Eight Gates Fully Open! The Second Hokage's Absolute Suppression!

Mizunazuki Jingyu raced across the waves as if on solid ground, charging toward the Second Hokage.

As he sped forward, his hands flew through seals. "Secret Technique: Thousand Flying Water Needles!"

The splashing water beneath his feet instantly froze into countless incomparably sharp ice blades, which shot toward Tobirama Senju like a curtain covering the sky.

Tobirama showed no fear, his hands moving rapidly before him. "Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!"

Several enormous spinning water blades appeared out of nowhere. Like meat grinders, they shredded the ice blades filling the sky and continued their charge toward Mizunazuki Jingyu.

"Instant Water!"

Mizunazuki Jingyu flashed away, narrowly escaping the water blades' deadly shredding force and instantly closing the distance between himself and Tobirama.

"Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

Centered on Mizunazuki Jingyu, countless enormous ice mirrors condensed out of thin air within a thirty-meter radius, trapping both him and Tobirama within.

The next second, Jingyu's body melted into one of the ice mirrors.

Like a ghost, he instantly appeared in Tobirama's blind spot. An ice blade radiating cold air formed in his hand as he viciously slashed at Tobirama's neck!

Without needing to turn around, Tobirama relied on his extraordinary senses and formed seals behind his back. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A torrent of water surged skyward, blocking the ice blade's fatal strike at just the right moment.

Then Tobirama narrowed his eyes and formed a seal with one hand. "Genjutsu: Darkness Technique!"

Absolute darkness descended in an instant, stripping the ice-mirror space of every trace of light!

Mizunazuki Jingyu was horrified. In this absolute darkness, his Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals had not only lost their visual advantage—they had become living targets!

He hastily withdrew, leaving the darkness's reach, then decisively detonated the ice mirrors. "Secret Technique: Exploding Ice Crystals!"

More than a hundred ice mirrors exploded simultaneously, and the terrifying blast wave instantly swallowed Tobirama within the darkness.

"Whew..." Jingyu let out a long breath. At such close range, even an immortal body would lose a layer of skin, wouldn't it?

Yet before he could relax, the space around him suddenly twisted!

Tobirama Senju descended like a war god, tearing through space and appearing before Jingyu with the Sword of the Thunder God blazing with dazzling lightning. He drove the blade straight toward Jingyu's chest!

"Flying Thunder God?!"

Jingyu's pupils contracted. At the critical moment, he used Instant Water again, barely evading the Thunder God Sword's edge.

After putting some distance between them, Jingyu no longer dared to hold anything back. He raised a hand toward Tobirama. "Secret Technique: Water-Moon Slaughter!"

A massive sphere of water condensed in his palm, firing dense streams of high-pressure droplets like bullets from a heavy machine gun.

Facing the sky-covering assault, Tobirama remained calm. He pressed his palms together. "Water Release: Water Clear Wave!"

The seawater beneath their feet seemed to come alive, transforming into a massive wave that crashed toward Mizunazuki Jingyu with overwhelming force, swallowing every high-pressure water bullet.

Seeing this, Jingyu gritted his teeth and mobilized an equally massive amount of chakra. "Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

The two towering waves crashed together over the sea, sending spray soaring into the sky!

Outside Despair Valley.

"Broken Blade! This is bad! It's a trap!"

The Mist ninja codenamed Broken Blade rushed up to Suikazan Fuguki, panting as he carried the Decapitating Carving Knife broken in two. "Konoha set an ambush at Sea Cliff! Our four thousand main troops have been completely surrounded!"

"What?!" Suikazan Fuguki flew into a rage and cursed, "That idiot Mizunazuki Jingyu! Does he have a pig brain? He couldn't see such an obvious trap?!"

Broken Blade said anxiously, "There's no use cursing him now! The main force is in grave danger. What do we do?"

Fuguki hoisted the massive Shark Skin onto his shoulder, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. "What else can we do? Send the signal and gather everyone! The seven of us will go meet Tobirama Senju again!"

"What a bunch of trash! I still have to clean up their mess!"

Inside Despair Valley.

When Lin Hai followed Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane into the valley, Konoha's encirclement had already fully taken shape. Four thousand Kirigakure ninja were trapped within like turtles in a jar.

At the very front of Kirigakure's formation, a Mist ninja dressed in a white kimono wielded ice blades and slaughtered his way through Konoha's defenses as though no one stood in his path.

Hiruzen pointed at the ninja and said to Lin Hai, "See him? That's the Mizunazuki ninja I told you about last time—the one who looks like a woman!"

Following Hiruzen's finger, Lin Hai saw a ninja with flowing long hair, skin as white as snow, and delicate features like those of a porcelain doll. If Hiruzen had not told him otherwise, he would definitely have taken the other man for a cold and beautiful woman.

