Blood splattered across the deck!
The first enemy fell under the Wood Release!
Akihara Kagura leapt back, raising his hand and forming two fingers. Two vines emerged from the deck, and the two Hidden Mist Ninja who had rushed forward quickly tried to retreat. One couldn't dodge in time and was pierced by the vines in an instant!
"Wood Release Ninjutsu..."
"You little brat… you're a Wood Release Ninja!"
The escaping Hidden Mist Ninja stared at Akihara Kagura in shock.
Ninja must understand some history: Ninja God Senju Hashirama relied on Wood Release power to end the chaotic Warring States Era!
On another side.
Uchiha Itachi wielded his Ninja Sword and clashed with another Hidden Mist Ninja!
Even with the advantage of the Sharingan, Uchiha Itachi had to admit the enemy was indeed troublesome; he was facing an elite ninja from The Hidden Mist Village!
"Sharingan!"
"This kid is from the Uchiha Clan!"
The Hidden Mist Ninja were not unfamiliar with the Sharingan; the wars with Konoha have often involved the Uchiha Clan, whereas the Wood Release brat is a rare item.
"Capture those two brats!"
"Kill them, leave no traces!"
Except for the team supporting the Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura, other teams surrounded the ship of Uchiha Itachi and Akihara Kagura!
Vines sprouted from the ship!
The entire ship seemed like an octopus with giant tentacles!
The vines repelled all the Hidden Mist Ninja trying to approach the ship, even the two stragglers fighting on the ship were entangled and pulled out by the thick vines!
"Water Release: Water Rushing Wave!"
A group of Mist Ninja swiftly gathered and, with coordinated hand seals, spewed waves toward the ship!
The vines instantly closed up!
Akihara Kagura maneuvered the thick vines to surround the ship, forming a hollow wooden sphere to fend off the Mist Ninja's collective Water Release Ninjutsu!
The hollow wooden sphere bobbed on the sea, but ultimately the Mist Ninja's Water Release Ninjutsu couldn't breach its defense.
"Don't stop!"
"Attack them with full force!"
"Those two brats can only hide inside and take the beating!"
The Hidden Mist Ninja had the upper hand, and naturally, they wouldn't stop; instead, they employed various strategies, crafting hand seals for their strongest jutsu.
"What should we do?"
Uchiha Itachi, sheltered behind the vine's defensive barrier, softly asked, "If we let them keep attacking outside..."
"They can't break through the Wood Release's defense."
"But..."
Uchiha Itachi's eyes showed worry as he pointed out a critical problem: "Kakashi-senpai is still outside; what if they decide to gang up on Kakashi-senpai first..."
The two of them can evade danger under the Wood Release's protection, but what if the group of Hidden Mist Ninja and a Mizukage gang up on Kakashi Hatake outside?
Kakashi Hatake...
Might not be able to hold up!
Kakashi Hatake had already been struggling!
Just dealing with Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura's Water Release Ninjutsu was enough to overwhelm Kakashi; he felt he could be submerged by Water Release at any moment!
It didn't matter if it was Chakra or Water Release Jutsu, Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura wielded them effortlessly, leaving Kakashi knowing he couldn't possibly be his rival at sea!
"..."
Kakashi Hatake panted heavily as he stared at Karatachi Yagura, whose breathing hadn't changed at all, and desperation slowly welled up in his heart.
"We need to rescue Kakashi-senpai."
Uchiha Itachi observed the external situation through gaps in the vines and continued, "This environment isn't favorable for us to fight. The sea is a Water Release Ninja's domain, and I feel Kakashi-senpai is struggling..."
"Then let's turn this into our domain!"
Akihara Kagura extended his palm, pressing it on a vine; massive amounts of Chakra flowed through the vines as more vines and tree roots extended underwater!
"Watch your step!"
"Watch your step!"
At this moment, a Hidden Mist Ninja suddenly noticed a dark shadow under the surface at his feet, and he shouted in alarm to warn the others!
But...
It was too late to stop!
Countless thick branches emerged from beneath the water, woven together like a dense fishing net, transforming the area into a domain of vine roots!
Everyone was forced onto the vines!
Vines quickly coiled around the Hidden Mist Ninja's bodies, entangling and absorbing their Chakra!
"The plants from Wood Release..."
"Never grow by extracting nutrients from the earth, but from the Wood Release Ninja's Chakra, receiving life energy for growth."
Akihara Kagura unwound the defensive vines from the ship, calmly observing the new battlefield he created: "Wherever I am, that's where the root is."
"..."
Uchiha Itachi sensed a double meaning in that statement.
Nonetheless, Akihara Kagura's preemptive defense had secured time to alter the battle with Wood Release, ensuring they and Kakashi remained unharmed...
Before that...
There was still one trickiest enemy left to deal with.
Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura had already leapt from the vines, quickly jumping toward safer waters. His body rapidly transformed mid-air, enveloped by violent chakra!
"That is..."
Uchiha Itachi's eyes widened involuntarily.
"A Tailed Beast Jinchuriki!"
Kakashi landed beside them, answering gravely: "The water shadow of The Hidden Mist Village is a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, but I don't know what exactly is inside him..."
Bang!
The transformation of Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura wasn't over!
His chakra continued to become more ferocious, and three spiked tails emerged from his back!
In the next moment!
As Karatachi Yagura's body splashed into the sea, he completed his full Tailed Beast Transformation, appearing on the surface as a massive turtle-like beast covered in thick armor, filled with spikes!
"That's... Three-tails..."
Kakashi's breath grew heavy once more.
Previously, Nohara Rin had the Three-tails implanted in her by The Hidden Mist Village; he never expected to see the true form of the Three-tails upon visiting The Hidden Mist Village again.
"A Tailed Beast that rivals the Nine-tails..."
Uchiha Itachi recalled the agony of the Nine-tails incident in Konoha Village.
"But there's a gap between Tailed Beasts, right?"
Akihara Kagura felt there was a difference between the Nine-tails and the Three-tails, and even gave an example: "Maybe like me and Captain Tianzang, there are distinctions among Wood Release Ninjas; between you and Uchiha Shisui, Sharingan has highs and lows..."
"..."
Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi simultaneously looked at Akihara Kagura.
Admittedly, Akihara Kagura's analogy was quite precise, though not particularly flattering to them.
"Don't look at me like that..."
Akihara Kagura raised his head to gaze at the gigantic Three-tails, asking, "Do you think the water shadow of The Hidden Mist Village has lost his mind? Transforming into a Tailed Beast in front of us—hasn't he heard the tale of the First Hokage capturing Tailed Beasts to sell?"
"The First Hokage wasn't that superficial..."
Kakashi pondered for a moment before responding slowly: "Perhaps in the water shadow's view, there's a gap between your Wood Release and that of the First Hokage..."