"Mizukage-sama."
"The Konoha ninja, Kawaki Hatake, has come alone."
The commotion was so great that the Mizukage had been awakened by his subordinates.
Listening to the report from outside and hearing the alarm reverberating through Kiri, the Mizukage no longer doubted the truth of the matter.
"He actually had the audacity to come here."
"Ignorance breeds fearlessness."
A mocking smile appeared on the Mizukage's face.
Does he really think just because he has some strength, he can storm an entire ninja village alone?
How arrogant!
"Many have already gone to confront him."
The Mist ninja outside spoke anxiously, fearing reprisal for bearing bad news.
"I know. I'll be right there."
The Mizukage didn't take it seriously. Seriously, what any lowlife is trying to imitate me and Hashirama these days?
"Understood, Mizukage-sama."
After receiving a reply, the Mist ninja got up and left.
If the Mizukage himself steps in, this should end quickly, right?
"Let's see how strong you really are, brat."
As the Mizukage stood up and walked out, one thought burned in his mind: Once you're in my hands, do you really think you can be taken back?
In your dreams!
Not far away, a Mist ninja approached, his clothes torn and his appearance battered, staggering toward the Mizukage's chamber.
"Mizukage-sama, we've suffered a crushing defeat!"
"That Kawaki Hatake possesses [Wood Release]!"
"He's already entered the village!"
The fear hadn't yet faded from the ninja's face. Had Kawaki not let him escape on purpose, there was absolutely no way he could have reached here.
"What?!"
The Mizukage finally showed true shock.
He had assumed after Hashirama's death, only himself could use [Wood Release].
Yet now, another emerged—Kawaki Hatake.
"Are you certain?"
Still somewhat disbelieving, the Mizukage muttered. Kawaki Hatake wasn't even from the Senju clan.
"Absolutely! He transformed the village entrance into a forest!"
The ninja swallowed hard, still reeling from the sight of trees bursting forth from the earth.
If not for his swift escape, he would still be dangling from one of those branches.
"Even in death, you refuse to let me have peace."
The Mizukage mumbled softly. No one else in this world knew better than him and Hashirama the true power of [Wood Release].
"Pardon, sir?"
The ninja didn't hear clearly and thought the Mizukage might be giving orders.
"Nothing. Tell Elder Genji to guard that child carefully."
Understanding precisely why Kawaki had come, the Mizukage issued his command before heading toward the village entrance.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
The ninja saluted and departed, feeling reassured as he watched the Mizukage walk away.
...
Kawaki entered Kiri. The architecture here was starkly different from Konoha's.
He observed everything calmly as villagers rushed past him, fleeing for their lives without sparing them a glance.
"Son, run now!"
"I heard Konoha ninjas have attacked!"
An elderly woman kindly tugged at Kawaki as she passed by.
She couldn't bear to see such a handsome young man meet his doom.
"Haha, you go on ahead, ma'am. I still have something to do."
Kawaki gave her a kind smile.
Even in this Bloody Mist Village, its civilians remained warm-hearted.
"Nothing matters more than your life! Come with me now!"
The old woman was filled with worry and tried pulling Kawaki along toward the shelter.
"Don't worry about me, ma'am. I'm young—fast on my feet."
Kawaki could only stand there, feeling helpless and dare not use too much strength.
He spoke softly and negotiated with the elderly woman.
"You..."
The elderly woman was about to persuade further, but before she could utter a single word, she was interrupted by a sound coming from a distance.
"Kawaki Hatake? I heard you're looking for me."
Mizukage approached slowly, his steps steady despite his eyes being tightly closed.
"Water Shadow, my lord."
The old woman looked at Mizukage and then at Kawaki, finally realizing who she had just grabbed.
She immediately let go and quickly took a few steps back.
I really was blind not to see the truth, actually hiding away with the culprit.
What a cruel irony.
"You go ahead first; I have something to take care of here."
Kawaki didn't pay attention to Mizukage, and only turned his head toward Mizukage's direction after finishing his words.
The old lady turned around and ran, much faster than usual.
"Are you afraid to open your eyes and look at me?"
"Such a dignified figure, could he actually be disabled?"
Kawaki stared intently at Mizukage, eager to discern the nature of the pupils hidden within those eyes.
Although I had my suspicions, seeing it with my own eyes was the most reliable.
"Even with my eyes closed, I can still take you down."
"Not everyone who uses the Wood Release technique can be revered as if they possessed a divine skill."
The Water Shadow clearly understood how immense Hashirama's chakra was and how remarkable his physical abilities were.
It was the combination of these factors that created Hashirama Senju, the invincible figure in the ninja world.
Merely mastering the Wood Release technique does not place one on par with Hashirama.
Thank you for your kind words.
"I forgot to tell you - now I call Hashirama Senju 'grandfather'."
"I wonder what it would feel like to be defeated by my grandfather and then beaten by me?"
Kawaki began probing with words, directly piercing through Water Shadow's heart.
"Hmm... What did you say? I don't understand."
The Water Shadow coldly snorted, pretending to be confused.
But his heart was already in a state of utter turmoil.
How could that be? How did he know his identity?
A straightforward person does not speak in hints.
"I know exactly who you are."
"Pretend to die in order to awaken the Rinnegan."
"Indeed, it's you, Uchiha Madara."
"Is that so?"
Kawaki spoke the truth without any concealment, his gaze fixed intently on Mizukage, not even blinking.
"You know too much."
"Today, you won't leave the Hidden Mist Village alive."
Mizukage's expression turned unusually serious. This was his most important secret.
"Less talk. Don't let me find you."
This chapter is not over yet!
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Chapter Title: Today, I've Come to Take Nagato.
Kawaki, while speaking, suddenly lunged fiercely towards Mizukage.
He suddenly exerted force beneath his feet, and lightning surged around him in an instant.
A lingering shadow of thunder remained in place as he had already rushed to the Water Shadow's side.
A dazzling and powerful fist whooshed through the air, heading straight for the Water Shadow's face.
"So fast! Could it be the Raikō Armor from the Cloud Village?"
A chill ran through Mizukage's heart—he was not a ninja skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
Clang~
Kawaki's fist shot straight through the Water Shadow's body, and the opponent's figure instantly dissolved into a puddle of water.
Water Clone.
[Water Release: Hiding in Drizzle Technique.]
Mizukage knew that she had no advantage in speed while in this body.
Having lost my original eyes, I can only passively take punches.
The village, already shrouded in mist, was instantly engulfed by an even denser fog.
Kawaki's sensory perception was severely impaired—he could no longer see clearly what lay before him.
Fairy Technique.
Kawaki instantly activated Sage Art. He had no intention of underestimating his opponent.
After all, the one facing him was none other than Madara Uchiha.
A being comparable even to Hashirama Senju.
Red markings flared around his eyes, and his golden pupils gleamed intensely.
Thanks to Sage Mode amplifying his senses, Kawaki's perception significantly sharpened.
Not far away, the Mizukage stood, amassing a massive amount of chakra.
That malicious, destructive energy could only mean one thing—a Tailed Beast.
"No wonder controlling the Mizukage was this easy."
Kawaki muttered. Combining a Tailed Beast with the Sharingan made manipulating a Jinchūriki significantly easier.
Of course, that was all relative. If it was Madara Uchiha, then everything made sense.
[Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu (Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique)]
After forming the hand seals, the Mizukage poured a vast amount of chakra into the fog.
Kawaki sensed the change—it had become tangible.
It clung to his body with weight, making him feel increasingly heavy.
This was actually a wide-range suppressing ninjutsu.
How peculiar!
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