"Is this where the Fourth Mizukage lives?"
When Uehara Naraku and Hoshigaki Kisame arrived at the lakeside residence of the Fourth Mizukage, they only saw the scattered corpses of Mist Village Ninjas lying across the shore, and the clear lake water was stained crimson.
Hoshigaki Kisame nodded, sizing up the surrounding environment, and clicked his tongue in admiration, "That guy Zabuza managed to kill so many Mizukage Guardian Ninjas. Looks like he's been planning for quite some time!"
Judging from the battle traces and the temperature of the blood, not much time had passed since Momochi Zabuza's attempted assassination of Fourth Mizukage Yagura, and he might still be hiding nearby.
As for the result of their battle, neither Uehara Naraku nor Hoshigaki Kisame had much faith that Momochi Zabuza could kill Yagura. The Three-tailed Jinchuriki was not someone who could be easily dealt with through assassination tactics.
Suddenly, a wave splashed on the water's surface!
An ugly giant beast emerged, water dripping from the spines on its back. Its three iron-hard tails swung back and forth behind it, and a pair of eerie eyes locked onto the two people on the shore.
"Oh?"
Instead of fear on his face at the sight of the giant beast, Hoshigaki Kisame showed a smile, "To think that he forced the Mizukage-sama into Tailed Beast Transformation; that guy Zabuza really shouldn't be underestimated!"
This giant beast was the Three-tailed Isobu of the Hidden Mist Village.
The next moment, the turtle-like giant beast glanced at Hoshigaki Kisame before its form dissipated into a cloud of smoke, disappearing from their sight.
From within the smoke, a young-looking ninja emerged, with a stitched scar on his face that appeared more cute than terrifying.
It was none other than Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura, who spoke in a cold voice, "Hmph, that guy Zabuza is nothing but a coward. I didn't need to use Isobu's power at all; I just let him out to get some fresh air..."
Hoshigaki Kisame opened his palm and looked at Uehara Naraku, lightly laughing as he spoke, "If you are going to face Uehara-sama next, I urge Mizukage-sama not to hold back with using the power of the Three-tailed Isobu, otherwise, Uehara-sama might not have a good time!"
"Is that so?"
Karatachi Yagura glanced at Uehara Naraku and surprisingly nodded seriously, "Understood, I won't hold back."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't listen to Kisame's nonsense!"
Uehara Naraku glared at his new subordinate, turned to Karatachi Yagura, and said, "After all, if you use the Three-tailed Isobu's power, you'll die painfully... it would be more convenient if I just kill you in this form."
"..."
A single sentence from Uehara Naraku made Karatachi Yagura's face darken. How could this brat be so conceited?
The Fourth Mizukage didn't look at him but instead turned to the shark-faced ninja, "Hoshigaki Kisame, it seems you want to assassinate me too? Did you find this kid as your helper?"
"No, Mizukage-sama, don't misunderstand."
Hoshigaki Kisame shook his head, denying Yagura's accusation, as he continued with a light smile, "I won't interfere in this battle because for now, I'm just an innocent bystander caught up in the assassination of Mizukage-sama!"
According to his and Uehara Naraku's plan, he wouldn't participate in this battle.
Because he also wanted to see Uehara's power.
Defeating or killing someone of Five Kage Level would be a measure of strength.
"Then after I kill him, I'll deal with you next!"
Yagura looked at Uehara Naraku, abruptly flipping his palm, and the green-flowery iron club weapon behind him fell into his grasp as he took the initiative to attack Uehara Naraku!
Uehara Naraku easily grabbed hold of his weapon. Ever since his life energy exceeded 3,000 points, both his strength and speed had greatly increased, making it easy to block Yagura's attack!
"The strength is, well, not bad."
Uehara Naraku clicked his tongue, not knowing if he was complimenting himself or Yagura, but his words undoubtedly angered the Fourth Mizukage before him.
Yagura's palm suddenly turned blood red, and he fiercely slapped Uehara Naraku's chest. A cluster of coral quickly solidified Uehara's body!
This was the ability from the Three-tailed Isobu, Coral Palm!
Only a Jinchuriki able to harness the power of the Three-tailed could use the Coral Palm. Once hit, the body would rapidly grow coral.
As the perfect Jinchuriki, Yagura could enter Half-Tailed Beast Transformation at will, borrowing the Three-tailed Isobu's power. This Jutsu was almost impossible to guard against, causing many ninjas to fall inexplicably under this Nin-Taijutsu.
The Fourth Mizukage indeed kept his word. He promised not to hold back, immediately using the power of the Three-tails against Uehara Naraku!
"Quite troublesome..."
Uehara Naraku watched the coral that kept growing on his body, which almost instantly covered him, and muttered in a low voice, "Only just met, and you're using this kind of power?"
The Moment of Holy Judgment!
A golden light barrier emanated from Uehara's body, instantly dispelling the Coral Palm on him. A series of Chakra Light Sabers, with the wave of Uehara's hand, pierced towards Yagura!
Yagura's iron club swung, and a stream of water fell from his green blossoms, forming a mirror that suddenly appeared between them!
"Water Release: Water Mirror Jutsu!"
From within the mirror emerged a ninja identical to Uehara Naraku, and the Chakra Light Sabers almost instantly pierced through the other water-made clone of Uehara.
Yagura flipped in avoidance of Uehara's attack, frowning with a gloomy expression, "Did the Water Mirror Jutsu fail to replicate?"
The Water Mirror Jutsu would create a ninja identical to the enemy, capable of using the enemy's Ninjutsu, but the replication evidently failed.
Uehara Naraku punched Yagura's jaw, sending him flying, then twisted his wrist and said, "Hmm, maybe the reason it failed to replicate is because this world can only accommodate one of me?"
"Kid, you're really arrogant!"
Yagura, knocked to the ground by Uehara Naraku, quickly rolled up, swiftly forming hand seals, "Water Release: Water Dragon...!"
Uehara Naraku stomped on the ground, scattering rocks!
Uehara's speed was too fast, forcing Yagura to give up forming seals. But, unexpectedly, this Fourth Mizukage wasn't the least surprised, as a thick tail suddenly shot out from his back!
It was the tail of the Three-tailed!
Yagura abruptly swung his tail, fiercely striking Uehara, sending him flying. This guy was using the forming of seals to entice Uehara's attack!
Uehara Naraku, who was knocked at a distance, brushed off the mud on him and stood up again. Seeing his life energy drop by over a thousand points, it was clear that Yagura's previous strike was powerful enough to easily kill an ordinary Jonin...
Hoshigaki Kisame, observing the battle, shook his head, clicking his tongue at Uehara Naraku, "There were so many ways to interrupt the hand seals, yet he chose the most dangerous way. However, to take on the power of the Three-tailed directly... no wonder he's so confident."
"I initially wanted to fight you as an ordinary ninja, but you used the power of the Tailed Beast..."
Uehara Naraku clenched his fingers, calmly starting to form hand seals as he looked at Yagura and softly said, "Fourth Mizukage-sama, I forgot to tell you, I really hate it when people cheat in front of me..."