I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 315 Don't easily approach strangers; don't gamble on their good or evil.

Tatsuma narrowed his eyes. This was a very famous clan of secret techniques in Kirigakure. The Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, was a ninja of the Hozuki clan, and a powerful ninja who was on par with the Second Tsuchikage, Mu.

The Water Gun and Water Transformation Technique are the signature techniques of the Hozuki clan, and powerful ninjutsu that have claimed the lives of countless ninjas. Tatsuma has no experience fighting against such ninjas.

He wasn't a Kirigakure ninja, and his understanding of the Hozuki clan was extremely limited. He had very little usable information, so if he acted rationally, he absolutely could not easily engage in battle with the Hozuki clan ninjas.

But Tatsuma smiled and asked, "Where is he?"

Seeing that Tatsuma hesitated for only a moment before revealing a chilling smile, Usamaru's doubts lessened considerably. He pointed to the map and said, "They live in the Misty Swamp, not too far from here."

Tatsuma looked at the spot Usamaru was pointing at, pondered for a moment, and asked, "How many people are there?"

No, he lives alone.

Upon hearing this, Tatsuma had some doubts, but he couldn't voice them. After all, in Usamaru's eyes, he was an ANBU member and should have more information.

Suppressing his doubts, Chenma nodded and said, "Then let's each go and verify each other's strengths. If he really is here, and you've also found supplies, then our cooperation will be officially established?"

"No problem."

Usamaru nodded. This Takasugi Shinsuke looks young, but he's very shrewd.

The two sides discussed the detailed coordinates again, and then went to rest. However, it was more of a rest than a proper rest. The rogue ninja from Kirigakure in the camp were unaware of the "deal" between Usamaru and Tatsuma, and still found it difficult to let their guard down.

After all, in their eyes, the ninjas of the Hidden Mist Village's Anbu were their most direct enemies.

Tatsuma didn't really rest either. This was the Land of Water, in enemy territory. How could he possibly rest? He just closed his eyes to rest, but still maintained a certain distance in his perception.

The next morning, after another bland meal, Usamaru led a group of members to check out the nearest supply station, while Tatsuma also set off for a place called Yumezawa.

The Land of Water also has many rainforests, which is not a special terrain for Tatsuma, who has lived in the Land of Fire for many years and has traveled in the Land of Rain for a long time. Therefore, his speed is extremely fast and he is not affected by the away game factor.

As he approached the place called Mengze, Chenma noticed that the trees were becoming sparse, and sometimes he had to travel on the ground for long periods of time.

Upon entering a damp, swampy area, Tatsuma stopped, his feet imbued with chakra, and stood on the swamp, a look of confusion on his face.

Because of his four physical talents, the growth rate of his potential has increased again. Although it is not obvious, this is not normal. It means that his body has actually suffered damage.

Tatsuma crouched down, lightly touching the swamp with his finger. In an instant, his expression turned grim, because beneath the swamp lay an extremely powerful mass of chakra.

This level of chakra is something that ordinary people cannot possess. In fact, apart from Mito Uzumaki, Tatsuma had never seen anyone with such a vast amount of chakra.

"Tailed Beast!"

Tatsuma immediately thought of the tailed beasts. In all the years he had been in this ninja world, Tatsuma had only seen one and a half tailed beasts.

One of them was the Nine-Tails. On the day Mito Uzumaki died, when Mito Uzumaki extracted it, Tatsuma saw the Nine-Tails being oppressed and twisted.

There was also a half-tailed beast, the Eight-Tails Gyuki, but Tatsuma had never actually seen either the Nine-Tails or the Eight-Tails in their complete, normal state.

Therefore, the giant beast beneath his feet was perhaps the first tailed beast he had ever seen in its complete and healthy state.

In the original storyline, by the time of the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Tailed Beasts were no longer considered top-tier combatants, but only by facing them in person could one truly feel their terror.

That's the feeling of helplessness a person on a lone boat on a vast ocean feels as a hundred-meter wave crashes towards them.

Tatsuma tried to calm himself down and began to analyze. The Land of Water has two tailed beasts, the three-tailed Isobu and the six-tailed Saiken. Tatsuma was still unsure which one was under the swamp.

Based on the strange phenomenon he had just experienced, Tatsuma was more inclined to believe it was the Six-Tailed Ryukyu. He suspected that his body, or respiratory tract, was being slightly corroded.

However, without the intervention of inhibitors, the rapid recovery ability brought by the divine tree cells in his body and the [Unceasing] talent made him completely unaware of the changes in his body.

However, no matter which one it is, you should not have any intention of provoking it.

Tatsuma lifted two fingers off the ground, wondering if he should leave. Just then, a chakra of similar strength rapidly approached. Tatsuma calculated the speed in his mind and decided not to leave.

He maintained his current posture, which appeared unremarkable on the surface, but his body was already prepared for battle.

One hand hovered above the swamp water, while the other began forming a hand seal, waiting for the person to approach.

"Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"

Suddenly, Chenma felt a numbness at the back of his head, and a sense of danger quickly stimulated his brain. He pressed down hard with his hand that was hanging over the swamp.

"Water escape! Water formation wall!"

The sewage stirred up by the impact quickly transformed into a circular water wall under Tatsuma's chakra control, blocking the small water droplet that was flying towards them.

"Bang!"

Water splashed everywhere, and Chenma turned his head slightly to watch the bullet-like water droplet brush past his face.

