Kitazawa saw the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi of the Hidden Mist Village, standing under the moonlight.
Just like in the original work, he had a baby face—looking more like a teenager than a Kage.
In truth, however, Yagura was already quite old; his grandson, Kagura, had even been born.
Kitazawa's first reaction was clear—there was a traitor within Konoha Village.
Their mission to raid the Hidden Mist stronghold this time was a top-secret operation. Theoretically, only Tsunade, Nara Shikaku, and a handful of Jonin who attended the war meeting knew about it.
These Jonin were the pillars of Konoha—there was no chance they would betray their village.
That left only the three ninja squads composed of Hyuga Clan members and Anbu operating deep behind enemy lines.
The Hyuga branch families were all bound by the Caged Bird Seal, making betrayal impossible. But Anbu ninja—they carried a certain risk.
And at that thought, one name surfaced in Kitazawa's mind.
Danzo.
After Root was officially disbanded, many of its members were absorbed into the Anbu. Yet, they still obeyed Danzo's orders from the shadows.
Danzo's goal was simple—to become Hokage. He would never allow Tsunade to achieve great success in this war.
If Kitazawa's surprise attack mission failed, it would deal a heavy blow to Konoha's strategy.
And since Kitazawa was Tsunade's student, it would directly damage her prestige as well.
"Are you Kitazawa?" Yagura's gaze fell upon him.
"It seems my reputation isn't small," Kitazawa said calmly. "Worthy indeed of the Mizukage personally setting an ambush for me."
Though the Byakugan was powerful for reconnaissance and perception, it wasn't invincible.
Yagura and his subordinates had hidden deep beneath the sea—and somehow managed to evade detection by the Byakugan.
"You're just a bonus." Yagura's voice was cold and emotionless. "Our goal is to use you to lure out Tsunade."
Kitazawa's heart trembled. "How did you know my location?"
Yagura's words confirmed it—the Hidden Mist's target was both him and Tsunade.
And that could only mean one thing: the traitor was most likely Danzo or the remnants of his former Root.
[You are facing the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi — a foe stronger than you. Risk is opportunity. Survive.]
[Current Mission: Hold out until Tsunade and the others arrive.]
[Mission Reward: Mangekyo Sharingan Resistance.]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa stared blankly at the four glowing lines of text that appeared before his eyes.
A mission... triggered now, of all times?
But it made sense. After all, this was the Fourth Mizukage—it was only natural that a mission would appear.
Still... what exactly was "Mangekyo Sharingan Resistance"?
Could it mean resistance against the control of the Mangekyo Sharingan? The thought struck him immediately.
Because the Yagura standing before him was the same man who, in the original timeline, had been controlled by Uchiha Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan.
If this mission was connected to that, then the reward made perfect sense.
And if so, it was an extremely valuable ability to have.
After all, while only a few possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, the three greatest villains—Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito, and Danzo—all had it.
Of course, the richer the reward, the higher the danger.
If Yagura were merely a Water Release specialist, Kitazawa wouldn't have felt much pressure.
But as a Three-Tails Jinchuriki, Yagura's threat level was on an entirely different scale.
"You don't need to know that much." Yagura casually threw a flare into the sky.
In an instant, the Hidden Mist ninja stationed on the nearby island began rushing toward them.
"Kabuto, we'll cover your escape," Kitazawa ordered without hesitation.
With the Fourth Mizukage and several elite Mist Jonin present, retreating together would be impossible.
The best course of action was to send one person back to the Konoha Main Camp to report the ambush.
And the ideal candidate was Kabuto.
First, he was highly intelligent and quick-thinking.
Second—he was skilled in Wind Release and possessed exceptional mobility.
Third—he was proficient in Medical Ninjutsu, increasing his chances of survival even in chaos.
"Wishful thinking!" The middle-aged Mist ninja beside Yagura sneered. "With Lord Mizukage here, none of you will escape alive!"
Kabuto didn't even look at him. He turned and bolted into the forest.
"Stop right there!" The middle-aged ninja vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, pursuing him.
But at that very moment, the sea began to churn violently.
Countless torrents of seawater roared upward—forming a towering wave more than ten meters high that crashed toward the pursuing Mist ninja.
In an instant, the scene looked like the end of the world. Every Mist ninja's expression froze in shock.
