Kijin Island's beach.
The Konoha ninja who had been preparing to head out and reinforce the Main Island of the Land of Sea stopped in their tracks. One by one, they turned to look at the remarkably young boy.
Although the Uchiha Clan prodigy was younger than most of them, there was no doubt that he was Konoha's strongest fighter on Kijin Island right now!
Aoya no longer had the time to complain about Hozuki Akizuki moving too slowly. He said nothing, silently watching the distant horizon.
At the edge of the sea and sky, a speck appeared. It gradually grew larger. The figure moved slowly, and only when it drew closer could they make out that it was a person.
There was only one!
No other ninja followed him. It was as if he alone could stand against a thousand troops!
"Just as I thought!"
Aoya finally made out the black-haired man with his eyes closed. A weight seemed to lift from his heart. "There's no mistake. It really is the Third Mizukage!"
The beach erupted into a commotion.
The Mizukage of Kirigakure had actually come in person?
Rather than lead an attack on the more important Main Island of the Land of Sea, he had come to Kijin Island alone?
Out on the sea.
The Third Mizukage stopped about fifty meters away.
Then he simply stood on the water, without coming any closer.
Facing so many Konoha ninja alone, he was not the slightest bit intimidated. The atmosphere across the sea grew unbearably oppressive!
"What is he trying to do?"
Yamanaka Santen was drenched in sweat.
From what he could sense, the man standing on the sea looked somewhat old, but his body contained an utterly terrifying amount of Chakra!
"Aoya, what do we do?!"
Kakashi was frantic.