111-115

Chapter 111: The End of the Road

"Mei Terumī, what more do you have to say for yourself now? Give up this pointless resistance—your end has come!"

Yagura looked at the battered and bloodied Mei, his face twisted with triumph.

Behind Mei, whether it was Zabuza, Kisame, or Jūzō, all of them were weakened, their bodies riddled with wounds.

Of her forces, only about four or five hundred remained. Meanwhile, Yagura's forces—numbering four thousand—surrounded them. Though many of his men were also injured, they were more than enough to crush Mei and her followers.

Mei Terumī had reached a dead end.

"Is this really where it ends?"

Even Mei couldn't help but feel despair creeping in.

They were too strong.

Yagura's side was overwhelming. The Six-Tails Jinchūriki alone was enough to tie up a large portion of her forces—let alone Yagura himself, the Mizukage and Three-Tails Jinchūriki, with his terrifying endurance.

And behind Yagura stood Hoshigaki Kisame, the wounded Raiga Kurosuki, and an elite squad of ANBU operatives.

There was no possible way to break free.

"Mei Terumī, just surrender. Did you really think a traitorous wretch like you had any chance of survival? The only mercy left for you is death!"

"Momochi Zabuza, Hoshigaki Kisame, Jūzō—don’t throw your lives away. Do you really want to share her fate?"

"It’s not too late to redeem yourselves! Kill Mei Terumī, beg for forgiveness, and return to the village to face judgment. The Mizukage may yet spare you!"

"And you three—Ameyuri Ringo, Hōzuki Suigetsu, Shimma Isshin—you’re all promising candidates for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Don’t throw away your futures!"

"As for the rest of you—do you really want to spend the rest of your lives running? Do you think you can escape the village’s pursuit? If you value your lives, surrender now!"

"Otherwise, once the Mizukage gives the order, no one will be able to save you!"

"Capture Mei Terumī, and not only will you avoid punishment—you’ll be rewarded! Think carefully. Don’t throw your lives away for nothing!"

Genryū spoke up again, sowing discord among Mei’s ranks. His eyes burned with cold fury as he glared at Mei—she had killed his only son, and now, he would make her pay.

"Tch…"

Hearing this, some of the shinobi behind Mei wavered, their faces twisting with hesitation. Mei’s heart sank.

No… I can’t let them turn on me now!

"Don’t listen to him!" she shouted. "In his eyes, we’re all already traitors! You know the rules of Kirigakure—there’s no mercy for defectors! If you surrender, you’ll be executed without hesitation!"

"Do you really want to hand your lives over to them?!"

"Don’t give up! It’s not over yet—we can escape! Have faith!"

She couldn’t afford to lose what little remained of her forces. If they turned on her now, it would be the end.

Zabuza and Jūzō immediately tensed, scanning the crowd for any signs of betrayal.

Mei’s words seemed to strike a chord—the hesitation in her men’s eyes slowly hardened into resolve.

They were ready to fight to the death.

"Hmph. Still clinging to hope?" Yagura’s expression darkened. "Fine. Then I’ll crush it completely."

"Kill them all!"

With that, Yagura lunged straight for Mei’s throat.

If he killed her, the rest would lose their leader. After that, rounding them up would be easy.

"Suiton: Suijinheki!" (Water Style: Water Wall)

Mei had no intention of letting him get close. She spat out a torrent of water, trying to force him back.

"You dare challenge me in water jutsu?" Yagura sneered. "Let me show you who the true master is!"

"Suiton: Suiryūdan!" (Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet)

His hands flew through seals, and an oppressive wave of chakra erupted from his body. The sea beneath them roared as a massive dragon’s head burst from the waves, hurtling toward Mei.

BOOM!

The collision was like a meteor striking the earth. The force of their attacks sent violent shockwaves across the battlefield, the resulting waves slamming against the ships with deafening force.

"BREAK!"