They had read reports describing Kitazawa's Water Release mastery, but seeing it firsthand was an entirely different experience. The data had not been exaggerated.
"It's rare for Konoha to produce a Water Release user like you," Yagura said coldly, forming rapid hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Mirror Jutsu!"
A massive water mirror appeared in front of him, blocking the oncoming wave.
When the tide collided with it, the surface trembled violently—and then, defying logic, the wave reflected backward.
However, the wave was far too massive, and only a portion of it rebounded.
Chakra Enhanced Strength! Kitazawa clenched his fist and threw a punch.
The reversed wave split in two, parted cleanly with his strike as its center.
Hizashi Hyuga and the others finally exhaled in relief.
But even from this brief exchange, they realized—no one who bore the title of Kage was undeserving of it.
Still, thanks to the diversion, Kabuto had already disappeared into the distance.
"You four—go after him!" The middle-aged Mist ninja barked, pointing to one Special Jonin and three Chunin.
"Take them down before Tsunade arrives!" Yagura's sharp gaze flicked toward Kabuto as he gave the command.
His plan was simple—capture Kitazawa and use him as bait to lure Tsunade. If he could kill her in one stroke, victory for the Hidden Mist would be within reach.
"Secret Technique: Poison Dust Technique!"
Torune clapped his hands together. Countless microscopic insects—Phosphorus Destruction Bugs—burst forth in a poisonous cloud.
"Be careful!" a Hidden Mist Jonin shouted. "That's not smoke—it's a swarm of venomous insects!"
The Mist Nin scattered to both sides, Yagura alone standing firm.
"Coral Staff: Four Consecutive Strikes!"
Using the Body Flicker Technique, Yagura evaded the insects and appeared before Kitazawa in a flash, his coral staff lashing out in a blur.
Clang! Kitazawa met the strike head-on. Lightning crackled along his blade.
"Lightning Release: Super Vibrato Lightning Release Sword!"
The sword buzzed violently, the vibrating chakra deflecting Yagura's staff. Kitazawa's right hand flicked upward, sending a blade of flame hurtling through the air.
"Water Release: Water Bullet!"
Yagura leaned back, spewing forth a massive orb of water that snuffed out the flame and kept surging toward Kitazawa.
He pressed forward, coral staff striking again—four times in a single second, each blow slicing through the air with a shrill hiss.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!" Sparks erupted in Kitazawa's left hand.
The piercing cry of a thousand birds echoed as he cut the incoming water sphere in half.
His right hand twisted, blocking the coral staff with lightning, while his left hand lunged toward Yagura's chest.
"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"
Yagura released his weapon and leapt back. A shimmering mirror of water rose before him, and from its surface, a second Kitazawa stepped forth.
The clone's eyes were cold and empty as it mimicked Kitazawa's movements.
Both struck at once—two Chidori clashed in a blinding flare of light.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
Kitazawa spun on his heel, his leg sweeping through the mirrored double. The clone's body rippled, then splashed into formless water.
He exhaled lightly. "A water clone, as expected from the Mizukage."
Yagura regarded him with calm eyes. "Your strength is impressive. No wonder you managed to kill Fuguki."
The coral staff sank beneath the waves, forgotten.
Kitazawa's gaze darted across the battlefield. Hizashi Hyuga, Kurenai, and the others were barely holding on.
They had come with five Jonin—Kitazawa, Kabuto, and three from Hizashi's squad. Now, with Kabuto gone, only four Jonin remained.
The Hidden Mist had Yagura plus six Jonin of their own. Only Kurenai and Torune's prowess as Special Jonin kept the battle from collapsing completely.
"Your team isn't weak either," Yagura remarked with a faint smile.
Kitazawa frowned. He couldn't grasp why Yagura suddenly chose to speak so casually amid the fight.
"But my time is limited," Yagura continued, his voice hardening. "I can't waste it on you."
Boom!
A crushing aura burst forth. The sea convulsed violently as Yagura's chakra flared. Red, bubbling energy erupted from his body, spiraling upward like a storm.
The ocean around them roared in answer.
"What…?" Hizashi's Byakugan widened. "The Fourth Mizukage is a Jinchuriki!?"
Even from afar, Kurenai could feel the overwhelming pressure.
