71-75

Chapter 71: Terumi Mei, You Fight Him!

However, after some thought, they remembered the vast gap in raw strength between themselves and Hozuki Mangetsu—like an insurmountable chasm.

Terumi Mei’s small face immediately fell.

She furrowed her delicate eyebrows and let out a sigh of resignation.

"Shinji, I'm just saying… maybe we should start thinking about how to escape instead?"

"Even if he really is some lunatic with a desire to destroy everything, we’re still no match for him."

"The Hozuki clan's secret techniques are nearly unbeatable in this environment."

Shinji shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Hozuki Mangetsu, who had already stopped his bleeding with the Water Healing Technique.

That guy was clearly furious—his killing intent was so intense it felt like it could freeze the water around him.

And yet… the expected subtitles in his vision still hadn’t appeared.

Thinking about what that meant, Shinji’s expression became a bit strange. He patted Terumi Mei on the shoulder and said:

"It’s fine. I believe in you."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Terumi Mei’s face flushed red as she asked in shock.

Was this really the time for that kind of talk?

But Shinji simply pointed at Hozuki Mangetsu, whose face was twisted in rage like a demon, and said with absolute confidence:

"Terumi Mei, you fight him!"

Terumi Mei blinked and slowly looked up at Shinji, dazed.

Did I mishear him? Or is this guy messing with me?

Me… against Hozuki Mangetsu?

With what? How am I supposed to fight him?!

Shinji took a deep breath and spoke solemnly:

"Kirigakure is not my home."

"I have no right to stand in your shoes and solve your problems for you."

"But I can tell you what needs to be done!"

His expression darkened, and he said in a deep voice:

"Assassinate the Third Mizukage. Overthrow the regime. Seize power!"

"That’s only the first step!"

"After that, you must pressure the Daimyo. If necessary, kill him and replace him. Secure the finances!"

"Then, start a war—expand outward, direct internal conflicts toward external enemies, and crush any rebellion with an iron fist!"

"Completely reshuffle the board! Build a nation that revolves around your will!"

"If you can’t do that, then Kirigakure will continue to suffer as it is now."

As Shinji's clear voice echoed,

the battlefield fell into a sudden silence.

Whether it was Terumi Mei, Hozuki Mangetsu, or even the five hunter-nin maintaining Water Release: Cutting Rain,

all of them looked at Shinji in shock.

At first, they thought his words were nothing special—after all, power struggles in major factions had always been handled this way, from the Warring States Period to the present.

Even in Kirigakure, Cutting Rain, which represented the will of ordinary shinobi, and the Elder Council, which protected the interests of bloodline clans,

both aimed to do the same thing.

But from his second sentence onward, his words took a sharp, 180-degree turn.

Using the power of shinobi to control the Daimyo and take over the country's economy?

For those living in the current shinobi world, that was an unimaginable concept.

It was pure heresy!

Shinobi, from the moment they were created, existed as a profession that took on missions and completed commissions.

Could these highly trained warriors really govern an entire nation?

Terumi Mei and Hozuki Mangetsu couldn’t help but ponder the question.

Meanwhile, the five hunter-nin’s faces changed drastically beneath their masks. One of the older ones immediately shouted at Hozuki Mangetsu:

"Mangetsu, kill him!"

"Kill this blasphemous lunatic!"

"If the Daimyo even hears about this, Kirigakure will face complete annihilation!"

"If the Daimyo is overthrown, this country will immediately collapse, and the other four nations will attack, carving up the Land of Water!"

"Don’t even think about such madness!"

"Hurry! Kill him now!"

However, Hozuki Mangetsu didn’t move. He only frowned slightly and looked up at Shinji.

Standing beside Shinji, Terumi Mei also turned her gaze toward him, waiting to hear how he would respond to this challenge.

The establishment of the "One Nation, One Village" system holds significant meaning.

