"Of course, Mei."
Yagura let out a quiet chuckle, clearly pleased by Mei Terumi's request to join the battle.
However—
With a calm smile, he looked at her and said,
"With your talent, it's only a matter of time before you reach Kage level. I've never doubted that."
In other words, right now, she still didn't have the strength to shoulder this burden.
Yagura intended to carry it himself.
And she… couldn't help him just yet.
Mei lowered her gaze.
"Understood…"
The campfire before them crackled and flared.
Only with the power of a Kage could one sit at the negotiation table with Kumogakure as an equal.
The strength of a Tailed Beast—their trump card—would have to be revealed this time.
This battle would send a clear message to the entire shinobi world:
It was because of this power that Karatachi Yagura held the title of Mizukage.
Kirigakure was far from weak. They were not to be trampled upon.
"Go get some rest."
"Alright."
...
The next morning.
With the total annihilation of the Dodai Squad and no survivors to report back, the silence alone was enough for Kumogakure to suspect something had gone wrong.
They quickly dispatched several scouting teams to the port destination originally assigned to the Dodai Squad.
Using the routes those teams took, elite jōnin secretly sent by Yagura trailed them, eventually locating Kumogakure's temporary encampment.
It was on the southeastern coast of the Land of Lightning.
And soon, that intel was relayed back to Yagura, who was stationed at the port.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique."
The scouting Kumogakure ninja were lured into a trap by the Kirigakure operatives.
Mei Terumi's acidic mist blended seamlessly into the natural mist techniques of Kirigakure.
It was silent.
And merciless.
The corrosive vapor began to eat away at the Kumogakure shinobi's flesh almost instantly.
Their skin cracked and peeled.
"Shit! It's an ambush—fall ba—"
Before the leader could finish, a wave of weakness spread from his chest throughout his entire body.
With a splash, he collapsed into the sea—chakra completely drained.
Then, within the thick white mist, a subtle violet haze began to mix in.
Sasori, hidden nearby, unleashed his puppets, filling the acidic cloud with toxic fumes.
It wasn't just inhalation.
The mist, which had already begun eating away at their skin, now allowed Sasori's poison to seep directly into their bloodstream through open wounds.
In an instant, the venom claimed their lives.
Though these two hadn't exactly been on good terms, their coordination in this moment was seamless.
Yagura nodded in approval. "The port is in your hands."
Mei Terumi finally let go of her reservations about Sasori and responded, "Understood!"
Sasori, for his part, had never seen enemies succumb to poison so quickly.
He glanced at Mei but said nothing.
Perhaps, deep down, he was thinking this woman might be even scarier than Chiyo.
This whole ambush was her idea.
They had used the port—and the perpetual mists that veiled the Land of Water year-round—as bait. Mei's Boil Release and Sasori's poisons were the hook.
Now that the trap had sprung and their flank was secure, Yagura gathered a small team of jōnin and advanced straight toward Kumogakure's encampment on the coast of the Land of Lightning.
Watching Yagura's figure vanish into the fog...
The Kumogakure shinobi caught in their trap had already been decimated by the acidic mist and poisoned fog.
Sasori calmly said, "I'll handle the cleanup. You go do what you need to do."
"Thanks," Mei said sincerely, a newfound respect in her voice. She had begun to trust the S-rank rogue ninja from Sunagakure.
"I didn't think you were actually serious."
Serious about standing with Kirigakure.
And even helping her carry out actions behind Yagura's back.
"Spare me the chatter," Sasori snapped. "If you don't want him to die, hurry."
"Got it."
That idiot.
Charging in alone like he had something to prove.
Did he ever stop to think? What if the Raikage himself showed up? How would Yagura get out alive?
Both Sasori and Mei were sure Yagura—and even Elder Genshi—had considered that possibility.
And yet, he still chose to go.
Because he was the Mizukage.
...
After crossing the sea, it took Yagura and his team just half a day to reach Kumogakure's southeastern coastal base.
Using the Hidden Mist Technique to veil their movements, they got within a hundred meters of the enemy's camp.
So close now.
"You three, fall back," Yagura ordered, stopping the jōnin who had accompanied him. His eyes locked on the hastily-constructed camp along the shoreline.
Kumogakure… You've treated Kirigakure like we don't even exist. Now it's time you tasted the wrath of the sea!
[Yagura: Isobu—let's raise hell.][Isobu: Hmph. You just love bossing me around.]
A massive tail materialized behind Yagura and slammed into the water, sending a towering waterspout spiraling into the sky!
ROOOAAARRR!!!
The Tailed Beast had arrived.
Isobu's bellow echoed through the heavens!
His massive form tore through the mist and the churning sea, revealing itself in full on the coast of the Land of Lightning.
The surging tides slammed into the coastal camp, washing away its barricades in an instant.
Now fully exposed, Isobu's immense body loomed over the shoreline.
A thousand Kumogakure shinobi turned to face him, their eyes meeting the blood-red rage burning in the Tailed Beast's eyes.
In that moment, fear of a true monster gripped their hearts.
[Yagura: Isobu—let's give them a proper introduction!]
The beast inhaled deeply, drawing in the sea itself, then unleashed a colossal water cannon at the enemy camp.
Yagura/Isobu: Coral Great Roar!
The tightly-packed Kumogakure forces didn't have time to scatter—Isobu's blast landed like a bomb dropped into a school of fish!
With just one attack, over half of the shinobi were either killed outright or gravely injured, unable to dodge in time.
The few who survived—either by luck or sheer skill—immediately recognized what they were facing.
"A Tailed Beast… it's a Tailed Beast!"
"It's Kirigakure's Tailed Beast!!"
"We're under attack!"
"All units—battle stations! Battle stations!"
Despite the chaos, Kumogakure's military discipline kicked in quickly.
They regrouped fast under their jōnin leaders, dispersing to avoid Isobu's long-range attacks and water blasts.
"Storm Release: Laser Circus!"
"Lightning Release: Thunder Pulse!"
"Lightning Release: Roaring Thunder!"
"Try this!"
Various jutsu, explosive tags, and massive ninja tools—everything that could potentially harm a Tailed Beast—was unleashed at once!
But it was all in vain.
A towering curtain of water rose from the sea, shielding Isobu's entire body.
As the wall settled, its surface smoothed into a mirror-like sheen.
[Isobu: Hmph. Watch closely. I'll only show this once.]
Yagura/Isobu: Water Mirror Technique!
The moment the enemy's attacks reflected in the water, the mirror captured and replicated them all!
With a thunderous roar, Isobu fired everything back—identical in number, strength, and trajectory, but in the opposite direction!
Massive explosions lit up the coastline, sending waves crashing sky-high.
The Kumogakure shinobi could only watch, stunned.
Their all-out counterattack hadn't even touched the enemy.
Before they could react—before they could even think—Isobu launched another water cannon, blasting through the rising waves and slamming directly into the still-regrouping enemy lines!
Another wave of casualties followed.
With a triumphant roar, Isobu raised his tail high.
Then leapt into the air, curling his massive body into a rolling wheel.
The armored plates on his body deflected every jutsu and tool hurled in a last-ditch effort to stop him.
He landed on the coast like a living war machine—an unstoppable force—
Crushing the helpless Kumogakure shinobi beneath him.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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