Under the moonlight, Kitazawa finally saw him—the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi of the Hidden Mist.
Just like in the original records, he looked deceptively young—almost boyish, with a calm, childlike face. Yet in reality, the man before him was old enough to have a grandson—Kagura Karatachi—already born.
Kitazawa's first thought was simple and chilling: There's a traitor in Konoha.
This raid on the Hidden Mist's stronghold was a top-secret operation. Only Tsunade, Shikaku, and a handful of Jonin who attended the war council knew about it.
Those Jonin were the very pillars of Konoha—betrayal was unthinkable.
That left only the three infiltration teams—the Hyuga operatives and Anbu assigned behind enemy lines.
The Hyuga branch members carried the Caged Bird Seal. Manipulating them was impossible.
But Anbu… there was always a chance.
Kitazawa's expression hardened. A name surfaced immediately—Danzo Shimura.
After Root's disbandment, many of Danzo's subordinates had joined the Anbu. Loyal only in name, they still followed his orders from the shadows.
Danzo wanted the Hokage's seat. He would never allow Tsunade to shine too brightly in this war.
If Kitazawa's assault failed, it would be a major blow to Konoha's campaign—and a direct hit to Tsunade's credibility.
And Kitazawa… was her student.
"You're Kitazawa, aren't you?"
Yagura's calm voice cut through the night as his cold gaze fixed on him.
Kitazawa met it evenly. "So, the rumors reached the Mizukage himself. I must be quite the celebrity."
Though the Byakugan was unmatched in reconnaissance, even it had blind spots. Somehow, Yagura and his team had hidden deep beneath the sea—undetected until now.
"You're just a bonus," Yagura said flatly. "Our real goal is to use you to ambush Tsunade."
Kitazawa's eyes narrowed. "How did you find our location?"
That one sentence was all the confirmation he needed.
The Mist wasn't just acting on opportunity—they were waiting for him and Tsunade.
Which meant his suspicion was right:
Danzo's network was leaking information.
[You will face the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi—an opponent stronger than you. Risk brings opportunity. Survive.]
[Mission Objective: Hold out until Tsunade arrives.]
[Reward: Mangekyō Sharingan Resistance.]
[Accept Mission?]
Four glowing lines of text appeared before Kitazawa's eyes.
A mission—now of all times?
Still, it made sense. Facing a Kage-level opponent was more than enough to trigger one.
But the reward… Mangekyō Sharingan Resistance?
Resistance—to Mangekyō control?
His gaze flicked briefly toward Yagura, realization dawning.
Of course. The Mizukage before him was under the control of Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan.
If this mission was connected to that, then the reward was more valuable than it first appeared.
After all, there were few Mangekyō users in the world—
but three of the most dangerous men alive possessed them: Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito, and Danzo Shimura.
Still… the better the prize, the higher the risk.
If Yagura were merely a skilled Water Release user, Kitazawa wouldn't be too worried.
But as a Three-Tails Jinchūriki? That changed everything.
"You've asked enough," Yagura said coolly.
He raised a hand and fired a signal flare into the sky.
From the nearby island, Hidden Mist ninja surged toward them like shadows converging on blood.
"Kabuto! We'll cover your escape!" Kitazawa ordered immediately.
With the Fourth Mizukage present—and a swarm of elite Mist jōnin surrounding them—escaping together was impossible. Someone had to break through and warn the main camp.
And there was only one choice.
Kabuto was sharp, fast, and a Wind Release user. His medical ninjutsu gave him the best chance of surviving the chaos ahead.
"Wishful thinking!" a middle-aged Mist ninja barked. "With Lord Mizukage here, none of you are leaving alive!"
Kabuto didn't even look at him—he simply turned and ran.
"Stop right there!"
The Mist ninja flickered forward in pursuit—only for the sea itself to erupt.
Boom!
The surface exploded into a wall of surging water—
a titanic wave ten meters high came crashing down like nature's wrath itself.
The Mist ninja froze mid-step, faces twisting in shock.
They'd heard reports about Kitazawa's mastery over Water Release—but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely.
