"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
With a thought, Uchiha Yusuke immediately entered Fire Release chakra mode.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Yagura Karatachi froze for a moment.
Fire being disadvantaged against water was the most basic ninjutsu common sense.
By all logic, Uchiha Yusuke shouldn't be making such a low-level mistake.
Kirigakure's ANBU were just as confused.
Using Fire Release to face the Mizukage?
Was Uchiha Yusuke really being that arrogant?
Yagura didn't care.
Since Uchiha Yusuke was blindly overconfident, Yagura had no issue teaching him a lesson he'd never forget.
Trying to suppress me, Yagura Karatachi, with Fire Release?
Does the Fourth Mizukage not deserve respect?!
With that thought, Yagura intensified his offensive.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Facing the successive Water Release attacks, Uchiha Yusuke remained calm, still countering with Fire Release.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Unlike everyone else's confusion, Uchiha Yusuke stayed crystal clear from start to finish.
Clinging to elemental counters only happened when you weren't strong enough.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Uchiha Madara used Fire Release and still easily shattered the Water Formation Wall defenses of more than twenty Kirigakure shinobi.
Many of Yusuke's techniques had reached a bottleneck. This kind of reverse-element confrontation was even more beneficial for accumulating experience.
The system could help him complete a transformation, but cultivation still required his own effort.
Water and fire chakra ground against each other, and thick mist immediately spread across the battlefield.
Within the haze, red and blue chakra could be faintly seen.
And judging by the color—
Uchiha Yusuke's red Fire-nature chakra was actually gaining the upper hand.
Sensing that, Yagura found it hard to believe.
He was the Mizukage. His Water Release had long been honed to perfection!
So why was he being pushed back by Uchiha Yusuke's Fire Release?
Just as Yagura started doubting his own life choices, Uchiha Yusuke's flames began breaking through the water curtain.
Heat rushed toward him, snapping Yagura back to reality.
"Damn it!"
"My Water Release won't hold!"
Yagura made a decisive call and formed seals rapidly.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
"Wind Release: Typhoon Pass!"
He cast two jutsu in succession, then used Wind Release to amplify the water's momentum—finally blocking Uchiha Yusuke's Fire Release.
After the gale swept through, the mist was blown away as well.
In this clash of ninjutsu, Yagura held the elemental advantage—
Yet he was still completely suppressed by Uchiha Yusuke.
Yagura's eyes flickered, his expression turning ugly.
He had the advantage in nature…
But he was still the one at the disadvantage.
That result was hard to accept.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yusuke remained composed.
A Fourth Mizukage still wasn't enough to put real pressure on him.
The onlookers compared the two, and the outcome was obvious.
Kirigakure might have the numbers, but the Mizukage wasn't gaining any advantage against Uchiha Yusuke.
Yagura wanted to end it peacefully, but he had been the one to initiate the conflict. If he backed off now, it would damage the Mizukage's authority.
Forced into a corner, Yagura decided to try again.
Even if he chose to settle this, he absolutely couldn't lose face as the Fourth Mizukage.
He had to create trouble for Uchiha Yusuke—somehow!
With that thought, Yagura focused and began drawing on the Three-Tails' chakra within him.
If his own strength couldn't handle Uchiha Yusuke, then he'd call on Isobu to help.
Red chakra burst outward as Yagura once again cloaked himself in a tailed-beast mantle.
With tailed-beast chakra enhancing him, both speed and power rose dramatically.
"Uchiha Yusuke—taste this!"
With a roar, Yagura charged straight at Uchiha Yusuke.
Backed by the Three-Tails' chakra, his combat power instantly climbed several levels.
Uchiha Yusuke narrowed his eyes and said calmly,
"So you want to trade taijutsu?"
"I'd like to see just how far tailed-beast chakra can strengthen a person."
Yagura replied with a cold laugh.
"Heh. You won't be disappointed…"
After a brief exchange, they clashed again.
Cloaked in chakra, Yagura was like a miniature tailed beast—every casual strike stirred violent energy waves.
Even facing a Fourth Mizukage strengthened by tailed-beast chakra, Uchiha Yusuke didn't give an inch.
Clang—clang—clang!
Two Kage-level fighters collided head-on, metal-on-metal impacts ringing nonstop.
Uchiha Yusuke's flying slashes were brutally destructive, but the tailed-beast cloak's defense and healing capabilities were just as formidable.
Yagura's coral staff and Yusuke's sword traded blow after blow. For a time, they were evenly matched, neither able to overwhelm the other.
Yagura's face was calm, but inside he was unsettled.
He hadn't expected Uchiha Yusuke's strength to be this overwhelming.
Even borrowing the Three-Tails' chakra, he could only fight him to a draw.
Uchiha Yusuke also felt a trace of surprise.
