Taking on two opponents at once wasn't an impulsive decision by Mizuki. Actually, among the three from Konoha, any one of them was stronger than their current adversaries. Even Mizuki himself, while technically the weakest among them, was no weaker than Suigetsu Hozuki at this moment. True, Suigetsu might become much stronger in the future, but at fifteen years old, even with supreme swordsmanship, his physical limitations would severely restrict how much strength he could actually display.
As long as Mizuki was willing to fight with all his life-saving pills and engage in an exchange war, under different circumstances, he'd still be able to defeat Suigetsu at some cost. Suigetsu defeating Hayate Gekko was entirely due to intelligence miscalculation; the water-body technique was simply too hard to anticipate. Originally, the timing and terrain weren't on Mizuki's side—this failure was not through any fault of battle. Even worse was Aoba Yamashiro—truly falling into disaster like a shipwreck in a ditch, it was infuriating. Becoming accustomed to serving as Hokage's guard must have made him unaccustomed to cleaning up after battles.
Suigetsu Hozuki's battle against Hayate Gekko must have consumed some energy, though exactly how much remained uncertain. The other red-haired man was weak and injured, unable to perform at full capacity. As long as Mizuki could hold out, time would increasingly work in his favor.
"Now we'll see the effects and side effects of the Green Agent," Mizuki muttered. "I need it to last long enough to survive this battle without becoming so strong that my body mutates. I also can't let the fight drag on too long and exhaust my stamina completely. This really is a precarious balancing act—first-time human trial and already such high stakes. Plans never go according to schedule."
After thorough preparation, Mizuki created a Shadow Clone to protect Hayate Gekko and Aoba Yamashiro while his actual body launched a direct attack toward Suigetsu Hozuki. No fancy moves were necessary—Mizuki knew better than to attempt anything flashy against a master swordsman; it would only be showing off foolishly. He would rely purely on overwhelming physical force.
Suigetsu's Kenjutsu was similarly practical—using whatever method best achieved his objective and inflicted damage. There was absolutely no trace of the decorative flourishes typically associated with skilled swordsmen. Mizuki was even more straightforward—throwing shuriken with maximum force. As long as these throws forced Suigetsu to block seriously, they counted as successful. Usually, Mizuki would suffer two or three wounds before their blades even met.
"Big brother, you're worse than that sickly swordsman," Suigetsu taunted. "Just let me kill you quickly and it won't hurt so much."
"You brat, clearly raised without discipline! Don't underestimate adult power. Let big bro teach you how to respect your seniors."
Biting his thumb, Mizuki slammed his palm onto the ground and shouted loudly, [Kuchiyose no Jutsu]!
Black ink runes spread rapidly outward.
"Captain, watch below the water!" warned Red-hair, who had suffered previously from Mizuki's techniques.
Before Suigetsu could react, several transparent tentacles pierced through the green tides, climbing swiftly up his legs. Waves of intense pain coursed through Suigetsu wherever the tentacles touched. Taking advantage of the moment, Mizuki lunged forward, driving a shuriken straight into Suigetsu's heart.
"It seems your strength doesn't match your mouth," Mizuki smirked. "Arrogant kid."
Right after speaking, Suigetsu didn't react at all and stabbed directly into Mizuki's chest with his steel blade.
Too late to dodge, suddenly a figure emerged behind Mizuki—it was Red-hair, seizing the opportunity and eliminating all escape routes.
"What's going through your mind now? Senpai, you clearly know it's useless, so why provoke certain death?"
In this moment of crisis, Mizuki barely managed to dodge the fatal strike. His left scapula was pierced directly, and his right shoulder was hit by a shuriken.
Red-hair behind him felt relieved: "Finally, victory." But before he could catch his breath, he noticed that Mizuki not only didn't retreat, but instead came straight at him.
"What? Your target is me?" Before he even had time to react from shock, a kunai in Mizuki's hand pierced through his throat.
"Know your role—once the job's done, clear the stage."
The red-hair, unable to utter a single word with only gurgling sounds coming from his throat, fell down in disbelief, sinking, then swallowed by the sea.
At the same time Mizuki killed off Red-hair, he used up all his strength. With a sudden burst of power, his right hand swept the shuriken horizontally, nearly slicing Suigetsu Hozuki in half. His right hand holding the sword got severed immediately. Then, grabbing the steel blade from his severed right hand with his left, he wildly hacked away with both hands, cutting Suigetsu Hozuki into several pieces. After that, he leaped backward—but just a little too late. A water spear shot through Mizuki's right chest.
Right after, Suigetsu Hozuki reformed from his water-body technique again. In an instant flash, Mizuki felt a heavy pressure on his chest as he was kicked flying by a powerful kick.
"Cursed... I thought skipping stones was fun when I was a kid. Now I'm bouncing across the water like a skipping stone—I really am unlucky," Mizuki couldn't help thinking bitterly. "How many ribs did I break? My internal organs are certainly injured too."
Before Mizuki could catch his breath, Suigetsu Hozuki appeared once more, wielding another knife somehow obtained from who-knows-where.
"To be honest, senpai," surprisingly, Suigetsu Hozuki didn't go in for the finishing blow yet—truly confirming the saying that villains always die because they talk too much, "even if you take out one of us, what exactly do you think you can achieve? Struggling will only bring more pain. It won't change the fact that today is your day to die."
"Fate... You're actually using that word? Now *that's* rich," Mizuki said while panting heavily. "Who dies isn't decided yet."
