The vast sea stretched endlessly.
A ship sailed towards the Land of Water, riding the waves.
Akihara Kagura stood on the mast of the ship, gazing at the distant sea. The sea breeze blew through his long hair, an experience like never before.
"So full of life..."
Kakashi Hatake was busy setting traps on the ship. Watching Uchiha Itachi helping out, he rarely praised: "If only Kagura could learn half of your attitude towards life, we wouldn't have to worry about him doing something extreme..."
"Kagura-kun..."
Uchiha Itachi looked up at Akihara Kagura standing on the mast, recalled their conversation before the Chunin Exams, and shook his head softly: "Actually, he's a very pitiful person!"
"That guy..."
Kakashi Hatake recalled Akihara Kagura's background.
Although Akihara Kagura possessed a powerful Wood Release Bloodline, he couldn't escape a fate of being controlled, even his thoughts and actions were restricted by Danzo.
"Are you two discussing something disrespectful?"
Akihara Kagura leaped from the mast, like a boss inspecting work: "I have good news! Everyone can stop working!"
"Huh?"
Kakashi Hatake's hands paused in surprise as he spoke: "Are we near the Land of Water? The Hidden Mist Ninja haven't come to check?"
"Pretty much..."
Akihara Kagura said ambiguously, smiling as he explained: "We are indeed nearing the Land of Water, and the Hidden Mist Ninja haven't come to check..."
"Seems like we're quite lucky..."
Uchiha Itachi finally sighed in relief.
"I guess you could call it good luck..."
Akihara Kagura continued slowly: "From my observation, the Hidden Mist Ninja indeed have no intention of checking the ship, but a team of over thirty is headed straight towards us from the sea, dressed as the elite unit of the Hidden Mist Village..."
"Prepare for battle!"
Kakashi Hatake's expression changed, his hands setting traps moved even faster. At least on the ship, they still had a chance to deal with the enemy!
Uchiha Itachi's fingers skillfully wrapped wires around several shurikens, and with a flick of his wrist, scattered them onto the deck, creating a chained trap!
"Phew, just in time..."
Uchiha Itachi sighed in relief, observing a group of Mist Village Ninja rapidly approaching on the sea, carefully watching their formation.
Uchiha Itachi noticed a short figure with a peculiar staff weapon at the forefront, recalling his own memories of being brought by Uchiha Fugaku to observe the Ninja World War at the age of four.
"There's a kid on the other side..."
"Don't underestimate him."
Akihara Kagura stood beside Uchiha Itachi, speaking slowly: "The other Mist Ninja are wearing masks, but he has nothing on his face, which means he doesn't need to hide his identity, definitely a big shot..."
Akihara Kagura watched as the Mist Village Ninja squad dispersed under the kid's command, continuing: "Look, the other members follow his orders, even showing great respect when receiving commands..."
"That is..."
Uchiha Itachi also noticed something unusual, speaking softly: "Captain Kakashi, Kagura-kun, am I seeing this wrong? They seem to be calling that kid..."
"Mizukage."
Kakashi Hatake's forehead broke out in a cold sweat as he turned his gaze to Akihara Kagura: "That kid-looking person is the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village! You were right... we've hit the worst luck..."
Kakashi Hatake quickly made a decision, speaking in a deep voice: "You two run along the sea, run as far as you can, I'll hold them off!"
Now was a critical moment!
Kakashi Hatake realized that this journey had landed them in a perilous situation. The battlefield was at sea, and the enemy was a group skilled in Water Release, including the Hidden Mist Anbu and the water-based Mizukage...
No matter how Kakashi thought about it, he felt it was impossible to win against them, and even more reinforcements from the Hidden Mist Village could arrive soon. Helping the two young ones escape was the best outcome!
What on earth was happening in the Hidden Mist Village...
Why would the leader of a village bring Anbu to check on sea vessels?
No wonder Konoha Village had always found it difficult to get any information from the Hidden Mist Village: with the Mizukage personally leading to block the sea, no spy could return with messages!
The Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura had no intention of checking this privately entering ship. He took the flower-adorned staff weapon from his back and pressed it onto the sea's surface!
The Mizukage used Water Release Ninjutsu with incredible mastery, effortlessly releasing it with his weapon, hardly requiring hand seals. Even the effects of his jutsu were somewhat different from ordinary Water Release Ninja!
"Water Release: Water Rushing Wave!"
The sea suddenly trembled!
Waves surged continuously from the sea, rushing towards the ship. Karatachi Yagura couldn't care less who was on this ship, wanting to capsize it outright and have his subordinates catch people in the water!
"Water Release: Water Array Wall!"
Kakashi Hatake landed on the sea instantly, quickly forming hand seals, and a towering water wall rose from the sea, relentlessly fending off the incoming waves!
"Kakashi Hatake..."
The Mist Village Ninja immediately recognized Kakashi Hatake!
"You two, run!"
Kakashi Hatake commanded sternly while fending off Karatachi Yagura: "Kagura, Itachi, escape in another direction!"
"We can't escape."
Uchiha Itachi shook his head as he observed the enclosing Hidden Mist Anbu Ninja: "We can't possibly outrun their pursuit on the sea..."
"Moreover..."
"We can't let Senior Kakashi fall into danger."
Uchiha Itachi drew his ninja sword from his back, speaking with determination: "We stay and fight alongside Senior Kakashi!"
With that, Uchiha Itachi's Three Tomoe Sharingan gleamed in his eyes, quietly waiting for the approaching Hidden Mist Anbu Ninja to board...
With the Sharingan and the traps on the ship, Uchiha Itachi might have a fighting chance against the enemy, the only issue being the sheer number of opponents.
In a flash!
Three or four Hidden Mist Anbu jumped onto the ship first!
These Mist Village Ninja, who were accustomed to slaughter, couldn't help but laugh seeing only two youngsters left on the ship!
Akihara Kagura drew a standard Anbu ninja sword from behind him and charged in the direction of the Mist Village Ninja!
The open sea was not conducive to using Wood Release Jutsu. If a big tree grew out on the ship, it might be that the ship Kakashi Hatake wanted to protect would capsize first...
"Kagura... kun?"
Uchiha Itachi had great confidence in Akihara Kagura, his teammate, believing that this former opponent who had defeated him in the Chunin Exams must be equally skilled in kenjutsu!
The reality was often strange.
Akihara Kagura's kenjutsu was appallingly poor.
In less than three moves against a Mist Village Ninja, Akihara Kagura's ninja sword was knocked flying, forcing him to grab the opponent's blade with his bare hands...
Akihara Kagura only felt a momentary pain in his palm, as Chakra within him surged, bringing a cool, tingling sensation from the wound, healing swiftly; the regenerative ability of the Hashirama Cells was truly astounding.
"That brat..."
The Mist Village Ninja looked on in astonishment at the boy holding a sharp blade as if he felt no pain.
The boy, gripping the enemy's ninja sword, quickly twisted his hand close, slapping it onto the enemy's chest, instantly causing a wooden spike to explode inside the enemy!