Chapter 36: Don't Cheat In Front of Me
"Is this where the Fourth Mizukage lives?"
When Uehara Naraka and Kisame Hoshigaki arrived at the Fourth Mizukage's lakeside residence, they only saw a pile of Mist ninja corpses scattered haphazardly along the shore, the clear lake water stained crimson.
Kisame Hoshigaki nodded, surveying the surroundings, and clicked his tongue in admiration, "That guy Zabuza killed so many Mizukage guard ninjas. Looks like he didn't prepare for a short time!"
Judging from the battle traces at the scene and the temperature of the blood, not much time had passed since Zabuza Momochi's assassination attempt on the Fourth Mizukage Yagura. Perhaps he was still hiding nearby.
As for the outcome of the battle between them, neither Uehara Naraka nor Kisame Hoshigaki thought highly of Zabuza Momochi's chances of killing Yagura. A Three-Tails Jinchūriki wasn't someone who could be dealt with through assassination tactics.
Suddenly, waves stirred on the water surface!
An ugly behemoth shot out, water dripping from the thorny carapace on its back. Three tails, hard as steel, swayed back and forth behind it. A pair of strange eyes stared intently at the two on the shore.
"Oh?"
Not only was there no fear of the giant beast on Kisame Hoshigaki's face, but a smile even appeared, "To actually force Lord Mizukage into his Tailed Beast Transformation... That guy Zabuza's strength really can't be underestimated!"
This giant beast was Kirigakure's Three-Tails, Isobu.
The next moment, after the giant beast, shaped like a turtle, glanced at Kisame Hoshigaki, its form dissolved into a puff of smoke and vanished from their sight.
From the smoke, a ninja with the appearance of a young boy walked out. He had a stitch-like scar on his face, but it didn't look terrifying; instead, it seemed somewhat cute.
It was precisely the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi. His eyes were somewhat cold as he said, "Hmph, that guy Zabuza is just a coward. I didn't need to use Isobu's power at all. I just let Isobu out for some fresh air..."
Kisame Hoshigaki spread his palms, looked towards Uehara Naraka, and said with a light chuckle, "If you're facing Lord Uehara next, then please don't be stingy with the power of the Three-Tails Isobu, Lord Mizukage. Otherwise, it will be difficult to let Lord Uehara enjoy himself!"
"Is that so?"
Yagura Karatachi sized up Uehara Naraka, then actually nodded seriously, "I understand. I won't hold back."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't listen to Kisame's nonsense!"
Uehara Naraka glared at his new subordinate, then turned to Yagura Karatachi, "After all, if you use the Three-Tails Isobu, you'll die very painfully... Why not stay in this form? If I kill you like this, it's more convenient for everyone."
"..."
Uehara Naraka's single sentence made Yagura Karatachi's expression turn ugly. How could this kid be so arrogant?
The Fourth Mizukage didn't look at him, instead turning to the shark-faced ninja, "Kisame Hoshigaki, it seems you also want to assassinate me? Is this kid the helper you found?"
"No, Lord Mizukage, please don't misunderstand."
Kisame Hoshigaki shook his head, denying Yagura's accusation. He chuckled lightly and continued, "I won't interfere in this battle. Because right now, I'm just an innocent party coerced into assassinating Lord Mizukage!"
According to his and Uehara Naraka's plan, he wouldn't participate in this battle.
Because he also wanted to see Uehara's power.
Defeating or killing a Kage-level figure was also a standard for measuring strength.
"Then wait until after I kill him, then I'll deal with you!"
Yagura looked at Uehara Naraka, his palm suddenly flipping as the hooked staff with a green flower decoration from his back fell into his hand. He actually attacked Uehara Naraka first!
Uehara Naraka caught his weapon with one hand. Ever since his Life Energy rose above 3000 points, both his strength and speed had been greatly enhanced; blocking Yagura's attack was still effortless!
"The force, well, it's not bad."
Uehara Naraka clicked his tongue in admiration, it wasn't clear if he was praising himself or Yagura, but his words undoubtedly angered the Fourth Mizukage before him.
Yagura's palm suddenly turned blood-red! He fiercely slapped Uehara Naraka's chest, and a clump of coral rapidly solidified on Uehara's body!
This was the ability derived from the Three-Tails Isobu, Coral Palm!
Only a Jinchūriki capable of borrowing the Three-Tails' power could use Coral Palm. Once hit, coral would rapidly grow on the body.
As a perfect Jinchūriki, Yagura could partially transform any part of his body at will, borrowing the Three-Tails Isobu's abilities. This technique was almost impossible to guard against, causing many ninjas to inexplicably fall to this nintaijutsu move.
This Fourth Mizukage indeed didn't go back on his word. He promised not to hold back, and immediately used the Three-Tails' ability directly against Uehara Naraka!
"Quite troublesome..."
Uehara Naraka watched the coral continuously growing on his body, almost instantly covering his entire self, and muttered, "We just met, and you're already using this kind of power?"
Intervention!
A golden shield radiated out from Uehara's body, instantly dispelling the Coral Palm on him. Handle after handle of chakra light swords followed Uehara's hand movements, all stabbing towards Yagura!
Yagura flipped his iron staff. A stream of water fell from its green flower, transforming into a mirror that suddenly interposed itself between them!
"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"
A ninja identical to Uehara Naraka emerged from the mirror. The chakra light swords almost instantly pierced the other water-bodied Uehara.
Yagura flipped away, dodging Uehara's attack, frowning, his expression displeased, "Did the Water Mirror Technique's replication fail?"
The Water Mirror Technique should create a ninja identical to the enemy, even capable of using the enemy's ninjutsu. The replication just now clearly failed.
Uehara Naraka smashed a fist into Yagura's jaw, sending him flying, then twisted his own wrist, "Hmm, the reason it couldn't replicate might be because this world can only accommodate one of me?"
"Kid, you really boast shamelessly!"
Yagura was slammed to the ground by Uehara Naraka. He fiercely flipped back up and quickly began forming hand seals, "Water Release: Water Dragon...!"
Uehara Naraka stomped his foot on the ground, sending gravel flying!
Uehara's speed was too fast, forcing Yagura to abandon his seals. Unexpectedly, the Fourth Mizukage wasn't surprised at all; instead, a thick tail shot out from behind him!
It was the Three-Tails' tail!
Yagura suddenly swung the tail behind him, viciously whipping Uehara's body and sending him flying! This guy used forming seals to lure Uehara into attacking!
Flying backwards into the distance, Uehara Naraka patted the mud off himself and stood up again. He saw his Life Energy had dropped by over a thousand points, meaning the force of Yagura's strike just now was enough to easily kill an ordinary Jonin...
Kisame Hoshigaki, watching the fight, shook his head, looking at Uehara Naraka and clicking his tongue in admiration, "There were clearly many ways to interrupt the seals, yet he chose the most dangerous method. But being able to tank the Three-Tails' power head-on, no wonder he's so confident..."
"I originally wanted to fight you as an ordinary ninja, but you used the power of a Tailed Beast..."
Uehara Naraka brought his fingers together, calmly began forming hand seals, looked at Yagura, and said softly, "Your Excellency Fourth Mizukage, I forgot to tell you, I really hate it when people cheat in front of me..."
(End of Chapter)
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