"Oh? Is that so? What can you possibly do now? I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing it."
"Just watch and see for yourself."
While boldly speaking, Mizuki secretly calculated things mentally. The medicine's effect was extremely potent—within such a short time, it had nearly repaired all his lethal wounds. He had simply lost too much blood, leaving his body severely weakened. However, the opponent seemed almost spent too.
"Well then, let me see what kind of spectacle you can create, senpai." Before he finished speaking, he charged straight in.
"So fast," Mizuki seemingly bore too severe injuries to react at all, watching helplessly as the blades closed in. Suddenly, Suigetsu Hozuki's body stiffened.
"Why can't I move? What's going on?" Suigetsu Hozuki was astonished. "[Binding Seal Formation]? When did he make those hand seals? Damn it! Exactly what is this green stuff? It sticks onto the water surface, ruining everything—it blocks my vision completely underwater!"
"Stunned, aren't we, you idiot? Next, allow me to show you how grown-ups handle things!" Without waiting for Suigetsu Hozuki's reply, he pulled out a scroll, spread it open, and prepared to cast a spell.
"What are you planning to do?" Suigetsu Hozuki grew uneasy.
Suddenly, a lightning-fast figure darted out from the thick fog.
"Who?!" Suigetsu Hozuki was greatly startled. "How come there's backup too?"
"Ah, the Shadow Clone Jutsu," Mizuki realized upon recognizing the figure. "But when exactly did he use it?"
It was none other than Mizuki's own Shadow Clone. "Fool! That red-hair is dead—no need to protect two comrades anymore." With that, the clone swiftly slashed Suigetsu Hozuki into pieces.
Once again, Suigetsu Hozuki dissolved into sprays of water.
At this moment, the real Mizuki channeled his chakra and shouted, "[Seal!]" Blood-stained scrolls released chains inscribed with runes, directly gathering up the scattered water fragments before sealing them away with lightning speed.
"[Seal!]" Mizuki then put away the scroll and dodged an incoming water spear.
"You really think that trick will work twice? How can a surprise move beat someone already prepared?"
From the water mist, Suigetsu reappeared, though his face had turned pale.
"What did you do to me?"
"That's what I'd like to ask you! How would I know?"
What kind of damage being partially sealed during his liquid transformation might cause was anyone's guess.
"You've made me angry. I'll definitely kill you today."
"If you can do it, go ahead and try," Mizuki taunted contemptuously. "In such a situation where his chances are practically slim yet he still insists on fighting, this brat's just an overeager punk with some raw power. The longer we drag this out, the better—I'll teach you how to behave properly."
The next few moments were filled with brutal attacks exchanged between them. The shadow clones had long vanished, Mizuki enduring wave after wave of pain from blade wounds, mingled with the prickling itch of rapid healing. Meanwhile, Suigetsu kept reforming from his liquid state again and again.
To some extent, both were resistant to short-range physical attacks. Suigetsu was likely burning massive amounts of chakra, whereas Mizuki relied purely on life force regeneration. Yet judging by current appearances, victory wasn't far off—it all depended on who could last longer.
While this numb, unimpressive sword fight continued, suddenly a figure flashed past and sliced Suigetsu into four pieces.
"[Dance of the Sword!] Could that be Hayate Gekko?"
As Suigetsu regenerated through water once again, a flying shuriken smashed his head apart.
Mizuki also took the opportunity to land several strikes before retreating cautiously.
"You two are too slow. Me and this guy were about to finish our little game. This white-haired brat was terribly rude—he messed up my stylish hairdo."
"Sorry about that, Mizuki," said Aoba Yamashiro, appearing suddenly. "I'll treat you to breakfast every day for a month. Still, you look pretty roughed up."
Indeed, Mizuki had become a bloody mess; although most of his wounds had healed, dried blood covered his skin like crusts, making him appear terrifying.
"He's a rude brat, but he's got spirit."
Hayate Gekko also glared at Suigetsu darkly. "Energetic youth, huh? Then let's show him just how warm our hospitality can get." He clearly hadn't forgotten his earlier carelessness.
Now surrounded by three opponents, Mizuki no longer hesitated. This encounter had lasted too long and become too gruesome.
"Well then, let me show you what real grown-up fury feels like."
"[Binding Seal Formation—activate!]"
"Activate the remaining immortal jellyfish." He mused on how clever this strategy had been. Since he lacked offensive strength, using [Control Technique] and letting his teammates attack was much safer. "I mustn't be so impulsive next time," he thought. "It'll take forever to recover from losing all this blood."
With Mizuki's help, Aoba Yamashiro and Hayate Gekko attacked relentlessly. Suigetsu Hozuki couldn't regenerate his water form fast enough and was dispersed repeatedly.
"You're looking really pale," Mizuki teased, now that they'd secured victory. "Want to come back to Konoha with us so we can take good care of you?"
Suigetsu Hozuki didn't even have time to respond. Realizing the situation was hopeless, he stopped struggling, transformed into a puddle of water, and drained away below.
"Trying to run away?" Aoba Yamashiro refused to let him escape. "[Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!]"
A cry of pain rang out, though it still failed to halt his opponent's retreat.
"Fire techniques won't hold him in this environment," Hayate Gekko said discontentedly.
"Hehe, leaving without saying goodbye? Let me give you a proper send-off." With that, Mizuki pulled out a cell-stimulating pill and dropped it into the water below.
"Explode."
The pill detonated, bursting outward in every direction.
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