The words fell like thunder! Behind his mask, Mangetsu Hōzuki's purple eyes widened in disbelief.
"Are you... out of your mind?!"
The next moment, his expression sharpened, and a surge of rage filled his gaze. He threw a heavy punch straight toward Ren Uchiha's face.
BOOM!
Instead of panicking, Ren actually began to laugh. He had found the opening! This rhetorical tactic was exactly what Old Man Setsuna Uchiha had used on him before his suicide mission. By analyzing a person's deepest desire—in Ren's case, wanting to die—one could force a logical-sounding argument onto them that was impossible to refute.
Ren knew from his knowledge of the "original story" that Mangetsu would eventually join Yagura's new Mist and later follow Zabuza in a coup. By reversing that conclusion, Ren crafted a psychological attack to shatter Mangetsu's will.
If I can poke his sore spot, I'll create the perfect chance for a turnaround!
Ren didn't dodge. He took the massive punch head-on, his face absorbing the impact. At the same time, his right hand whipped out a hidden needle pouch from his sleeve. With a flick of his wrist, sixteen senbon needles streaked through Mangetsu's blind spots, aiming for his heart, eyes, and throat!
Ren knew Mangetsu's Hydrification could ignore physical damage, but only if he could react in time. At this close range, fueled by rage, Mangetsu was vulnerable.
Hesitation is defeat! Witness the true Ashina-style assassination!
[DING! You bravely clashed with Mangetsu Hōzuki, who despised your IQ!] [Heart Upgrade Progress: Water (96%).]
Ren ignored the subtitles, his eyes fixed on Mangetsu. In the shinobi world, if you gamble your life, anything is possible! A weakened Earth Spear vs. a surprised Hydrification. Let's see who is more devious!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Mangetsu's punch connected with Ren's face, he realized something was wrong. Glittering white light flashed in his peripheral vision. He realized he had been ambushed by the very Uchiha who just called him a "cheap assassin."
Dammit, who's the cheap one here?! Mangetsu cursed internally. He desperately pushed his Hydrification to liquefy the target areas.
Splat! Splat!
Most needles passed through water and hit the glass ceiling. But under such a sudden ambush, four needles pierced through his mask's eye-holes. Two more stabbed through the mask itself. Blood gushed out.
Mangetsu's left eye was destroyed. The searing pain made him rip off his mask, clutching his face in a pained hiss. In his remaining eye, a terrifying, murderous intent erupted!
Ren realized his ambush hadn't finished the job. He quickly threw a wired shuriken, wrapping it around a pillar, and grabbed Mei Terumī by the waist, sliding away to create distance.
He frowned at their new position. The water from the Kirisame technique was already ankle-deep. In this enclosed space, everything except Water Style was nerfed. His Earth Style, swordplay, and wires were all weakened, while Mangetsu could move at high speeds through the water and break Ren's defense with his Great Hydrification punches.
If Mei, the future Fifth Mizukage, died here, the "Blood Mist" era might never end. The Mist would remain a puppet of the Sharingan, and a "mole" might be hidden among the Five Kage in the future war.
If she dies, my own death here will be meaningless, Ren thought. He glared at the shell-shocked Mei beside him. "Dammit, Mei! You're such a useless woman!"
"What did you say?! You idiot!" Mei snapped back, looking at Ren's face, which was now swollen like a pig's head. She almost wanted to laugh.
"Ha? You still have the nerve to glare at me?" Ren pointed his sword at Mangetsu. "If you're awake, get ready to fight! The fact that my words enraged him proves I hit a nerve, don't you get it?"
Mei blinked in surprise. Is this reckless Uchiha kid actually suggesting we fight side-by-side? Usually, Ren would just trap the enemy in a barrier and start a 1v1 suicide duel.
A small, mischievous smile played on Mei's lips. She pulled herself up by Ren's pant leg and looked toward the battlefield. Her fighting spirit was back.
Ren's words had clearly struck home. If Mangetsu was this angry, it meant that deep down, he truly did harbor a terrifying desire to destroy the Mist and see it turned to ruins. That... was their chance!