Before initiating the Paradise Project, the Third Mizukage had already discussed all operational details with Master Genzu, who was regarded as the ballast of Kirigakure.
From personnel arrangements to confidentiality measures before action, the Third Mizukage had done everything exceptionally well.
Even among the Kage's personal Anbu units, only a few trusted subordinates were informed beforehand about the plan. Most mobilized ninja from Kirigakure may have harbored various grievances against the Suiton and Hozuki Clans, but prior to the operation, they only knew that the village was preparing another secret invasion into the Land of Lightning.
Therefore, even those Hozuki and Suiton clan members who sensed certain abnormalities in the village, along with their special informants planted inside the Kirigakure Anbu, paid little attention to these signs. They simply reported the anomalies routinely and then ignored them.
After all, it was customary for Kirigakure to secretly gather forces and act opportunistically. During the previous Great Ninja World War when invading the Northern Border of the Land of Lightning, Kirigakure employed exactly this kind of tactic to launch surprise attacks. Thus, it was perfectly understandable for Kirigakure ninja to rely somewhat on habitual patterns when analyzing events.
However!
Here came the biggest problem!
Why did the seemingly flawless Paradise Project contain such an enormous flaw, triggering an explosion of such massive power and consequence?
Looking at three mushroom clouds slowly rising into the sky, Raiga Kurosuki and Biwa Juzo wore grim expressions.
This was no small matter!
Judging merely by the sound of the blast and the spectacular ascent of the mushroom clouds, one could roughly deduce that behind this must have been hundreds of thousands of explosive tags detonated simultaneously. Otherwise, such a shocking catastrophe would never have occurred.
"Heheheh..."
The Hozuki Clan Head's expression shifted quickly before he threw his head back in laughter. "Looks like heaven hasn't abandoned us after all!"
Although the explosion happened within the territories of the three great clans of Kirigakure and would inevitably affect them to some extent, any impact would create disturbance, and disturbances would naturally draw other people's attention!
And that was enough!
If they had to rely only on the Hozuki and Suiton Clans, they wouldn't have stood a chance against the village's full-scale attack.
But what if combined with other ninja clans?
The reason why both Hozuki and Suiton managed to become the leading elite clans of Kirigakure was because they were supported by many smaller ninja clans with shared interests closely allied to them.
What delighted the Hozuki Clan Head most was that even Kaguya Clan's territory had been attacked, causing a tremendous chain explosion of explosive tags—an unmistakable action initiated willingly by the three great clans!
"That's all we need!"
Suiton Clan Head also displayed visible joy on his face. After quickly swallowing a Military Rations Pill while busy fighting, he pushed away the hands of the protective ninja trying to support him and proudly declared, "We've still got two Jonin! There's a chance to turn this around! Aligning yourself with those who oppose Kirigakure will bring nothing good!"
"I—"
Raiga Kurosuki let out an angry shout, then shook off his doubts and immediately signaled his Kirigakure ninja to begin their assault. At the same time, lightning gathered around his Raikōdan sword as he prepared to release a much more powerful Secret Jutsu.
As for what kind of incidents might occur in other mission areas, that was no longer his concern at this moment.
At the same time, having noticed the disturbances occurring within the territories of the three major ninja clans, the Mist Ninja Clan successively dispatched scouts. Although some were intercepted and killed by the emergency-deployed members of the Paradise faction among the Mist Ninjas, news of the crises erupting at the three clans' territories still eventually reached the ears of their respective clan leaders.
Immediately afterward, flames erupted across Mist, cries of battle rising and falling like waves.
"Each clan possesses more than a million explosive tags!"
The Suiton Clan Head, who had just regained a little of his strength, shouted as he used secret techniques to block the Mist Ninjas' attacks. "If we detonate all of them simultaneously, this village will definitely be utterly destroyed!"
"Is this really what you want to witness?"
"Surrender hostility and sit down for negotiations—that's our only way out!"
"Bullshit!"
Biwa Juzo let out a furious roar, swinging his Cleaver Sword forward even as the protective guards launched defensive ninjutsu against him. With a powerful strike against the small glacier conjured by the Suiton Clan Leader's secret jutsu, he carved an opening through it. Immediately after, ranks of Mist Ninjas appeared behind him, launching half-practiced lightning release techniques in coordinated volleys.
Meanwhile, the encircling Mist Ninjas also employed various tactics, using all sorts of ninjutsu and ninja tools to blast the glacier into flying shards of ice. At the same time, they tied up part of the guarding forces.
Though the two clan heads were still able to defend themselves with the help of their secret jutsu, they knew it was only a matter of time before the sheer numbers of Mist Ninjas overwhelmed them with waves of ninjutsu and ninja tools.
Although outwardly calm, the Clan Heads of Hozuki and Suiton exchanged a subtle glance, quickly reaching an unspoken understanding.
"The best option is to retreat!"