Yagura’s eyes flared as he poured even more chakra into the attack. The dragon’s head swelled in size, and Mei’s water wall shattered like glass.

She barely had time to react before the dragon smashed into her, sending her flying.

"Guh—!"

Blood sprayed from Mei’s lips as she crashed onto the deck, her face deathly pale.

Just as Yagura moved to finish her off, two figures from her own ranks suddenly lunged at her—their blades piercing straight through her chest.

"GAAH—!"

Mei screamed in agony, her eyes wide with shock and fury as she turned to face her betrayers.

"You two… You’re surrendering?!"

"Forgive us, Lady Mei… but we don’t want to die!"

"That’s right! If we keep fighting, we’re dead anyway! If we capture you, at least we’ll live!"

Their faces were twisted with guilt, but their resolve was clear.

"LADY MEI!"

Her remaining forces cried out in horror. Some began to waver once more.

"Is there really any hope left…?" someone muttered.

"HAHAHA! SURRENDER NOW!" Genryū laughed in triumph.

"Mei Terumī… this is the end."

Yagura closed in, his arm morphing into the Three-Tails’ monstrous claw as he reached for her throat.

"Don’t you dare!"

Zabuza and Jūzō flashed forward to intercept—

CLANG! CLANG!

—only for Raiga and Kisame to block their path.

"You’re not stopping the Mizukage."

"Damn it!" The two gritted their teeth in frustration.

"Mei Terumī, no one is coming to save you." Yagura’s voice was ice. "And you two—good work. As a reward… I’ll make sure your corpses stay in one piece."

The traitors’ faces paled in terror. "NO—!" They scrambled back, but it was too late.

"So this is how it ends…?" Mei smiled bitterly as Yagura’s killing strike descended.

"I’m sorry, Yoru…" she thought, closing her eyes.

But just then—

A thunderous roar split the heavens.

"YAGURA, YOU DARE?!"

The sheer force of the voice scattered the clouds and sent shockwaves rippling across the sea.

"Raiton: Rakurai Jin!" (Lightning Style: Falling Thunder Array)

The sky darkened—and then, a blinding bolt of lightning, thick as a tree trunk, slammed down onto Yagura with no chance to dodge.

*Chapter 112: I’m Back*

*BOOM!*

The entire sea erupted as if split apart by a cataclysmic force, the deafening roar shaking the very depths of the ocean. A chill ran down the spines of all who witnessed it.

Terrifying bolts of lightning crackled across the water, forcing the Mist shinobi to scramble back in horror. Those too slow to react were struck instantly, their agonized screams piercing the air.

*"AAARGH!"*

Yagura’s pained cry rang out. Genryū turned to see the Fourth Mizukage’s body torn and bloodied.

*"ROAR!"*

Yagura transformed into his Three-Tails form, attempting to retreat from the lightning’s assault—but then—

*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*

Multiple bolts struck him with terrifying precision, slamming him deep into the water. The sea exploded into a massive crater, sending towering waves crashing outward and sweeping away countless Mist shinobi.

The lightning only grew more ferocious, forcing the remaining fighters to retreat in terror.

"This… This is like divine punishment! How is this possible?!"

"Who’s attacking us? Since when could anyone wield lightning of this magnitude?!"

Fear gripped both sides.

"Who is this? Why is he here? Why attack the Mizukage? And how will his involvement shift the battle?!"

Many wondered, dread settling in.

If this enemy was hostile to both factions, fine. But if he sided with either one… the consequences would be catastrophic. A force like this could overturn the entire war.

*"WHO ARE YOU?!"*

Yagura burst from the water, his body forcibly reverted from tailed beast form, covered in burns and deep gashes. He roared toward the source of the voice.

*"Your executioner."*

The response started as a whisper, barely audible—then swelled into a thunderous declaration, shaking the battlefield. The sheer pressure of the speaker’s chakra was suffocating, eclipsing even Yagura’s tailed beast aura.

