Splash!!
Nawaki and Minato plunged into the sea, sinking slowly downward.
It was too powerful an opponent for them to handle.
Their battle experience and chakra reserves were nowhere near that level. The fact that they had lasted this long was already impressive enough.
"Senpai, Nawaki-nii."
Nagato had just finished transferring the last of the injured when he saw what happened.
His face contorted in anguish as he screamed.
He sprinted toward where the two had fallen into the water, hoping it wasn't too late.
Those who were still mobile rushed after Nagato.
"Good."
"Pain and hatred are the sources of power."
The Third Mizukage smiled slightly—this was precisely what he wanted.
With strong external stimuli, his Rinnegan could develop faster.
[Water Release: Water Dragon Shot]
Like a cat playing with mice, the Third Mizukage summoned several water dragons to charge at Nagato and the others.
From their size, he was clearly holding back his full strength.
After all, killing Nagato now was the last thing he wanted.
"Go! We'll handle this!"
As Yahiko and the others moved forward to block the incoming Water Dragon Shots, tears blurred Nagato's eyesight. He didn't spare them a glance.
Whether he'd even heard Yahiko's words remained unclear.
Without hesitation, he sprinted toward where they'd fallen and dove headfirst into the icy ocean.
The dark, seemingly endless depths of the sea couldn't stop Nagato's resolve to save them.
He forced his eyes open underwater, desperately searching for Nawaki and Minato.
Time slipped away as his anxiety deepened.
Every passing second put Nawaki and Minato in greater danger.
Deeper he dived, and the pressure from the ocean increased.
Suddenly, something tugged at Nagato's sleeve. He turned to look.
It was Samehada, pulling him diagonally downward.
If it hadn't lacked any chakra absorption recently, Samehada could have transferred chakra to Nawaki and healed him directly.
Before long, Nagato saw Nawaki still sinking, and Minato wasn't far away.
At that moment, his small frame summoned incredible strength, moving swiftly through the water.
First, Nagato grabbed Nawaki's hand, then seized Minato's clothes and pulled both upward toward the surface.
"Do you truly believe you can stop me?"
The Third Mizukage watched how hard Yahiko and the others struggled against his Water Dragon Shots, letting out a light chuckle.
"How do you know unless you try?"
Yahiko gritted his teeth and glared ahead.
He knew this decision might lead to death.
But so what?
Just like in the original story, when he fearlessly rushed toward the kunai in Nagato's hand.
There were things he would do, no matter the cost.
Because his name is—Yahiko.
"Haha, ridiculous!"
"Insects without power dare to challenge me?"
The Third Mizukage threw his head back and laughed loudly.
Bonds, camaraderie—none of it meant anything to him.
He believed only in his own strength.
He would forge a world free of war and betrayal using his own methods.
A world where people like Yahiko could be found everywhere.
What a wonderful world that would be!
"Alright, let's do this."
Yahiko's gaze remained steady as he cast a glance over his shoulder.
The Lion Trio and Konan bore serious expressions, while the few remaining members of the Snow Clan visibly tense.
"All right."
They all answered in unison. No one would run away at this moment.
[Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!]
As Yahiko charged forward, he spat a massive sphere of water from his mouth, launching it directly toward the Third Mizukage.
This Water Release far surpassed anything the Third Mizukage had used before.
Yahiko then drew his long blade, firmly believing that if he could hold on just a little longer, Nagato would have a better chance of rescuing Nawaki and Minato.
"You're overestimating yourself."
The Third Mizukage slightly pushed off the ground with his feet and leaped upward.
Ripples spread across the sea surface, expanding outward.
With a kunai in his right hand, he blocked Yahiko's attack, then kicked him powerfully in the chest, sending him flying.
Yahiko couldn't even withstand a single blow.
"Yahiko!"
Konan suddenly hurled her [Paper Release: Paper Spear] straight at him.
The Third Mizukage sidestepped narrowly, letting the spear miss, but it exploded violently beside him.
"Not bad for a little girl."
The Third Mizukage walked calmly out of the waves without a scratch. His Tailed Beast cloak easily protected him from attacks of this level.
He was merely intrigued by Konan's Paper Release ability.
The Lion Trio launched a group assault, but they too were quickly defeated and now lay helplessly on the sea surface, unable to rise.
In an instant, only Konan was still airborne, desperately flapping her wings.
"Nawaki, Senior Brother..."
At last, Nagato pulled both of them out of the water and found a large piece of wreckage from a ship, placing the two men upon it.
Both had internal injuries—hence their immediate unconsciousness after being rescued.
Seeing their bloated stomachs, Nagato first administered chest compressions to drain water from their bodies.
After checking their conditions, he confirmed there were no life-threatening injuries, letting out a sigh of relief.
A green glow of chakra radiated from his hands as he began healing them.
"There's no need to heal them. They'll die anyway."
The Third Mizukage strolled through Konan's senbon attacks, dodging so casually it seemed almost dismissive.
The damage was negligible—as trivial as a mosquito bite, unable to even scratch his defenses.
Seemingly growing bored or weary, he raised his hand with a casual flick.
A jet of water followed his pointing finger, striking Konan and sending her flying.
His steps remained steady, as if what he'd done was utterly insignificant.
With no further obstacles before him, he steadily approached Nagato step by step.
"You'll be okay..."
Nagato seemed deaf to everything around him, continuously murmuring under his breath without even glancing upward at the Third Mizukage.
"Watch out, Nagato!"
Yahiko lay sprawled on the sea surface, anxiously calling out.
He tried to stand up, but his body refused to obey.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, proof of his severe injuries.
"Nagato!"
Konan screamed too, desperately trying to rouse Nagato, who appeared increasingly frenzied.
Plip... plip...
Accompanied by the sound of the Third Mizukage walking across the sea surface, he finally reached Nagato.
His shadow stretched under the sun, covering nearly half of Nagato's body.
"How about I let them die right before your eyes?"
The Third Mizukage leaned slightly forward, speaking in a calm tone, as if making a polite suggestion to Nagato.
"You... won't lay a hand on them."
Finally, Nagato reacted.
Nawaki and Minato's wounds had nearly healed, though they still hadn't awakened.
He removed his hands and lifted his head, glaring fiercely at the Third Mizukage.
Those eyes were fully exposed—two clear Rinnegans visible.
Their deep violet irises gleamed hypnotically.
But Nagato's still-youthful face had twisted into something fierce and terrifying.
"Right, just like that."
"Keep it going."
The Third Mizukage remained completely unfazed. He raised his hand, intent on ending Nawaki and Minato's lives.
Their deaths would act as a catalyst to awaken the Rinnegan's full power.
The water blade in his hand drew closer and closer to their throats—
Nagato erupted!
"Ahhh—[Shinra Tensei]!"
Eyes wide open, Nagato roared.
An invisible shockwave erupted from his body, slamming violently toward the Third Mizukage.
Nawaki and Minato remained completely unaffected.
The surrounding sea was blasted outward, carving a massive semicircular trench in the water.
Huge waves surged violently!
"So, you've already mastered some abilities, huh?"
The Third Mizukage was instantly sent flying, yet he didn't panic. Instead, a smile appeared on his face.
After skidding across the water several times, he rose back to his feet.
Judging by appearances, [Shinra Tensei] hadn't caused him much damage.
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