Take the relationship between the Land of Fire and the Village Hidden in the Leaves (Konoha) as an example. Within the Land of Fire, Konoha is merely a large armed faction. However, Konoha is not the only option available to the Land of Fire. As long as the price is right, other clans outside of Konoha, as well as shinobi villages and clans from other nations, can serve the Land of Fire.

For instance, in the future, the reason Sunagakure (the Village Hidden in the Sand) betrays Konoha and allies with Otogakure (the Village Hidden in Sound) to attack Konoha is because the Land of Wind frequently hires Konoha shinobi, taking away missions and jobs that could have gone to Sunagakure.

Similarly, when the Uchiha clan accepts a mission from the Daimyō (feudal lord) of the Land of Lightning to guard Hell Valley and oversee the Blood Pool clan, it follows the same principle.

Overthrowing a nation doesn’t just face the backlash of the Daimyō’s forces. It could also lead to a terrifying, unified crusade across the entire shinobi world, spurred by the collective fear and immense financial resources of Daimyōs from other nations.

Therefore, a shinobi village staging a coup to seize control of a great nation is highly unrealistic. The risks are enormous, and the rewards are slim to none.

This is a consensus shared among today’s shinobi.

However, Shinji shook his head, glanced at the pursuing shinobi nearby, and sneered:

"If you're talking about the four great nations of Fire, Wind, Earth, and Lightning, you’re absolutely right!"

"But you all are from Kirigakure!"

"You belong to the Land of Water, an isolated island nation surrounded by the natural barrier of the vast ocean!"

Hearing this, everyone was momentarily stunned.

What he said… seemed to make some sense? The Land of Water’s geography is indeed unique, unlike other nations. Its terrain is naturally easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Except for a few key ports with relatively flat terrain, much of the main island consists of towering mountains.

As long as Kirigakure holds its ground at these critical ports and strategic locations, launching a cross-sea invasion to attack Kirigakure or carve up the Land of Water’s territory would be incredibly difficult.

Then,

Shinji looked intently at Mei Terumī and spoke solemnly:

"I remember you once said that you have a goal you must achieve for the sake of your homeland. You believe your homeland has a better path forward, and you think the current system is wrong!"

"If you love your homeland so deeply,"

"Then do it. Take action, no matter the cost!"

"Even if the future turns into a pile of garbage or a barren wasteland!"

"Even if standing before you is a demon who desires to overthrow Kirigakure and slay its master, he can still become your strength!"

"This is your fight!"

Shinji’s gaze sharpened as he pointed toward Mangetsu Hōzuki and addressed Mei Terumī with a serious tone:

"From the night you declared war on me, I knew you aspired to step onto the brightest stage in the shinobi world."

"Now, one of the most brilliant minds in the shinobi world stands before us."

"Honestly, I’m not confident I can defeat him, nor can I guarantee I’ll even manage to cover your escape."

"Of course, I will fight to the last second and do my best to help you get out of here."

After saying this, Shinji’s eyes narrowed. He drew his ninjato, gripping it firmly with both hands, and without turning back, said:

"What happens next is entirely up to you."

"I believe in you."

He hadn’t forgotten that Mangetsu Hōzuki also carried a summoning scroll for the Seven Ninja Swords.

As long as the seven swords are summoned, he can instantly enter his second stage, not to mention potentially unleashing something like a Shark-Man Mode in the third stage.

An enhanced *"Deadly Duel Barrier"* couldn’t contain an opponent of this caliber, a Kage-level powerhouse. Even with Shinji unleashing his full arsenal—shurikenjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu, kenjutsu, and even forbidden techniques—he would still be powerless to harm an enemy who, once serious, could completely ignore physical damage.

It was despairing to be so thoroughly outmatched.

But it didn’t matter.

In situations like this,

Shinji still had teammates.

(End of chapter)

no ch 72

*Chapter 73: Explosive Water Surge, Whirling Water Blades!*

In the dimly lit corner of the hall—

Upon hearing Shinji’s bold declaration, Uchiha Madara, leaning on his cane, couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

“Assassinate the Mizukage, incite a coup, control the Daimyo, and start a war...”