"Strategic retreat!"
Having understood each other's intentions, the two Clan Heads began planning their escape.
The Hozuki Clan Head continued launching water bullets in every direction, but subtly shifted the density of attacks toward the less crowded northern side, intending to create an escape route.
Just then, Raiga Kurosuki had fully charged his Lightning Sword Secret Jutsu!
"Lightning Release: Natural Lightning!"
A bolt of lightning erupted from Raiga's dual swords into the sky, instantly drawing down a net-like formation of natural lightning—thunder dragons and electric snakes entwining—hurtling downward toward the two clans' ninja positioned at the center of the glacier!
And yet, it wasn't over.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Dragon Tornado!"
The lightning blade Raiga swung forth generated not only arcs of electricity but merged simultaneously with the tornado he conjured, transforming into a blazing lightning tornado filled with crackling sparks, hurtling straight toward the two clans' ninja!
Wherever the lightning tornado struck, glaciers shattered, and ninjutsu dissolved—it was unstoppable!
Simultaneously, Biwa Juzo suddenly lunged forward, initiating a fierce melee assault!
The rank-and-file Mist Ninjas behind him followed closely, surging through the breach created by the cleaver sword into the heart of the enemy lines!
"Watch out!"
The Hozuki Clan Head immediately shouted a warning and activated the meticulously planned secret technique:
[Ninpo: Steam Imp!]
A child-sized clone burst from the Hozuki Clan Head's body, rocketing upward at incredible speed. Surrounded by glacial cold, it abruptly contracted and then exploded!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!"
Scorching steam erupted outward, flipping over Mist ninja charging in from all directions. Even their relentless barrage of ninjutsu was quickly neutralized by the steam.
Then, the superheated vapor rapidly cooled under the icy chill, condensing again into a slightly smaller clone!
This was an extremely powerful secret technique originating from Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki. Even his sworn rival, Second Tsuchikage Mū, found this move troublesome—the injuries on him were actually caused by this very technique, explaining why the Second Tsuchikage always appeared as a bandaged man.
The terrifying aspect of Steam Implosion lay in its explosive power, nearly equivalent to that of a perpetual motion machine. As long as there was sufficient kinetic energy and a temperature difference between hot and cold, the clone could accumulate strength while moving, continuously exploding until completely exhausting its power.
However, no secret technique came without a devastating cost.
After using this jutsu, the Hozuki Clan Head was utterly disfigured. This technique demanded not only an enormous amount of chakra but also directly extracted fat and moisture from the user's body to form the complete structure of the technique.
The immediate result was complete physical collapse. Compared to his legendary ancestor Gengetsu Hozuki—a dominant figure in Mist history—the current Hozuki Clan Head was vastly inferior in power. Worse still, his incomplete mastery of the secret art meant that even dehydration and exhaustion were relatively favorable outcomes.
As the moisture clones continued forming and exploding, Mist ninja lay scattered across the battlefield, dead or wounded. Two renowned swordsmen were left battered and broken.
"These guys are no pushovers."
Unfortunately, realizing this was already too late.
Amid the continuous cover of steam explosions, the Hozuki Clan Head and Suiton Clan Head swiftly broke through enemy lines with their protective escorts, heading toward their clan territory.
Although this action somewhat resembled walking willingly into a trap, they had no other choice.
To save more clansmen, greater risks needed to be taken; besides, both powerful clans had hidden trump cards that required the personal supervision of their clan heads to activate.
"Keep chasing them! I'll execute any coward who refuses to fight!"
Burned all over by the scalding steam, Biwa Juzo raged furiously, ordering the surviving Mist ninja to throw away their lives to weaken the moisture clone so they could continue pursuit.
"Stop the chase!"
But Raiga Kurosuki held a different view.
"What did you say?!"
Biwa Juzo grew even angrier.
"Can't you see? Kaguya Clan's territory is already under attack!"
Though equally furious, Raiga Kurosuki still retained some rationality, allowing him to make judgments beneficial to his own interests: "Not just those bone-obsessed freaks—other ninja clans have begun moving too!"
"What..."
Biwa Juzo was left speechless.
A surprise attack on an unsuspecting enemy had still resulted in a catastrophic disaster—this alone was enough to confirm that the Paradise Project had essentially failed.
After all, even with the Third Mizukage and Master Genzu gathering the elders, mobilizing the Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist and civilian Mist shinobi loyal to the Bloodline faction, they had deployed only slightly over three thousand personnel total for the sake of secrecy.
Such a force, if unleashed swiftly like a thunderclap, could have completely dismantled the organizational structures of House Hozuki and the Suiton Clan. With that victory behind them, they might have forced every other clan in the Mist into submission.
But now that things had gone wrong, no one could predict how the other ninja clans—surely panicking over their own survival—would react. Indeed, many Mist ninja clans had already mobilized and were rushing to provide aid to House Hozuki and the Suiton Clan.
