Chapter 104: You Don't Mind If I Have an Extra Helper, Right?
Enraged beyond words, the Third Mizukage stopped wasting time with conversation.
The previously calm lake surface suddenly erupted with violent fury. Centered on the Third Mizukage's position, the surrounding water was abruptly pulled upward in a massive spiraling column, shooting skyward with tremendous force.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A fairly standard opening technique—this jutsu could be considered the most beloved ninjutsu of Water Release specialists, without question.
However, depending on the user's skill level, the destructive power of the Water Dragon Bullet varied dramatically. In the hands of a Water Release master like the Third Mizukage, even a simple Water Dragon Bullet displayed world-ending force, rolling forward like an apocalyptic torrent with deafening roars.
Water Release specialists highly valued geographical advantages in combat.
In an environment where the surroundings consisted entirely of water, the destructive capabilities of Water Release users far surpassed those of ordinary ninjutsu practitioners.
Gazing at the raging torrent—towering dozens of meters high like a massive tidal wall—crashing down with earth-shaking force toward him, the wisest option for Uchiha Kazuki would undoubtedly be to avoid its devastating impact.
But why should he avoid it?
Instead, Uchiha Kazuki formed rapid hand seals and took a deep, powerful breath.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
BOOM!!!
A burst of scorching flames instantly ignited the surrounding atmosphere.
A vast sea of fire erupted wildly, flames surging and churning with violent intensity. Orange-red inferno billowed through the air, the boundless conflagration instantly covering most of the frozen lake's surface.
The rampaging fire mercilessly devoured everything in its path like an enraged beast, carrying a scorching firestorm as it charged headlong into the oncoming torrent.
BOOM!
Water and fire are fundamentally incompatible—the two diametrically opposed elemental attributes instantly triggered a catastrophic explosion.
However, neither the raging torrents nor the scorching sea of flames yielded even a single inch during their violent collision. Each thunderous impact represented a fierce battle between opposing elements, unleashing explosive force equivalent to tons of TNT—like spectacular fireworks creating a breathtaking display of elemental warfare.
Visible shockwaves continuously pounded outward in all directions.
The lake water was swept up and propelled violently, the shockwaves creating countless ripples that spread further and further across the surface.
Seeing the prolonged stalemate despite his powerful assault, the Third Mizukage grew increasingly dissatisfied and anxious. He knew full well that his enemy wasn't just Uchiha Kazuki—there was also a rampaging Tailed Beast waiting for him to deal with. His brows furrowed deeply as he leaped upward, stepping directly onto the raging torrent itself, his palms clasping together: "Water Release: Water Pillar!"
The soft water, compressed to extreme density, hurtled downward like a devastating meteorite.
Whoosh!
A massive water sphere plummeted from the sky like an actual meteor, scattering atmospheric layers like artillery shells.
The overwhelming advantages of Water Release were on full display at this moment. The already-formed torrential water flow required no additional chakra control, freeing up the user to employ other ninjutsu techniques simultaneously to attack the enemy. Uchiha Kazuki's Fire Release, however, operated differently—once his active control ceased, it would be extinguished almost instantly by the overwhelming water assault.
Canceling his Fire Release technique, Uchiha Kazuki retreated rapidly, gliding dozens of meters across the water's surface.
But before he could properly adjust his defensive stance, he suddenly felt the air pressure above him become oppressively heavy, accompanied by sharp, blade-like sounds piercing through the atmosphere.
The Mizukage's chest heaved as chakra gathered intensely in his throat, and he expelled concentrated jets of pressurized water.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Slender water projectiles sliced cleanly through the air, carrying faint whistling sounds of death.
Uchiha Kazuki's eyes blazed blood-red as his Sharingan activated. His movements became swift and impossibly agile. In less than a single second, he instantly analyzed the precise trajectories of all incoming water projectiles, perfectly dodging every attack with hair's-breadth precision. He then gathered explosive power in his legs and suddenly sprinted forward at maximum velocity.
BANG!
Terrifying force erupted beneath his feet, splashing the surrounding lake water several meters into the air.
Uchiha Kazuki's figure raced across the water surface, leaving multiple afterimages in his wake. Surrounded by billowing wind currents, he resembled a humanoid missile, charging straight toward the Third Mizukage with devastating momentum.
"Hmph! Seeing that long-range ninjutsu isn't working to your advantage, you're planning to resort to close-quarters combat?"
The Third Mizukage, with his decades of seasoned combat experience, immediately saw through his opponent's tactical plan and naturally wasn't about to grant him that opportunity.
His hands moved with blinding speed, practically leaving visible afterimages in the air.
A full seventeen hand seals were completed in less than half a second—a display of masterful technique.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Facing the rapidly approaching Uchiha Kazuki, the Third Mizukage gathered massive amounts of water around his position, causing it to spiral and churn with increasing velocity.
Already possessing overwhelming geographical advantage, there was absolutely no need to worry about water supply limitations. Under the Mizukage's powerful chakra manipulation, the nearby lake water seemed drawn in by gravitational force, converging into a roaring vortex of apocalyptic proportions.
