Mist Village's Genius, Defeated in One Move?

Half an hour ago.

At a Konohagakure outpost near the coastal docks.

Ten-plus Kirigakure ninja had easily captured this outpost, led by two youths who looked about thirteen or fourteen years old.

"Hurry and clean up the bodies and bloodstains," Hozuki Mangetsu ordered as if it were natural.

The older Kirigakure ninja didn't show any dissatisfaction and followed orders diligently.

This was how Kirigakure was.

Absolute strength reigned supreme!

What good was being older or having more experience? If you weren't as strong as others, you had to step aside.

Even their Mizukage was like that!

The Third Mizukage of Kirigakure, who had accompanied the First Mizukage, Haku, to the first Five Kage Summit, was later defeated by Hozuki Gengetsu, who had less experience. In the end, he could only miss out on the position of Second Mizukage.

And now, despite their age, those two young teenagers were the most outstanding geniuses of Kirigakure's current generation, having already been promoted to Jonin at such a young age!

"I still can't figure it out," Hozuki Mangetsu said, holding a water bottle and taking a big sip through a straw. "Why did the Third Mizukage send me here?"

"What else could it be? It's always been like this, deliberately suppressing us bloodline ninjas," Mei Terumi scoffed from the side, also feeling a bit displeased.

"But our Hozuki clan isn't a bloodline clan..." Hozuki Mangetsu couldn't help but retort.

Their clan's Hydrification Technique was a secret technique, not a bloodline limit!

Why were they being suppressed too!

"It's because your ancestors offended the Third Mizukage," Mei Terumi smiled faintly.

For them, the bloodline ninjas, this was also a good thing.

The Hozuki clan wasn't originally part of their bloodline ninja faction, but due to historical grievances, they were forced into their faction by the Third Mizukage.

"But they shouldn't suppress us this much! Sending someone from the Hozuki clan to ambush Uchiha Aoya, a Lightning Style ninja!" Hozuki Mangetsu grew angrier the more he thought about it.

Their Hozuki clan's Hydrification Secret Technique was immune to all physical attacks, but it had a weakness: it was countered by Lightning Style.

And the target the Third Mizukage arranged for them to ambush, Uchiha Aoya from the Konohagakure Uchiha clan, who had gained fame on the Iwagakure battlefield, specialized in Lightning Style!

This was practically sending him to his death!

"Alright, stop complaining," Mei Terumi soothed. "We're not the main force anyway, so as long as we try to hold them back, there shouldn't be a problem, right? With our strength, I doubt Uchiha Aoya can defeat us easily."

However, she had to admit, she also felt the Third Mizukage had gone too far.

Previously, while the Third Mizukage had promoted many civilian ninjas, he had been targeting bloodline ninjas, but there was a limit to that.

But recently, the Third Mizukage had insisted on attacking the Land of Fire, and even the Elder Genji's objections were ignored!

She had no idea what possessed the Third Mizukage!

"Someone's coming!" the Kirigakure ninja on watch shouted in a low voice.

"It's Kirigakure's Boiling Release bloodline! Fall back!" Aoya shouted, taking the lead. Kakashi and Nohara Rin didn't hesitate, retreating together and avoiding the mist.

Sizzle--

A highly corrosive acid mist spread from the front. As the mist passed over the sand and stones on the ground, the once-hard rocks began to melt visibly, emitting a sizzling sound.

"Such strong corrosive power!" Kakashi's expression turned grim. If he hadn't retreated just now, he would have been instantly corroded and severely injured if this mist had touched him!

Aoya squinted at the mist ahead and asked, "Kakashi, how many elemental ninjutsu can you use now?"

"My specialty is Lightning Style, followed by Earth Style. I know a little Fire Style too."

"...Wind Style?"

"I haven't learned it yet," Kakashi replied honestly.

What use are you to me then!

Qingye rolled his eyes.

"Where would I get that much time!"

Kakashi also felt a little wronged.

Although he naturally possessed five chakra natures, he was only twelve years old after all, and he had spent a lot of time developing Chidori before.

It was already very good that he had mastered ninjutsu of three natures now?!

"Alright, enough nonsense."

Qingye turned his head: "Rin, you've prepared the explosive tags, right?"

"Mhm!"

Nohara Rin nodded heavily.

She took out over a dozen explosive tags from her ninja pouch, holding them ready.

This was inspired by when she followed Qingye's team during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

Now that she was on a new team with Qingye, he had also instructed her to keep some explosive tags on her person for self-preservation at critical moments.

"Then there's no problem. Rin, protect yourself first."

As Qingye spoke, he quickly removed the weights from his legs. At the same time, his hands moved swiftly, initiating a massive Great Fireball with a diameter of seven to eight meters, spraying it forward!

The giant fireball instantly blasted a path through the mist!

"Scatter!"

Hozuki Mangetsu grabbed the twin swords on his back, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Didn't they say Uchiha Qingye's specialty was Lightning Style? How could his Fire Style be so ridiculously powerful?

Whoosh!

Following closely behind the fireball, accompanied by a whistling sound, only a blurry afterimage remained in the air.

Qingye had already drawn the tachi at his waist. Firelight flashed on the long sword, and in an instant, several Flame Slashes were unleashed towards the Kirigakure ninja on the side!

Uchiha Style · Sun Halo Dance!

He instantly took down half of the Kirigakure ninja on this side. Qingye's speed did not decrease. The scorching heat from his tachi had not yet dissipated as he swung his sword, and a red light flashed in the air!

With a few more slashes, all the Kirigakure ninja on one side were killed!

"Damn it!"

Mei Terumi watched in horror. In just a moment of stunned disbelief, half of the people she had brought were lost.

She quickly suppressed her inner fear and retreated a distance, forming hand seals rapidly:

"Lava Release · Acidic Monster Technique!"

A stream of viscous, yellowish-green acid was spat from her mouth, covering the area where Qingye was.

Whoosh!

Qingye's figure vanished instantly!

The viscous acid landed, corroding the sandy ground with a grating sound.

"Such speed!"

Mei Terumi's pupils constricted as her gaze rapidly scanned the surroundings.

Where?

Not in front, not to the left, to the right...

Just as her eyes were about to turn to the right, a gust of wind suddenly blew, ruffling her brown hair. Before she could even turn her head, she felt a heavy punch land on her right cheek. The intense pain instantly blanked her mind!

Thump!

With a dull thud, Mei Terumi was sent flying backward, crashing into the outer wall of the nearby outpost.

"Everyone scatter, create distance from him!"

Hozuki Mangetsu was covered in sweat.

Had he underestimated his opponent?

Although they were roughly the same age and both had the reputation of being geniuses, his opponent was an expert who had already made a formidable name for himself. He had indeed been too careless!

He had been focused on guarding against the opponent's Lightning Style, but in the end, the opponent hadn't used Lightning Style at all and had instantly defeated Mei Terumi with Taijutsu.