Tatsuma had never seen such skill in Water Release techniques before.

After piercing through his water barrier, it still had enough power to pierce a person's head. If he hadn't been prepared beforehand, or if his reaction had been even slightly slower, something terrible might have happened.

Chenma stood up and distanced himself from the newcomer before looking at him. The man was about forty years old, with long, bluish-green hair and a smug smile on his face.

Tatsuma pursed his lips, bowed, and said, "Lord Gengetsu, I was sent by the Third Mizukage."

"Still pretending?"

Hozuki Gengetsu interrupted him directly, his smile becoming even more irritating, and continued, "That guy wouldn't send anyone to my place, especially not a brat like you."

He will come in person, and he will bring a suitable vessel to say, "Who are you? I have never heard of anyone with such strength at such a young age."

You're probably not from Kirigakure, otherwise you would have become a vessel long ago.

Tatsuma's face turned serious. In just one exchange, he hadn't expected Hozuki Gengetsu to have obtained such crucial information. Of course, he had also revealed quite a bit of himself.

Judging from Hozuki Gengetsu's words, he must be a ninja who has been guarding or monitoring the tailed beast at the bottom of the swamp for many years.

Moreover, judging from his tone, he must have a close relationship with the Third Mizukage. After all, the ease with which Hozuki Gengetsu spoke about the Third Mizukage was something he couldn't fake.

Tatsuma gently lifted the No-Face mask and said, "I am Takasugi Shinsuke, the restorer of Kirigakure."

"Tsk, another arrogant rogue ninja? But you actually dared to come here, is it for the Six-Tails?"

Hozuki Gengetsu didn't seem to have any intention of hiding information. If he wasn't a foolish ninja, then it could only be said that he didn't think Tatsuma would have the opportunity to smuggle the information out.

Regarding the question about Hozuki Gengetsu, Tatsuma shook his head and frankly said, "My target is you. As for the Six-Tails, it was an unexpected bonus."

"What makes you think you're qualified to make me your target?"

As he spoke, Hozuki Gengetsu made a gun gesture with his right hand, aimed it at Tatsuma, and then mouthed, "biu~".

Another water cannon shot towards Tatsuma, who quickly formed hand seals and slammed them onto the swampy ground beneath his feet.

"Earth Release! Earthflow Wall!"

A wall of earth and stone rose up, and the water cannon struck the wall, leaving a deep crater the size of a head, but it was barely stopped by the earthen wall.

Tatsuma's eye twitched. He hadn't expected that even using the chakra nature counter, he could only barely neutralize Hozuki Gengetsu's attack.

"You can even use Earth Release? And you're quite skilled at it? That genius named Yagura, he shouldn't be as dazzling as you, right? Why did you choose to betray him?"

Hozuki Gengetsu was clearly surprised to see that Tatsuma's Earth Release had actually blocked his attack. He had already greatly admired Tatsuma's Water Release, but he hadn't expected that Earth Release would be just as good.

Being proficient in both of these escape techniques is extremely rare in the village, yet he had never heard of the name Takasugi Shinsuke.

He tilted his head, watching the earth wall slowly descend and reveal Tatsuma's face bit by bit, and asked, "You wouldn't happen to be a bloodline limit ninja, would you? Otherwise, I can't believe the reason for your betrayal."

At Tatsuma's age, it's impossible for him to have seen through the darkness of the village and become completely disillusioned with it. With his talent, he should have received strong support from the village and wouldn't have left because of unfair treatment.

Then there's only one possibility: it involves the true taboo of Kirigakure—the bloodline limit.

"I'm not some kind of bloodline limit ninja. As for the reason for my betrayal... guess?"

Tatsuma flashed a smug smile just like Hozuki Gengetsu, instantly enraging him. "What an unlovable junior! I'm going to catch you and give you a good interrogation!"

"Water Release: Water Barrage!"

As he spoke, Tatsuma completed the hand seals at an extremely fast speed. Several unique hand seals made it difficult for Hozuki Gengetsu to determine what kind of technique he was using.

After completing the hand seals, Tatsuma swung his arms, gathering water-style chakra, and hurled water-based projectiles at Hozuki Gengetsu.

"A good tactic, but the gap in our strength is too great."

As Hozuki Gengetsu spoke, he began to form hand seals, then took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.

"Water Release: Water Pillar!"

"Boom!"

The rushing torrent directly shattered the water cannonballs thrown by Tatsuma and rushed towards him. Tatsuma used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge to the side, but the water column was extremely agile under the control of Hozuki Gengetsu.

"Bang!"

Tatsuma's body was still impacted by the water column, and he was instantly sent flying backward, spinning in the air and constantly trying to regain his balance. At the same time, Hozuki Gengetsu quickly walked towards Tatsuma in the air.

Tatsuma, suspended in the air, noticed that the pain in his body was rapidly subsiding. He knew that his "Training Through Combat" technique had also been activated, and the reduction in pain allowed him to regain his balance more quickly.

Seeing Hozuki Gengetsu already standing beside him, Tatsuma formed a hand seal with one hand while reaching out with the other to grab at Hozuki Gengetsu.

"Water Release! Water Fang Blade!"

Water Release chakra condensed into a water blade in Tatsuma's hand, and the water blade, carried by his arm swing, pierced into Hozuki Gengetsu's body.

"Ah, I'm dead."

(End of this chapter)