“Hmph, quite the loudmouthed brat.”

Madara chuckled softly, as if he saw a shadow of his younger self reflected in this kid standing before him.

But his expression soon returned to calm indifference. He commented dispassionately:

“However, mere words are meaningless.”

“Power is not like will. It is the result of interactions between tangible forces. If you fail to grasp this, all your lofty ideas will only bring unnecessary suffering.”

Beside him, White Zetsu grinned mischievously. “Lord Madara, it’s been a while since you’ve taken an interest in someone.”

“Should we add him to the observation list?”

Madara cast a faint glance toward the scene. Activating his Sharingan, he scrutinized Shinji for a moment before furrowing his brow.

“Let’s observe a bit longer.”

From the Warring States era until now, it was the first time he had seen such a peculiar expression.

The boy was clearly terrified of death, yet his eyes and body simultaneously yearned for a fight to the death.

And this look was not the kind of bravery commonly understood.

The overlapping of fear of death and a desire for it—such an intense emotional contradiction—was unusual.

And yet, all of this was packed into a mere second-stage Sharingan user, a so-called "mediocre talent."

This peculiar mix of potential and limitation momentarily left Madara puzzled.

---

*On the battlefield—*

Standing in the knee-high water, Terumi Mei gazed silently at Shinji’s back.

Rain poured heavily from the ceiling, droplets splashing like pearls bouncing off a platter.

She knew all too well—

Shinji was nothing more than an unfortunate victim dragged into this civil strife within Kirigakure.

And yet, at this moment,

The boy stood before her, speaking with unwavering determination, vowing to fight until his last breath and to try to save her.

Just moments ago, this same boy had coldly scolded and mocked her, harshly declaring his intent to sever ties with her.

Terumi Mei wasn’t sure what to feel,

But suddenly—

A faint smile spread across her face.

Looking at the young man in front of her, she couldn’t help but curve her lips upward.

As expected, he’s just an awkward idiot!

With that thought, her gaze firmed. She stepped forward,

Her emerald-green eyes scanning Hozuki Mangetsu and the five pursuing shinobi, quickly analyzing the battle in her mind.

Her expression turned composed, and her eyes gradually grew colder.

Though still young, the Terumi Mei who would one day end the Blood Mist era and become the Fifth Mizukage was no ordinary girl.

“Shinji,” Terumi Mei said softly, her brow furrowed in seriousness.

“I possess four chakra natures. Although I’m not particularly skilled in Lightning Release, I do have some jutsu stored up.”

“So, I’ll take on Hozuki Mangetsu.”

“You have to interrupt their ongoing Water Release: Rain Cutter Jutsu. If you don’t, this fight will only get harder.”

“And remember, this is a gamble. We can only hope your deduction is correct, or else—”

“If Mangetsu manages to summon a large water source and use another secret technique, our chances of winning will plummet.”

“Got it.” Shinji nodded, his gaze fixed coldly on the five shinobi not far away.

He understood exactly what Mei meant by “another secret technique”—

*Water Release: Shielded Hōzuki Form.*

Once a large water source was available, Mangetsu could summon this jutsu, effectively transforming into a colossal water creature, comparable in scale to a full-form Eight-Tails.

At that point, even without summoning the Seven Ninja Swords through their scroll, their defeat would be all but certain.

With Shinji’s affirmation, Terumi Mei’s eyes sharpened. Forming a seal with her hands, she prepared to act.

*Ox → Snake → Ram.*

*Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu!*

Opening her mouth, she exhaled a dense mist that swiftly spread, enveloping the entire hall.

Using the mist as cover, she snatched a kunai from the tool pouch on Shinji’s waist, formed a seal with her left hand, and conjured water blades to hurl at Hozuki Mangetsu.

*Whoosh!*

Following the water blade she had just unleashed, Mei Terumi leaped into the air. Her hands formed seals in rapid succession as she gathered chakra at her throat. She then spat out an enormous wave of water, like a tsunami, hurtling toward Mangetsu Hozuki.

