The Third Mizukage was in high spirits at the moment; in the afternoon, he had tested the training results of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and with the seven of them working together, they could barely withstand seventy percent of his power. He was quite satisfied with this outcome.
Returning to the Village, he was enjoying a hotpot supper sent by Yagura, humming a cheerful tune, when a group of people violently burst into his office.
He, the Mizukage, wasn't a mukbang streamer, and being stared at by a group of middle-aged and elderly men while eating made his temper flare up several stories high.
"Are you trying to rebel?"
"You dog, I didn't expect you to be quite clever. I am indeed rebelling. Tonight, only one of us can live, and that person will definitely be me."
The Mizukage was utterly depressed. The scoundrels in Hidden Mist Village never did anything productive, rebelling against him every other day.
"Alright, alright! Overestimating yourselves. Who exactly gave you the courage to rebel? The Hozuki Clan? Tonight, none of you will survive."
"Enough talk. It's not yet decided who will win. Be careful not to bite your tongue. Uncle Qian, he's yours."
The elder beside Taketori nodded. Not dying of old age in his Clan's territory and being able to fight one last fierce battle made him quite content.
Taketori Tekken immediately activated the Shikotsumyaku to attack the Mizukage, while the elder from the Yuki Family unleashed Ice Release. The other elders all used their strongest Moves to collectively assault the Mizukage.
The bodies of this group of elders were already decaying, and their stamina would gradually fail during the battle. They started with their ultimate Moves, aiming to take down the Mizukage before their stamina ran out.
The Mizukage had not anticipated such a sudden burst of terrifying power from the elders. Caught off guard, his defense was inadequate, and he was struck head-on, sent flying backward, and only stopped after crashing through two residential buildings, sustaining minor injuries.
As battle erupted in the Mizukage's building, a piercing alarm sounded throughout the Village. Unaware Ninja rushed towards the center of the battlefield, only to be intercepted midway by Ninja dispatched by various Families.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who had been trained by the Mizukage, appeared on the battlefield, carrying their large ninja swords, walking with an arrogant swagger, making a grand entrance before the villagers.
Several Clan Chiefs stood in front of them, preventing them from going to rescue the Mizukage. The outcome of the battle not far away concerned the life and death of their Families, allowing no room for error.
"Stop! There's a military exercise ahead; you cannot pass."
"Get lost! We only obey the Mizukage's orders. What are you? Anyone who stands in our way is an enemy. How do you wish to die?"
Suikazan Fuguki's arrogance was at its peak. Having fought the Mizukage earlier in the afternoon, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were brimming with confidence.
Seeing that reasoning with these fools was impossible, the Clan Chiefs directly engaged in battle. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, relying on their ninja swords, managed a four-six split at best.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were good at teamwork—well, not counting that one time when four of them were kicked to death by a certain Genin while ganging up on him. In one-on-one combat, they had no advantage and were already wounded.
On the Mizukage's battlefield, the Mizukage fought several elders alone, an evenly matched struggle.
As time passed, the elders' stamina gradually began to fail. "Ice Prison Jutsu" and "Dance of the Clematis"—the elders used their last vestiges of life force to unleash their ultimate Moves.
They attempted to trap the Mizukage with an ice prison and pierce him to death with a large area of bone spikes, dragging him down with them.
Unfortunately, the Mizukage summoned his Leech, which he entered, thus evading the final attack.
The Family's strongest trump card met a regrettable end. The battle in the distance concluded, and the Clan Chiefs ceased fighting, awaiting the victor's appearance.
The Mizukage emerged from the rubble and stopped in front of the Clan Chiefs.
"Hahaha, what more do you have to say?"
"Only death!" Facing this outcome, the Clan Chiefs looked calm. They had tried their best, and failure was nothing to fear.
"Then go die!" The Mizukage prepared to kill them.
