The Third Mizukage's Test

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! A shower of senbon shot toward Bing San. Hyuga Go stepped forward and shouted, "Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation!"

The Third Mizukage's strikingly large eyes narrowed slightly. She brought her hands together, preparing to release a jutsu. It seemed she had no intention of fighting them at close range.

The Mizukage's fingers flew through the Hand Seals, so quickly that it was impossible to tell what jutsu she was using.

Hyuga Go muttered despite himself, "This guy's hands are so fast. I can't tell what jutsu he's using at all!"

Bing San and his clone hurriedly formed Hand Seals too. But the opponent was so fast that Bing San had only made it halfway through his seals when she finished casting.

The Third Mizukage said gently, "Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet."

The intelligence clone of Bing San tensed, veins bulging as sweat streamed down his forehead. He finally finished forming the seals just as the stone projectiles were about to hit. Slapping both hands against the ground, he shouted, "Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

The stone projectiles crashed into the earthen wall summoned by Bing San's clone, shattering it. They continued onward, grazing Hyuga Go as they flew past.

With a rumble, they punched right through the camp tent behind him, its walls marked with Sealing Jutsu formulas, and disappeared into the distance.

Hyuga Go broke out in a cold sweat.

But it wasn't over. The opponent immediately followed up with another jutsu.

The Third Mizukage's voice remained soft and gentle, like the girl next door asking if you wanted to have some fun. "Earth Release: Earth Flow River."

Bing San's main body had finally finished preparing his jutsu. His face flushed as he formed the seals with slightly trembling hands and shouted, "Ice Release: Ice Dragon Bullet!"

The ground before the Third Mizukage churned. Soil surged forward like a mighty river, devastating the camp around them. In an instant, buildings collapsed, leaving only a few load-bearing pillars still barely standing.

Beside Bing San, a seven- or eight-meter-long ice dragon slowly raised its head. With a roar, it swept past Hyuga Go and charged at the Third Mizukage.

The muddy river froze instantly beneath the ice dragon, becoming a bridge about a meter and a half high. It stopped just short of Hyuga Go and Bing San.

Hyuga Go was covered halfway in ice shards and clumps of earth.

The Third Mizukage looked surprised. It was the first time anyone had countered this jutsu in such a way, but that was nothing special.

Having served under the First and Second Mizukage, she had seen a great deal.

The Third Mizukage narrowed her eyes and raised her brows, crossing her arms as she praised them. "You're so young, yet already this strong. The younger generation is truly formidable!

"And this jutsu was modified by Tobirama Senju, wasn't it? Are you his successor from a later generation?"

Bing San panted slightly. That jutsu had used nearly a tenth of his Chakra.

He was just about to answer when he saw the Third Mizukage close her eyes.

Her slightly hunched figure straightened in an instant, and her aura shifted from its former softness to something fierce and blazing.

Suddenly, the Third Mizukage's voice changed. "Then let me test your true mettle, successor of Tobirama."

Bing San sucked in a sharp breath. What the hell, did someone else just take over?

Bing San glanced around, his small eyes filled with killing intent. Damn it, if you want me dead, then you'd better die first, old man.

Bing San glared with bloodshot eyes, jaw clenched. "If you want to have some fun, senior, then let's have some fun!"

The Third Mizukage laughed heartily. "Ha ha ha! You're not like that despicable Tobirama, brat. I approve of your bearing.

"Now let me see if your strength measures up to it. All of you, attack me together."

Bing San nodded at Hyuga Go, his eyes red and the veins on his forehead throbbing. The pressure of facing Madara Uchiha—the ultimate schemer and a warrior who danced through battle—was no small thing.

But the pressure also stirred Bing San's ferocity. This child had only ever wanted to survive, but under Madara Uchiha's oppression, he found the courage to risk everything for the first time.

Hyuga Go swore to himself, This time, I won't make the same mistake again. Even if I die, please let me be the first—

Hyuga Go charged at the "Third Mizukage," shouting.

Jiraiya was distracted for a moment and nearly got decapitated.

The four-meter-tall Truth-Seeking Wind and the deranged Bamboo Killer Demon were locked in fierce combat.

Kurama Aokumo clutched his stomach as he struggled to fight Shark Mouth.

The number of casualties was already mounting in Bing San's wind-style squad.

Aburame Ryoma was held off by the Mizukage's guards.

The Ino–Shika–Cho squad had reached the area and joined up with Hyuga Kyuya, but Ao, his guards, and three members of the Bamboo family kept them pinned down.

Hyuga Go's eyes were red as he stepped through the Eight Trigrams and punched at the "Third Mizukage."

"The Taijutsu of your ancestor, Hyuga Tennin, has been reduced to this by your family. Don't disgrace yourselves by using it."

Then she lifted a hand slightly, catching Hyuga Go's wrist as if she'd foreseen his move. With a flick of her arm, she threw him back.

(This story's setting is that Hyuga Tennin was the Clan Head of the Hyuga family during the Warring States era. Research enthusiasts and data nerds, don't argue.)

At that moment, Bing San finished forming his Hand Seals. "Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

The "Third Mizukage" nodded. As she formed Hand Seals, she said, "The scale of this jutsu is worthy of Tobirama, at least. But I am the Third Mizukage. You made the wrong choice using Water Release against me. Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

The "Third Mizukage" casually formed two seals, then spat out a torrent of water. It struck before Bing San's attack and swept Hyuga Go, who had just gotten back to his feet, off to the side.

Bing San spat out a massive torrent of water, like an ocean pouring from the sky. In an instant, a wave more than four meters high formed and thundered toward the "Third Mizukage."

It was as if the sky above the "Third Mizukage" had opened up to reveal the Milky Way. A waterfall more than ten meters wide crashed down.

The two massive waves collided head-on with a thunderous roar.

A squad of Ninja caught in the battle was swept up in the two jutsu by mistake. They were reduced to a bloody pulp on the spot, without a single bone fragment left.

Bing San pressed his hands together. Heat shimmered faintly above his forehead as he slapped both hands against the rushing water, turning it directly to ice.

Aside from a few elite jonin and those skilled in Taijutsu, countless Ninja on the battlefield were swept into the waves and crushed to pieces.

The "Third Mizukage" acted as if she hadn't noticed her own subordinates being killed by her jutsu. Still forming Hand Seals as she spoke, she said, "That's a clever idea, kid, but in the face of overwhelming strength, your little tricks are useless.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

After turning the water to ice, Bing San stood up and continued forming Hand Seals. He knew his opponent wouldn't be affected by his Ice Release. His main reason for using the jutsu was to gain the advantage of fighting on his own terms.

A water dragon burst from the surface, leaping over the ice as it charged. Bing San formed Hand Seals and shouted, "Water Release: Water Severing Wave!" A highly compressed stream of water shot from his mouth, slicing through the ice dragon and hurtling toward the Third Mizukage.

The Third Mizukage laughed heartily as she formed Hand Seals. "Ha ha ha! Good, good! Now you're getting somewhere. Earth Release: Earth Flow Wave!"

A dragon of earth surged up from the ground, lifting the "Third Mizukage" about three meters into the air. She just barely dodged Bing San's jutsu, and also kept his follow-up Water-to-Ice technique from taking effect.

The Third Mizukage formed Hand Seals as she praised him, as if to show off. "You've made me move from my spot. That alone is worth being proud of, young one. Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

"How is that possible?"

"Bing San, watch out!"

"That's enormous!"

"No!"

The flames surging toward him from every direction filled Bing San's eyes. There was no time or place left to run.