Her breath caught in her throat, her face tense with worry—but she couldn't break away to help. The Mist Jonin before her were relentless.
"If you surrender now," Yagura's voice thundered across the waves, "and wait until I've slain Tsunade, I'll permit you to join the Hidden Mist Village."
Three enormous tails rose behind him, writhing with raw power—the mark of the Three-Tails' chakra cloak.
Kitazawa's instinct screamed to activate his Senju Chakra Mode, but he restrained himself. Four minutes of power wouldn't be enough for reinforcements to arrive.
He wasn't worried for himself—his Water Release: Water Transformation(Hydrification) made him nearly untouchable in the sea.
He could escape at any moment. But Kurenai and the others couldn't.
He drew a steady breath. This would be the toughest fight of his life. But he felt no fear—only determination.
He had a system. He had strength. And now, he had a chance to surpass his limits.
And the reward this time… was worth the risk.
"You really don't know what's good for you!" Yagura growled, his chakra surging as he opened his mouth—
"Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!"
A roaring water sphere shot forth, tearing through the night sea straight toward Kitazawa.
The Water Release: Water Bullet Technique Yagura unleashed this time was far larger than before—ten times, at least.
Calling it a water sphere was an understatement; it was more like a blazing sun forged from water.
"Compound Ninjutsu: Strange Mask Exploding Flame!"
Kitazawa's hands blurred through a rapid sequence of seals. Chakra ignited into roaring flames that burst from his mouth, forming a sea of fire that blazed across the night sky.
The moment it met the ocean's surface, steam surged upward in violent torrents, turning the battlefield into a mist-shrouded inferno.
Almost at the same instant, a compressed wind sphere detonated within the flames. The wind howled, fanning the fire into a raging storm.
The sea of fire, driven by the tempest, expanded outward—an all-consuming infernal hurricane in the midst of the mist.
Yagura's massive water sphere collided with it head-on, triggering a deafening explosion.
Boom!
Shockwaves rippled outward, shaking the sea.
Yagura raised an eyebrow, his expression tightening. The destructive force of Kitazawa's Compound Ninjutsu: Strange Mask Exploding Flame was far greater than he had anticipated.
"If I allow you to grow, you'll become a grave threat to the Hidden Mist Village!" he muttered coldly.
Yagura stomped hard on the surface of the sea.
"Water Release: Isobu Great Waterfall!"
The ocean surged around him, spiraling into a towering wall of waves. The overwhelming cascade crashed down, extinguishing Kitazawa's fiery storm in less than three seconds.
When the last embers vanished, Yagura's eyes narrowed.
Kitazawa was gone.
A sudden chill crept up from below.
Two hands burst from the water beneath him, seizing his ankles and yanking him into the depths.
Yagura glanced downward—Kitazawa's eyes glinted from beneath the surface.
Without hesitation, Yagura swung both fists downward.
Kitazawa released him, his mouth opening to spit four sharp water needles that glimmered like senbon.
They streaked toward Yagura's Tailed Beast cloak.
Yagura's pupils contracted. He pulled back his arms in defense.
Pssst!
Pain shot through him.
All four water needles struck the same point, their combined force piercing through the Tailed Beast cloak and lodging into his arm.
But that was all they managed.
Yagura leapt backward, shaking off the needles. When he saw blood beading on his arm, his expression darkened.
Kitazawa was renowned, yes—but in Yagura's mind, he had still been a promising junior, nothing more.
He hadn't expected to bleed—not even after entering Partial Tailed Beast Mode.
With a growl, Yagura dove into the water.
He quickly located Kitazawa below. Three massive tails enveloped his body as he surged forward like a colossal turtle, crashing through the depths with explosive power.
Water Release: Instant Water!
Kitazawa's figure flickered through the sea, accelerating like a darting fish. He burst from the surface, suspended mid-air, and formed hand seals once more.
The sea erupted beneath him.
Yagura emerged, the Three-Tails surging behind him like a tidal beast.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Kitazawa finished his seals and exhaled, spewing forth a gigantic water sphere.
Yagura didn't dodge. Chakra flared around his body, thickening his Tailed Beast cloak.
With a thunderous crash, the water sphere burst apart, sending countless streams cascading down.
As the spray rained over him, Yagura raised his palm.
"Coral Palm!"