"So Konoha has a Water Release user of this caliber…" Yagura murmured. He began weaving hand signs. "Water Release: Clear Mirror Water!"
A massive water mirror shimmered into existence, intercepting the flood.
The wave struck it head-on—trembling, folding—and then, impossibly, reversed direction.
But the wave was simply too vast. Only a fraction of it reflected back.
"Superman Punch!"
Kitazawa's fist slammed forward, splitting the rebounding wave clean down the middle. Water cascaded around them like falling glass.
Hizashi and the others exhaled in relief, but the brief exchange made one thing clear—
no one reached the rank of Kage by accident.
The good news? Kabuto was gone—already a distant blur in the night.
"Four of you—go after him!" the middle-aged Mist ninja barked, signaling one special jōnin and three chūnin.
"Bring them down before Tsunade gets here," Yagura ordered coldly.
His intent was clear: capture Kitazawa, use him as bait, and lure Tsunade into a fatal trap.
"Secret Technique: Poison Dust!"
Torune clapped his hands together, releasing a thick cloud of glittering dust. Within seconds, it swarmed into countless nano-sized insects.
"Be careful!" a Mist jōnin shouted. "That's not smoke—it's poison!"
In an instant, every Mist shinobi except Yagura himself darted aside—knowing full well the lethality of Aburame toxins.
Coral Staff: Four Consecutive Strikes!
Yagura blurred out of sight with the Body Flicker, narrowly evading the swarm of venomous insects. In the next instant, he reappeared right in front of Kitazawa, coral staff in hand, already swinging.
Clang!
Lightning sparked as Kitazawa met the first blow head-on.
Lightning Release: Lightning Blade!
Blue lightning danced wildly in his grip, the blade vibrating with such intensity that it sent Yagura's coral staff recoiling to the side. Without missing a beat, Kitazawa raised his right hand—fire ignited along his fingertips before condensing into a searing blade of flame that shot forward like a spear.
Water Release: Water Gun!
Yagura leaned back slightly, inhaling deeply before unleashing a massive torrent of water. The roaring sphere of liquid smashed into the flame blade, dousing it completely—and still surged forward.
Kitazawa barely had a moment to react before Yagura lunged again, his coral staff splitting the air with four lightning-fast swings.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Each strike cut through the mist like a whip—just imagining the pain of being hit by one made the air sting.
Chidori!
Sparks shrieked like a thousand birds as lightning swirled violently in Kitazawa's left hand. He thrust it forward, cutting clean through the water sphere. Twisting his body mid-motion, his right arm intercepted the coral staff once more, deflecting it in a flash of blue light. Then—his left hand shot forward, lightning aimed straight for Yagura's heart.
Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!
Yagura instantly dropped his weapon and leapt back. A gleaming mirror of water formed before him, rippling like liquid glass. From its depths stepped another Kitazawa—eyes cold, lightning flickering in his hand.
Both Kitsazawa charged at each other, Chidori blazing.
Twin shrieks of thunder filled the air.
Leaf Great Whirlwind!
The real Kitazawa spun with perfect form, kicking his doppelgänger square in the chest. The fake Kitazawa convulsed mid-air before collapsing into a puddle, water splashing over the surface.
Yagura's Water Mirror Technique, Kitazawa realized grimly.
"Your strength is impressive," Yagura said evenly, standing tall in the rising mist. "No wonder you managed to kill Fuguki."
The coral staff he had discarded had already sunk beneath the waves—but he made no move to retrieve it.
Kitazawa glanced toward his allies. Hizashi, Kurenai, and the others were struggling. Their situation looked dire.
They had launched this raid on the Hidden Mist's stronghold with five jōnin in total—Kitazawa and Kabuto among them. But with Kabuto gone, that left only four… against six Mist jōnin.
Thankfully, Kurenai and Torune fought like seasoned veterans, both nearly Special Jōnin in strength. Even so, they were barely holding the line.
"Your squad's not bad either," Yagura chuckled, noticing Kitazawa's wandering eyes.
Kitazawa frowned. 'Why is he suddenly talking?'
"But my time is short," Yagura continued, his tone darkening. "I can't waste it on you."
Boom!