The very next moment, a raging torrent—resembling a colossal whirlpool—surged forth with absolutely astonishing destructive force.
Almost powerless to resist its pull, Uchiha Kazuki had no realistic way to evade. The technique covered an area spanning hundreds of meters in every direction. The massive vortex, carrying terrifying rotational force, continuously swept up vast volumes of water flow, eventually engulfing him like a catastrophic waterfall descending from the heavens, completely submerging his entire form.
RUMBLE!
The howling vortex spun at extreme velocity, carrying enormous volumes of pressurized water, cascading down like a natural disaster and violently washing over Uchiha Kazuki's position.
Not only that—being caught within the violent vortex left absolutely no avenue for escape. He could only be dragged deeper and deeper toward the lake bottom. As the crushing water pressure from all directions intensified exponentially, the very bones in his body groaned under the immense compression.
Swept to the lake's depths by the Great Waterfall Technique, Uchiha Kazuki crashed heavily against an underwater cliff face.
The tremendous impact caused excruciating pain throughout his body, his internal organs churning violently. He couldn't help but think grimly, "As expected of one of the Five Kage. Even though he's essentially a minor character without much screen time in the original story, he's still a Kage. I definitely underestimated him."
Originally, he had intended to personally test the true strength of the legendary Five Kage.
Now it seemed abundantly clear—the Five Kage truly lived up to their fearsome reputations. Even the comparatively weakest among them, the Third Mizukage, would prove extremely difficult to defeat unless Kazuki employed all his trump cards without reservation.
The Third Mizukage's combat prowess was undeniable. Although he lacked any Kekkei Genkai bloodline limit, his mastery of Water Release techniques far surpassed even legendary figures like Hanzō of the Salamander.
Moreover, the Mizukage possessed overwhelming geographical advantage here—surrounded entirely by water, the destructive power of his Water Release techniques was amplified several times beyond normal capacity, while chakra consumption was significantly reduced.
Considering these two critical factors combined, his temporary defeat wasn't particularly surprising.
BOOM!
Uchiha Kazuki explosively emerged from the lakebed depths and landed steadily on the water's surface once more.
The Third Mizukage stood with arms crossed, coldly looking down at him from his elevated position, and spoke in a chilling voice: "Uchiha Kazuki—if this pathetic display is truly all you're capable of, then prepare yourself to die here today!"
"Not bad at all. You surprised me somewhat."
His soaking wet hair clung messily to his forehead, and his signature black-rimmed glasses had been shattered during the assault, leaving him looking rather disheveled. However, Uchiha Kazuki didn't seem to care in the slightest. He casually removed the broken glasses and tossed them carelessly into the water beside him. Raising his eyelids slightly to regard the Third Mizukage with his fully revealed crimson Sharingan, he spoke with complete indifference: "I admit—I underestimated you somewhat before this exchange."
"Hmph! Sharp-tongued brat!"
The Third Mizukage sneered derisively, the killing intent concealed beneath his eyelids surging forth like tangible pressure. "You're about to die here, yet you still dare speak so arrogantly. Do you perhaps have some hidden trump card remaining? Hmph! Today, no matter who intervenes—even if Hiruzen Sarutobi himself arrives—he won't be able to save you from your fate. That's my promise!"
"Wait, wait—you're completely misunderstanding my intentions."
Uchiha Kazuki spread his hands in an almost helpless gesture and sighed dramatically. "You're the Mizukage—one of the legendary Five Kage. You must have eliminated countless overconfident Uchiha brats like myself throughout your career, correct?"
This unexpected flattery eased the furious Mizukage's expression slightly. "Hmph! Even if you kneel down and beg pathetically for mercy right now, I absolutely will not spare your life!"
"No, no, no—you're misunderstanding me yet again."
Uchiha Kazuki chuckled lightly with obvious amusement. "What I actually meant to say is this: since you're clearly so overwhelmingly powerful... you probably wouldn't mind if I brought along one additional helper to even the odds, would you?"
"A helper?"
The Third Mizukage was momentarily taken aback, then his expression transformed into absolute fury. "You dare bring reinforcements?!"
"Uh..."
Uchiha Kazuki paused thoughtfully for a brief moment, then clarified: "Well... it's possible this one might not technically qualify as 'human.'"
The very next moment, a deafening roar—seemingly powerful enough to pierce the storm clouds and tear the heavens themselves apart—erupted across the battlefield!
Like a living mountain of forged steel, covered entirely in impossibly thick armor plating and studded with deadly barbed spikes, the Three-Tails Isobu rose majestically from the lake's depths. Its enormous, bell-like yellow pupils clearly reflected three blood-red tomoe spinning hypnotically. Terrifying killing intent surged forth like an apocalyptic tsunami, completely engulfing the Third Mizukage's position.
"You call THIS a helper?!"
The Third Mizukage stood in absolute shock, his mind reeling.
[End of Chapter 104]
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