"Water Mirror Jutsu," a mirror stood before the Mizukage, and the Mizukage's reflection in the mirror performed the same Ninjutsu, nullifying the Mizukage's attack and saving the Clan Chiefs.
The distinct sound of footsteps echoed, and everyone's gaze was fixed on the figure slowly approaching from the darkness.
Moments later, a figure in green clothes with purple eyes appeared, and everyone was astonished by the newcomer's identity.
"Yagura? You actually betrayed me? I had no idea you had colluded with them. You've hidden yourself quite well."
The Mizukage hadn't expected Yagura to betray him, and in his heart, he wished to tear Yagura limb from limb. He was also puzzled: why did Yagura appear now, when the overall situation was already decided? What was he doing?
"I apologize, Mizukage-sama, but I have never collaborated with them."
"Your policies are too cruel, and the Village is dissatisfied with your actions. I hope you can relinquish your position as Mizukage."
"To whom? To you?"
"It's not impossible."
Yagura's serious reply filled everyone with admiration; his brazenness, delivered so earnestly, was truly a high Realm.
The Mizukage directly attacked Yagura, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and the Clan Chiefs engaged in battle for a second time.
Yagura had taken Chakra Pills twice, and Shimotsuki Kōmei had helped him activate his Ice Release, making his strength comparable to the Mizukage's at his peak.
The Mizukage had already fought one battle and still carried minor injuries; his left arm's flexibility was slightly impaired, affecting his hand seal speed.
Yagura consistently maintained the initiative, pressing the Mizukage, and within minutes, the Mizukage sustained new injuries.
In the distance, countless Hidden Mist Village Ninja, whether from Ninja Clans or civilians, none stepped forward to help, watching with cold indifference as the Mizukage was beaten, a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes.
The Mizukage knew he had lost, not just the battle, but also the hearts of the people. But he didn't want to die; he still had dreams, so he fled.
Yagura watched him escape and prevented others from pursuing.
The Mizukage fled all the way to the seashore, where he saw three people sitting on a reef in the distance. One of them, he would remember even if he turned to ash.
"You've arrived. I didn't expect Mizukage-sama to be so disheveled. It's truly a rare sight."
Shimotsuki Kōmei sat on the reef, gave a tug on his fishing rod, and turned his head to observe the Mizukage who had fled to this place.
"Shimotsuki Kōmei, are you here to die?"
Shimotsuki Kōmei said nothing, listening to the waves crashing against the reef, gazing quietly into the distance at the boundless sea under the Gekko, and the countless stars scattered across the sky.
"You're still as foolish as ever. Would I appear here if I weren't confident?"
"Ridiculous! What reliance do you have? Kakuzu? Where is he? Tell him to get out here!" The Mizukage, disheveled, spun in circles, glaring around him.
"He's not here. To kill you, I alone am enough."
The Third Mizukage laughed madly, "Hahaha, you kill me? That's the funniest joke I've heard all year!"
"Funny, is it? Would it be funnier if I helped the Hozuki Clan defect?"
Shimotsuki Kōmei looked at the laughing Mizukage, his eyes full of amusement.
"Would it be even funnier if I arranged for Yagura to be an undercover agent by your side, to deliver a fatal blow?"
"Pfft."
The Third Mizukage angrily spat out a mouthful of blood, pointing furiously at Shimotsuki Kōmei.
"So it was all your doing! I'll kill you!"
Shimotsuki Kōmei shook his head, "Had enough laughs? Then go die."
Shimotsuki Kōmei jumped off the reef and slowly walked towards the Mizukage, a giant wave of seawater forming behind him, following his every step.
He directly used the Vaporization Jutsu, turning the Leech into a dried Leech, ready to be used as medicine without needing to be sun-dried. The Mizukage was turned into a mummy.
Shimotsuki Kōmei used Fire Release to burn the Mizukage to ashes, then used Wind Release to scatter them into the sea.
To be ground to dust and scattered to the winds.