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JST Chapter 168: The Mizukage's Last Stand
🕑 Added 2025-01-24 23:25:37 +0000 UTC"Kill!"
A ninja with blue-green hair shouted energetically as he tried to raise the Kiri-nin's morale. “We’re in the ocean! Even though the Mizukage-sama has had a small setback, this battle is far from over!”
“Don’t give up! Hold on until the Third Mizukage returns!”
This person was Ao, a jonin whom the Third Mizukage deeply trusted. Following Kushimaru's death, Ao had inherited the Nuibari, becoming one of the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Kazuki watched from a distance, letting out a light smile. Then, he put his hands together...
On the surface of the ocean, the water beneath Ao's feet seemed to come to life, wrapping around his legs tightly.
Before they could react, Kazuki appeared in front of Ao. With his left hand he held Ao's head, while in his right he held another jonin who was trying to reorganize Kiri's troops, then he smashed their heads together with a dry and brutal sound.
In just an instant, the two respected jonin lost their lives. Their bodies, decapitated, sank silently into the depths of the sea.
To Kazuki, the members of the Kaguya clan were like a treasure: each of them had enormous potential that needed to be cultivated patiently, as they could provide feedback to Kazuki.
But with Ao and other Jonin holding power in Kiri, the situation was different. Although they were high-level shinobi, they had reached their maximum potential. Their abilities would not grow much further and could only cause trouble rather than benefit Kazuki.
Especially Ao, who in the original timeline had joined the Otsutsuki clan and came to accept becoming a cyborg.
"Huh... This state is still a bit of a burden on my body..."
Kazuki deactivated several of his techniques, massaging his arm, which was beginning to feel numb.
"Kazuki, take care of your body, and know how to control yourself..."
Tobirama frowned and said in a deep voice: “Your physical strength, combined with these techniques, is probably already close to my brother’s. But, at your age, your body cannot withstand the side effects of this kind of power.”
Tobirama was a little helpless. When he heard Kazuki's comments that he was still not enough, he wanted to speak.
Isn't this enough?
This is enough!
Kazuki, at the age of fifteen, has already been able to refine his body to this point.
If he continued like this, it was possible that when he reached adulthood he could tear apart a Susanoo with his bare hands and destroy a Tailed Beast Bomb in one blow.
"I know, Tobirama, I feel your concern..." Kazuki sighed. "But you know what? I feel from the bottom of my heart that this is not enough."
What Tobirama didn't know was that Kazuki's words weren't meant to provoke him but rather were meant to draw a comparison to Madara, who had obtained the power of the Rinnegan.
Even the clones created by Limbo by Madara once he regained his peak power, had the ability to subdue the Tailed Beasts using only taijutsu.
In Kazuki's opinion, he still has a lot to do, and he still has a lot of room for improvement to be able to subdue the woman on the moon in the future.
Not only did he have to overcome the people of the shinobi world, but also the threat that existed beyond the planet: the Otsutsuki clan.
Kazuki had no intention of relying on the chakra reincarnations of the Sage of Six Paths' children or the old man himself hiding in the Pure Land to save the world.
Perhaps an offensive against the Otsutsuki could be possible if the power of the entire planet was gathered?
For Kazuki, although Kaguya was not the brightest person, she did have key information. For example, when she tried to create an army of White Zetsu to face the Otsutsuki, she must have had her own logic behind it.
However, the focus should not be on turning the living beings on the Planet into mindless White Zetsu, but rather on harnessing the collective strength of the planet.
Could it be something similar to the Energy Bomb?
Kazuki turned his gaze towards the moon, barely visible in broad daylight, wishing more and more to be able to speak to the woman imprisoned there.
What was she really thinking back then?
How powerful is the Otsutsuki clan?
As Kazuki's thoughts wandered, Tobirama continued to talk non-stop beside him, so insistent that he could barely pay attention to him.
It was then that an electronic sound broke his concentration.