A young man materialized before Mei Terumī, his icy gaze sharp as a blade. Clad in gray, his black hair cascaded like a waterfall, his very presence radiating killing intent so dense it seemed to warp reality.

*"You… Why are you my enemy? I’ve done nothing to you!"* Yagura demanded, every instinct screaming at him to flee.

*"Why?"* The young man chuckled darkly, his chakra surging violently, churning the sea beneath them. The sight sent shivers down everyone’s spines—this was no man, but a demon with power rivaling a tailed beast.

*"Well, Mizukage-sama… has half a year really made you forget me?"*

Then, his eyes locked onto Genryū behind Yagura, and a frosty smile curled his lips.

*"Long time no see… Elder Genryū."*

*"G-Gulp…"*

Genryū trembled violently, a primal fear gripping him. That gaze alone felt like a death sentence, paralyzing him with terror.

Staring at the man before them, his eyes widened in horrified realization.

*"Y-You… You’re… Yoru?!"* His voice cracked with disbelief.

*"What?! Yoru?!"*

*"Impossible! How could he be back?!"*

*"Elder, you must be mistaken! There’s no way that brat has this kind of power!"*

Panic spread like wildfire.

If this truly was Yoru… they were in deep trouble. His strength just now was no joke.

*"Hahaha! Well, Elder, at least your eyes haven’t failed you yet!"*

The young man—Yoru—laughed, the sound reverberating across the sea. He glanced at Yagura and the others.

*"The Mist… needs a new era."*

Then, without another word, he vanished—reappearing beside Mei, his gaze locking onto the two who had stabbed her.

*"H-Hiss…!"*

The two men froze, their blood running cold. They tried to retreat—

*"You really think you can escape?"*

Yoru’s voice was calm, almost casual.

*"Slice."*

Two flashes of steel.

Before anyone could blink, the men collapsed, their throats slit, eyes wide with shock.

*"Hiss…!"*

The onlookers gasped.

Those were two Special Jōnin—fighters capable of holding their own against full-fledged elites. Even Yagura couldn’t have killed them so effortlessly.

Yet Yoru had ended them in an instant.

*"Sis… I’m back. Not too late, am I?"*

Yoru helped Mei to her feet.

*"Cough… Not at all. With the two of us, breaking through won’t be a problem,"* she replied weakly.

After seeing his power, she was confident they could escape.

But Yoru shook his head. *"No. Rest and recover. Leave these fools to me."*

He turned to Yagura and the others, his voice dripping with disdain.

*"A mere Mizukage isn’t worth your effort, Sis. Guard the rear—I’ll handle the cleanup."*

Yagura’s eyes narrowed. *"Arrogant brat. Half a year away, and you’ve forgotten your place."*

Genryū sneered. *"Who do you think you are? Challenging the Mizukage? Know your limits!"*

Just as Yagura moved to attack, Jūzō Biwa stepped forward.

*"Mizukage-sama, allow me. No need to dirty your hands with this whelp."*

Yagura nodded. *"Very well. Bring me his head."*

He glared at Yoru. *"You want to fight me? Prove yourself against Jūzō first. Don’t get cocky just because you landed a cheap shot."*

Yoru smirked. *"Jūzō Biwa, huh? Perfect. I’ve had my eye on your sword for a while."*

---

Chapter 113: Two Moves, Hoshigaki Kisame Falls

"You insolent brat!"

Hoshigaki Kisame roared in fury, stomping down with enough force to crack the deck. His chakra flared violently as he charged forward like a raging bull, his momentum crushing.

"Flash Sever."

Yoru’s voice was calm, almost indifferent.

In the next instant, he moved—so fast it was like a ghost passing through flesh.

SHIIING!

A blade’s edge sharper than imagination sliced through the air, splitting the very sea beneath them.

