The Hidden Mist Uprising (Part 1)
The fog grew thicker, and from all directions came a woman's voice. Uchiha Zensui remembered that the voice belonged to Terumi Mei.
Clang!
Uchiha Zensui swiftly drew his long sword from his back, knocking away a strange, needle-shaped weapon. At the same time, Lightning Release chakra into his weapon and charged forward. Unable to see clearly through the mist, Uchiha Zensui relied on his combat experience to deliver a swift thrust forward.
Uchiha Zensui knew the feel of that thrust. The sword had struck the enemy. The two were very close, and Zensui could barely make out a human figure before it disintegrated and turned into water.
"Water Clone?"
Looking at the puddle of water, Uchiha Zensui had a vague feeling that something was wrong. From the Sharingan's perspective, the puddle of water was clearly the meridians of a normal human body.
"No... Hozuki Mangetsu, Hydrification Technique, hehehehe."
Uchiha Zensui noticed the Ninjutsu, let out a sinister laugh, plunged his long sword into the water, increased his Chakra output, and the lightning became even more dazzling.
"Ugh!"
The underground water mass emitted a bloodcurdling scream.
Hydrification Technique is countered by Lightning Release, and the previous explosion caused negligible damage to Hozuki Mangetsu. This time, Hozuki Mangetsu's carelessness and bluff had very serious consequences.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several Kunai launched at Uchiha Zensui. Unable to see clearly in the thick fog, Uchiha Zensui dodged two Shuriken by the sound of the wind. He couldn't block the third one in time, so he retrieved the long sword he had used to give Hozuki Mangetsu electric therapy and cleaved the Kunai away.
"Hiss..."
Smoke billowed from Uchiha Zensui's body, and the corrosiveness of the thick fog seemed to be increasing. Uchiha Zensui touched his cheek and scraped off a piece of skin.
"What!?"
Uchiha Zensui realized that this strange Hidden Mist Technique was not to be trifled with, so he threw away his long sword and Hand Seals.
"Wood Release Secret Technique: Deep Forest Emergence!"
On the ground of the street, countless tiny buds broke through the soil, and then many roots and branches stretched out from the earth, instantly turning the area within hundreds of meters into a forest.
Wood Release Ninjutsu is Ninjutsu that Uchiha Zensui mastered after successfully implanting the First Hokage Cells. He also had Ninjutsu scrolls and manuals provided by the Fourth Hokage Uchiha Nara, and had already mastered various Wood Release Ninjutsu.
As the fog in the forest gradually dissipated, the Chakra tools that created the dense fog were absorbed by the Wood Release Ninjutsu, making the Wood Release forest even thicker and greener.
Hozuki Mangetsu was severely injured by the Lightning Release Ninjutsu and lost consciousness. After the lightning crisis was over, his body automatically returned to human form, but he was then tightly bound by the Wood Release Ninjutsu, and was thus completely defeated.
"Oh no..."
Standing on a thick branch of a large tree, Uchiha Zensui realized something was amiss with the Wood Release ninjutsu he had used in his eagerness to break the strange Hidden Mist Technique.
In Kirigakure, if you're Hidden Mist Anbu and use Wood Release Ninjutsu, claiming to be an Anbu the Fourth Mizukage might not be very effective.
Moreover, the two Jonin Hidden Mist disappeared without a trace, and because of this Wood Release Ninjutsu that altered the terrain, many Kirigakure Ninja rushed over to investigate.
Uchiha Zensui tightened his Hidden Mist Anbu, closed his Sharingan, disguised himself as Hidden Mist Anbu, and after checking, jumped in front of Hozuki Mangetsu, grabbing Hozuki Mangetsu's head with his right hand.
Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!
A powerful bolt of lightning erupted from Uchiha Zensui's right hand, creating Lightning Pillar over ten meters high.
"Ugh!"
Hozuki Mangetsu was severely injured by the Lightning Release Ninjutsu. He let out a miserable scream and then stopped abruptly, before being completely annihilated by Uchiha Zensui.
Ninja Sword prodigy from Kirigakure, a child prodigy who could wield seven Ninja Swords, and the inheritor of the Hozuki Clan's secret techniques, he died in his hometown of Kirigakure shortly after becoming a young Jonin, before he could even shine.
