Third Mizukage vs. Su Zheng, Evolution

The Hokage's lounge.

"Lord Su Zheng, what did you wish to tell me?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, sitting on the sofa.

Su Zheng stood up, looking at the Hokage photos on the wall, feeling a sense of melancholy. This world is finally connected to me!

"Oh! Yes, I wanted to inform the Hokage that Tsunade is in our Amegakure. She is already my woman!"

Buzz!

Hiruzen's hand, holding a cigarette, stopped abruptly. After a pause, he said, "Is that so? I hope Lord Su Zheng treats Tsunade well. She is the princess of our Leaf Village!"

Su Zheng's face beamed with a smile. "Of course, I will cherish Tsunade dearly. If there's an opportunity in the future, you are welcome to visit our Land of Rain, Hokage-sama!"

Hiruzen nodded. "Since you are Tsunade's man, you are naturally our Leaf Village's son-in-law. Of course, you can!"

"Alright, sir, I bid you farewell!" Su Zheng turned and left.

After much thought, Hiruzen decided to tell Jiraiya and Orochimaru, so they wouldn't worry.

"Teacher, what is it you wanted us for?" Jiraiya asked.

Hiruzen looked at his two disciples. He was quite satisfied with Jiraiya's progress; he had mastered Sage Mode, and his own student was also very talented.

He said, "It's like this, Tsunade is now Lord Su Zheng's woman. You shouldn't think about her anymore. I want to send you to Amegakure for an inspection. What do you think?"

Boom! It was like lightning striking their heads. Orochimaru murmured, "Tsunade and that Lord... so that's how it is!"

Jiraiya stood stunned. After hearing that Tsunade had become Su Zheng's woman, he couldn't hear anything else. He couldn't believe it. "This is impossible! Tsunade doesn't even know him, how could she suddenly be with him?"

Hiruzen didn't understand either, but it was the truth. "Don't dwell on this issue anymore. I want to send you to investigate under the guise of 'visiting Tsunade.' What do you think?"

Orochimaru directly refused. After witnessing Jiraiya's power, he decided to sever his past emotional attachments. Pursuing the truth of this world was his greatest goal!

Jiraiya's eyes dimmed, and he lowered his head in silence. Hiruzen understood their intentions and sent them away, pondering to himself.

Within the Mountain River Space.

Su Zheng had a premonition that his Yin-Yang Release and Six Paths power would soon manifest. His Rinnegan had not been born for long, but these recent battles had accelerated the emergence of these powers.

With Yin-Yang Release, the first thing he would do would be to change his body. His appearance didn't need to change, but...

As for future Identity Vests, it would be much easier. He could change his appearance at will and even split off a portion of his consciousness. Wouldn't this be much better than Shisui's Body Flicker Technique? This was a true body...

Looking at Karenka in his arms, her face flushed red, she was truly a sight to behold!

Land of Water, Mist Village.

Due to its distance from the mainland and the barrier of the vast ocean, the Mist Village rarely intervened in major conflicts. Even when it did, it never attacked the Land of Water, making it a very peaceful place.

However, this peace also brought limitations. After the Second Mizukage, Ghost Lantern Gengetsu, died, the Third Mizukage, Kondo Ryu, took over. Externally, he pursued a policy of isolation, while internally, he enforced brutal survival-of-the-fittest battles and began cultivating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

Overall, it was not bad. Although brutal, it hadn't reached the level of the "Bloody Mist Village" during Yagura's era. At this time, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were only around 13 years old (born around Leaf Village Year 25).

Hoo!

Su Zheng, who was advancing, was enveloped by a dense fog. He knew the Third Mizukage, Kondo Ryu, had arrived. As for why he wasn't using the Flying Thunder God directly within the Mist Village but over the water, it was because he had an advantage here. How could a strong person hone themselves if they were timid!

"You are Su Zheng of Amegakure, aren't you? Why have you come to our Mist Village?" The Third Mizukage, Kondo Ryu's voice, echoed.