The sheer lethality of the strike sent chills down the spines of everyone watching. Some nearby shinobi even gasped as thin cuts opened on their skin from the residual pressure.

"What kind of swordsmanship is this?!"

The crowd scrambled back in shock.

Kisame, however, smirked as he turned to face Yoru behind him.

"Sharp blade… but not sharp enough. You couldn’t even scratch me. Pathetic."

He scoffed. "If that’s all you’ve got, then prepare to die!"

With a burst of speed, Kisame lunged again, his massive sword Samehada whipping up a tidal wave as he brought it down with enough force to split mountains.

—SLASH!

But the moment before his blade could connect—

SPURT!

A deep gash tore open across Kisame’s chest, so clean it severed bone.

Blood erupted. Strength fled his limbs.

Samehada slipped from his grasp, its strike never reaching Yoru.

"Guh—?!"

Kisame’s eyes bulged in disbelief.

Seeing its master wounded, Samehada swelled in panic, immediately funneling chakra into Kisame to heal him. Kisame stumbled back, trying to buy time—

But Yoru only smiled.

"Genjutsu: Spirit Collapse."

A crushing wave of mental energy surged forward.

!!

Kisame’s blood ran cold.

The chakra Samehada pumped into him—it was turning against him.

His own energy revolted, surging wildly out of control.

"No… NO!"

Desperately, he formed the hand seals to break the genjutsu.

Just dispel it. Just dispel it and—

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

The technique didn’t lift.

"UGH—!"

Another mouthful of blood. His chakra was tearing him apart from the inside.

Fear gripped him.

If this continued—

BOOM.

No warning. No chance to beg.

His body detonated in a burst of crimson, scattering flesh and bone across the battlefield.

Silence.

Then—

"K-Kisame… just died? In TWO moves?!"

The onlookers—even Yagura—stared in horror at the raining blood and Yoru, now calmly gripping Samehada as lightning crackled around him.

That was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. A monster who could level small nations overnight. A fighter who could rival the Mizukage himself.

Yagura would’ve needed fifty exchanges to take Kisame down.

Yet Yoru did it in two.

"How… is he this strong?!" Yagura’s face darkened.

Even Mei’s forces were stunned.

Kisame wasn’t just any shinobi. He was a legend.

Mei herself couldn’t guarantee victory against him.

But against Yoru?

He was helpless.

"I underestimated you." Yagura’s voice was ice. "But this ends now."

His body twisted, flesh giving way to monstrous chakra as he entered full tailed beast form.

"You think I’ll fall here?" Yoru scoffed. "I haven’t even used 20% of my power."

"COME AT ME, MIZUKAGE."

"ARROGANT BRAT!"

Yagura erupted in fury.

WHOOSH!

He blitzed forward, faster than the eye could follow, the sea itself parting under his speed.

Mei’s face paled. "WATCH OUT—!"

Yagura was already in front of Yoru, his claw slashing down with force enough to shred steel.

And Yoru—

Hadn’t moved.

"DIE!" Yagura snarled.

—FLASH!

A blade’s light split the air.

SPLURT!

An arm flew.

Yagura screamed.

The crowd froze.

Yoru stood, untouched, his sword dripping.

Yagura’s tailed beast-arm—severed in one stroke.

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

That arm was harder than steel. It could tank S-rank fire jutsu without a scratch.

Yet Yoru cut it like paper.

"RRRAGH!"

Yagura retreated, his maw glowing as he gathered chakra for a Tailed Beast Bomb.

But—

"Raiton: Raidan no Jutsu!" (Lightning Style: Thunder Bullet)

"Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu!" (Water Style: Water Bullet)

Yoru’s one-handed seals were a blur.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Six projectiles—three lightning, three water—slammed into Yagura’s chest, disrupting the bomb mid-charge.

"GRAAAH!"

The half-formed blast fired wildly, erasing a chunk of the battlefield in a cataclysmic explosion.

But Yoru was already gone.

WHOOSH!

