Armament Haki Shows Its Might

"Coral Palm!"

With a single slap, thick coral immediately sprouted all over the Lava Fist.

It rapidly spread toward Uchiha Ye, forcing him to disperse his fist.

But Uchiha Ye still controlled the remaining lava, turning it into a rain of fire that blasted toward the Fourth Mizukage and gave him no chance to counterattack.

"Tch, what a troublesome guy!"

The Fourth Mizukage hurriedly retreated.

But then something even more alarming and troubling happened.

Uchiha Ye's fist-sized, condensed lava pellets were immensely heavy and devastatingly powerful.

But they also seemed to anticipate his every move, sealing off every possible escape route he might use to land.

He could only unleash the Tailed Beast's power at the last moment, forming a long arm to lift himself up and dodge the attack.

But as soon as he leapt into the air, a series of rapid clacking sounds drew closer to his ears, accompanied by an equally heavy presence. "Iron Sand Drizzle!"

A storm of iron sand projectiles came hurtling toward him. The Fourth Mizukage's expression changed, and the hairs on his body stood on end. "Water Clone!"

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The Water Clones were immediately blasted to pieces.

But the sight left the Mizukage's guards so shocked that they cried out in disbelief. "How is this possible? Lord Mizukage is actually on the back foot?"

Even Biwa Juzo and Uchiha Itachi were deeply astonished.

That was the Fourth Mizukage, a Perfect Jinchuriki!

And he'd actually forced him onto the back foot?

This was beyond the level of an S-rank rogue ninja.

"Has he really grown this powerful?"

Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but grow even more wary of Uchiha Ye.

"Wind Release: Empty Wall!"

But the Fourth Mizukage was a Kage Level fighter, not to mention a Perfect Jinchuriki.

The Tailed Beast had granted him an acute sense of danger!

So the moment he appeared, he had already set up a defense to protect himself from a sneak attack.

Based on how Uchiha Ye had just discerned every one of his escape routes, the Fourth Mizukage was certain that Ye would anticipate where he appeared again and launch a surprise attack.

His guess was right. A scorching fist and a cold, black iron sand spike struck the transparent wall formed by the wind at the same time.

"Just... get lost!"

Though he'd once been controlled by someone for reasons he didn't understand, and had consequently brought years of misery upon Kirigakure.

Now that he had escaped that control, he naturally had to shoulder the responsibility of restoring Kirigakure.

And that began with defeating the enemy before him.

He would use this invasion to establish his authority and show his resolve, so the people of the village would trust him again.

"Water Release: Vortex Break!"

Centered on him, a rigid vortex imbued with a tearing force expanded in every direction. Its blade-like cutting force repelled everything in front of it.

Faced with the powerful current, Uchiha Ye and the Third Kazekage Human Puppet both retreated at once.

But before the Fourth Mizukage could follow up with another technique, Uchiha Ye unleashed another ferocious attack that shot into the sky. "Lava Scorch Shot!"

Facing the attack rising from beneath him, the Fourth Mizukage's expression changed, and he hurriedly dodged to the side.

But the attack was too fast!

Even though he immediately controlled the surrounding waves to block it, the right half of his body was still severely scalded.

But under the Tailed Beast's healing power, his wounds quickly recovered.

Compared to Yugito, who was also a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki!

The Fourth Mizukage had only been scalded, rather than having his chakra avatar pierced and his entire situation thrown into jeopardy.

The difference in their strength was clear.

Seeing that Uchiha Ye had managed to wound the Fourth Mizukage, Sasori of the Red Sands naturally didn't waste the opportunity.

He immediately controlled the Third Kazekage to form dozens of iron sand spears and fire them at the Mizukage.

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

The Fourth Mizukage's scalp prickled. Even he didn't dare risk contact with the poisonous aura emanating from the iron sand.

Moisture rapidly gathered all around him, forming a semicircular shield of water that spun at high speed and protected him within.

But that wasn't all!

The Fourth Mizukage quickly formed Hand Seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

A mighty dragon took shape, seeming to possess a soul of its own as it roared and charged straight at Uchiha Ye.

It would keep Ye from continuing to threaten the Fourth Mizukage.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The iron sand spears had enough force to break through walls, yet they still couldn't fully penetrate the water shield's defenses.

They only made it halfway in before they could go no farther.

Seeing this, Sasori of the Red Sands immediately put the Third Kazekage into a defensive stance.

But the Fourth Mizukage, who had taken the opportunity to enter Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, moved even faster than he'd expected.

"Tailed Beast Bomb!"

The Fourth Mizukage opened his mouth and fired a blast into the sky, so fast that even Sasori of the Red Sands was taken aback.

The Third Kazekage immediately formed a pair of thick wings to defend in front of himself.

But even so!

Faced with such a scorching attack, the iron sand wings were pierced in less than three seconds.

Though Sasori of the Red Sands immediately controlled the Third Kazekage to dodge using a Sand Clone.

By the time he appeared again, his entire right arm had already been destroyed.

"Tch, you're quick to react, too?"

Seeing that his attack had fallen far short of what he'd expected, the Fourth Mizukage was somewhat annoyed.

But a moment later, he seized another opportunity.

"Roar!"

The Fourth Mizukage stomped hard on the ground and smashed through the water shield like a meteor.

Amid a thunderous roar, he closed in on Sasori of the Red Sands.

That's right!

Since he couldn't effectively damage the Third Kazekage puppet, he would attack the one controlling it instead.

It was common knowledge in the shinobi world that puppeteers weren't strong fighters themselves.

He was confident he could deal Sasori of the Red Sands a serious blow.

"Damn it!"

Sasori of the Red Sands couldn't help but cry out in alarm.

But controlling the Third Kazekage to dodge that deadly attack had consumed most of his attention.

So when the Fourth Mizukage rushed at him, it was already too late to defend himself.

He could only use a Sand Clone to escape danger.

But!

"Armament! Hardening!"

"Hellhound!"

Uchiha Ye's sharp shout made him abandon the idea.

The voice came first; then Ye himself!

Everyone present saw only a gleaming black fist blast through the air and collide head-on with the ferocious Fourth Mizukage in Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.

Boom!

The ground erupted and shattered.

The terrifying shock wave tore the surrounding trees from the earth by their roots. Even Sasori of the Red Sands had the Third Kazekage create an iron sand barrier to protect him.

But in the next moment, the Fourth Mizukage in Partial Tailed Beast Transformation was forced back several steps.

Biwa Juzo, who had teamed up with Uchiha Itachi to defeat four guards with genjutsu, stared in shock.

"Hey, hey, hey! No way. That's the Tailed Beast's power, enough to split mountains and level forests!"

Biwa Juzo stared in disbelief as Uchiha Ye continued to force the Fourth Mizukage back. "His strength is just too terrifying! Even the Tailed Beast's power can't compare?"

Though this was only Partial Tailed Beast Transformation, and the Tailed Beast's power hadn't been fully unleashed.

It was still astonishing!

Outside the Raikage's line, who could accomplish something so incredible?