Su Zheng smiled slightly. "The Mizukage-sama knows of me!"

"Naturally. These past few days, you've challenged the Kage of all the major countries and earned a thunderous reputation. How could the Mist Village not pay attention to you!"

"Speak, what exactly do you want here?" a cold voice inquired.

Su Zheng really wanted to laugh. Why did everyone always ask his purpose? It was very simple! He just wanted to fight and improve his strength. Didn't they want to believe that?

Su Zheng didn't bother to explain and teased, "If you defeat me, I'll tell you!"

Kondo Ryu didn't waste any words and formed hand seals. "Ice Style: Shuriken!"

Swish, swish, swish!

Countless solidified ice shurikens flew towards him.

Clink, clink, clink!

They all struck Su Zheng's Chakra Armor. Kondo Ryu found it strange. No one had ever endured this jutsu directly with their body before. It seemed he was protected by armor.

"Ice Style: Super Giant Shuriken!"

The same shurikens, but larger, more numerous, and with greater power, but they were completely useless against Su Zheng.

"Is this all the strength you have?" Su Zheng was somewhat bored.

"Wind Style: Gale!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A powerful gale appeared, dispersing the dense fog. Su Zheng also shattered the incoming ice shurikens.

Kondo Ryu finally saw what Su Zheng's armor was – a full body of blue Chakra Armor.

"If this is all the strength you have, then die!" Su Zheng lunged forward.

The ice wall that had just been formed was shattered by Su Zheng's punch, sending Kondo Ryu flying backward.

"His attack power and defense are both so strong, I can't just test him anymore!" Kondo Ryu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

He formed hand seals, then slapped the water's surface. "Ice Style: Ice Spikes!"

"Ice Style: Crystal Hexagonal Pillars!"

Boom boom boom! Numerous ice spikes materialized out of nowhere above the water, lifting Su Zheng, while a giant hexagonal ice pillar in the sky poised to strike…

Crack crack! Su Zheng casually shattered the incredibly durable ice spikes with a raised hand. He looked at the approaching Third Mizukage with great delight.

Bang bang bang!

The ice armor, condensed from ultra-pure water, and Su Zheng's Chakra Armor clashed repeatedly.

Bang! Kondo Ryu's armor was shattered in response. At the same time, a colossal ice giant suddenly appeared beneath Su Zheng, engulfing him.

Kondo Ryu pondered his next move. His Kekkei Genkai was Ice Style, and against a Kage-level ninja, this level of ice should be sufficient.

He hadn't expected Su Zheng, this freak, to treat the ice as if it were nothing. What exactly was that blue armor of his!

Splash! In just a few seconds, the ice giant was destroyed. "No time to think, I have to use that move directly!"

Kondo Ryu formed hand seals. "Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

"Ice Style: Ice Prison!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh! The water on the surface rapidly formed a giant water sphere, enveloping Su Zheng. Simultaneously, Kondo Ryu poured his chakra into it frantically, and the water sphere quickly transformed into an enormous ice ball.

Boom! It landed on the water, creating colossal waves and rapidly sinking to the bottom…

"This should do it, right?" Kondo Ryu thought to himself. He knew he had used this technique to subdue the Three-Tails before!

Rumble rumble! Huge bubbles erupted from the sea surface, like the bottom of a boiling pot!

Bang! Su Zheng burst out of the water, white steam swirling around him, powerful gusts of wind creating ripples.

This astonishing aura made Kondo Ryu dare not be careless. He immediately unleashed his ultimate killing move – "Ice Style: Ice Age!"

A bone-chilling cold emanated from Kondo Ryu's body, instantly freezing the entire boiling sea surface into thick, heavy ice that radiated a chilling aura!

"Ice Style: Eight Trigrams Eight Directions Array · Crystal Ice Palace!"

Crack crack crack! Ice pillars rose within a five-kilometer radius, connecting to each other and completely isolating them from the outside world, forming this ultimate frozen realm!

