Kyuushin allowed his body to relax, retreating from the heightened state of his Second Stage Gene Lock back to the First. He took a steadying breath, feeling the drain on his chakra begin to replenish, a sensation that went from an unnerving emptiness to a comforting fullness. He couldn't help but clench his fists, the lingering power still thrumming through him.
The technique, Water Release: Water Dragon Crushing Bite, was a recent gift from his training with Mito. As the signature ninjutsu created by the Second Hokage, its S-rank learning difficulty designated it as a forbidden, esoteric jutsu.
When he first received the scroll, Kyuushin had tried to perform it, but in his normal state, it was utterly impossible. Even activating his First Stage Gene Lock only made it marginally feasible, and the result was clumsy. Only within the Second Stage, with its grant of extraordinary chakra control, could he truly unleash the devastating power of the technique.
Every esoteric ninjutsu is a complex art form. The Water Dragon Crushing Bite wasn't just a raw offensive technique; it possessed an incredibly potent control aspect. The vortex and imprisoning water columns were designed to trap even a jonin, leaving them helpless. To achieve that level of control, mastery over shape transformation was crucial, and that in turn demanded immense chakra control.
The Rasengan, for instance, also required phenomenal control, but it was a different beast entirely. Compared to the Crushing Bite, the amount of chakra it consumed was a mere fraction. The more chakra a ninjutsu demands, the exponentially harder it becomes to control. A more fitting comparison in difficulty would be another S-rank technique, like the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. In truth, most S-rank elemental jutsu require the absolute pinnacle of both nature and shape transformation.
Such techniques were typically reserved for Kage-level shinobi battling one another. For Kyuushin to unleash an S-rank jutsu against a mere jonin was, by any measure, complete overkill. But the few A-rank techniques he knew all had specific drawbacks that made them unsuitable for the situation. To guarantee a one-hit kill and end the threat, he wasn't about to worry about the finer details.
The sheer destructive power of his ninjutsu was deeply satisfying. It hadn't just obliterated the enemy squad leader; the aftershock had completely incapacitated several nearby Rain shinobi, taking them out of the fight.
Now, only about a dozen of the enemy remained on the field. Faced with the aftermath of that incredible power and the loss of their commander, the morale of the remaining Rain shinobi had plummeted. Some were already inching backward, clearly preparing to flee for their lives.
However, the young Konoha shinobi weren't even looking at them. They were still frozen, completely captivated by the jutsu Kyuushin had unleashed. Finally, Nawaki was the first to break the silence, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Kyuushin… was that… was that the Second Hokage's…?"
Kyuushin nodded, his breathing evening out. "It was. It's an esoteric Water Release jutsu that Mito-sama only recently taught me."
A collective hiss echoed through the group. It wasn't just Nawaki this time. Upon hearing the confirmation that it was a forbidden-level technique, the other clan heirs who overheard began to murmur in disbelief.
Uchiha Fugaku sighed, a complex expression on his face as he shook his head. "To think I'm nearly ten years older than you, yet I wouldn't even have the courage to attempt learning a jutsu of that caliber."
The other young shinobi all nodded in silent agreement. S-rank ninjutsu were closely guarded treasures within their clans; most of them lacked the rank or clearance to even view the scrolls. Some clans might not even possess a single one. To see such a technique wielded by someone their own age filled them with a profound sense of awe and admiration.
At that moment, Minato, who had just escorted Inoichi back to the camp, rushed over. His expression was tense, ready to leap into battle, but he skidded to a halt when he saw everyone standing still, staring at Kyuushin with strange expressions. "What happened? Is everything alright?"
His question snapped everyone back to the present. Kyuushin cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the quiet.
"This isn't the time for idle chat. The enemy hasn't been fully dealt with. We can talk after every single one of them is eliminated."
After the incredible display of power, everyone subconsciously looked to him for direction. Even Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hizashi, who were his seniors, said nothing and instinctively fell in line with his command.
Everyone turned their attention back to the Rain shinobi, only to see that many were already in full retreat. Kyuushin didn't hesitate. He took the lead, surging forward aggressively toward the remaining enemies.
Seeing the group charge, the last vestiges of courage in the Rain shinobi evaporated. Like cornered animals, they scattered and fled, wishing they had been born with more than two legs.
Kyuushin led the pursuit, showing no mercy. Any enemy they caught became another casualty of the failed raid.
After chasing them for several hundred meters and seeing the last of the enemy vanish into the distance, Kyuushin raised a hand.
"Stop the pursuit. That's far enough. Our primary mission is to ensure the safety of the camp."
At his signal, the group halted, watching the last few figures disappear into the dense forest.
Kyuushin turned to look at everyone. "Is anyone injured?"
They all looked at each other. Aside from some chakra depletion from their initial volley of jutsu, they were essentially unharmed.
Nawaki grinned, clapping a hand on Kyuushin's shoulder. "Your jutsu scared them witless! We barely faced any resistance during the chase. Of course no one got hurt."
Seeing this, Kyuushin nodded. "Everyone did well. We've repelled the Rain shinobi's attack. I'll be sure to explain everything in detail to Lady Tsunade. You can all expect commendations and rewards for your service."
While the heirs of prominent clans didn't lack for money, military achievement was another matter entirely. It was the key to raising one's shinobi rank and securing important positions in the future.
After hearing Kyuushin's words, some of the more straightforward members, like Akimichi Choza and an Inuzuka heir, let out a cheer. A wave of relief and excitement passed through the group as they headed back toward the camp together.
The battle wasn't truly over yet, however. Kyuushin warned everyone not to let their guard down and to continue securing the camp's perimeter. He himself, accompanied by Nawaki and Minato, headed west. The signal flare from the south would have been seen by Tsunade and the others fighting on the western front. To allow them to focus on their own battle, they needed to know the camp was secure.
They had only walked a short distance when they saw Tsunade herself rushing toward them, her face etched with worry.
Seeing her, Kyuushin immediately shouted, "Teacher, the camp is safe! The enemies from the south have been neutralized."
Tsunade landed in front of the three of them in a blur of motion. She looked them over from head to toe, her sharp gaze assessing them for any injuries before she spoke, her voice firm.
"Tell me exactly what happened"