As time passed, Kawaki felt his body growing heavier.
His subconscious told him his limbs were already out of control.
This ninja technique also contained an illusion aspect. No wonder he was dealing with a master of genjutsu.
Meanwhile, the Third Mizukage waited patiently, watching Kawaki like prey.
[Sage Art: Lightning Release Armor]
Kawaki channeled Sage Chakra into his Lightning Strike Armor, greatly boosting his cellular activity once more.
The sense of restriction gradually lessened and finally vanished.
A faint smirk curled Kawaki's lips. Such trivial tricks meant nothing to him.
"Show me something real."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for not showing you mercy."
Right after he finished speaking, Kawaki's figure disappeared from where he stood.
[Not bad.]
The Mizukage wasn't surprised. At this moment, his entire body was covered in crimson chakra.
Crash!!
They clashed. The Mizukage blocked Kawaki's punch, but that force was beyond his capacity to withstand.
He was sent flying backward, spewing a mouthful of blood.
His right arm twisted grotesquely, bones piercing through flesh.
Just looking at it was painful.
He had underestimated Kawaki's strength.
With Sage Mode amplifying his power, Kawaki's Lightning Strike Armor had surpassed even A, reaching another level entirely.
[Water Body Flicker.]
Enduring the intense pain, the Mizukage formed a single-handed seal.
His extensive combat experience allowed him to escape death once again.
In the next second, the shadow in midair was struck by Kawaki, scattering into water droplets that fell to the ground.
"Hmph~"
The Mizukage reappeared a short distance away, coughing up another mouthful of blood.
His wounds slowly began healing thanks to the power of the Tailed Beast.
Being beaten so severely by a mere youth at their first clash filled him with resentment.
If only he were in his prime—would he allow his opponent to act this arrogantly?
If he had his Complete Susanoo, would he even have to endure this humiliation?
"From now on, dodging won't help."
"Because… I'm faster than you."
After saying that, Kawaki vanished again, instantly appearing behind the Mizukage.
Perhaps by sheer instinct,
the Mizukage detected someone approaching from behind the very moment it happened.
This wasn't just body flickering—it was Flying Thunder God.
At the exact moment they collided, he had already been marked by the Flying Thunder God technique.
He rolled sideways without concern for his dignity, narrowly avoiding Kawaki's attack.
He knew clearly—he couldn't dodge what came next.
Kawaki, on the other hand, was greatly astonished as well.
This wasn't just about physical strength anymore.
Even without using his true form, could he still react this sharply?
Kawaki didn't give the Mizukage any chance to recover, launching successive fierce attacks.
With the aid of [Flying Thunder God], the Mizukage became nothing more than a training dummy.
Kawaki launched him skyward, then swiftly followed with a powerful spinning kick.
In desperation, the Mizukage conjured a turtle shell in front of him—this was San's shell.
Spiked and thick, it looked solid and unbreakable.
To him, the Tailed Beast was no different from a compliant toy.
Crash!!
A solid kick landed squarely on target—the turtle shell shattered instantly, and Kawaki's kick struck the Mizukage's abdomen.
His entire body folded like a shrimp, slamming down from the sky to the earth.
With a tremendous noise, the thick mist began to dissipate.
The battlefield cleared before them once again.
The Mizukage lay in the deep crater, no longer retaining that composed demeanor.
Her long, straight black hair was completely disheveled, and her clothes were soaked in blood.
At last, her eyes were open, revealing clearly the crimson Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Mizukage-sama!"
As the thick mist cleared away, the Mist ninja surrounding the scene looked on in disbelief.
So soon? How could the Mizukage have fallen so far, so fast?
Could Kawaki Hatake really be that terrifyingly strong?
"Take a good look, all of you."
"Is this truly your Mizukage?"
Kawaki pointed at the Mizukage's eyes. The truth speaks for itself.
His hunch was right on the mark.
"That is...?"
"We never heard anything about the Mizukage having an eye disease."
"Are you serious? Looks like some kind of eye infection."
"Buzz off, moron. It looks more like Konoha's Sharingan."
The Mangekyō Sharingan was already an extraordinary power in Konoha; naturally, the Mist ninja wouldn't recognize it.
"If anything, he's more of a puppet than your Mizukage."
"Otherwise, how could Kirigakure have ended up in such a state?"
Kawaki didn't rush to finish off the Mizukage—he had other intentions.
Kirigakure was also a crucial piece in Madara Uchiha's grand scheme, and Kawaki intended to ensure its complete downfall.
To kill the Third Mizukage would only mean losing one of Madara Uchiha's tools—nothing more than that.
"What?"
"The Mizukage has been controlled by someone?"
"No wonder his whole personality shifted so dramatically after taking office."
Considering the Mizukage's recent behavior, most of the Mist shinobi already believed Kawaki's words.
If Madara were a Mizukage who cared for his people, he wouldn't have fallen into this situation.
Just as the Mist ninja were murmuring among themselves, a so-called genius stepped forward.
"So Konoha sent someone to control our Mizukage—what are your intentions?"
He clearly couldn't tell the mood in the room, wearing an expression brimming with self-righteous anger.
Anyone watching would mistake him for some kind of hero.
"Brains are valuable."
"Hope you've got one in there somewhere."
Kawaki stared in astonishment at this idiot, tapping his own temple with his index finger, exuding helplessness.
The bigger the forest, the weirder the birds.
"Stop embarrassing yourself. If Konoha really had control over him,"
"Do you think the Mizukage would've gone out hunting Konoha ninjas?"
One of the Mist ninja pulled him back quietly.
Regardless of everything else, can you even beat him now?
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Can't you see how beaten up the Mizukage already is?
When strength decides the outcome, guys like this are dangerous liabilities.
You want to die? Fine—but don't drag everyone else down with you.
Besides, this Mizukage is just a puppet anyway. Dying at the hands of a Konoha ninja isn't necessarily a bad thing.
"Lord Kawaki, we truly appreciate your revelation about the Mizukage being controlled."
"But today, what exactly is your purpose here?"
Elder Genji had silently observed everything for quite some time before finally stepping forward.
He was a smart man. Since Kawaki hadn't started a massacre, there must still be room to negotiate.
But he hadn't anticipated that Kawaki's only reason for coming alone to Kirigakure was actually Nagato.
Without Kawaki's strength, such a move would seem insane to him.
"It's simple—I'm only here to reclaim my disciple."
"Also, your Mizukage is nothing more than a Puppet."
Kawaki remained calm and unfazed—the situation was entirely under his control.
He had no particular attachment to Kirigakure either.
Truthfully, he wished that the old woman from before could live a normal life—away from the suffering in the Bloody Mist Village.
"Just for that red-haired brat?"
Elder Genji wore a look of disbelief.
As he recalled Nagato's gaze from back then, he hadn't expected this kid's 'confidence' to be so terrifyingly strong.
"Fine. Hand him over, and today's matter ends here."
Kawaki spoke while still sensing his surroundings.
He was scanning for Zetsu.
But with only a Puppet at hand, there was no chance of finding Madara.
"Fine, I'll have someone bring your disciple right away."
Elder Genji agreed readily, choosing his words with care.
At this point, preserving dignity no longer mattered to him.
Surveying the scarred battlefield, he only wanted Kawaki gone immediately.
"You go to Prison Four and bring Kawaki-sama's disciple here."
Elder Genji ordered a Mist ninja beside him.
"Yes, Elder."
The Mist ninja departed immediately. Kawaki had essentially accomplished his goal.
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