its nerves.
It wanted power.
It wanted to help Rin like Katsuyu could.
It wanted to fight for its contractor like Rockruff and the others.
"I can do it! I can still block attacks for Rin!"
Remembering Rin's past encouragement, Feebas ignored its injuries and rushed toward Rin and Kakashi again.
Even if all it could do was splash a little water, it could still use its relatively sturdy body to shield Rin from the storm ahead.
At the same time, a dazzling white light erupted from the water below.
Rin and Kakashi both froze for a moment, then looked down together.
Having already seen Fire Dragon evolve before, they could both guess what was happening.
Splash!
"Awoo!"
With a clear, high pitched cry, a milky white figure burst out of the water and charged straight toward Kakashi.
Kakashi released chakra and dodged instantly, then stared at Feebas's evolved form with curiosity.
At that moment, only one word filled Kakashi's mind.
Absurd.
Looking at Milotic, he could not imagine that this elegant and beautiful snake like creature had once been that yellow, rough bodied Feebas.
"Little Beauty..." Rin was stunned too, not just Kakashi.
Milotic did not merely look different from Feebas. It looked like a completely different species.
Its body had completely lost the appearance of its Feebas stage. It was milky white, and its red eyes shone beautifully like rubies.
Milotic's head was relatively long, and there were protrusions on top of its head similar to Charmeleon's, though with a different style and longer shape.
The eyebrow like hair extending from its body had the same milky white color near the eyelids, while most of the rest was red. From the side, it looked somewhat like an unfinished heart, adding a hint of cuteness.
In addition, red hair like fins covered both sides of its head, like red twin tails.
Finally, Milotic's tail was extraordinarily magnificent. It had scales in two colors, blue and pink, and was decorated with black stripes and red patterns.
Milotic's appearance caused a huge stir in the lounge as well.
"What is going on? Where did this thing come from?" Obito was momentarily confused. From his viewing angle, he had not seen Feebas's evolution light, so Milotic looked like it had appeared out of nowhere.
"So beautiful!" Mei Terumi's eyes widened. This was the first time she had seen such a beautiful ninja beast.
In Mei's impression, ninja beasts were just ordinary animals that could talk and were somewhat larger. She had never seen a ninja beast as beautiful as Milotic.
.....
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