The battle between Aoki Shigeru and Gaara raged on like wildfire, with neither willing to give a single inch as they continuously deployed large-scale, wide-range ninjutsu.
Water Release: Great Explosive Water Colliding Wave!
An ultra-large-scale water prison condensed rapidly around Gaara's frame. Seeing this, the latter didn't panic, immediately executing an incredibly domineering sand technique: Desert: Rebel Slave!
Gaara's sand shifted seamlessly into the shape of two colossal hands, moving fluidly to attack and defend. This was by no means a casual manipulation of sand; these specialized constructs could physically grasp incoming ninjutsu or ninja tools and violently hurl them back at the source.
This indicated that the sand constructs possessed explicit ninjutsu properties layered over their physical attributes.
The massive hands of sand forcefully tore through the constriction of the crushing water sphere. Yet, before Gaara could capitalize, Shigeru's next wave of Water Release initialized. Countless geysers erupted violently from the stone floor, transforming into a savage, high-pressure shockwave.
"Sunagakure's Genin are truly absurd..."
"An ordinary Jonin wouldn't even be able to release so many high-intensity techniques in a single breath, right?"
It had to be said that these two had completely redefined the global understanding of what a "Genin" was. Sand and rain blended seamlessly across the tournament grounds.
Under the ceaseless concussive blasts, forget about the foreign nations—even Sunagakure's own active Genin pool felt deeply shocked by the absolute strength on display.
This was precisely why Shiraishi had explicitly arranged for Gaara and Shigeru to collide in the bracket.
To deter the foreign villages and highlight the absolute might of Sunagakure's next generation, he needed these two Genin, who possessed tail-beast-tier chakra reserves, to act as an absolute force of psychological deterrence.
Shigeru's combat style leaned toward the traditional ninja methodology. Recognizing that a continuous chain of large-scale composite ninjutsu could not suppress Gaara, he rapidly adjusted his tactical approach.
He rarely engaged in direct sparring matches with Gaara. Although he maintained an everyday understanding of his sand techniques, he hadn't anticipated they would be this troublesome—an absolute harmony of offense and defense...
But I've gathered sufficient data!
As a sharp gust of wind picked up, the water swirling around Shigeru's palms condensed into innumerable thin filaments of chakra, aiming to pierce through Gaara's structural defense by focusing all force onto single, microscopic points.
The water filaments transformed into razor-sharp blades. Gaara's reaction was incredibly swift.
A boy of few words but absolute lethality, he used a single hand to stimulate the metallic minerals embedded deep within his sand reserves. In that exact operational window, the material transitioned into a pitch-black magnetic state.
Magnet Release?
The One-Tail Jinchuriki can also use Magnet Release?
Unlike his original history, where a hostile, fractured relationship existed with Rasa, the bond between father and son in this timeline was perfectly harmonious.
Consequently, Rasa had personally passed down Magnet Release and various high-level sand variants to Gaara, including the iron sand lineage directly inherited from the Third Kazekage.
The Magnet Release structured a solid iron sword, clashing directly against Shigeru's water blade. Simultaneously, the black iron sand surrounding Gaara transformed into a sky-spanning array of blades that shot outward.
Sensing the danger, Shigeru manipulated the swirling vortex beneath his feet into a defensive curtain of water.
Amid the fierce detonations, the water rings encircling Shigeru's body condensed once more into countless cutting water-lines, blasting outward at an extreme velocity.
Boom!
The silent Gaara stared at the unfolding combat theater, a trace of fleeting confusion surfacing within his eyes.
Shigeru had vanished...
A distorted illusion born from refracting water rippled across Shigeru's previous position. Clearly, during their high-frequency physical exchange moments prior, Genjutsu had been seamlessly introduced into the field without anyone noticing.
Realizing he had succumbed to an illusion, Gaara rapidly circulated his internal chakra to violently shatter the sensory trap.
However, during that precise window, Shigeru's figure materialized like a phantom, his water filaments converging onto a single point as they pierced forward.
"Ah! Don't you dare give up! Go for it, little panda!"
Uzumaki Tomoko's loud cheering caused Shigeru's face to turn entirely dark. Conversely, Gaara seemed to instantly calm down. Innumerable iron sand particles structured an electromagnetic vortex, discharging a brilliant display of black electrical arcs.
Under the illumination of the lightning, the water filaments were systematically shattered, leaving a spectacular display of clashing sparks and vaporized current between the two.
As their eyes locked across the distance, no matter how refined Shigeru's general upbringing was, he simply could not tolerate Tomoko actively cheering for Gaara.
Tomoko, that absolute brat...