"Something's wrong! Who exactly is stirring up trouble at Kaguya?"
Biwa Juzo suddenly realized another issue—this entire time, the secret plan had never targeted the Kaguya Clan at all!
"You're just figuring this out now?"
Raiga Kurosuki snorted coldly before giving orders to his subordinates among the Mist ninja to begin rescuing the wounded and preparing a tactical withdrawal from the battlefield.
Though abandoning the mission was disgraceful, staying alive mattered more.
Unlike most hypocrites, Raiga Kurosuki openly admitted his selfishness, so he carried no psychological burden in doing such things.
"Aren't you going to..."
Biwa Juzo gestured toward the direction of House Hozuki's territory.
That location was where the Third Mizukage himself had stationed his command along with two additional swordsmen—it was one of the main fronts of invasion in the Paradise Operation.
"If you want to go, then go!"
Raiga Kurosuki snorted again. "And whoever among these men wishes to follow you—you can take them with you!"
Biwa Juzo glanced at the Mist ninja around him, who were busy tending to the injured and collecting bodies, quietly sighing to himself.
Their conversation was openly spoken for all to hear, yet not a single Mist ninja showed any reaction at all—they remained focused solely on their life-saving tasks.
You can't make a horse drink, even if you lead it to water.
Biwa Juzo accepted reality but still feigned innocence as he tried to shift blame: "Still, this decision was yours; just make sure everything goes smoothly after this!"
"So long as we retreat immediately to headquarters and regroup our forces, regardless of who wins or loses in the end, we'll still have a place in what follows!"
Clearly, Raiga Kurosuki had his own plans.
Biwa Juzo took one last look at the blazing ruins of House Hozuki and Suiton territories, hesitating deeply inside.
"BOOM!"
A sudden explosive roar shattered Biwa Juzo's final hesitation—a towering mushroom cloud erupted once again above House Hozuki's land!
"Let's move out!"
Strangely, Biwa Juzo himself now urged immediate withdrawal.
"Kill!"
Inside the Kaguya Clan's territory, Tsunashige Kaguya led a group of seemingly frenzied Kaguya warriors locked in brutal combat against wave after wave of Mist ninja attackers hurling themselves toward death.
Mist ninjas were renowned for their ferocity and brutality, often hailed as the strongest in the Ninja World. Yet against the even more merciless Kaguya warriors, their skulls were no sturdier than overripe watermelons. A single strike from bone whips summoned through [Kaguya Secret Jutsu] sent Mist ninjas bursting open like blooming peach blossoms.
Wherever the Kaguya warriors advanced, the ground was strewn with wreckage and severed limbs. In no time at all, they had wiped out the few hundred Mist ninjas who had dared to invade their clan's territory.
The Kaguya Clan's worst loss came from a sudden and devastating explosion—an underground storeroom packed with Explosive Tags had unexpectedly detonated. During the battle, only some of the weaker Kaguya ninjas sustained serious injuries; that was all they suffered.
Yet despite securing final victory, Tsunashige Kaguya could not afford to celebrate—not even a premature toast. Instead, he gazed anxiously toward the heart of Hidden Mist Village.
Unlike the universally despised Kaguya Clan, most Mist ninjas gathered within the village's central area, clearly divided among their respective clans. Just by following the direction of the flames, one could deduce which family was under attack.
But the roaring fires kept rewriting what Tsunashige Kaguya thought he knew.
Before his eyes, the former peace and tranquility of Hidden Mist Village shattered completely under firelight and thunderous explosions. New flames erupted rapidly, spreading outward as if engulfing the entire village in combat.
Clearly, this was a premeditated assault.
Furthermore, judging by the reactions within the village, it seemed the planners failed to finish their plan on schedule; otherwise things wouldn't have blown up this badly.
"Fall in and move into the village for support!" Tsunashige Kaguya shouted loudly to his clansmen, who were still finishing off the last remaining Mist ninjas.
"Why should we go help them?" One Kaguya Jonin shouted back angrily. "We despise those bastards who play with water and ice the most. Why not let them die?"
"If you're not at the table, you won't get a bite to eat."
Tsunashige frowned slightly, preparing to explain further.
"What do you mean, 'table'?"
A clever Kaguya raised his hand to ask.
"My point is—wait too long getting to the dinner table, and all the best cuts get eaten already!"
Realizing his earlier words weren't getting through, Tsunashige immediately switched to a metaphor everyone could understand.
"Ohhh! I get it now!"
The Kaguya warriors suddenly threw their arms up, shouting the slogan correctly—for once.
As for past issues of discrimination shown toward the Kaguya Clan by other clans, no one brought them up at this moment.
"Move out!"
Seizing the momentum, Tsunashige Kaguya waved his arm forward and gave the order: "All Kaguya warriors, follow me into the village—to restore order!"
"Restore peace!"
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