The Sensory Ninja kept track of the enemy at all times, then suddenly spoke:
"Uzukage-sama, the target has entered within ten kilometers."
The scene fell silent, the atmosphere heavy.
"Tell the artillery crews to prepare. They'll follow my command and split into four groups by position: A, B, C, and D. The four hundred Rocket Launchers will fire in four salvos."
Uzumaki Shori issued his orders calmly.
Inside the ships, the Uzushio Ninjas wore grim expressions. They gathered Fire Release chakra and gripped the fuses, waiting for the order.
"Uzukage-sama, the target has entered artillery range."
"Adjust the angle. West-I position. Katyusha Rocket Launchers, Group A to the north, Group D to the south. Fire!"
Uzumaki Shori roared.
Twenty-four I-Beam Launch Rails were arranged in two staggered rows.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A succession of deafening blasts rang out.
The Rocket Launchers soared into the sky in unison.
They climbed high before triggering their second-stage bursts.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
They streaked rapidly across the sky.
Inside Kirigakure's ships, the Sensory Ninja detected something approaching at high speed.
"Mizukage-sama, nearly two hundred long, cylindrical objects are closing in fast."
Hozuki Gengetsu stroked his handlebar mustache.
I knew it. If the Land of Whirlpools dared to sail out and face us, they must have something to rely on.
"Everyone, move out. I want to see what the Land of Whirlpools is relying on."
At nine kilometers, they could already make out the Land of Whirlpools' ships. Hozuki Gengetsu's eyes widened, and his excitement mounted.
But the rockets in the sky were still accelerating toward them.
Jinin Akebino realized they were nothing more than oversized arrows.
"Mizukage-sama, they're just oversized arrows. We'll knock them out of the sky!" He leaped up and formed Hand Seals.
"Water Release: Water Trumpet Technique!"
An endless torrent surged toward the Rocket Launchers.
The rockets slammed into the water and exploded.
Group A's rockets from the north blasted through the Water Trumpet Technique.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
They broke through and continued their assault.
Biwa Juzo shouted. Kushimaru Kuriarare and the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen rose, grumbling.
"Damn it! How did you let them through? They all got past! Form Hand Seals!"
They joined forces in a Ninjutsu technique: "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen poured their strength into it. A wall of water rose from the sea.
"Group B from the north, fire! Group C from the south, fire!"
Uzumaki Shori calmly assessed the situation and gave the order.
Group D's rockets from the south kept slamming into the water wall.
The Fire Release chakra powder exploded.
A wave of scorching energy erupted, vaporizing the water wall and filling the air with steam.
Uzumaki Shori was waiting for their vision to blur before launching the next salvo.
Group D had used up its rockets, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's chakra was rapidly dwindling.
Jinin Akebino panted heavily.
"Look, this isn't my fault. Where did the Land of Whirlpools get weapons like these? They're incredibly powerful."
"If you're not strong enough, don't make excuses. I stopped them all just now." The Seven Ninja Swordsmen bickered among themselves.
Group B's rockets from the north and Group C's from the south were still hurtling toward their targets at ninety kilometers per hour.
Amid the chakra saturating the area, the Kirigakure Sensory Ninja's abilities were weakened.
"Not good! Another wave of rockets is coming!"
Before he could finish speaking, rockets were already raining down among the ten ships.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" They exploded.
They were moving so fast that no one had time to react.
The Rocket Launchers tore through the ships' decks, and Mist Ninjas were swallowed by the flames.
The blast's scorching wind swept across everyone's faces.
Seeing the losses, Hozuki Gengetsu's expression darkened. He roared:
"Stop arguing! When we get back, I'll deal with every one of you!" He formed Hand Seals.
"Water Release: Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
Countless chakra sharks emerged from the sea and surged toward the Rocket Launchers.
The two sides bombarded each other.
The rockets were swept away by a mass of sharks.
On the other side, the recoil from firing had destroyed the ships carrying the Rocket Launchers.
"Quick! Get onto another ship! Follow the Uzukage's orders and regroup at the island!"
Uzumaki Shori directed everyone to make for the island as quickly as possible.
A hundred ships withdrew in a fleet.
But countless sharks formed from chakra pursued the retreating ships from the sea.
They leaped out of the water and tore at the hulls.
The Uzushio Ninjas' eyes widened, and they gritted their teeth.
"Damn it! Kirigakure really thinks too little of us. They think a few measly sharks can keep us here?" They formed Hand Seals.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Countless fireballs burst from the Uzushio Ninjas' mouths, wiping out the chakra sharks.
"Anyone whose ship is damaged, follow the chains to an undamaged ship. Detach the chains and get away quickly!"
Uzumaki Shori directed the battle.
Watching the enemy sail farther away, Hozuki Gengetsu gritted his teeth.
Unable to continue the pursuit, Hozuki Gengetsu ordered his subordinates to assess their losses.
Only five of the ten ships could still move, and even those five were riddled with holes from the metal fragments inside the rockets.
Nearly half of the four thousand Mist Ninjas they had brought were lost, and a small number of the survivors were wounded.
His frustration mounting, Hozuki Gengetsu radiated a terrifying aura as he glared at everyone present.
"A tiny Land of Whirlpools has cost us nearly half our men, and I had to step in and finish the job myself."
"What kind of punishment do you think you deserve?"
Everyone's faces turned ashen.
Hozuki Gensei of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen knew how merciless the Mizukage could be in battle. He immediately dropped to his knees.
"Mizukage-sama, your strength is beyond compare. Naturally, your subordinate can't measure up. The Land of Whirlpools will pay for this."
Hozuki Gengetsu gave a cold snort.
He watched Uzumaki Shori sail away.
Uzumaki Shori felt a sting in his back and turned around.
His spiritual power, carried by chakra, clashed with Hozuki Gengetsu's once more.
Their auras spread outward.
Seeing that the ships behind him had retreated to the island, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He, too, sailed away. Before withdrawing his spiritual power and chakra, he sent a message.
"Mizukage, I won this time. If you retreat to the Land of Water, you might still survive. If you keep pursuing us, you'll only meet your end."
Kirigakure's Second Mizukage was a battle maniac, cold and ruthless whenever he encountered a fight. Once his anger was roused, his blood would boil.
He'd attack without regard for the consequences. I hope my intelligence is correct.
Otherwise, if the enemy attacked the Land of Whirlpools directly, we'd be forced to meet them at sea.
Hozuki Gengetsu's aura grew more terrifying as he looked at the people kneeling before him.
"Get up and regroup. We're going after those Land of Whirlpools scum!"
Hozuki Gensei hurriedly got to his feet.
"Mizukage-sama, instead of pursuing the Uzushio Ninjas, we should attack the Land of Whirlpools directly and force them to chase us."
"What do you think of that plan, my lord?"
Before Hozuki Gensei could finish, Hozuki Gengetsu stepped forward and slapped him, knocking him to the ground.
"Idiot! What are we supposed to do with the wounded? The ships are badly damaged, too. Without stopping at the island to make repairs, how could we set out again? This is a trap no matter what we choose."
Hozuki Gensei lay stiffly on the ground and slapped himself twice.
"Mizukage-sama, your wisdom is beyond mine. I'll go repair the ships at once."
Suikazan Fuguki snickered to himself. Once you're no longer useful, I can secretly kill you again.
Hozuki Gengetsu let out a breath. His blood-pumping fervor ebbed, and he regained his composure.
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