By moonlight, Kitazawa made out Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.
Just like in the original timeline, he had a baby face—he looked like a kid in his teens. In reality he was much older; his grandson, Kagura Karatachi, had already been born.
Kitazawa's first thought was that there was a traitor inside Konoha.
This raid on the Mist's supply point was top-secret. In theory, only the jōnin who attended the briefing—Tsunade, Nara Shikaku, and a few others—knew about it. Those jōnin were Konoha's pillars; betrayal was unthinkable.
That left the three infiltration squads—Hyūga and Anbu—operating behind enemy lines. The Hyūga branch house bore the Caged Bird Seal; they couldn't be flipped. But Anbu… there was a chance.
Kitazawa's mind went to Shimura Danzō.
After Root was disbanded, quite a few Root operatives went straight into Anbu—and they still took orders from Danzō. Danzō's goal was the Hokage's seat; he'd never allow Tsunade to score a runaway victory in this war.
If Kitazawa's raid failed, it would cost Konoha dearly. And Kitazawa was Tsunade's student. It would, without question, hit her reputation.
"So you're Kitazawa?" Yagura's gaze settled on him.
"Looks like I'm famous enough for the Mizukage himself to spring an ambush on me," Kitazawa said evenly.
The Byakugan is great for scouting and sensing, but it isn't omnipotent. Somehow, Yagura and his team had hidden in the deep sea and evaded it.
"You were just a bonus," Yagura replied, unconcerned. "Using you to ambush Tsunade is the real goal."
"How do you know where I am?" Kitazawa's heart lurched.
Yagura's words proved it: the Mist were here specifically for him and Tsunade. That lined up with Kitazawa's suspicion—the traitor was most likely Danzō and his ex-Root men.
[You are about to face the stronger Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi. Risk is opportunity—survive.]
[Current Mission: Hold out until Tsunade and the others arrive.]
[Reward: Mangekyō Sharingan Resistance.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa blinked at the four lines of text that suddenly appeared. A task, now? Well, it was the Fourth Mizukage—fair enough. But what was "Mangekyō Sharingan Resistance"? Could it mean resisting Mangekyō mind control?
It wasn't a wild guess—Yagura in front of him was being controlled by Uchiha Obito's Mangekyō. Since the task trigger was tied to that, the reward fit. If so, it was a very nice prize. There aren't many Mangekyō users, but the three big villains—Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito, and Shimura Danzō—just happened to be among them.
Of course, the richer the reward, the harder the task.
If Yagura were just a pure Water-style user, Kitazawa wouldn't feel much pressure. Add the Three-Tails' jinchūriki into the mix, and it's a colossal headache.
"You don't need to know that much," Yagura said, flicking a flare into the air. On the nearby island, Mist shinobi immediately started racing toward them.
"Kabuto, we'll cover you—break out!" Kitazawa said without hesitation.
With the Fourth Mizukage and this many elite Mist jōnin on the field, all of them getting away was a fantasy. The best play was to send one person to punch through and race back to Konoha's forward base with the intel.
Why Kabuto? Several reasons. One, he was clever and experienced. Two, he used Wind Release—fast on his feet. Three, he excelled at medical ninjutsu, which boosts survival in chaos.
"Wishful thinking!" a middle-aged Mist ninja beside Yagura snorted. "With the Mizukage here, none of you are escaping!"
Kabuto didn't spare him a glance—he spun and bolted.
"Stop!" The middle-aged ninja Body-Flickered after him.
At that instant the sea heaved—water churned and a wave more than ten meters high crashed toward the middle-aged ninja and the other Mist shinobi. For a heartbeat it felt like the end of the world; shock flashed across their faces.
They'd read the dossiers and knew Kitazawa specialized in Water Release, but seeing was believing—the files hadn't exaggerated.
"Rare to see Konoha produce a Water-style user like you," Yagura said, unfazed, forming seals.
Water Release: Water Mirror!
A massive mirror of water rose in front of them. The wave hit it with a shudder—then, against all logic, curled back the way it came. The surge was so broad that only part of it got reflected.
Monster Strength!
Kitazawa drove his fist forward. The rebounding wave split down the middle around his punch.
Hyūga Homon and the others breathed out in relief. Even so, that first exchange made it clear: no Kage earns the title by hype.
The delay was enough—Kabuto had already vanished into the distance.
"You four, after him!" the middle-aged ninja barked, pointing a special jōnin and three chūnin to give chase.
"Seize them before Tsunade gets here," Yagura said after a glance at Kabuto.
The plan was simple: capture Kitazawa and use him to threaten Tsunade. If they could use the chance to eliminate Tsunade, the Mist's victory would be in sight.
Secret Technique: Poison Cloud!
