Crash!
The moment Kaito's hand pierced through his doppelgänger, the fake dissolved into a splash of water, streaming back into the sea.
Without missing a beat, he spun around and rapidly formed hand seals. "Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
From his side, an enormous, compressed dragon head made of fire burst forward, roaring toward a distant water column. The heat radiating from it distorted the air. Even the mist in the area began to sizzle.
Pshhhh!
Water and fire collided again. The flaming dragon's scorching temperature instantly vaporized the column of water. Its momentum unbroken, it surged forward, slamming into the distant water dragon and destabilizing it.
Kaito's eyes narrowed as he turned to face Yagura. In the next instant, his figure flickered and vanished.
He reappeared behind Yagura, black lightning dancing wildly across his limbs. His foot swung in a brutal arc, a powerful whip kick crashing into Yagura's back.
Splash!
The figure of Yagura burst into water once again.
"Water Style: Whirlpool Water Blade!"
Yagura's voice roared from behind him.
Threads of high-pressure water spiraled outward from Yagura's position, flying in all directions. Each strand shimmered with deadly precision, capable of cutting through steel like paper. A deadly rain of liquid blades filled the sky.
But Kaito didn't flinch. His body blurred into motion, vanishing as a trail of black light streaked away from the oncoming attack.
Yagura's eyes widened. "That speed…"
In the dense fog, he could barely catch a glimpse of Kaito's movement—then nothing. The presence was gone.
Crack! Crack!
A wave of pain surged through Yagura's body. His muscles seized, immobilized. It was as if lightning coursed through his very soul.
Behind him, Kaito stood in the shallow sea, hands wrapped in black lightning.
"You were wrong," Kaito said quietly. "The sea doesn't belong to you. It's mine."
He extended his right hand into the water. A black blade formed from pure lightning, humming with raw power. With one smooth motion, he swung it upward.
The blade cleaved cleanly through Yagura's shoulder, severing his arm. The limb fell into the water with a splash. The wound didn't bleed—it was cauterized on contact.
Kaito calmly stepped forward, picked up the severed arm, and said coldly, "Consider this a gift."
Yagura collapsed to his knees, his chakra unresponsive. The acrid smell of burned flesh filled the air as he began to sink into the sea, powerless.
"With your strength, I have no idea where you got the confidence to call yourself invincible in the sea," Kaito muttered. He gripped Yagura's collar and vanished from the battlefield.
---
Beyond the thick mist, three Hidden Mist ANBU waited tensely for the outcome. Their expressions were grim.
If this were a fight between any other shinobi, they might've remained confident in their Mizukage. After all, Yagura was unmatched in aquatic terrain.
But this wasn't just any opponent.
They had seen it—Kaito's Fire Style overpowering Yagura's Water Style. It defied logic, but it was real.
The intelligence had stated that Kaito was skilled with Lightning Style and unique bloodline techniques. No one had expected his Fire Style to be this devastating.
Fire overpowering water on the sea? Absurd—but they'd witnessed it.
And worse, Kaito hadn't even used his full power yet. His real specialty was Lightning Style.
Water and fire may clash, and sometimes, fire might even overcome water. But when it came to lightning…
Water didn't resist it. It conducted it.
If anything, Lightning Style had the upper hand.
The ANBU, all elite jonin, looked at one another. None of them had faith that Yagura could stand against this monster.
Then… silence.
The sounds of battle ceased.
They exchanged glances. That was it? It hadn't even been a full minute.
Suddenly, a figure materialized behind them.
All three flinched. Their eyes widened in horror.
"K-Kaito sama… What did you do to Mizukage sama?" the captain asked nervously.
"Nothing too serious. Just took one of his arms. With Mist techniques, I'm sure you can sew it back on," Kaito said casually, tossing Yagura's unconscious body to them—along with the severed arm.
"Tell him this was a warning. Since it's his first offense, I let him go. Next time, I won't be so lenient."
"We understand! We understand completely!" the captain stammered as the three of them caught Yagura and the arm in a panic.
Yagura opened his eyes weakly, bloodless and drained. His voice trembled. "Ayanami Kaito… I lost this time. I'll never forget this. You… you'll be my lifelong rival!"
"I doubt you'll ever get the chance," Kaito replied coldly, disappearing into the mist.
---
Not far from the shoreline, Mei Terumi paced restlessly, hands clasped in front of her chest as she muttered under her breath.
"Please let him be okay… Please don't be hurt…"
Even though she believed Kaito would win, she couldn't shake the unease in her heart.
After all, Yagura wasn't just any shinobi—he was the Mizukage, an unmatched warrior in water battles.
The sudden silence from the battlefield tightened her chest. Her beautiful eyes scanned the mist. There was no sign of movement, and a cold dread crept over her.
What if… what if Kaito lost?
The thought pierced her like a kunai. She tried to dismiss it, but it lingered. Tears welled in her eyes without her realizing.
Before long, tears as large as pearls rolled down her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?"
A familiar voice cut through the haze behind her.
She froze. That voice…
She spun around and, upon seeing Kaito standing tall and unharmed, immediately rushed to him.
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him.
"You're okay! Thank goodness you're okay!" she said through tears. "You disappeared after the battle, I thought you were…"
"I'm fine. I just handed Yagura's body back to his ANBU," Kaito said, voice calm and steady.
---
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