"Water Style: Exploding Water Shock Wave!"

Mangetsu remained calm at the sight, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

From a distance, the pursuing shinobi heard the commotion and sneered, taunting loudly:

"Mei Terumi, have you lost your mind? Using Exploding Water Shock Wave against Mangetsu, who can liquefy his body? You're practically begging for death!"

"Utterly foolish!"

Mei snorted derisively. "Oh really? How about this?"

Once again, she formed hand seals, pouring an immense amount of chakra into her hands despite the weakening effect of Kirigakure’s "Rain Cutter." She generated lightning on both palms, then slammed it into the surging water wave.

"Lightning Style: Ground Walk!"

The bolts of electricity coursed through the massive wave, following its path toward Mangetsu Hozuki.

Boom!  

The tsunami-like wave exploded outward, carving the battlefield into sections.

Mist engulfed the area, and turbulent waters surged chaotically.

Amidst the thick, white haze, a pair of scarlet eyes suddenly gleamed.

Shinji, already prepared, channeled chakra to his feet. Standing atop the rushing waves, he used the force to propel himself rapidly toward the five pursuing shinobi stationed at the far end of the hall, performing the "Rain Cutter" technique.

With only a simple collaboration with Mei Terumi, they had created an effect akin to "Water Style: Wave Ride Strike."

Riding the crest of the wave, Shinji leaped high into the air, pulling out a flurry of shuriken, which he hurled at the enemy shinobi.

Capitalizing on his momentum, he spun in midair and unleashed a powerful kunai-throwing technique, sending the ninja blade flying with explosive force.

Then, he flung two kunai with chakra strings attached, embedding them in the hall's pillars. Gripping the strings, he altered his trajectory in midair, forming a semi-circle as he dropped down from another direction.

Drawing another kunai, he spun it skillfully in his hand, creating a gleaming arc, before charging at the five pursuing shinobi.

The oldest shinobi among them, hearing the sound of footsteps, raised his head warily and shouted:

"Watch out! That kid’s coming straight for us!"

"From the left—"

Before he could finish, a storm of shuriken pierced through the mist from the right side.

The older shinobi’s eyes widened as he quickly drew his blade, blocking the onslaught with a series of resounding clashes.

Clang! Clang! Clang!  

Sparks flew as he deflected each one.

However, hidden among the rain of shuriken, a single ninja blade sliced through the air silently.

Squish!

It pierced his throat, cutting off his final shout.

Clang!

*[You bravely engaged a mid-level pursuing shinobi who thought you were reckless!]*

*[Heart Upgrade: Water (100%). You have fully mastered the nature transformation of water chakra.]*

*[You have learned: Water Style – Water Surface Cutter (Novice, C-rank).]*

The remaining four shinobi stared in shock, momentarily stunned as Shinji approached from the left.

The urgency of the situation broke their daze as one of them shouted:

"I’ll maintain the secret technique! The rest of you, deal with this brat!"

The other three nodded and quickly steadied themselves on the water's surface, each drawing a long chakra whip.

Crack!  

The ends of the three whips snapped with explosive force, lashing out at Shinji and sealing off all his escape routes.

This was the "Water Style: Water Whip" technique, capable of binding enemies and rendering them immobile with remarkable effectiveness.

However, Shinji showed no intention of dodging. Instead, he drew a kunai from his tool pouch and charged forward.

The reflection in his eyes revealed the three incoming water whips. With both hands moving swiftly, he formed seals:

Rabbit – Goat – Snake!  

"Water Style: Water Fang Blade!"

The water blade formed, its edge now sharper and more refined after Shinji's mastery of water nature transformation.

The blade's surface spun violently at an incredible speed, producing a high-pitched screech.

With a sudden swing, Shinji slashed downward!

A crescent-shaped arc of light gleamed as the blade cut through the air like a moonlit crescent.

Chapter 74: A New Path for the "Mighty Brick Sword Technique" – Sharingan Copy! 

Shinji stepped forward with a twist, his feet firmly planted, and slashed with his water blade.  