An overwhelming surge of chakra exploded from him. The sea trembled violently, as if something monstrous was about to awaken beneath the waves.
Scarlet chakra spiraled upward, forming a hurricane that split the ocean's surface.
"What—!?" Hizashi Hyuga's face paled. "The Fourth Mizukage… is a Jinchūriki?!"
Even from a hundred meters away, Kurenai could barely breathe under the crushing pressure. Fear flickered across her face—but she couldn't move to help. They were already pinned down by the enemy's jōnin.
"If you surrender now," Yagura's voice thundered through the storm, "and wait for me to kill Tsunade… I'll let you join Kirigakure."
He stood cloaked in red chakra, three massive tails whipping violently behind him—Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
Kitazawa's instincts screamed to activate Senju Chakra Mode, but he held back. It wouldn't last long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
He wasn't worried about his own survival—his Water Release: Hydrification made him untouchable in the ocean.
But Kurenai and the others… they couldn't escape.
He exhaled slowly, calming his pulse. This would be his hardest fight yet—but fear had no place here.
After all, he wasn't just any shinobi. He had a cheat.
This was the perfect chance to test his limits—and claim whatever rewards came with it.
Yagura scowled. "You don't know what's good for you!"
He attacked instantly.
The offer he'd made wasn't a bluff—he truly admired Kitazawa's Water Release, and recruiting Tsunade's disciple would humiliate Konoha itself.
But if Kitazawa refused… he'd crush him.
Water Release: Water Gun!
Yagura opened his mouth again, releasing a colossal sphere of water—ten times larger than before. It glimmered under the stormlight like a miniature moon.
Compound Ninjutsu: Bazing Wind Riot!
Kitazawa's hands blurred through a rapid sequence of seals. Fire burst from his mouth, roaring skyward into a blazing inferno. Then wind chakra detonated inside the flames, fanning them into a howling tempest.
Steam exploded off the ocean as the sea of fire raged across the waves.
The massive water sphere collided with it—BOOM!—and the shockwave tore through the battlefield, sending walls of water surging outward.
Yagura narrowed his eyes. "Impressive… that jutsu's power is far greater than expected."
His gaze hardened.
"If I let you live, you'll become a threat to Kirigakure!"
He stomped his foot, chakra bursting outward.
Water Release: Isobu Great Waterfall!
The ocean itself responded—towering waves rose in every direction, swallowing the sea of flames in seconds. Steam filled the sky.
When the waters finally settled, Yagura frowned.
Kitazawa was gone.
Then—hands shot up from beneath the surface, grabbing his ankles and dragging him down.
There you are.
Without hesitation, Yagura swung both fists downward.
Kitazawa released his grip, opening his mouth to spit out four razor-sharp Water Needles that glimmered in the deep.
They struck the same point on Yagura's arm—piercing through his Tailed Beast Cloak before drawing blood.
"—Tch!"
Pain flashed across his face as he jumped back, landing hard on the surface.
But the attack stopped there.
Kitazawa surfaced slowly, lightning dancing around him once more, his expression sharp and calm.
The real fight… had just begun.
Yagura shook off the water needles embedded in his arm. Beads of blood welled up and slid down his skin. His expression hardened instantly.
Though Kitazawa's reputation had spread far and wide, in Yagura's mind he was still just a promising junior—a talented upstart.
Yet even after activating his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, he'd been injured.
Unacceptable.
With a sharp exhale, Yagura dove into the sea.
His chakra flared beneath the waves, and his three massive tails coiled around him like serpents before he shot forward—a living projectile crashing through the depths like a giant armored turtle.
Everywhere he passed, the ocean exploded.
Water Release: Instant Water!
Kitazawa's form blurred as he accelerated through the current, dodging the monstrous charge. Bursting out of the water, he launched into the air, hands flying through seals.
The surface of the sea erupted behind him.
Yagura, wreathed in red chakra, burst out with his Three-Tails spiraling around him, rocketing toward Kitazawa like a tailed cannonball.
Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!
Kitazawa formed another seal sequence, tilting his head back before spitting out a massive sphere of water.
Yagura didn't even try to evade. His chakra surged, thickening his tailed beast cloak until it rippled like molten armor.
