On the other side, in the world where Obito was reborn, Yagura's second Tailed Beast Bomb was already heading toward the Third Mizukage.
Seeing this, the Third Mizukage immediately formed seals and again used the Water Formation Pillar.
If nothing unexpected happened, Yagura's Tailed Beast Bomb would once more be repelled by the water pillar and then explode far away.
However, at that moment, Yagura suddenly withdrew from his jinchuriki state and, pointing his long staff-like weapon at the Mizukage, said, "Water Release, Water Mirror Technique!"
Instantly, a water mirror appeared and a person identical to the Third Mizukage stepped out of it, forming the exact same hand seals as the Third Mizukage.
"Water Release, Water Formation Pillar!"
Both water formation pillars were activated at the same time.
Yagura's Tailed Beast Bomb struck the Third Mizukage's water pillar and was flung away.
But having just been flung away, it then slammed into the other water formation pillar created by the Water Mirror Technique and was bounced back again.
In the end, the Tailed Beast Bomb's trajectory remained unchanged, it headed straight for the Third Mizukage.
The Third Mizukage's slit eyes widened in astonishment, unable to conceal his surprise, "What?"
Yagura's move had completely exceeded his expectations.
Yet using technique after technique in succession against an opponent left the Third Mizukage little room to adjust; he could only watch helplessly as the Tailed Beast Bomb struck him.
BOOM!
At the Third Mizukage's location, a massive mushroom cloud shot into the sky; the blast's force even knocked down nearby shinobi who were still fighting.
After the smoke cleared, the Third Mizukage lay grievously wounded on the ground, unable to rise. Only a final breath remained; he weakly turned his head toward Yagura, who still stood.
"What was that jutsu you just used?"
Yagura, seeing that the Third Mizukage had completely lost his ability to fight and was not long for this world, immediately explained, "It's nothing but a Coral Palm, water trick, thoughts born after contact with a certain malignant existence."
"Sometimes, what's true and what's false, Third Mizukage, can you tell the difference?"
The Third Mizukage gave a wry smile, "Although it's by the Three-Tails' power that you have the right to stand before me, I must admit, Yagura, you are a genius."
"I didn't expect to lose this battle. The future of Kirigakure will be handed to you, so let me see how you plan to deal with this rotten mess."
After saying that, the Third Mizukage closed his eyes forever; his breath vanished in that instant.
At that moment, nearby, Hozuki Mangetsu, who had just taken a direct hit from the Water Clone Great Explosion, staggered over looking rather battered.
The phantom images of the seven ninja swords that had floated beside him were already gone. Looking at the fallen Mizukage, he said, "I didn't expect you lot would actually pull off the siege on the Mizukage."
Yagura shrugged and pointed out the key fact, "Not a single one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen showed up. If they'd all been here, the trouble would've been ours."
"I wonder who delayed those seven? Could it have been Mei?"
Mangetsu nodded, "That's possible. If those seven had arrived, they would've been a tremendous aid to the Mizukage's side. Perhaps fate had other plans."
Yagura sheathed his staff-like weapon and glanced at Mangetsu, "Next is the cleanup. I will become the Fourth Mizukage. Mangetsu, you can continue as a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and later, you could even succeed me."
Mangetsu shook his head, "No. After all this, I've lost any desire for the Kage position. Compared to the paltry fame it brings, the burden it requires one to bear is immense."
He paused, then continued, "The Third Mizukage was right in one respect, the problems of the Land of Water won't vanish just because he's dead. Yagura, how will you solve them?"
Yagura's head throbbed, 'True, resources don't appear from nowhere. If the amount Kirigakure receives from the Land of Water isn't enough to distribute to everyone, then some people will inevitably go hungry.'
He couldn't think of a quick solution, 'Should I press on to oppose the daimyo of the Land of Water and force those nobles and great merchants to release their wealth?'
But… that was a thought he dared not entertain.
Just then, through the mist that cloaked the area, a group of figures slowly emerged.
Tobi walked at the front and greeted Yagura, "Things went even more smoothly than I expected, Yagura. You should thank us, if we hadn't defeated the Seven Ninja Swordsmen midway, you might not have killed the Mizukage."
Yagura, seeing Tobi leading a group that clearly belonged to Akatsuki, showed a look of realization, "So that's why those seven didn't come. You claimed non-intervention but couldn't resist interfering after all."
Tobi shook his head, "No, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
Before Tobi could continue, Mei Terumi stepped out from the shadows.
"Yagura, he may not be lying. He saved me and… Kakashi."
Yagura was taken aback, then looked to the other, previously inconspicuous figure beside Mei Terumi.
"Kakashi, the prodigy of Konoha? Mei, how are you with Kakashi?"
Mei Terumi blinked, "Because he's so handsome."
Yagura slapped his forehead, "Mei, do you realize your behavior already constitutes colluding with an external village's spy and desertion?"
"How dare you act so recklessly!"
Mei blinked again, "If it were before, I mightn't have dared. But now, Yagura, you're about to become the Fourth Mizukage, right? Are you really going to make trouble for me over something so small?"
'So small?'
Yagura truly didn't know what to say, 'Could this be small?'
His eyes narrowed and he turned to Kakashi seriously, "Kakashi, you must give me an explanation. Don't you think it's extremely improper for a Konoha prodigy to come to our Kirigakure and seduce our genius?"
Kakashi had originally thought Yagura might accuse him of stealing intelligence or something similar.
'But seducing a Kirigakure genius, what does that have to do with my mission?'
He was about to protest when Tobi interjected, "Yagura, if you think it's a problem, we can always send Mei Terumi to Konoha in the future to seduce Kakashi, that would even things out, wouldn't it?"
Yagura actually found Tobi's remark strangely sensible and almost wanted to applaud the audacity of that suggestion.
He snorted but restrained himself. First, his relationship with Mei Terumi was visible, he didn't believe she would betray the village. Second, with Kakashi now under Akatsuki's wing, Tobi's remarks were protective; he couldn't touch Kakashi.
'Damn Konoha, damn the Fourth Hokage, how underhanded.'