Aburame Torune clapped his hands, releasing a cloud of Rinkaichū—nano-poison kikaichū.
"Careful!" a Mist jōnin shouted. "That's not smoke—it's poisonous bugs!"
Every Mist shinobi except Yagura scattered to the sides.
Coral Staff—Four-Strike Combo!
Yagura Body-Flickered past the cloud and appeared in front of Kitazawa, coral staff whistling through the air in four rapid blows.
Clang!
Kitazawa caught the staff with "Thunder," the blade in his hand.
Supervibrato Lightning Release Swords!
Charged with his lightning chakra, Thunder shivered, knocking Yagura's coral staff aside. Kitazawa's right hand lifted—and a blade of flame snapped toward Yagura.
Water Release: Water Bullet!
Yagura leaned back and spat a huge water sphere. It smothered the flame blade and, still surging, barreled at Kitazawa. In the same beat, Yagura lunged—his staff blurred through another four strikes in a second, the air screaming around it.
Lightning Release: Chidori!
A mass of lightning bloomed in Kitazawa's left palm—the chirp of a thousand birds crackled outward. Chidori split the water sphere; Kitazawa twisted his right hand to catch the coral staff on Thunder, then drove his left straight for Yagura's heart.
Water Release: Water Mirror!
Yagura released the staff and slid back. A towering mirror of water formed—blazing lightning flashed, and another Kitazawa stepped out of the mirror. The doppelgänger swung his left hand the moment he saw the real one.
Twin Chidori shrieked; lightning spider-webbed through the air.
Leaf Great Whirlwind!
Kitazawa spun and kicked the copy cleanly away—mid-air, the double shuddered and splashed into a puddle. It was the Water Mirror's reflection construct.
"Your strength is impressive," Yagura said calmly. "No wonder you could kill Suikazan Fuguki." He didn't bother retrieving the discarded coral staff—it had already sunk.
Kitazawa used the moment to glance around. Hyūga Homon, Kurenai, and the others were in bad shape. Planning a raid, they'd brought five jōnin—Kitazawa and Kabuto among them—plus three jōnin from Homon's squad. With Kabuto gone, that left three jōnin besides Kitazawa. The Mist, Yagura included, had six.
Thankfully Kurenai and Aburame Torune were strong—"special jōnin" level at least—barely keeping the line from collapsing.
"Your squad isn't half bad," Yagura noted, catching Kitazawa's look, and chuckled.
Kitazawa frowned. Why the small talk?
"But I'm short on time. I can't waste it on you," Yagura's face hardened.
Boom!
A crushing aura erupted skyward. The sea writhed around him, as if some monster were about to break free. A heartbeat later, red chakra roared out of his body, whipping into a cyclone at his sides. The ocean stopped being calm.
"What—?" Hyūga Homon glanced over and blurted, "The Fourth Mizukage is a jinchūriki?!"
Kurenai's breath hitched. Even from a hundred meters away, that chakra was terrifying. Worry flooded her face—but she couldn't go help Kitazawa; holding off six Mist jōnin already had them at the limit.
"Surrender now. After I kill Tsunade, you can still join Kirigakure," Yagura intoned, voice heavy with authority.
A red tailed-beast cloak wrapped him; three massive tails rose behind, radiating pressure—half transformation.
Kitazawa reflexively thought of using his Senju Chakra Mode, then tamped it down. Four minutes wouldn't be enough time for Konoha's backup to arrive.
He wasn't worried about himself—Hydrification in open water made escape trivial. But Kurenai and the others couldn't run like he could.
Kitazawa drew a long breath. This would be his toughest fight yet. But he felt no fear. He had a "system," his strength had reached a solid tier, and this was a chance to test his ceiling—with a fat reward on top. He had to go for it.
"Ignorant fool!" Seeing Kitazawa unmoved, Yagura attacked at once. He hadn't lied about wanting to recruit Kitazawa—those water techniques had caught his eye, and turning Tsunade's student would humiliate Konoha.
Water Release: Water Bullet!
He spat a water sphere ten times larger than the last—calling it a "sphere" was generous; it was more like a sun of water.
Combined Ninjutsu: Blazing Wind Wild Wave!
Kitazawa flashed through seals. Chakra ignited in his throat—he spewed flame that roared into a spreading sea of fire. Where it licked the ocean, steam billowed up in sheets. In the same instant, a tightly compressed ball of wind detonated within the blaze.
Wind howled—flame and vapor twisted into a firestorm that filled the sky. Yagura's water sun plunged into it and exploded. Shockwaves rippled outward in rings. The sea bucked, throwing up waves.
Yagura's brows lifted—this combined technique hit harder than he'd expected.
