"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique."
Mei Terumi opened with a killing move, showing absolutely no mercy. She understood clearly that Zabuza's strength was even greater than what the Fourth Mizukage had described.
From her mouth poured a mass of boiling mist—scalding vapor capable of evaporating nearly anything, its acidity adjustable at will.
The superheated fog surged toward the assimilated body.
This was a technique powerful enough to rapidly melt even the skeletal form of Susanoo.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique."
The Zabuza assimilated body did not form a single hand seal. Instead, he transformed the chakra gathered in his throat and expelled a massive sphere of water from his mouth.
Sometimes offensive ninjutsu could also serve as defense.
Under the force of the raging torrent, the superheated mist could not even approach him. His Great Waterfall Technique was twice the scale of the one Zabuza had used in the original story.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu." ×2
Two water dragons suddenly lunged at the assimilated body from opposite sides.
The Kirigakure ANBU might have been providing support, but that did not mean they would simply watch.
The Zabuza assimilated body sneered.
"Water Dragon Jutsu of this level?"
"Don't make me laugh."
With two swift slashes, he released a pair of sword waves.
They were not particularly sharp, but they carried the flowing power of water. When they struck the incoming dragons, they absorbed their strength instead, growing even stronger before effortlessly shattering them.
The Mihawk clone specialized entirely in swordsmanship, and his training experience had been extremely beneficial to Zabuza.
Unlike the others, Mihawk pursued the path of the blade. Like the samurai of the Land of Iron, he fused swordsmanship with chakra.
In fact, he surpassed even the samurai of the Land of Iron.
The ability called Absolute Control was simply too overpowered.
In this world, how many people could truly control every ounce of their own strength?
Human potential was limitless.
Take Mifune of the Land of Iron as an example. He appeared to have reached his peak, but if he were assimilated by Fujie and empowered through the Mangekyo ability Absolute Control, his strength could easily double.
Not because assimilation would instantly grant new power.
Rather, because that strength already existed within his body.
Mifune simply could not fully bring it out.
It was like the difference between a novice controlling a game character and a master doing the same.
"How is that possible?"
"That swordsmanship… that power…"
Mei Terumi and the others were stunned.
At that moment they realized something.
Taking the Sharingan would not be easy.
Everyone had underestimated Zabuza.
The Zabuza assimilated body, however, did not truly regard Mei Terumi as a threat.
Her abilities made him slightly cautious.
But only slightly.
"Should I kill Mei Terumi?"
"Or assimilate her?"
While fighting the four opponents, the Zabuza assimilated body simultaneously communicated with the original Uchiha Fujie.
Even without revealing the Mangekyo Sharingan, he could kill them given enough time.
"Lava Release: Dissolving Monster Technique."
Mei Terumi unleashed another bloodline ability—Lava Release.
She had not wanted to use it earlier, fearing it might damage Zabuza's Sharingan.
Now she had no choice.
A torrent of corrosive, viscous liquid surged toward the assimilated body.
If he were engulfed, even Fujie's regenerative abilities might not be enough to save him.
Uchiha Fujie, along with all his clones and assimilated bodies, were still mortal beings for now.
If struck directly by this Lava Release—powerful enough to melt Susanoo—they would die.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
For once, the Zabuza assimilated body formed hand seals.
One water wall after another rose into existence.
More than a dozen appeared.
Together they formed a dense defensive barrier, blocking the Lava Release completely.
Sometimes, when raw power was insufficient, sheer quantity could compensate.
Mei Terumi's expression darkened.
Zabuza's mastery of Water Release was simply too profound.
And his swordsmanship was flawless.
"You three withdraw."
"If things become impossible, I will retreat."
Mei Terumi had not lost her composure.
The ANBU remaining here would not help her—they would only restrict her.
For example, the Boil Release she had used earlier had been operating at barely half its power.
Using it at full strength would inevitably injure allies.
The Kirigakure ANBU exchanged glances before retreating.
They knew they could not assist in this battle.
"What incredible luck."
"The original wants me to spare your life."
The Zabuza assimilated body could not help but think Mei Terumi was fortunate.
He himself had no interest in assimilating her either.
Although the original Fujie resembled a woman and some clones had taken female forms, their essence remained male.
If Mei Terumi were assimilated, that would create a female version of Fujie among them.
The thought alone felt strange.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique."
Mei Terumi unleashed the technique again.
This time she held nothing back.
The mist generated by Boil Release could be adjusted according to the user's chakra output.
Previously she had only used half its strength.
Now the boiling mist was both far more powerful and spread across a much larger area.
The Zabuza assimilated body formed hand seals again.
One water prison after another appeared.
Each was larger than the last.
Soon six water prisons layered around him.
This multi-layer Water Release formation was his own new application of the technique.
The superheated mist could melt nearly anything.
Even Susanoo was not immune.
One water prison after another began dissolving.
Mei Terumi smiled coldly.
The outcome seemed decided.
Zabuza's technique was indeed impressive and capable of blocking most attacks.
But it had also trapped him inside.
Under the relentless erosion of Boil Release's burning mist, three water prisons melted away.
Increasing her chakra output, Mei Terumi cast the Skilled Mist Technique again.
Inside the water prison, the Zabuza assimilated body opened his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Empathic Pain activated.
After evolving into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, this ability had become far stronger.
Now he did not even need to see the target.
As long as the enemy was within his sensory range, the technique would affect them.
Using the Mangekyo was unavoidable now.
Without it, his only options would be to open the Eight Gates up to the Sixth Gate and escape the mist in a single burst—
Or keep creating more water prisons and turn the battle into a contest of endurance.
Outside the barrier, Mei Terumi had no idea danger was approaching.
She continued pouring more chakra into her attack.
Soon another water prison melted away.
Her confidence grew.
Only two remained.
Once they dissolved, the suffocating sea of boiling mist would engulf everything.
She could not imagine how Zabuza could possibly escape.
Slash!
Suddenly a deep wound appeared on Mei Terumi's right palm, cutting down to the bone.
Inside the water prison, the Zabuza assimilated body had finally struck.
"What—what is happening?"
The intense pain forced Mei Terumi to cancel the Boil Release technique, though the lingering hot mist remained.
Before she could react, another wound appeared across her right wrist.
"Is this Zabuza's ability?"
"A bloodline technique? A secret art?"
"I can't sense any chakra fluctuations at all…"
"What kind of jutsu is this?"
Panic rose in her chest.
If Zabuza targeted her heart, she would die instantly.
She could not see through this technique at all.
She was still young.
She had not even married yet.
How could she die like this?
A few minutes later, the boiling mist finally dispersed without continued chakra support.
Mei Terumi had no intention of using Boil Release again.
The remaining water prisons had already been melted away by the lingering mist.
At the moment the final barrier dissolved, the Zabuza assimilated body quietly deactivated his Mangekyo Sharingan.
By then, Mei Terumi's body had gained five or six additional wounds.
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