"This... why does he dress like that?" Lin Hai stared blankly.

Koharu rubbed his forehead helplessly. "You two idiots! What are you even focusing on?"

With a grave expression, Koharu explained, "His name is Minazuki Kai, Mizunazuki Jingyu's younger brother! Don't let his delicate appearance fool you. Aside from the clan head, he is the only supreme genius of the Mizunazuki Clan capable of perfectly controlling their Ice Release secret techniques! We absolutely cannot underestimate him!"

Hiruzen also put away his joking manner and said in a low voice, "Strange. All the other Kirigakure ninja are desperately trying to break out, so why is this kid charging deeper into the encirclement? Is he looking to die?"

"Who cares what he wants!" Hiruzen bit his finger and slammed his palm against the ground. "Summoning Technique!"

Bang! A muscular ape wearing a tiger-skin skirt appeared on the battlefield.

"Enma, transform into the Golden Cudgel! Today, I'll collect both principal and interest for the debt of being chased around by this kid last time!" Hiruzen grabbed Enma, who had transformed into the Golden Cudgel, and leaped toward Minazuki Kai.

Koharu instructed Lin Hai, "I'll command the outer defenses. We cannot let Kirigakure break through! Go support the monkey. That kid's Ice Release is troublesome!"

"Understood!"

Lin Hai nodded. He knew that with his current normal strength, he could never contend with a genius of this level.

He crossed his hands, and the chakra within him instantly boiled!

"Eight Gates!"

"Gate of Opening! Gate of Healing! Gate of Life! Gate of Pain! Open!"

Violent blue chakra erupted toward the heavens. Lin Hai turned into an afterimage and followed closely behind Hiruzen as he charged at Minazuki Kai!

Over the sea.

Mizunazuki Jingyu panted heavily, his face pale.

"Damn it... I can't match him in ninjutsu, I'm being crushed in taijutsu, and even my speed, which I was so proud of, is utterly useless before Flying Thunder God."

A deep sense of helplessness rose in Jingyu's heart. Today, I may really die here. At least Kai didn't deploy with the main force today. The Mizunazuki Clan's bloodline won't be wiped out.

Tobirama looked at Jingyu, who had given up attacking, and a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"What? Giving up already? It seems you've run out of tricks. Then it's my turn."

Tobirama slowly crouched down and pressed both hands against the sea. Chakra poured into the ocean like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bite Blast!"

Rumble!

The entire sea seemed to boil! More than a hundred enormous water dragons roared as they burst from the waves, circling and dancing around Tobirama.

Tobirama rose to his feet and pointed a finger at Mizunazuki Jingyu from afar.

As though receiving an order, the hundred-plus water dragons charged Jingyu from every direction with world-destroying force, sealing off all his paths of retreat!

Facing such a despair-inducing attack, Jingyu knew he could not evade it. He could only make one final desperate gamble.

"Ice Release: Dragon-Breaking Fierce Tiger!"

Jingyu frantically squeezed every last drop of chakra from his body.

The seawater around him instantly froze. A gigantic ice tiger, no smaller than the water dragons, took shape with a roar and fearlessly charged the swarm of water dragons!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ice tiger and water dragons savagely tore at and collided with one another in midair. Ice fragments and spray filled the sky.

However, there were simply too many water dragons! After shattering more than a dozen of them, the ice tiger finally could no longer bear the strain. It was completely swallowed by the following dragons and ground into dust.

Watching the swarm of water dragons continue toward him, Jingyu helplessly closed his eyes.

"It's over..."

At that very instant!

Three figures appeared like ghosts before Jingyu, and all three formed seals simultaneously.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"

Three enormous waves merged into one, becoming a towering wall of water that forcibly blocked the water dragons' assault.

Tobirama frowned slightly. There were reinforcements?

Before he could see who they were, a sharp whistle of air suddenly came from his side!

A massive chipped Broken Blade tore through the air with a shriek, viciously slashing toward Tobirama's neck!

Tobirama reacted swiftly, drawing the Sword of the Thunder God with his backhand and blocking the Broken Blade.

But the crisis was not over.

From two other directions, a broad giant sword shaped like a flounder and a strange blade covered in explosive tags simultaneously slashed toward Tobirama's waist and legs!

Whoosh!

At the final moment, Tobirama activated Flying Thunder God and instantly vanished, reappearing dozens of meters away.

He coldly assessed the enemies before him.

Seven ninja wielding bizarre weapons stood around Mizunazuki Jingyu, protecting him at the center.

Suikazan Fuguki, holding Shark Skin, stepped forward with a sinister grin. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have arrived!"

Looking at the eight imposing Kirigakure elites, Tobirama felt no fear. Instead, an even fiercer fighting spirit rose in his eyes.

