Hozuki Blood Moon watched Yagura climb to his feet again, and his last trace of hesitation vanished.
If the Fourth Mizukage kept rampaging, everyone left from Kirigakure would die.
Yagura had only just raised his Coral Staff when Hozuki Blood Moon appeared behind him.
"Lord Mizukage, forgive me."
Hozuki Blood Moon brought his hand down hard on the back of Yagura's neck.
Thud!
Yagura went rigid.
The Coral Staff slipped from his hand, and he pitched forward.
Hozuki Blood Moon caught Yagura and laid him flat on the ice.
Only after confirming that Yagura was unconscious did he stand and look toward Fang Xu in the distance.
"Kirigakure is willing to surrender."
Hozuki Blood Moon took a deep breath and forced down his humiliation.
"We're willing to withdraw from the battlefield and pay war reparations."
"All we ask is that you release the frozen Kirigakure Ninja."
The surviving Mist Ninja turned toward Fang Xu.
Thousands upon thousands of ice pillars stood across the frozen sea.
Thousands of Kirigakure Ninja were trapped inside them.
Many were still alive.
But as time passed, they could die inside the solid ice at any moment.
A Mizunashi Jonin clenched his fists.
He possessed Ice Release, yet he could not even free his comrades from the ice encasing them.
The gap between the two sides was enough to drive anyone to despair.
Fang Xu stood in the middle of the ice field.
"I can release them."
Hozuki Blood Moon's tense body relaxed slightly.
Fang Xu's next words made his heart sink again.
"Kirigakure must pay the war reparations in full."
"You'll also pay a separate ransom for the remains and belongings of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, and the other fallen ninja."
"Every last bit."
Hozuki Blood Moon's face darkened.