"Hahaha! Now this is more like it!" Su Zheng laughed wildly.

Inside the ice palace, everything was a hazy white. It wasn't just the reflection of light, but also the pervasive cold. Each ice wall was 10 meters thick, and the temperature inside had dropped below -50℃…

Kondo Ryu's face was pale. "You're the first person to force me to use this!"

"Then I'm truly honored!" Su Zheng chuckled. "Seven-Day Breathing Method · Fourth Activation!" Fiery mist instantly erupted around him.

"Then let's go!" Kondo Ryu, having reformed his ice armor, charged forward.

Bang bang bang!

The more they fought, the more Su Zheng felt something was wrong. The strength of the opponent's ice had increased by more than one level, and his complexion had also become ruddy!

Su Zheng observed closely and found that the opponent's ice armor was incredibly pure, a pristine white that barely absorbed light. In contrast, his own chakra consumption was ten times faster than usual…

"This must be his spatial ability. Not only does it absorb the opponent's chakra and convert it for his own use, but it also greatly enhances the armor's durability!"

"In that case, as you wish!" Su Zheng pushed Kondo Ryu back. "Seven-Day Breathing Method · Fifth Activation!"

The violent white steam grew even denser, evaporating the surrounding boundaries and creating a large amount of water…

"Come on!" Su Zheng moved like a missile, and as soon as Kondo Ryu's armor touched the white steam, a layer of it wore away.

Boom! A violent tremor shook the area. Kondo Ryu quickly dodged the devastating blow.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble!

Crack crack! This vast crystalline world was shattered by a single punch!

The thick ice walls of the seabed, along with the crystal maze, were swallowed by the waves. Ripples spread outwards in circles, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and the surging currents churned the seabed upside down!

Kondo Ryu trembled, looking at Su Zheng standing not far away. "You are truly strong. This is my final technique. If you can survive it, I will willingly surrender!"

"Alright!" Su Zheng stood proudly.

Kondo Ryu rapidly formed hand seals, finally slapping the sea surface. "Water Style Secret Technique: Reeds Field Burial!"

Rumble! Rumble!

Beneath the sea surface, torrents of water formed a vortex, entangling Su Zheng and pulling him rapidly downward…

This technique utilized the turbulent water currents to drag the opponent into a deep-sea prison, a depth of 2,000 meters, from which survival was impossible!

Boom! After fifteen minutes of violent tremors, the sea surface finally calmed. Kondo Ryu looked at the placid water, his heart at peace.

"Su Zheng, to die by this technique is a fitting end for you!"

Thousands of meters below the sea, Su Zheng was entangled by the water currents. The terrifying pressure bore down on him, and the armor, which had held out for half an hour, was now covered in cracks…

Su Zheng's face turned red, the oxygen in his body rapidly depleting, his movements almost ceasing, his consciousness gradually fading…

"No, I can't fall here!" The blue screen in his mind pulled him back to reality.

This place is the best spot to practice the "Seven-Day Breathing Method"!

The remaining oxygen is delivered to the heart, thump thump thump! The swollen heart beats faster, "Seven-Day Breathing Method - Sixth Activation!"

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Oxygen from the seawater continuously rushes in. The surroundings are deathly silent, and life is restored!

Splash!

White steam erupts, piercing the sky!

The sea surface explodes, forming a spiral passage, and Su Zheng leaps out!

He catches up to the Mizukage Kondo Ryu, who had already gone far, in an instant!

Kondo Ryu looks at the white ribbons encircling Su Zheng and understands that the other party has become stronger. He bows and says, "Lord Su Zheng, you have won. Is there anything you need me to do?"

Su Zheng strokes his chin and says with a smile, "Well, not right now. But in the future, when I give you a choice, you must seize the opportunity!"

Kondo Ryu is a bit confused but still nods in agreement. Turning back, Su Zheng has already disappeared.

In less than half a day, news spreads throughout the Land of Water that "Su Zheng fought the Third Mizukage and survived," shocking the world!