Noticing Shigeru's darkening expression, Tomoko stuck her tongue out playfully. "Shigeru, you keep it up, too! Neither of you can lose!"
Ignoring Tomoko entirely, Shigeru faced Gaara, whose operational state was growing progressively more dominant. He exhaled sharply, spitting out a massive barrage of water needles.
Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!
A specialized Water Release technique created by the Second Hokage. Mimicking rain falling from a cloudless sky, it launched an unexpected volley of high-speed water needles directly from the mouth, precisely targeting an enemy's vital points.
Utilizing his Absolute Defense, Gaara blocked the incoming needles. "Standard Water Release strikes cannot hope to breach my absolute defense, Shigeru."
"Is that so?"
Suddenly, the earth surrounding the two began to rumble violently. An immense volume of water bled out from every direction. Gaara rapidly expanded his sand defense to compensate, but the moment the sand particles brushed against the liquid, they underwent a bizarre process of physical assimilation.
What kind of secret technique is this?
Even Hozuki Suigetsu, who was exceptionally proficient in the mechanics of Water Release, was seeing this specific application for the very first time—a technique capable of actively assimilating sand into water...
Soak Technique!
A highly unique Water Release capability derived from Shiraishi's technical card system, capable of actively converting an opponent's elemental attributes into the water attribute.
Following the deployment of the Soak Technique, the absolute volume of sand available to Gaara plummeted. Seizing the window, Shigeru initialized his final offensive sequence.
Yet, at that exact moment, the effects of the conversion were abruptly cut short. Gaara thoroughly transitioned his remaining sand reserves into black Magnet Release iron sand. A pair of black iron wings unfolded from his back as his body slowly drifted up into the sky.
As the sky filled with an ocean of hovering black iron sand, the absolute methodology and overwhelming presence Gaara displayed left the global spectators in absolute awe. Shigeru, determined not to be outdone, initiated his own ultimate counter.
Water Release: Water Dragon Biting Exploding Blast!
This technique possessed an extensive operational range, a massive area of effect, and devastating destructive capacity. It was a definitive, absolute kill-technique utilized by the Second Hokage, boasting extreme casting speeds and immense concussive impact.
Much like the Water Dragon Bullet and the Great Waterfall, this specific technique maintained a solid acquisition rate among the elite forces of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
After all, its deployment principles were straightforward while its destructive value was immense; its singular downside was its astronomical chakra consumption.
In an instant, a massive pool of razor-sharp, rock-like water structures erupted from the ground beneath Gaara, shooting toward the heavens.
Using his chakra to manufacture a colossal water vortex across the stone floor, Shigeru triggered a continuous sequence of rising high-velocity water currents that launched skyward from the center of the vortex.
The high-speed, long-range offensive was executed with blistering velocity. Gaara's black iron sand and Shigeru's roaring water currents violently tore into one another. However, as Shigeru swiftly adjusted his seal sequence mid-execution, a cataclysmic detonation rippled across the sky.
The rising currents rapidly consolidated into a massive, majestic water dragon, instantly swallowing everything in its path. Its raw power and lethality were exceptional, scaling its total area of destruction based on the exact volume of chakra provided.
As the water currents violently detonated across the airspace, a vibrant teal water dragon condensed within Shigeru's grip. Leaping high into the air, he perfectly fused the dragon's momentum with his own physical strength, converting his entire frame into a blinding, dazzling strike.
Simultaneously, Gaara's black wings snapped outward, generating an electromagnetic tornado that hurtled downward to meet Shigeru's ascent.
Under the force of the final catastrophic collision, both boys plummeted back toward the arena floor. Gaara was already thoroughly unconscious, while Shigeru's body was riddled with injuries, the intense pain leaving him on the absolute verge of blacking out.
I am the son of the Kazekage. I cannot afford to pass out here!
The deep-seated obsession within his mind served as Shigeru's final support. The residual currents of the water dragon spilled outward from his frame, slamming into the concrete floor to create a natural buffer force. Utilizing that momentum, Shigeru barely managed to force himself into a standing position on the field.
After a long period of absolute silence throughout the stadium, Uzumaki Tomoki, serving as the official proctor, announced the definitive verdict:
"The winner: Aoki Shigeru!"
Although he had secured the victory, Shigeru's physical condition was deeply critical. As he stumbled blindly away from the arena floor, Shiraishi—operating his human puppet clone through his primary consciousness—calmly stepped forward to meet his son.
"Father..."
"Do not push yourself to such reckless extremes in the future."
"Yes..."
The moment Shigeru's consciousness faded and his body collapsed, Shiraishi caught him smoothly, pulling his son into a firm embrace.
He really is a stubborn, silly son.
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