After Hozuki Mangetsu defeating Uchiha Zensui leaped and ran towards the Mizukage Building.
"Halt! Who goes there?!"
Uchiha Zensui reached the edge of the forest he had created, five ninjas blocked Zensui path and shouted questions.
"I am a member of the Mizukage's Anbu guard! The village's Jonin, Terumi Mei, and Ao have betrayed the village and attempted to assassinate the Mizukage. Come with me to capture them!"
Having followed Naraku for many years, Uchiha Zensui was already very familiar with this kind of thing and could use it fluently. He would never expose himself if he could use others.
"Ha!?"
"What!"
"Hateful!"
Terumi Mei and Ao Jonin both well-known Hidden Mist of Kirigakure in the village. Upon hearing the words, some of the others looked incredulous, while others gritted their teeth.
"Don't listen to his lies! This man is a spy from another country! He's the mastermind behind the Mizukage and the creation of the Village of the Bloody Mist! His Wood Release Ninjutsu isn't from our village!"
Terumi Mei, who had disappeared, reappeared, followed by four Kirigakure Ninja, and loudly refuted them.
"Terumi Mei betrayed the village! She colluded with spies who could use Wood Release Ninjutsu to assassinate the Mizukage; her crimes are heinous!"
Jonin Hozuki Mangetsu has been killed by Terumi Mei! I am under orders from the Mizukage to capture Terumi Mei. Come quickly to my aid!
Wearing a mask, Uchiha Zensui spoke with a righteous and awe-inspiring tone, reaching for his ninja tool pouch at his waist and firing several Kunai at Terumi Mei.
The four Kirigakure Ninja behind Terumi Mei leaped away, watching this scene with hesitant and questioning expressions on their faces. They did not intervene and remained neutral.
The five Kirigakure Ninja that Zensui had encountered earlier also had hesitant expressions on their faces, seemingly unsure of what to do.
Uchiha Zensui intimidated the group, then, holding Kunai upside down in his right hand, charged towards Terumi Mei.
This Terumi Mei and the two ninjas from before have been secretly watching me for a long time, and they might have discovered something. Zensui knew in his heart that he absolutely could not let these three people live.
"What! A full moon!? You bastard! Kirigakure is not your plaything!"
Upon hearing of Hozuki Mangetsu's death, Terumi Mei was shocked and anger flashed in her eyes. She took out Kunai from her ninja tool pouch and held it upside down.
Undeterred, he Uchiha Zensui, and the two clashed head-on, engaging in Taijutsu combat.
Thud!
The two Taijutsu hand-to-hand less than three rounds when Uchiha Zensui seized an opening and kicked Terumi Mei away.
Puff!
Terumi Mei was kicked hard, and with a "poof" sound in mid-air, she spat out blood, clearly suffering a serious injury.
Uchiha Zensui was a highly skilled member of the Uchiha Clan. Although he did not awaken his Sharingan in combat, he had studied Uchiha Style Taijutsu since childhood.
The Uchiha Style Taijutsu is unnamed; it's Taijutsu created by Sharingan and replicating techniques using the Kekkei Genkai), and incorporating the strengths of various schools. Ordinary Taijutsu is insufficient for a normal Uchiha ninja in combat.
After landing, Terumi Mei wiped her mouth, feeling somewhat disheartened. She had painstakingly tried to save Kirigakure and had also discovered the Mizukage's secret. Yet, here she was, not a single ninja was helping her in this battle.
Terumi Mei understood that although many ninjas in the village were dissatisfied with the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, as the highest leader who had ruled the village for more than ten years, even if his prestige had declined, was not yet at the point where anyone would question or reprimand him.
Not everyone in Kirigakure is Zabuza Momochi, who dared to launch an assassination attempt against the Mizukage.
Terumi Mei knew she was no match for them in Taijutsu. She glanced at the Kirigakure Ninja around her and began Hand Seals.
There were many Kirigakure Ninja here, and if everyone present were to use their Ninjutsu, the village would likely suffer even greater damage. But at this moment Terumi Mei couldn't care less about that.
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Terumi Mei raised her right hand, and the mist that had been lingering in Kirigakure began to thicken, soon making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face.
"Qing, you must awaken Mizukage!"