Chapter 23: Knowledge Gap
Thinking it is regular Fire release of the Uchiha, the Hatake clan member countered with another water jet. However, as soon as the water made contact with the liquid fire, instead of a steamy explosion that was expected, the liquid fire split apart from the force and ran down the length of the water jet. This was like adding water to a grease fire. Instead of putting it out, it simply spread it around more. The flames quickly reached the clan member, and, in his surprise, he did not withdraw.
The sticky liquid clung to his arm and began to burn at rock melting temperatures. His hand was burned down to the bone before he decisively cut his arm off and retreated. The other balls of liquid fire hit some spots and a scream was heard from the other member. A small amount splashed on her back and left a gnarly burn. Fortunately, she threw off her outer armor in time or it would have stuck to her skin.
The liquid flames spread along the forest floor until a large pool formed. The flames burned so intensely that nearby trees caught fire just from the heat emanating from them. Natsume underestimated the destructive power of her Lava release originally. The ground underneath began to turn molten, causing further destruction as the molten earth flowed beyond the perimeter of the liquid fire. Once she cut off the chakra, it didn't last long. However, the destruction it caused left a massive crater of hardened lava.
"Return to base camp! You must inform the leader there is a strange Lava Release user amongst the Uchiha! Quickly, I'll stall them!" The one who had severed his arm commanded the other. She hesitated for a second before realizing the importance of the intel. The man made a hand seal and water gushed out around him. When it made contact with the still warm ground, a mass of steam filled the forest, covering her retreat.
Natsume wasn't worried about the fleeing shinobi and focused her attention on the wounded one. After their clash, she could tell that he was a high-ranking warrior. If not for the lack of knowledge about her Lava release, he wouldn't have gotten so severely wounded. She didn't give him a chance to take the lead as she weaves some hand seals and slammed into the hardened molten earth.
This was another way of using her Jutsu in synergy that she had considered. Once the field was set and the volcanic rock was hardened, she would use it in the follow-up Earth release. Hundreds of volcanic rock spikes jutted out around Natsume in rapid succession. Normally this would take a lot of chakra, but since the earth still had some of her remaining chakra in it from the Lava release, she was able to conserve quite a bit.
As the steam cleared, Natsume saw the Hatake warrior standing on one of the spikes. This was not a move that would hurt the opponent, but it creates difficult terrain. When it comes to maneuverability and acrobatics, few are the Uchiha's match due to their dojutsu. Natsume leaped onto one of the rock spikes and balanced on one leg like her opponent.
The Hatake warrior was holding a short, curved blade which usually came in pairs. Natsume didn't give the opponent a chance to analyze her and jumped forward to attack. The Hatake warrior also jumped and they clashed in mid-air. Despite losing an arm, he still put up a good fight. This was solely due to his age being twice that of Natsume and having more physical size. As they repelled each other, Natsume made sure to release a volley of shurikens at his weak side.
He managed to evade a few of them, but several imbedded themselves into his back and side. If he tried to dodge any more, he would have lost his balance on the spikes. They clashed hundreds of times in 5 minutes but despite all the wounds he was receiving, he refused to go down. Natsume determined it would not be safe to keep wasting time and stopped conserving chakra. She weaved some hand seals and launched a flurry of fireballs.
Under the cover of the flames, she secretly laid down a substitution Jutsu and a clone jutsu and slipped into the earth below the spikes. As the Hatake warrior fended off the fireballs, he had to clash with the clone. In order not to give away the clone's weakness, Natsume had it go for a sacrificial attack. Since the Hatake warrior did not expect to get away, he decided to receive the trade.
In the shinobi world, information and knowledge are not equal. Most clans would hide their secret Jutsu and barely even teach their common Jutsu that are trump cards. Unlike in her memories where the villages would teach the basic must have techniques, many warriors only knew the Jutsu they earned through hard work. No one would waste their rewards on common basic rank Jutsu.
Once the Hatake warrior pierced Natsume's abdomen, he took a strike to his as well from the clone. He was so excited he didn't realize how weak the attack was. In his mind he consoled himself that at least he injured a strong Uchiha. However, when the target he pierced turned into a log, he almost collapsed. It wasn't until the sword penetrated through his heart from behind that he realized he was duped by a basic Jutsu.
After the fight was over, Natsume wiped her blade off and sheathed it. She channeled a bit of chakra into the ground and converted all the spikes into dirt. Although it was still easy to determine that a battle was here, at least it would be a bit harder to deduce her skills. As she finished up, her four subordinates returned with an unconscious body.
"Good work." Natsume nodded at them. When they saw the destruction, cold sweat had ran down their backs. They made sure to be very respectful from then on.
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Please leave a review if you like my story so far! Your support fills me with chakra to use my Writing Release Jutsu. Do we want to do power stone goals? Maybe if uh we get top 3 I'll release more chapters a day or something?
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Pengincognito
Pengincognito The systemic teaching of Jutsu and shinobi knowledge due to tobirame's system is quite brilliant. It gives every new ninja a baseline ability instead of kind of randomly growing in a direction you can afford due to constant war.
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