The Third Mizukage held his long blade, watching the enemy before him with full caution. Come to think of it, this was his first time meeting the Konoha Gale face-to-face.
Yagura glanced at the slash mark on the ground and immediately understood.
This was the Third Mizukage's special sword technique — an attack that used the moisture in the air to unleash slashes directly from point-blank range.
Its name was Secret Sword: Hazy Blade Slash.
Mitsuki had read intel describing a unique sword technique the Third Mizukage possessed—this must've been that attack.
The speed was indeed impressive, but still within the realm of reaction.
The Third Mizukage narrowed his eyes. Right now, he had only one intention: force this intruder to retreat as quickly as possible.
In short—maybe he could scare him off. With cold arrogance, the Third Mizukage said:
"Shimizu Mitsuki, if you leave Kirigakure right now, I can promise you—under my title as Mizukage—that we will not pursue you."
Yagura thought this was acceptable. They desperately needed time to search the village. They couldn't hold him anyway with his space-time ninjutsu. Anything was better than letting him blow up Kirigakure.
So Yagura echoed the Mizukage:
"That's right, Shimizu Mitsuki. Using so many Wind Release techniques must've drained enormous chakra. In that weakened state, you will never make it out of the Land of Water alive."
"I never said I was going to use Wind Release."
Mitsuki's lips curled upward into a mischievous smile.
He actually wanted to spar with the Third Mizukage a bit more, but he had business to take care of first.
"If you're not afraid to die, then feel free to chase me."
At those words, the Third Mizukage instantly swung his blade. The moisture in the air around Mitsuki condensed into three nearly invisible water threads that slashed toward him.
But they were too slow.
Mitsuki disappeared the next instant — Flying Thunder God activated.
The Hazy Blade Slash missed again, carving new lines into the ground.
The Third Mizukage's expression darkened like stagnant water. He barked orders at a nearby Mist ninja:
"Send people immediately. Search for the Konoha Gale's location!"
"Yes!"
Yagura turned toward the Mizukage, about to speak—when a sudden blinding light captured all of his attention.
The mission hall of Kirigakure—and a large area around it—was wrapped in a massive sphere of energy.
The deafening explosion followed a heartbeat later.
BOOM—!!
Smoke and flame shot into the sky. Building fragments were hurled outward by the circular shockwave.
The attack came so suddenly that both Yagura and the Third Mizukage could already imagine how many Mist nin had died without even understanding what happened.
"Damn it, Mitsuki! How could he dare do that?!" Yagura roared.
The Third Mizukage wanted to curse too.
But before he could speak, another attack arrived immediately after.
Three Tailed-Beast Bombs appeared out of thin air within Kirigakure, exploding with earth-shaking force.
This time, Yagura and the Mizukage saw clearly.
"That's… a Tailed-Beast Bomb?!" Yagura shouted in disbelief.
"How is that possible?! Did Konoha send the Nine-Tails jinchuriki?!"
Watching his village get torn apart, the Third Mizukage was filled with fury—so much so he even had the fleeting urge to capture Isobu and throw it at Konoha.
But he could only rage uselessly.
Without space-time ninjutsu, sneaking into a major Hidden Village was a pipe dream.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—!
Three more Tailed-Beast Bombs appeared, each targeting a vital structure of Kirigakure—including the Mizukage's own office.
By this point, the Third Mizukage was numb. He didn't even have the strength left to curse Mitsuki anymore.
The explosions were short, and their intervals brief—but Mitsuki's precision shattered every single important surface structure in Kirigakure while leaving the residential zones untouched.
Minutes later, the shockwaves faded, and smoke slowly thinned.
In the eyes of the Third Mizukage and the others, Kirigakure had become unrecognizable.
Ruins were scattered everywhere. The once-blue sky was stained gray with smoke.
Groundwater began seeping up from below, filling craters at the blast centers. If one wanted to be optimistic, they might someday turn into man-made lakes.
"Aaahhhh…!"
Some surviving Mist nin screamed incoherently, eyes bloodshot as they looked around, desperate to spot Mitsuki.
Despite Kirigakure's harsh atmosphere, this was still their home.
Seeing it demolished like this—many emotional shinobi had begun quietly sobbing.
The Third Mizukage steadied himself, summoned several subordinates, and issued rapid-fire orders.
Rescue efforts were top priority—but equally important was killing Shimizu Mitsuki. Whatever method he used to teleport Tailed-Beast Bombs inside the village must've consumed immense chakra. This was their one chance to kill him.
"Oh? You're looking for me?"
Mitsuki suddenly reappeared where he had vanished before.
The Third Mizukage snapped his head toward him. He had not expected Mitsuki to dare show himself after what he had done.
"Do you think having space-time ninjutsu lets you act without restraint? Even if you escape, your partner launching those Tailed-Beast Bombs will not. Don't forget how Tobirama Senju was killed!"
Mitsuki's smile faded.
He had never met the Second Hokage, but Tobirama's notes had helped him a great deal. Hearing the Third Mizukage bring him up in that way irritated him.
"You're mistaken, Mizukage," Mitsuki said coldly. "The only reason I dared to come back… is simply because your village is too weak."
Yagura was already enraged by the destruction. Hearing that insult sent the fury shooting from his nose straight to his skull.
He raised his iron rod, ready to strike—
But Mitsuki moved first.
"Ahh—!"
Chidori exploded outward.
From perfect stillness to blinding motion, Mitsuki took less than one-tenth of a second to lunge at the Third Mizukage, unleashing a fierce diagonal slash.
The Third Mizukage raised his blade to block. Beside him, Yagura thrust his staff toward Mitsuki's back.
Mitsuki flicked a Flying Thunder God kunai from his left hand, then instantly teleported several meters away.
Dodging Yagura's blow, he formed hand seals with one hand. A dark-purple flame arrow shot from his mouth toward the Mizukage—
At the critical moment, torrents of water surged from the ground, forming five massive water walls.
But the scorching blaze pierced through all five walls effortlessly.
The Third Mizukage's eyes widened in shock as the arrow skewered him—
Yet Mitsuki felt no impact of having hit a real body.