He struck forward, his arm sheathed in wild surges of chakra that whipped the air into gusts.
Kitazawa held his ground mid-air, drawing Lightning blade from his back.
Lightning flared.
In an instant, countless bolts split the sky, converging into a storm of blinding brilliance.
Yagura's eyes widened slightly—his body and the sea around him were drenched, every droplet now a conductor.
The lightning crashed down.
BOOOOM!
Deafening thunder engulfed him. Electric fury coursed through his body, piercing even the Tailed Beast cloak.
Yagura grunted in pain, his muscles twitching uncontrollably as he plummeted from the sky.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
Kitazawa didn't hesitate. He flickered forward, his right hand blazing with lightning as he thrust toward Yagura's heart.
The roaring of wind and lightning filled the air.
But Yagura's three tails whipped around, striking in a deadly counterattack.
At that critical instant, Kitazawa's mastery of one-handed seals shone through.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
His left hand flashed through the signs. Water spiraled up around him, forming twin barriers.
Kitazawa's Chidori pierced Yagura's chest as the Three-Tails' tails smashed into the water walls, shattering them with a deafening crack.
Wind tore through the remnants of the technique.
"Konoha-Style Body Flicker Technique!"
In a blur, Kitazawa vanished into a swirl of leaves, reappearing far from the impact zone.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!" Yagura roared in fury.
Blood poured from his wound, staining his robes crimson. His rage echoed across the battlefield, startling even his own men.
Despite his regeneration from the Three-Tails' chakra, Yagura's pride had been wounded.
"The Mizukage… was injured?"
"No way—how is that possible!?"
"Is that Konoha ninja truly that powerful!?"
The Hidden Mist Jonin stared in disbelief, their voices trembling as the sea itself seemed to shudder around the clash between Kitazawa and their Mizukage.
In contrast, Kurenai and Hizashi Hyuga were filled with excitement.
Their only hope was for Kitazawa to hold off Yagura Karatachi until Konoha's reinforcements could arrive.
Now that Kitazawa had far exceeded expectations and completed the mission, their confidence was greatly bolstered.
---
Konoha Main Camp
Even though it was already deep into the night, Tsunade still hadn't gone to sleep.
On one hand, she had to remain alert for a possible counterattack from the Hidden Mist. On the other hand, she was anxiously waiting for news from Kitazawa and his team.
She couldn't rest easy until they returned.
"Lady Tsunade." Nara Shikaku spoke up. "We can handle the watch here. You should get some rest."
"No need," Tsunade replied, shaking her head.
With the Yin Seal, she could regulate her body's condition at will. Theoretically, as long as her chakra wasn't depleted, she wouldn't feel fatigue.
"Kabuto has returned alone!" At that moment, Hyuga Hiashi rushed in, his expression tense.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade's face instantly changed.
"I'm not sure of the full situation," Hiashi said solemnly. "He'll be at the camp soon."
"Come with me!" Tsunade immediately strode out of the main tent, heading straight toward Kabuto.
"Lady Tsunade!" Kabuto spotted her from afar and shouted, "We fell into a trap! The Fourth Mizukage was at that stronghold!"
"What?!" Tsunade's entire body froze. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
"After we arrived at the stronghold, the Fourth Mizukage appeared with three Jonin and surrounded us!"
Kabuto hurried over, speaking rapidly, "Including the original four Jonin stationed there—that's a total of eight Jonin!"
Tsunade felt her chest tighten as if her heart had been gripped by an invisible hand.
In her mind, an image of Kitazawa, blood-soaked and battered, surfaced uncontrollably.
Though she knew Kitazawa was exceptionally strong, facing Yagura alone was already perilous—being outnumbered made it nearly impossible.
Thinking this, Tsunade suddenly leapt forward, vanishing from sight with terrifying speed.
"Lady Tsunade?!" Shizune's eyes widened in alarm, anxiety flashing across her face.
She knew better than anyone that Tsunade suffered from hemophobia—if she went alone, it could only spell disaster.
"Senior Shikaku, I'll leave the camp to you!" Shizune called out, then turned sharply. "All Anbu, follow me!"
"Hiashi," Nara Shikaku said after a brief pause, "lead a team as well. Since the Fourth Mizukage has appeared, we have to prepare for the worst."
Hyuga Hiashi nodded firmly.
--
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)