With a single stroke, Uchiha Style: Instant Air Slash severed three long whips in an instant.  

He followed with a low stance, bending at the waist, and hurled his Water Fang Blade directly.  

The three pursuers were caught off guard as the Water Fang Blade was suddenly thrown at them.  

A seemingly ordinary kunai instantly transformed into an enchanted weapon. 

Seeing the blade wrapped in a menacing, hissing water edge, they dared not block it with regular kunai. 

Instead, they scattered like startled birds to avoid it.  

At that moment, Shinji felt as though he had unlocked a new world—his eyes lit up.  

"This mighty brick sword technique paired with the ability to conjure blades on demand... I must say, it’s absurdly effective!"  

Wasting no time, he drew another kunai, performed hand seals, and crafted another Water Fang Blade. Armed with his weapon, he continued the pursuit.  

The three pursuers cursed loudly in their minds.  

"This brat—if it’s not shurikenjutsu, it’s shurikenjutsu! Even when he uses ninjutsu, it turns into some kind of shuriken trick! 

Fight us properly, damn it! This isn’t ninja-like at all!"  

While fleeing, they quickly formed hand seals, preparing to unleash a powerful jutsu against him.  

But what they didn’t expect was that Shinji, who should have been behind them, had already appeared in front of them.  

He skated across the water’s surface, feet kicking up splashes, his body leaning back, and hands gripping a black thread. Like a speeding arrow, he closed the distance.  

Water Release: Surface Slice Technique! 

This Water Release technique concentrated water flow beneath the user’s feet for high-speed gliding. Remarkably, it could even be used on solid ground.  

With the battlefield now a water-covered terrain thanks to Mei Terumi’s jutsu, this technique greatly enhanced his mobility.  

Upon landing in front of the three, 

Shinji kicked out a water blade, flipped mid-air, and drew his Water Fang Blade.  

Using taijutsu copied from Kakuzu and a sword infused with Water Release: Water Fang Blade and Chakra Blade Technique, 

he sliced through the three pursuers with lightning speed, completing a circular slash.  

With one stroke, a radiant blue crescent moon shimmered in the air! 

Two of them were felled on the spot.  

The third narrowly dodged, his expression hardening as he began forming hand seals for a counterattack.  

But Shinji glared fiercely.  

His Sharingan focused, the two tomoe spinning rapidly, analyzing the seals and chakra flow of his opponent.  

Mimicking every move, he formed seals even faster.  

** 

His speed outpaced the opponent!  

"You little brat, die!" the pursuer bellowed in frustration, raising his hand. 

"Water Release: Water Prison—"  

However, an even louder shout cut him off: 

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"  

Shinji raised his hand, unleashing his Water Prison Technique half a second faster than the pursuer.  

A water sphere burst forth from his palm, enveloping the enemy and trapping him inside.  

Blub, blub, blub...  

The pursuer’s eyes widened in shock. He choked on water, flailing his arms and legs helplessly.  

Inwardly, he cursed: Why the hell does a Uchiha use Water Release better than we Mist shinobi?! 

Where’s your Fire Release? Did you eat it?!  

Relieved, Shinji wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding wildly. Gripping the Water Fang Blade, he plunged it into the water prison, finishing the job.  

"If this loudmouth hadn’t wasted time, my two-tomoe Sharingan wouldn’t have copied the jutsu fast enough."  

He let out a deep breath. That was close. For a second, I thought I was done for.  

Good thing my skills are superior!  

In the rain-drenched battlefield, ninjutsu other than Water Release was greatly weakened. With chakra rapidly depleting from repeated Earth Release techniques, he had no choice but to rely on Water Release and taijutsu.  

Unexpectedly, his heart's fortuitous upgrade not only restored his water affinity but also deepened his mastery of Water Release—a happy accident.  

Now, only one pursuer remained, maintaining a secret technique. 

The silence outside, interrupted by bursts of shouting and clashing, suddenly fell eerily quiet.  

