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Akizuki launched a relentless assault, forcing Midorima into a desperate game of evasion. But the thick mist obscured his vision—by the time he sensed the blade approaching, it was often too late to dodge.
Before long, Midorima's body bore several gashes from Akizuki's longsword.
"Dodge? How long can you keep it up?!" Akizuki taunted.
As he spoke, his blade struck again.
This time, Midorima couldn't react in time. The sword pierced his shoulder.
"Hmph, did I hit something?" Akizuki pulled the blade free, eyeing the blood on its tip with a smirk. "Seems like the next round will end this fight."
"I was thinking the same thing!"
Suddenly, five or six kunai wrapped in explosive tags shot out from the mist.
"You think a few kunai can kill me?" Akizuki sneered, preparing to evade—only to realize their speed was far greater than he expected!
In a panic, he swung his sword to deflect them while retreating, but the kunai slipped past his guard and struck his body.
The explosive tags detonated instantly.
Without hesitation, Midorima hurled every explosive tag he had—thirty stolen from Ogumo and another twenty given to him by Terumi Mei—straight at Akizuki.
To ensure maximum impact, he infused the kunai with "Gale Palm," multiplying both their velocity and destructive power.
Overkill?
Not a chance.
Akizuki was far stronger than him. If Midorima held back and left him with even a sliver of life, he'd be the one dying instead.
When it came to life and death, Midorima didn't take half-measures.
The explosions scattered the mist, but the resulting dust and debris now clouded his vision.
Even now, Midorima didn't let his guard down. If Akizuki lunged from the haze, he'd still be in mortal danger.
Focusing intently, he retreated cautiously, bracing for any sudden attack.
Then—
A massive wave surged from the mist, swallowing Midorima whole. A serpent of chakra-infused water coiled around him, binding his movements.
Though skilled in water techniques, Midorima's mobility was still hindered underwater—though far less than an average person's. But for Akizuki, the water was his domain. In an instant, he closed the distance.
The barrage of fifty explosive tags had left Akizuki's upper body in tatters—his clothes shredded, his skin charred black as if roasted, his hair wild and unkempt like a savage.
Midorima cursed inwardly. 'All those tags, and he's still alive? Damn it.'
Akizuki's eyes darkened, glinting like a deep-sea predator's. His face twisted into something monstrous, teetering on the edge of madness.
'A mere medical-nin trainee humiliated him like this?'
How could he ever hope to compete for the Seven Swordsmen now?
Even if it drained every last drop of his chakra, he wouldn't let this brat walk away.
Like a sea snake, Akizuki slithered through the water, stopping inches from Midorima. Seeing him struggle to form hand seals, Akizuki smirked.
'Still trying to fight back?'
'Not a chance.'
He reversed his grip on the sword and drove it straight for Midorima's heart.
Panic surged through Midorima. No matter how hard he tried, his hands wouldn't meet—always a fraction too slow.
With the blade a breath away, he had no choice. He poured every ounce of chakra he had left, feeling his Cellular Lab surge into overdrive—until finally, the technique activated.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A torrent of wind erupted from Midorima's mouth, churning the water into chaos.
Akizuki lost his balance, swept away by the raging currents.
He staggered to his feet, leaning on his sword for support, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"…Water techniques, medical ninjutsu, and now wind release… Just how many chakra natures do you have?"
Midorima wasn't faring much better. On one knee, he gasped for air.
Thanks to the Conversion Chamber, he could manipulate multiple chakra types—but the 45% efficiency meant his techniques were weaker than they should be.
Moreover, the academy trained students based on their innate affinities.
Midorima's strength was water release, so his instructors focused on common water techniques. Learning wind release required deliberate effort—something he hadn't pursued until after unlocking the Conversion Chamber.
By then, he'd already been assigned to the medical corps. The only techniques he could pick up were basics from wounded allies or fellow medics.
"Great Breakthrough" and "Gale Palm" were elementary wind techniques—their power scaled with the user's chakra.
To make them effective, Midorima had to convert massive amounts of chakra, just to survive.
But this also revealed Akizuki's state: he was on his last legs. Otherwise, even a full-powered "Great Breakthrough" wouldn't have broken his technique.
"Does it matter how many I know?" Midorima panted. "Nothing I say will make you spare me. And I sure as hell don't trust you. Whether you die or I live, the dead don't care about answers. So let's save our breath…"
His chakra was nearly depleted, but he had no other options.
Men like Akizuki only grew more ruthless when their prey begged.
Better to go down fighting.
Akizuki grinned, raising his sword. "True. I like your style… Almost makes me not want to kill you."
"Too bad I'm not interested. Katsuramaru was right—you're scum."
"Scum's still breathing, unlike corpses!" Akizuki roared, charging.
"Water Wall!"
"Pathetic!" Akizuki cleaved through the barrier effortlessly.
'Is he really out of chakra now?'
As Akizuki closed in, Midorima flashed back to the day Zabuza killed him.
'This was the same feeling… But should I just give up?'
'Not enough chakra?'
'How would I know if I don't try?!'
Gritting his teeth against the pain in his shoulder, Midorima formed the seals.
'Even if I die, it won't be like last time!'
Suddenly, chakra flooded his veins.
Locking eyes with Akizuki, his hands moved in a blur.
"Die!" Akizuki's grin widened.
He refused to believe Midorima had anything left—this was just a bluff.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Midorima opened his mouth—and a pressurized jet of water blasted forth.
Caught off guard, Akizuki was sent flying back into the mist.
Exhausted, Midorima collapsed to the ground, unable to stand.