His flying slashes could cleave steel and split jade, yet when they struck the tailed-beast cloak, they only left minor abrasions on Yagura.
The Fourth Mizukage was stronger than expected.
A perfect Jinchūriki who had fully mastered a tailed beast's power was never someone to take lightly!
As the two Kage-level fighters battled fiercely, the watching shinobi were already stunned into silence.
Yagura was like a savage beast in human form—any strike carried the force of collapsing mountains and overturning seas.
Uchiha Yusuke's swordsmanship had reached the peak, and his flying slashes were equally awe-inspiring.
The might of Kage-level fighters sent chills down the spines of everyone watching.
If an ordinary jōnin got dragged into this kind of fight, one slip would turn them into cannon fodder.
"One-Sword Style: Flame Slash!"
Uchiha Yusuke swept his blade, releasing another flying slash.
Yagura understood the power of those flying slashes. This time, he didn't try to tank it.
"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"
Yagura drew a circle in the air, and Water-nature chakra instantly condensed into a mirror.
From the mirrored surface, a figure emerged—stepping out of the water.
It looked exactly like the Uchiha Yusuke standing opposite him.
"One-Sword Style: Flame Slash!"
Not only that—the "Uchiha Yusuke" that walked out of the mirror even unleashed the same technique as the real one.
The two flying slashes collided, canceled each other out, and dispersed into nothing.
A flicker of interest appeared in Uchiha Yusuke's eyes.
A Water Mirror Technique that could copy moves?
Interesting.
Kakashi, with his Sharingan, was called the "Copy Ninja."
And the Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi's Water Mirror Technique had an oddly similar effect.
This "use your own way against you" fighting style was honestly a bit shameless.
As long as you had enough chakra and stamina, you could grind any opponent down until they died.
With this technique as insurance, Yagura was practically unbeatable against Uchiha Yusuke.
Your attacks don't work, but mine do.
It wasn't much different from Danzō using Izanagi.
Of course, Water Mirror Technique also had its limitations.
For example—secret clan techniques and kekkei genkai were very likely beyond its ability to copy.
Otherwise, Yagura wouldn't have lost to Tobi and become a puppet.
With Water Mirror Technique backing him up, Yagura attacked Uchiha Yusuke without restraint.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
"Water Release: Severing Wave!"
Facing the relentless barrage, Uchiha Yusuke didn't dare underestimate him. He immediately entered Fire Release chakra mode.
Once elementalized, Yusuke's body became immune to water and fire—practically untouchable.
For Yagura to break his defense was just as difficult.
After trying several jutsu, Yagura quickly noticed it.
Wind Release only fueled the flames, and Water Release couldn't extinguish him at all.
Uchiha Yusuke's Fire Release chakra mode was even more troublesome than Kumogakure's inherited Lightning Release Body Flicker techniques!
At least the Raikage's lightning armor could still be affected by ninjutsu and taijutsu.
But an elementalized Uchiha Yusuke simply didn't play by those rules.
Even if you kicked a "Night Guy" at him—if you couldn't hit, what did it matter?
After fighting for so long without results, a blaze of irritation grew in Yagura's chest.
Uchiha Yusuke—today, I will absolutely suppress you!
Yagura's aura shifted. He immediately entered Version Two.
Dark-red chakra wrapped around him, and three tails formed behind his back.
At this moment, Yagura had practically become a small Three-Tails.
Uchiha Yusuke's gaze sharpened.
So you're finally getting serious?
Then let me feel the Three-Tails' power!
Yagura's offensive became vicious.
He gathered a massive amount of chakra and, right from the start, prepared to fire a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Seeing this, Uchiha Yusuke also became serious.
Last time he fought Killer B, blocking a Tailed Beast Bomb head-on had been somewhat forced.
This time, facing Yagura, it was a perfect chance to test how much he'd improved.
Uchiha Yusuke slowly raised his sword horizontally before him.
So what if it's a Tailed Beast Bomb?
Today, I'll use swordsmanship to settle who's superior!
Watching Uchiha Yusuke's stance, Yagura sneered inwardly.
The power of a Tailed Beast Bomb was terrifying.
Trying to counter it with a weapon was simply courting death!
In shinobi history, there had once been some ruthless man who tried exactly that.
And without exception, he became another sacrifice beneath the Tailed Beast Bomb.
A Tailed Beast Bomb wasn't a joke.
As one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru's strength was beyond question.
Yet even with triple Rashōmon gates as a barrier, he was still blasted into a disoriented heap by Four-Tails Naruto, flipping head over heels.
Yagura was a perfect Jinchūriki who had completely mastered the Three-Tails. The power of his Tailed Beast Bomb might even surpass Four-Tails Naruto's!
In that situation, Uchiha Yusuke still chose to take it head-on with his sword.
To ordinary shinobi, it was an unbelievably unwise choice.
