"Kill them and bring back the brat from the Uzumaki Clan!" commanded the Third Mizukage coldly.
Behind him, seven or eight Mist ninjas nodded in unison. In an instant, an array of weapons was drawn.
The rogue ninjas on the other side were not to be outdone. Their leader, Puyuan, let out a furious roar, pulling a ninja blade from his back in one swift motion. He bellowed:
"You three, go kill the brat! I'll hold them off!"
Underground, Jiraiya clenched his fists in anger, unable to contain himself any longer. He charged out with full force.
Even if the opponent was the Third Mizukage, so what? He had the guts to mess with even Lord Hiruzen's beard!
Seeing Jiraiya rush forward, Orochimaru, who had originally planned to evacuate the children first, frowned deeply.
"This idiot Jiraiya!"
The enemy had superior numbers, and among them was the fearsome Third Mizukage. Orochimaru knew he had no choice but to assist Jiraiya immediately!
With that thought, Orochimaru abandoned the idea of moving the children. His hands moved swiftly, forming seals as he burst out of the ground.
In an instant, fire dragons roared, and water bullets flew wildly.
Seeing the headbands on Jiraiya and Orochimaru, the rogue Mist ninjas were overjoyed.
So, the Konoha ninjas are here already!
This made the Uzumaki kids even more valuable.
Without hesitation, three rogue ninjas quickened their pace, charging toward the pit inside the cave.
Just then, Jiraiya's figure suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their path. Biting his thumb, he quickly formed seals with both hands.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a light poof, white smoke erupted.
At the same time, a tongue shot out from the smoke like lightning, instantly knocking one of the rogue chunin flying.
The Third Mizukage, though keeping his eyes closed, was fully aware of everything happening in the cave.
Konoha ninjas... It seems today's haul is quite rewarding. Not only can I deal with these rogue ninjas, but I can also capture the Uzumaki brats and, perhaps, even snag a couple of Konoha's own brats.
As this thought crossed his mind, the Third Mizukage slowly raised his hands, preparing to form seals.
But at that very moment, he froze.
Killing intent. A terrifying, overwhelming killing intent enveloped his entire being. Cold sweat broke out across the Third Mizukage's back.
What a horrifying killing intent! I've been locked onto!
Forcing himself to stay composed, the Third Mizukage slowly turned his head toward the source of the killing intent.
Outside the cave, Rinjin sat cross-legged on the ground, wearing a comical dog-head mask. From beneath his drooping eyelids, faint, almost imperceptible red glimmers occasionally flickered.
He was staring directly at the Third Mizukage.
The Third Mizukage dared not underestimate him. Anyone capable of exuding such killing intent was no ordinary foe.
While Rinjin and the Third Mizukage were locked in their silent standoff, Tsunade rose to her feet. She stepped past the motionless Rinjin and the Third Mizukage, joining the battle.
With the Hiruzen Team now fully assembled, their seamless coordination quickly made them the focal point of the battlefield.
Jiraiya acted as the team's tank and mid-range attacker.
With his white hair and Sage Chakra, he was as tough as they came.
On top of that, his mastery of all five chakra natures gave him an extensive arsenal of ninjutsu with wide-ranging effects.
Tsunade's approach was much more straightforward—brute force. She dominated close-range combat while providing medical support.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru unleashed a dazzling array of snake-based jutsu, keeping enemies on their toes. He specialized in crowd control and long-range attacks.
The battlefield was chaotic, with snakes slithering everywhere, toad oil splattering in all directions, and rocks flying through the air.
Yet, Tsunade and her team held their ground firmly, preventing the Mist ninjas and rogue ninjas from getting anywhere near the Uzumaki children.
Outside the cave, Rinjin continued to stare at the Third Mizukage. There was no rush; every second delayed was a second gained.
The Third Mizukage, too, was fully aware of the situation inside the cave. His side hadn't suffered significant losses—just two weaklings bitten by snakes, now lying on the ground foaming at the mouth.
The rogue ninjas, however, were in worse shape. One of their chunin had already been decapitated, and the three jonin were all injured.
As for Konoha's team, the three brats were still full of energy, showing no signs of fatigue.
Especially that white-haired brat in the middle—he was practically spamming Fire Release like it was free.
Most concerning of all was the dog-headed figure outside the cave, watching like a predator ready to pounce.
The Third Mizukage's eyes shifted slightly. He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer.
If this continued, his side would only suffer greater losses.
Making his decision, the Third Mizukage raised his hands abruptly, forming seals at lightning speed.
Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!
In just one second, he completed five seals.
It was clear that this man was a master of Water Release. A jutsu that normally required over a dozen seals was executed by him in just a few swift hand movements.
With his hands clasped together, the Third Mizukage opened his mouth wide. A torrent of water infused with chakra surged forth, flooding both the inside and outside of the cave indiscriminately.
As the massive wave approached, Rinjin slowly stood up, muttering to himself, "So you're making the first move, huh?"
He raised his right hand, clenching it into a fist.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode, activate!
In an instant, crackling blue electricity coursed over his body. His lightning-infused eyes pierced through the oncoming wave, locking onto the Third Mizukage.
Lightning Plow Hot Knife! he growled.
Rinjin's figure transformed into a streak of lightning, slicing through the massive wave effortlessly.
When he reappeared, he was behind the Third Mizukage, who had come to an abrupt halt. Alongside him, the Mizukage's severed head hovered momentarily before falling.
But just then, the Third Mizukage's body suddenly collapsed into a pool of blue water, enveloping Rinjin in an instant.
Damn it! A water clone and Water Prison Jutsu!
When did he form the seals?
At that moment, another puddle of water on the ground rose, taking the shape of the Third Mizukage. He smirked and sneered:
"I thought you'd be more formidable, but you're just another brute from the Land of Lightning!
Since when did the Land of Lightning start mingling with Konoha brats?
Or is there some secret deal going on between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud?"
As he spoke, the Third Mizukage began forming seals again.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
A wall of water rose before him, blocking Jiraiya's fireball.
Without sparing Jiraiya a glance, the Mizukage kept his focus on Rinjin, who was trapped in the Water Prison. He spoke in a deep voice:
"Hey, you from the Hidden Cloud, tell me—what's the deal between you and Konoha?"
"Bloop, bloop!" Rinjin blew two bubbles, then suddenly grinned.
"Got you!"
His muffled voice resonated through the water. In an instant, Rinjin's body exploded with a poof.
The next second, a streak of lightning flashed in a dark corner of the cave.
Slash!
A scream of agony echoed throughout the cave.
Both sides froze mid-battle, their gazes snapping toward the dark corner.
The scent of blood began to permeate the air.
Then, blue lightning illuminated the scene, and everyone gasped in unison.
The Third Mizukage lay sprawled on the ground, both legs severed at the base, blood gushing out.
On his back sat a man wearing a dog-head mask, leisurely perched with his legs spread, pinning the Mizukage's hands underfoot.
"Lord Mizukage, you're way too weak!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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