[From the Target the Third Mizukage, you obtain the inheritance of Hozuki Gengetsu (theory)!]
[Hozuki Gengetsu Inheritance (theory)]: You have acquired the principles and prerequisites of Hozuki Gengetsu's techniques. However, due to the target's talent limitations, you must learn and master the inheritance yourself.
The Third Mizukage... wasn't dead yet.
Although Kazuki had performed such a powerful attack, killing a Kage from one of the large villages in one blow was somewhat over the top, even for him.
Especially since the Third Mizukage mastered techniques that made him practically immortal in the ocean.
In front of Kazuki, from the depths of the sea, a huge whirlpool of water emerged, roaring as it created a gigantic humanoid figure made of water.
Above the head of this water giant, stood half of the Third Mizukage's body, mocking Kazuki.
"Tell me your name, weird kid!" The Third Mizukage's eyes were full of resentment, and he said in a deep voice: "I didn't expect that Konoha still had a monster like you. Also, you have the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku... Did you experiment on your own body?"
The Mizukage sneered, pointing out, "And those treacherous bombs! This village, left behind by Senju Tobirama, should have been destroyed long ago."
Having experienced the power of one of the bombs, the Mizukage recognized the unmistakable style. If he didn't know that Tobirama had died, he would have thought that he had been resurrected only to design those despicable forbidden techniques and new ninja tools to continue the war.
"What happened to Senju Tobirama?" Kazuki frowned and retorted dissatisfiedly: "For the invaders, we don't need to hold back when we counterattack using the Second Hokage's forbidden techniques, we must make them feel pain."
"Do you really think all Konoha shinobi are like the First Hokage, willing to sit peacefully and calmly discuss things even when one has overwhelming power?"
The Mizukage was speechless for a moment, but his hatred intensified.
Kazuki was right. After all, this war had been started by them, and any counterattack from Konoha was completely justified.
But he did not expect that Senju Tobirama's style of warfare would be inherited by a young man from the Uchiha clan and even taken further.
This is too dangerous...
"Kid, in this sea area, my power is endless..."
The Third Mizukage looked down at Kazuki from above and said coldly: "The Hydrification Technique combined with my Water Healing Technique makes me immune to physical attacks. Even if you use Lightning Release, I can quickly repair my wounds."
Kazuki looked at the talkative Third Mizukage speechlessly and shook his head. ""So, you didn't suffer any serious injuries, and you just hid yourself away waiting for my condition to weaken?" he asked wryly."
"Those Kirigakure shinobi were just pawns for you, right? Also, was that habit of revealing your abilities taught to you by Hozuki Gengetsu? If you have another chance, you should correct that. It's not a good habit."
The Third Mizukage let out a cold laugh. As he recalled the impact of Kazuki’s punch, a flash of unease flashed across his eyes.
That blow contained overwhelming force, if it weren't for his Hydrification Technique, which allowed him to cushion physical attacks, and the constant source of ocean water to regenerate, he would probably have died in that first confrontation.
However, the Third Mizukage did not believe that the human body could withstand that level of power for long. That strength must be a temporary explosive state. Eventually, Kazuki would have to abandon that form. And, just as he had expected, Kazuki was no longer maintaining that transformation.
“Little bastard... no need to stir up discord here.” The Third Mizukage spoke coldly: “I am the Mizukage of Kirigakure. In the face of an enemy as powerful as you, the only thing my shinobi can do is buy time for me. That is their destiny.”
“As long as I manage to kill you, their deaths will not have been in vain.”
Although his words were not spoken forcefully, they reached the ears of everyone present clearly.
The Root shinobi frowned upon hearing that. Some even felt the urge to spit on the ground.
Even Danzo, known for his coldness, wouldn't have said something so brazen! At least Danzo had the decency to use the Will of Fire as a pretext.
Kisame and the others shook their heads, feeling the last shred of attachment to Kirigakure fade away with the sea breeze.