Kirigakure's ANBU began whispering among themselves.
"Using a sword to catch a Tailed Beast Bomb?"
"Is Uchiha Yusuke serious?!"
"An ignorant fool. The Mizukage-sama will end his miserable life!"
Hearing their mockery, Kurenai's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Yusuke-kun's strength is something small fry like you could never understand."
Kirigakure's ANBU felt insulted and flew into rage.
"Konoha woman—what did you just say?!"
Kurenai wasn't intimidated at all.
"What, I'm wrong to call you ignorant?"
"Want to fight?"
Kirigakure's ANBU choked.
"Y-you…"
They wanted to teach Kurenai a lesson, but without the Fourth Mizukage's order, openly attacking Konoha shinobi would be blatant overreach.
With relations between nations at stake, they couldn't act recklessly.
Besides—
Konoha's group also included the famed "Copy Ninja," Hatake Kakashi.
Even if they held the advantage in numbers, it wasn't guaranteed they'd gain anything in a real fight.
After weighing pros and cons, Kirigakure's ANBU ultimately swallowed their anger.
The current situation favored their side.
Once the Fourth Mizukage dealt with Uchiha Yusuke, they could move on Konoha's shinobi anytime.
Kirigakure's ANBU snorted at Konoha's group.
Enjoy your arrogance while you can.
We'll settle accounts with you in a moment!
...
With Kirigakure's ANBU backing down, Kurenai didn't continue arguing either.
Right now, what mattered most was the outcome between Yagura and Uchiha Yusuke.
As long as Uchiha Yusuke defeated the Fourth Mizukage, everything would resolve itself.
Back on the battlefield—
Half-tailed-beast Yagura gathered chakra continuously. The black sphere grew larger and larger, radiating an unprecedented pressure.
Uchiha Yusuke didn't interfere with Yagura's charge-up. Instead, he focused every ounce of attention on the sword in his hands.
He had been at the level of a Sword Master for a long time. Only a single step remained between him and the legendary Great Sword Master realm.
A Sword Master's flying slash couldn't compare with a Tailed Beast Bomb.
But a Great Sword Master's flying slash would undergo a qualitative leap.
Taking this chance, Uchiha Yusuke decided to attempt a breakthrough into Great Sword Masterhood.
If he could cross that threshold, he would gain yet another powerful trump card.
The shinobi world wouldn't be peaceful in the future. Only absolute strength could keep him standing undefeated.
For the current him, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi truly was a fine whetstone.
The Tailed Beast Bomb had finished charging, yet Uchiha Yusuke's stance still didn't change.
Seeing that, Yagura sneered inwardly.
Uchiha Yusuke—you'll pay for your arrogance!
Yagura knew the power of a Tailed Beast Bomb all too well.
Even a Kage-level fighter taking one head-on would be either dead or crippled.
Uchiha Yusuke had shown frightening strength, but Yagura didn't believe he could withstand a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Konoha had crossed the border first.
Even if Uchiha Yusuke ended up maimed because of it, the Third Hokage wouldn't have grounds to come questioning Kirigakure.
Besides, the Third Hokage was no longer the "Professor" of his prime. A Sarutobi who basked in comfort—what confidence did he have to challenge a Mizukage in his prime?
After Danzō's Root was destroyed, Konoha's hawkish representative was Uchiha Yusuke.
If this man fell, Konoha's other shinobi would be nothing to fear.
With those thoughts, killing intent surged in Yagura's heart.
Uchiha Yusuke—prepare to die!
"Tailed Beast Bomb!"
With a roar, Yagura fired a world-ending dark-red blast straight at Uchiha Yusuke.
Uchiha Yusuke, who had been building sword aura, completed his move at the same time.
"One-Sword Style: Sky-Splitting Slash!"
With a single swing, the flying slash twisted the very space it passed through.
Its speed and power had undeniably reached the peak of the shinobi world.
Yagura's Tailed Beast Bomb and Yusuke's Sky-Splitting Slash collided head-on.
The instant they met, the dark-red energy blast was split cleanly in two by the flying slash.
However—
After the violent impact, the speed of Uchiha Yusuke's flying slash began to slow.
Cold sweat broke out across Yagura's body.
Seizing that gap, he poured in even more chakra, forcing the Tailed Beast Bomb's power to the extreme.
I refuse to believe the Tailed Beast Bomb can't deal with you!
Yagura had already done his best to overestimate Uchiha Yusuke—
Yet the power of Sky-Splitting Slash still exceeded his imagination.
The Tailed Beast Bomb slowed the flying slash, but it didn't reverse the crushing momentum.
Even after Yagura invested huge amounts of chakra to strengthen it, Uchiha Yusuke's flying slash still kept pushing forward.
Staring at the crescent-shaped sword aura drawing closer and closer, Yagura's mentality began to crack.
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