Boom!
The water sphere detonated midair, scattering into countless droplets that rained down around him.
Yagura's gaze locked onto Kitazawa through the mist. He raised his hand.
Coral Palm!
He thrust his palm forward—the pressure alone howled through the air, strong winds coiling around his arm.
Still suspended in midair, Kitazawa gritted his teeth and raised his blade—Raiden.
Lightning crackled above. In an instant, countless bolts split the clouds and rained down.
Yagura's expression flickered.
The air was heavy with moisture—the remnants of Kitazawa's own Great Waterfall Jutsu.
The moment lightning struck the drifting water, it spread like wildfire—leaping from droplet to droplet—and swallowed Yagura whole.
BOOOOM!
The sky screamed with thunder.
Even through his tailed beast cloak, Yagura felt the searing bite of electricity pierce his defenses. His body convulsed—smoke rising from his skin—and he dropped, crashing toward the sea.
Chidori!
Kitazawa saw the opening and moved instantly.
Lightning gathered in his right hand as he descended, the cry of a thousand birds echoing across the battlefield.
He thrust forward—straight for Yagura's heart.
The Mizukage's three tails lashed violently in response.
At that instant, Kitazawa's mastery of one-handed seals revealed its worth.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
A ring of water surged around him as he drove his strike home.
His Chidori met Yagura's chest at the same moment the tails slammed into the barriers on either side.
Crash!
The water walls shattered like glass.
A violent gust swept through the air—and in the next heartbeat, Kitazawa's body scattered into a swirl of leaves.
Leaf Body Flicker!
He vanished just before impact.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!"
Yagura roared, his voice echoing across the waves. Blood splattered from his chest, staining his robes crimson.
He'd underestimated Kitazawa—and now he was paying for it.
But the wound wasn't as bad as it looked. His tailed beast cloak had absorbed most of the damage, and Isobu's chakra was already knitting his flesh back together.
Still… the fact that he'd been hurt at all made the surrounding Mist-nin tremble.
"The Mizukage… injured?"
"How's that possible?"
"Can that Konoha jōnin really be that strong?"
Their disbelief rippled through the battlefield.
On the other side, Hizashi and Kurenai felt their spirits ignite.
If Kitazawa could stall Yagura—even for a few minutes—there was hope.
If reinforcements arrived, victory was possible.
Konoha Main Camp
Night had long fallen, but Tsunade hadn't slept.
One part of her mind guarded against a Mist counterattack; the other waited for news—for her students' safe return.
She couldn't rest until she saw them again.
"Lady Tsunade," said Shikaku, bowing slightly. "We can hold this position. You should get some rest."
"No need," Tsunade replied calmly.
With the Yin Seal as backup, fatigue was irrelevant—so long as her chakra didn't run dry.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Hiashi burst into the tent, his expression grim. "Kabuto has returned—alone!"
"What?" Tsunade's eyes widened.
"I don't know the full situation," Hiashi said. "But he's almost at camp."
"Come with me."
Tsunade was already moving before the words finished leaving her mouth.
Outside, the night air was cold and thick with tension.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Kabuto's voice rang out before he reached her. "We walked right into a trap! The Fourth Mizukage was at the stronghold himself!"
"What—?"
Tsunade froze mid-step, her pulse spiking. Cold sweat slid down her neck.
"After we arrived, Yagura appeared with three jōnin. Together with the four already stationed there—eight in total!"
Kabuto's tone was tight and urgent.
Tsunade's chest clenched painfully. The image of Kitazawa bloodied and cornered burned in her mind.
'Even with his talent… he can't fight that alone.'
Without another word, she leapt into the air, vanishing from sight in a blur.
"Lady Tsunade?!"
Shizune's face went pale with panic. Only she knew the truth—Tsunade's hemophobia would cripple her in battle.
"Shikaku-san, I'll leave the camp to you," Shizune said quickly before turning to the troops. "All Anbu, with me! Move out!"
Nara Shikaku frowned but nodded. "Hiashi, lead a squad too. If the Fourth Mizukage himself is involved… we need to prepare for the worst."
Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "Understood."
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