Seeing the Third Mizukage struck down by Mitsuki's attack, Kisame and Yagura both shouted in shock.
"Stop yelling. Your Mizukage is fine. Uh… well, should be fine," Mitsuki said with a crooked smirk.
"Cough… cough…"
A weak voice came from a spot not far to the right of where the strike had landed.
After realizing the sands had grabbed his right leg, the Third Mizukage had decisively severed it, barely managing to escape with a teleportation technique at the last second.
Now he knelt on one leg, barely holding himself up with both arms. His entire body was covered in severe burns.
Mitsuki lifted his left hand, forming a finger-gun aimed directly at the kneeling Mizukage.
Yagura's eyes widened.
"Wait—Mitsuki, let's talk terms!"
With Kirikagure already almost completely destroyed, Yagura couldn't begin to imagine what would happen if the Mizukage died here. The consequences were unthinkable.
"You're a Kage. Any last words?"
At Mitsuki's fingertip, a spindle-shaped lightning spiral bullet hummed with lethal electricity.
The Mizukage coughed violently, spitting blood. His throat and lungs were scorched from inhaling the superheated air—every breath felt like torture.
"Koff… Yagura… after I die… you will become the Fourth Mizukage."
Yagura froze, then nodded heavily. Anyone could see the truth — there was no saving the Third Mizukage from this range. Unless Mitsuki suddenly grew a conscience, this was the end.
The Third Mizukage really was dutiful, thinking of his village even at death's door.
A flash of lightning.
The spiral bullet pierced the Mizukage's heart, ending his life instantly.
"Mitsuki!!"
Yagura's face twisted with rage. The humiliation was unbearable. One of the Five Great Villages had been reduced to rubble by a single invader — and their Kage killed in front of everyone.
This would be recorded as one of the greatest disgraces in history.
But Mitsuki didn't see it as anything noteworthy. Aside from that one hidden-blade technique, the Mizukage was… unimpressive.
No wonder, despite being First Mizukage's personal guard alongside Gengetsu, he only became Third Mizukage after Gengetsu died.
Mitsuki suddenly realized something — maybe it was jealousy of Gengetsu's talent that drove the Third Mizukage to slaughter all the kekkei genkai clans?
Well… whatever. Ancient history didn't matter to him.
He turned his gaze toward Yagura.
"He said you're the next Mizukage, but…"
Mitsuki pointed the tip of his sword at Yagura.
"When did you get the idea that I'd stop at killing only him?"
Yagura's pupils shrank. He wasn't afraid of dying, but… what a humiliating end.
"Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Badly injured but still conscious, Kisame suddenly formed hand seals. A massive torrent flooded the battlefield.
Mitsuki swung his blade.
"Full Counter!"
The giant sphere of water shattered instantly, scattering into a rain that fell upon the ruins of Kirigakure — almost as if the village itself were crying.
Lowering his sword, Mitsuki muttered at the flopping sharks on the ground,
"Summons, huh? Clever move, Kisame."
But he didn't bother pursuing. His goal had only been to destroy the village structures. Killing the Mizukage had simply been a bonus.
Kirigakure had lost the ability to continue the war. And if they insisted on continuing… next time he wouldn't spare the civilians.
From his pouch, Mitsuki took out a scroll and sealed the Mizukage's corpse. After briefly checking a little "mark" he'd left on a certain overconfident girl, he vanished.
At the Mist Village evacuation shelter…
Mei sat against the wall, sulking. The explosions had been nonstop—some frighteningly close. Luckily, the shelter held.
She lifted her hand, remembering the scene of that white-haired demon gripping her wrist. The killing intent in his eyes still made her shiver.
It was the closest she had ever come to death.
"Mitsuki… if you escape alive, I swear I will kill you myself."
Back at the Konoha frontline base…
Mitsuki appeared in his room with a puff of smoke.
Shukaku looked around. "Space-time techniques really are amazing."
"Want to learn it?" Mitsuki teased.
"Eh? I… could?"
"You'd have to get permission from Tsunade first. Might require you to act like a cute pet for a few days."
Shukaku immediately reconsidered. No thanks.
Anyway, as long as Mitsuki knew the technique, that was basically the same as him knowing it.
Ignoring the tanuki's inner turmoil, Mitsuki stretched and decided to rest. He'd deal with everything tomorrow.
The next morning
Mitsuki left his room, stretching under the Fire Country's bright sun. On the way to headquarters, several Konoha shinobi greeted him respectfully.
"Mitsuki! Long time no see!"
"Thanks again for saving me last time!"
Mitsuki returned each greeting warmly. Status wasn't important to him—his true virtues were politeness, refinement, and impeccable manners, of course.
If the Kiri or Suna shinobi heard that, they'd probably vomit blood.