"If we let you grow, you'll be a dire threat to the Mist," he muttered, stamping both feet.
Water Release: Isobu Great Waterfall!
Centered on him, the sea reared up into a crashing wall. The fire-sea Kitazawa had made didn't last three seconds before it was snuffed out completely.
Yagura swept his gaze around—and frowned. Kitazawa was gone.
Hands shot up from the water under his feet, clamped his ankles, and yanked him down. Yagura looked and saw Kitazawa—he slammed both fists without hesitation. Kitazawa released his legs, opened his mouth, and spat four senbon-like water needles. They streaked for Yagura's tailed-cloak.
Yagura's pupils tightened—he pulled back his fists and crossed them to guard. Pain pricked—four needles struck the same point in succession, pierced the cloak, and bit into his forearm. But that was all.
He kicked back, tore the needles free, and stared at the beads of blood. His face darkened. Kitazawa had a reputation, but in Yagura's mind he was still an upcoming ninja. He hadn't expected to be hurt even in half–tailed-beast form.
Yagura dove, found Kitazawa in the water, and wrapped him with three tails—like a massive turtle shell—before ramming him. The sea detonated in his wake.
Water Release: Instant Water!
Kitazawa burst away with a surge, skimming far off, then vaulted from the depths to hang in mid-air, hands flying through seals. The ocean erupted—Yagura, three tails streaming, rocketed toward him like a cannon shot.
Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!
Kitazawa formed a huge water sphere with an exhale. Yagura didn't dodge—his chakra surged, thickening the tailed cloak.
Boom! The sphere burst like a balloon—countless streams drenched him. He lifted his palm.
Coral Palm!
He slammed a strike forward; chakra howled around his arm from sheer volume.
Kitazawa hovered by force of will and drew Thunder, raising it high. In a blink, blazing lightning blossomed above him—bolts crashed down. Yagura's face twitched. His body and the world around him were slick with the Great Waterfall's runoff. Lightning hit the water, accelerated, and swallowed him in an instant.
Thunder roared. Even with the cloak, too many bolts punched through his guard. He grunted, body buzzing numb, and dropped.
Lightning Release: Chidori!
Kitazawa didn't hesitate—he flashed in, driving his right hand for Yagura's heart. Wind screamed—three massive tails whipped at him.
In the pinch, Kitazawa's one-handed seals paid off.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
With his left hand he raised a ring of water around himself. His Chidori struck Yagura's chest; the three tails slammed his flanks like dragon whips, shattering the water walls with a crack. A vicious gust tore in.
Leaf Body Flicker!
Kitazawa vanished in a swirl of leaves—just in time.
"Damn it! I'll kill you!" Yagura howled, voice raw. Carelessness had let Kitazawa's water-plus-lightning combo tag him. Blood sprayed from the wound, soaking his clothes. Even so, it wasn't as bad as it looked—his cloak had shaved off some damage, and the Three-Tails' chakra was already knitting the flesh.
"The Mizukage is hurt?!"
"No way!"
"Is that Kitazawa really that strong?"
Even so, Yagura's scream sent shock through the Mist ranks. On the other side, Kurenai and Homon lit up with hope. Their only plan had been for Kitazawa to stall Yagura until Konoha's reinforcements arrived—now he'd over-delivered, and morale spiked.
…
Konoha forward base.
Even though it was night, Tsunade hadn't slept. Partly she was bracing for a Mist counterattack; partly she was waiting for news from Kitazawa's team. She couldn't rest until they returned.
"Tsunade-sama," Shikaku said gently, "we can hold the fort—please get some rest."
"No need," Tsunade shook her head. With the Yin Seal, she could regulate her body on the fly; as long as her chakra held, fatigue wouldn't bite.
"Kabuto has returned—alone!" Hyūga Hiashi burst in.
"What?" Tsunade's face blanched; cold sweat beaded on her brow.
"When we reached the depot, the Fourth Mizukage and three jōnin surrounded us," Kabuto reported breathlessly as he reached them. "Counting the four jōnin already there, that made eight!"
Tsunade's chest clenched until she couldn't breathe. A vision of Kitazawa covered in blood flashed through her mind. He was strong—but against Yagura, and outnumbered?
In the next instant she sprang—vanishing at a speed that blurred.
"Tsunade-sama?!" Shizune's eyes went wide with alarm. Only she knew about Tsunade's hemophobia; going alone would only complicate things.
"Shikaku-senpai, I'm leaving this to you for now," Shizune said, then shouted, "All Anbu, with me!"
"Clan Head Hiashi, take a team as well," Shikaku added after a moment's thought. "If the Fourth Mizukage is in play, we prepare for the worst."
Hiashi nodded.
~~~
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