He reappeared—

Only for Yagura’s remaining claw to swipe at his throat.

"DIE!"

This time—

There would be no escape.

Chapter 114: The Mizukage Falls—Who Can Stop Me Now?

CLANG!

Sparks erupted as steel collided, the metallic screech echoing across the battlefield. A shockwave of force ripped through the air, yet Yoru effortlessly blocked Yagura’s decisive strike, the sea trembling beneath them.

BOOM!

With a surge of terrifying power, Yoru’s blade sent the tailed beast-enhanced Mizukage hurtling backward.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Yagura skidded across the water’s surface, leaving violent ripples in his wake.

"Impossible! Your reflexes… How are you this fast?!" Yagura’s face twisted in shock. His ambush—a move that should have been lethal—had been casually deflected.

Just how monstrous were this kid’s instincts?

"Shouldn’t this be expected?" Yoru smirked. "Did you really think your cheap trick would work on me, Mizukage-sama?"

His voice dripped with mockery as he lunged forward, his sword a flash of cold light.

WHOOSH!

Yagura barely dodged, but before he could react—

Yoru’s lips curled into a grin.

Oh no.

CLANG!

Yoru kicked his sword straight at Yagura, then—his hands became a blur.

Chakra erupted around him, morphing into a storm of crackling lightning that ravaged the sea.

"Lightning Release: Surge of Judgment!"

ZZZT—CRACK!

The ocean within a 50-meter radius transformed into an electrified hellscape. Arcs of lightning lashed toward Yagura, too fast to evade. The water itself split apart under the voltage, the sheer force of it making even distant onlookers shudder.

"This level of Lightning Release…!" Raiga Kurosuki’s face paled. As the Mist’s foremost lightning specialist, he recognized true mastery—and this was beyond anything he’d ever seen. The raw, oppressive power made his own techniques feel childish.

"Water Style: Water Clone!"

Yagura, ever the elite, reacted just in time. As he hit the water, he formed a clone to take the brunt of the attack, hurling himself to safety. The clone disintegrated into mist under the lightning’s fury.

But Yoru had predicted it.

"Lightning Release: Heaven’s Wrath."

His hands flashed through seals, his chakra surging like a tidal wave.

BOOM!

The already darkened sky convulsed, clouds churning as if the heavens themselves were angered.

CRACK!

A searing blue bolt struck down—directly onto Yagura.

"AAAGH—!"

The Mizukage’s scream was cut short as his charred body slammed into the sea, sending up a geyser of water that forced everyone back.

"M-Mizukage-sama?!"

The Mist shinobi stared in horror.

Their leader—the Fourth Mizukage, a perfect jinchūriki at the peak of his power—had just been overwhelmed.

What kind of monster was Yoru?!

SPLASH!

A crimson arm shot from the depths, seizing Yoru’s ankle to drag him under.

But Yoru didn’t panic.

"Sealing Art: Chains of Suppression."

A single hand seal.

BOOM!

A pulse of energy repelled the ocean around him as inky black curse marks slithered down the arm, nullifying its tailed beast chakra.

"Lightning Release: Surge of Judgment."

ZZZT—CRACK!

The sea ignited.

Blinding light consumed the battlefield as the water boiled, lightning reducing everything in its path to chaos. Yagura’s scream echoed again—but this time, there was no counterattack.

Trapped. Powerless.

The Three-Tails itself recoiled in fear.

"It’s over."

Yoru emerged from the water, dragging a barely conscious Yagura by the collar like a ragdoll.

The Mizukage’s eyes burned with defiance, but his body was broken.

"Well, Elder Genryū? Still feeling brave?" Yoru grinned, hoisting Yagura high.

"N-No way…"

"The Mizukage… lost?!"

Gasps rippled through both factions. Even Mei’s side stood frozen.

The Mizukage—a tailed beast host—had been crushed.