The lone ninja broke into a cold sweat, his fear mounting as he prayed for his teammates to hold their ground.  

But then, the mist parted.  

Through the haze stepped a young man drenched in blood, wielding a gleaming blade. 

He swung it lazily, tracing an elegant arc of crystalline water with his sword.  

"You... You!" The lone pursuer’s muscles tensed as cold sweat poured down his back.  

The expression beneath his mask was one of fear. He immediately stopped maintaining the Water Style: Rain Cutter hand signs and stumbled backward with hesitant steps.  

Shinji, however, didn’t waste any words on him. He turned around and dashed back into the dense white mist. 

The rapid sound of his footsteps echoed in the ears of the pursuing ninja, filling them with psychological pressure. It felt as though a beast lurking in the mist was ready to devour them at any moment.  

The pursuer nervously scanned his surroundings, his eyes darting left and right. Suddenly, he realized the danger and shouted at the top of his lungs: 

"Mangetsu, save me!"  

At that exact moment, a blade of water pierced through the white mist with a thunderous roar, hurtling straight at him.  

Meanwhile, on another battlefield, Terumi Mei, drenched in sweat, was forming hand seals nonstop to unleash ninjutsu and block Hozuki Mangetsu’s advance. 

Her combat style was akin to a turret, with her massive chakra reserves allowing her to unleash jutsu like a machine gun. 

Water Style, Lava Style—she fired them off one after another, and in the enclosed space, she even released Boil Style to mix with the surrounding mist, forming a defensive shield.  

No matter whether it was effective or not, she opted to cover the area with firepower first. Before exhausting her chakra, her primary goal was to buy as much time as possible.  

However, the sudden halt of the Rain Cutter jutsu and the commotion in the mist drew both combatants’ attention. 

Startled, they both paused mid-battle and looked toward the source of the sound.  

There were supposed to be five pursuers! 

Five of them! Even if they were incompetent, it shouldn’t have been possible for them to fall so quickly—even if they charged in one by one like characters in a children’s story.  

And yet, how much time had passed? 

A minute? Two at most?  

Hozuki Mangetsu’s brow furrowed deeply. Without hesitation, he dove into the water and vanished in an instant.  

Whoosh! 

Shinji seized an opening in his opponent’s defenses and hurled a water blade with all his might.  

By this point, he had already retrieved his sword from the neck of another pursuer. 

Simultaneously, he pulled on the wire threads across the water’s surface, guiding the blade toward the remaining pursuer to swiftly end the fight. He needed to assist Terumi Mei as quickly as possible.  

But then—  

Bang!  

A sharp, ear-piercing gunshot shattered the air.  

A high-speed water bullet suddenly shot forward, piercing through the water blade that Shinji had thrown.  

With pinpoint accuracy, it struck the kunai embedded in the water blade, sending it flying.  

Immediately after, a white-haired figure leaped out of the water and lunged at Shinji’s back with a blade aimed at his heart.  

Faced with this life-threatening attack, Shinji felt his scalp tingle with dread. 

Instinctively, he executed a defensive move he had only ever seen in videos in his previous life—a technique resembling the head-wrapping and shoulder-guarding strikes of ancient blade arts.  

Clang! 

Sparks flew as metal met metal.  

“This kid’s reflexes are that fast?”  

Hozuki Mangetsu raised an eyebrow in mild surprise but didn’t dwell on it. He immediately used the Water Style: Strong Water Arm technique to amplify his strength, pressing the blade forward with even more force.  

But the brief moment of defense had given Shinji enough time.  

He activated Earth Style: Earth Spear, hardening the spot on his back that was about to be pierced.  

Without the weakening effects of the Rain Cutter jutsu, the hardened area’s durability was off the charts. 

Clang! 

Hozuki Mangetsu felt as if his blade had struck a diamond harder than anything before.  

With a crack, the blade broke apart.  

Seizing the opportunity, Shinji swung his sword, swiftly cutting down the remaining pursuer in front of him.  

Finally, he turned to face Hozuki Mangetsu, who was standing there dumbfounded, gripping his broken blade. A cold smile spread across Shinji’s face. 