"You think having more people means you can win?" Tobirama sneered. "You truly underestimate Tobirama Senju."

Inside Despair Valley.

Minazuki Kai was frantic with worry.

He could sense his brother's chakra rapidly weakening, and he knew his brother had encountered an unprecedentedly powerful enemy.

If he did not go support him, his brother would certainly die!

He desperately assaulted Konoha's defenses, trying to break out.

Just then, a glittering golden metal staff sliced through the air, thrusting straight at his face!

Kai tilted his head and dodged, staring coldly at the newcomer.

Hiruzen rested the Golden Cudgel on his shoulder and blocked his path. "Hiruzen Sarutobi, here to ask for your guidance!"

Recognizing Hiruzen, Kai's eyes filled with disdain and impatience. "A defeated opponent dares block my way? Get lost!"

His hands formed seals. "Secret Technique: Water-Moon Slaughter!"

Countless ice spikes shot toward Hiruzen like a torrential downpour.

At the same time, he used Instant Water, intending to bypass Hiruzen and continue rushing out of the valley.

"You think you can leave? Have you asked me?"

A furious shout came from overhead!

Lin Hai, with four Gates open, transformed into a blue bolt of lightning and instantly appeared above Kai!

"Taijutsu: Shadow of the Dancing Leaf!"

Lin Hai drove a heavy kick into Kai's waist, sending him flying into the air with immense force.

Then Lin Hai created several Shadow Clones in midair, surrounding Kai from all sides.

"Taijutsu: Lion Combo!"

The Shadow Clones coordinated flawlessly, unleashing a storm-like chain of strikes upon Kai. Finally, Lin Hai's true body leaped to the highest point, his legs falling like battle axes and smashing Kai heavily toward the ground!

"Nicely done!"

Seeing this, Hiruzen shouted, "Thousand-Jun Cudgel!"

The Golden Cudgel in his hand instantly lengthened and thickened, becoming like a sky-supporting pillar. Carrying overwhelming force, it smashed viciously toward Minazuki Kai, who had just landed!

Boom!

The ground shook violently, and the Golden Cudgel smashed a bottomless fissure into the earth!

Yet when the dust settled, Kai had vanished.

"Watch out!" Lin Hai's Sharingan spun frantically as he shouted a warning.

"Secret Technique: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

Kai's icy voice echoed through the valley.

Countless enormous ice mirrors rose from the ground, trapping Lin Hai and Hiruzen firmly within them. The scale and range of these ice mirrors were even greater than those his brother had created!

Kai's figure merged into an ice mirror as he stared hatefully at the two of them. "Since you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Hiruzen showed no fear as he swung the Golden Cudgel. "Sweep a Thousand Armies!"

The enormous Golden Cudgel spun like a windmill, sweeping across the surrounding ice mirrors.

Just then, Kai suddenly thrust half his body out from an ice mirror beside Hiruzen. Several poisoned ice senbon were clutched in his hand as he viciously stabbed them toward Hiruzen's vital points!

At the critical moment!

Lin Hai instantly appeared at Hiruzen's side and spat out a burst of blazing flames.

"Fire Release: Blazing Flame Transformation!"

The flames became a fire shield, melting all the incoming ice senbon. At the same time, Hiruzen's Golden Cudgel viciously smashed that ice mirror apart.

Kai was forced out of the ice mirror and landed some distance away, glaring viciously at the two.

"Damn Konoha dogs! If anything happens to my brother, I'll make every last one of you pay with your lives!"

Lin Hai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered. "You're not going anywhere today. Prepare to die, freak!"

Although Kai did not understand what "freak" meant, he could tell from Lin Hai's mocking gaze that it was no compliment. He roared in fury, condensed two ice blades once more, and charged the pair.

Over the sea.

Tobirama Senju faced the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and Mizunazuki Jingyu. Eight top-tier experts engaged in a fierce battle.

Ninjutsu collided, blades clashed, and the entire sea seemed to have become a pot of boiling water.

The battle continued for a long time before Tobirama began to feel irritated.

"This boring game is about to end."

Tobirama forced everyone back and stood proudly atop the sea. The vast chakra that had lain dormant within his body began to stir like a volcano about to erupt.

"Eight Gates!"

"Gate of Opening! Gate of Healing! Gate of Life! Gate of Pain! Gate of Limit! Open!"

Tobirama opened five Gates in succession!

A violent, terrifying chakra aura comparable to that of a Tailed Beast erupted into the heavens!

The surrounding seawater was forcibly driven back by that aura, creating a vacuum zone.

Holding the Sword of the Thunder God, now blazing with brilliant lightning, Tobirama swept his electric gaze across the eight Kirigakure elites before him.

"Now, let me show you what true despair is!"