"He’s… really this strong now?" Mei whispered, pride and disbelief warring in her eyes. "You did it, Yoru. You’ve gained the power to change the Mist."

"What do we do?!"

"If even the Mizukage was defeated…"

Panic spread through Genryū’s ranks.

But the elder snarled, rallying them:

"You treasonous wretch! Release the Mizukage at once!" His voice boomed like a war drum. "Don’t think this ends here! We still have thousands of soldiers—and the Six-Tails jinchūriki! You can’t fight us all!"

"Hah!" Yoru tossed Yagura’s limp form to Mei. "Seal him."

Then he cracked his knuckles, staring Genryū down.

"Try and take him back, old man. I dare you."

Chapter 115: Water Clone Technique

"You’ve gone too far!"

Genryū’s face twisted in fury at Yoru’s taunts.

"Attack! Crush him!"

He barked the order to the surrounding Kiri-nin, his voice dripping with venom.

"Utakata! Raiga! You two—take point!"

"I refuse to believe one brat can stand against all of us!"

Genryū wouldn’t—couldn’t—accept it. Unless Yoru had reached the level of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, this was impossible.

And a twelve-year-old attaining such power? Preposterous.

"Arrogance will be your downfall, boy!" Genryū sneered as the Kiri-nin closed in.

"Yoru! We’ve got your back!"

Mei stepped forward, her battered but unbroken forces rallying beside her.

"Don’t count us out yet—we can still fight!"

"The tides of Kirigakure have shifted!"

Yoru, however, shook his head.

"Kisame, guard Mei."

Then, with a bloodthirsty grin, he turned to Zabuza.

"Feel like a massacre? Two versus a thousand. Should satisfy your cravings."

Zabuza’s eyes gleamed. "Oh? Do tell."

He knew Yoru didn’t make empty boasts.

"Simple. We drown them in mist."

Even as he spoke, Yoru’s hands flew into seals.

Zabuza licked his lips. "Now that’s my kind of fight."

"STOP HIM! Don’t let that mist form!"

Genryū’s roar came too late.

Yoru’s voice was a whisper of death.

"Suiton: Hidden Mist Jutsu."

WHOOSH—

A thick, suffocating fog exploded outward, swallowing Utakata, Raiga, and the frontlines whole.

Utakata flinched, instinctively retreating—Yoru’s blade had already proven it could slice through tailed beast chakra.

"BREAK THROUGH! Don’t let the mist trap us!"

A Kiri elite shouted, but the fog was already dense as oblivion.

Raiga snarled, slamming his twin blades into the sea.

"Raiton: Raigeki!" (Lightning Style: Lightning Fang)

Electricity surged—

And vanished.

No screams. No movement.

Just silence.

Raiga’s smirk died.

"This mist… it muffles SOUND too?!"

Meanwhile, deep in the fog, Yoru smirked.

"Now, let’s test these ‘perfected’ Water Clones."

SLAM!

His chakra flooded the ocean. The water surged, twisting into humanoid shapes—24 identical Yorus.

"Tch. Three-tenths of my chakra gone in one go."

But the trade-off?

Each clone had 30% of his power—and could use every technique he knew.

Immune to physical attacks. Near-indestructible.

A nightmare army.

"Pity they can’t coordinate like the real me… but in this mist? Doesn’t matter."

One clone maintained the fog. The other 23 dispersed—silent reapers.

"Utakata’s the problem. Handle him first."

A tailed beast bomb could vaporize the mist.

Yoru’s real body shot forward, blade flashing.

Utakata barely dodged, forced back—out of the fog.

"What?! He pushed Utakata OUT?!"

The Kiri-nin stared, stunned.

Was Yoru seriously fighting Utakata while sustaining the mist?!

Genryū’s face purpled.

"Forget him! RECOVER THE MIZUKAGE!"

A squad lunged toward Mei—

Only to be cut off by her loyalists.

"Over our dead bodies!"