“So, you’re the so-called Hidden Mist prodigy, huh? What’s the matter? Didn’t have breakfast?”  

End of Chapter 

 Chapter 75: Intense Confrontation and the Arrival of the Mecha!  

As Shinji’s voice fell, 

the battlefield abruptly cleared. 

The five Mist Hunter-Nin were all taken down, leaving only Hōzuki Mangetsu to pursue Yagura and intercept Mei Terumi.  

The torrential rain ceased suddenly, and the dark clouds over the castle scattered. The surging waves momentarily subsided.  

A beam of sunlight pierced through the dome, refracting across the water’s surface and the vibrant stained glass above, illuminating the entire hall.  

Uchiha Madara, who had been silently observing the battle, shook his head slightly: 

"Jumping around like that—your dance moves are barely passable."  

Then, his crimson Sharingan eyes gleamed with interest as he focused on Shinji standing in the arena: 

"But next, facing that brat from the Hōzuki clan, what will you do?"  

Behind Madara, the third Mizukage, trapped in an illusion, spoke indifferently: 

"With just two tomoe, he probably won’t even force Mangetsu to fully draw his blade before meeting his demise."  

"Hōzuki Mangetsu is the successor I’m grooming as the next Mizukage. He’s not someone a little brat like that could possibly compare to."  

As his words echoed, in the hall below—  

[The Third Mizukage looks at you with disdain.]  

The sudden text appearing before Shinji stunned him. 

He quickly glanced around, relieved not to see anyone. After a brief moment of speechlessness, he could only assume it was some kind of glitch in the subtitles.  

Otherwise, it would be way too unsettling.  

In just two days, he had run into four or five Kage-level figures in succession.  

Now, if another one were to show up— 

and at such a critical juncture where he had to rescue Mei Terumi and steer the storyline back on track to continue his risky exploits—  

it would truly be unbearable.  

Taking a deep breath, Shinji cleared his mind of distractions and focused intensely on Hōzuki Mangetsu standing before him.  

While mocking the enemy strategically, tactically, one must always take them seriously.  

Hōzuki Mangetsu glanced at his broken blade, his eyes narrowing slightly.  

This level of hardening jutsu was something he had never encountered before— 

far beyond the Earth Release: Hardening Technique he had seen in the past.  

Even when his Water Release: Great Water Arm Technique amplified his strikes, this kid hadn’t suffered a scratch. 

Instead, Mangetsu’s own blade had shattered.  

Understanding this, he immediately leaped backward, raising his hands in a gesture resembling pistols.  

Aiming at the vital points of the boy in front of him, he unleashed the Water Release: Water Gun Technique.  

This was a secret ninjutsu passed down through the Hōzuki clan. By shaping the hand like a gun, liquid bullets were shot from the fingertips to penetrate the enemy.  

It was seal-less, instant, and had tremendous piercing power— 

a technique that, in the hands of the Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu, almost killed the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, in a single shot.  

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! 

Four consecutive water bullets fired at lightning speed.  

Shinji’s Sharingan darted back and forth, trying to track the trajectories of the bullets, but they were too fast. At this close range, his eyes couldn’t keep up.  

Relying on instinct, he hastily used the Earth Release: Earth Spear to harden the areas he felt were in danger.  

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! 

The sound of bullets striking an iron wall rang out.  

As the hardening wore off, Shinji quickly formed hand seals, drawing a wildly spinning water blade and slashing toward Hōzuki Mangetsu at close range, interrupting his attempt to fire more Water Guns.  

At the same time, Shinji’s eyes widened as he shouted: 

"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"  

Hearing the shout, Hōzuki Mangetsu’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately avoided eye contact, flipping backward and partially liquefying the area about to be struck.  

Taking advantage of the opening, Shinji swiftly threw four shuriken, followed by a spinning blade hurl.  

Swish! Swish! Swish! 

The projectiles tore through the air, flying toward Mangetsu.  

Shinji then launched a powerful kick, using Water Release: Water Severing Wave around his foot to carve out a blade of water aimed at Mangetsu’s throat.  

This relentless assault left Hōzuki Mangetsu momentarily overwhelmed, forcing him to retreat quickly.  

Even though he managed to liquefy in time, a few stray shuriken still left cuts on his arm.  

In this exchange, 

Shinji had actually gained the upper hand.  

However, his expression didn’t reveal any relief; instead, his face grew even more serious.  

He managed to harm Hozuki Mangetsu, compensating for his shortcomings with sheer reflexes. 

After being forced back, Hozuki Mangetsu revealed a cold smirk on his face.  

From the earlier exchange, he had completely figured out the Uchiha kid standing before him.  

The opponent had abnormal reflexes, dazzling shuriken techniques, decent taijutsu, and an absurdly durable earth-style jutsu. 

He excelled at using diversions and employing underhanded tactics—an annoying adversary indeed.  

However, all of these strengths couldn't hide the glaring flaw: the lack of a decisive move to end the battle.  

Moreover, Hozuki Mangetsu had already identified a weakness in his opponent—  

That seemingly invincible hardening jutsu wasn’t flawless. After using it, the opponent’s body would inevitably stiffen.  

When using this jutsu, the kid’s ridiculously strong reflexes were ironically constrained by it.  

With this understanding, 

Hozuki Mangetsu slightly crouched, his gaze turning icy as he slowly pulled out a scroll from his back.  

Upon seeing this, Uchiha Shinji narrowed his eyes and immediately reached for the scroll tied to his leg.  

There, he also carried a scroll— 

one sealed with the dark chakra of the Zero-Tails!  

Enough to activate his dark chakra state and combine it with his Earth Spear for a hyperactive punch.  

However, just as he was about to act—  

Mei Terumi suddenly appeared, stepping in front of Uchiha Shinji to block his movements. She used her body to prevent him from pulling out the scroll, holding his wrist with her hand behind her back.  

Turning her head slightly, her clear emerald eyes locked with Uchiha Shinji as she solemnly said:  

“Now’s not the time!”  

“Your deduction is correct. Leave the rest to me.”  

Her tone was firm, her gaze unwavering, as she asked:  

“Uchiha Shinji , can you trust me?”  

Uchiha Shinji frowned slightly and, after a moment of silence, nodded.  

Mei Terumi immediately turned around, her expression darkening as she faced Hozuki Mangetsu. She raised her voice and declared:  

“That’s enough, Hozuki Mangetsu!”  

“There’s no point in continuing this fight.”  

Upon hearing this, Hozuki Mangetsu raised an eyebrow, glaring coldly at Mei Terumi.  

“Point? How do you define ‘point’?”  

“I’m here to kill you and Yagura, the person you swore allegiance to!”  

His face remained calm and indifferent.  

With that, he swung open the Seven Ninja Blades Summoning Scroll in his hand.  

[Twin], [Great], [Thunder], [Sever], [Long], [Explosion], [Blunt]! 

Seven circular sealing scripts appeared in an instant!  

Holding the scroll, Hozuki Mangetsu stood as waves surged beneath his feet, lifting him upward.  

Standing atop the water platform, he looked down at the two and coldly asked:  

“What’s wrong? Do you think getting rid of five burdens means you’ve already won?”  

As his words fell, the water beneath began to churn violently. The water platform grew higher and higher, gradually draining all the water on the ground.  

Then—  

Boom! 

The surface of the water platform collapsed, and a ten-meter-tall water monster burst out of it.  

With sharp fangs, a hideous face, and movements that shook the hall with each step, 

dust cascaded from the ceiling above.  

Water Style: Shielded Eboshi!  

This water monster, born from the Hozuki clan’s secret technique, now stood imposingly before the two.  

Hozuki Mangetsu stood high atop the monster’s head, scroll in hand.  

His single purple eye gazed coldly at them, and he spoke with indifference:  

“The game has only just begun.”  

(End of Chapter)