The Hidden Mist Village had completely fallen into a state of war.
Explosions erupted simultaneously in many districts, destroying several streets in an instant, and fierce flames raged everywhere.
As the explosive flashes burst forth, buildings collapsed with a rumble, while the anguished screams of many ninja echoed endlessly.
Some ninja began guiding non-combatants, evacuating them toward the shelters in a hurry.
Because next, the entire Hidden Mist Village would be baptized in the flames of war.
The original Mizukage Building was now reduced to only its base and underground levels, leaving the higher-ups scorched and battered.
Seeing the Hidden Mist Village sink into such chaos, the leaders were consumed with rage.
And at the root of it all, the reason for everything that had happened was the appearance of one man—Karatachi Yagura.
To seize the seat of the Fourth Mizukage, he didn't hesitate to stage a coup, overturning the leadership's decisions in a disruptive way.
Someone like that, in their view, was simply out of his mind.
Yagura ignored the higher-ups' tangled feelings, a Tailed Beast Cloak swirling around his body. Vast amounts of chakra gathered at his throat and he suddenly unleashed it toward the ground:
"Water Style: Bursting Water Wave!"
A massive outpouring of water gushed from Yagura's mouth, torrents surging violently, forming an enormous lake above the base of the Mizukage Building in an instant, spreading outward to cover the entire area with an immense water domain.
Facing Yagura's rampage, the elders led by the Third Mizukage naturally had to stop him.
Especially since he'd stolen control of a Tailed Beast, such a dangerous weapon, and sparked the riots—his guilt was beyond forgiveness.
"Water Style: Water Iron Cannon!"
Yagura had created an environment perfectly suited for the Three-tailed's combat, but for the skilled Water Style ninjutsu masters among Hidden Mist's leadership, it was also an advantage.
Huge water bullets, hard as iron, were spat from their mouths and shot toward Yagura.
Yagura stood firm, and suddenly, a flat, barbed tail stretched out from his back. With a violent swing, he swept away the deadly water projectiles as if brushing away dust.
"He really has mastered the Three-tailed's power."
The elder attacking Yagura with Water Iron Cannon could not believe it.
The tail that swept away the jutsu from Yagura's back was precisely that of the Three-tailed beast.
And to wield the Three-tailed's power so proficiently made it obvious—Yagura's claim of being a 'Perfect Jinchuriki' wasn't a bluff.
Just like the Eight-tailed Jinchuriki from the Hidden Cloud, he had fully merged with his Tailed Beast and earned its recognition.
"Even so, his actions are inexcusable. We'll deal with the Three-tailed later. First, we must restrain him."
The Third Mizukage drew a deep breath—Yagura becoming a Perfect Jinchuriki had been beyond his expectations.
But the way Yagura was acting now had already crossed the boundaries of both the Mizukage and the village. Even a Perfect Jinchuriki would not be forgiven; punishment was a must.
"Ninpo: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
The Third Mizukage instantly unleashed the signature Art of the Hidden Mist Ninja—a dense fog spread across the water's surface, closing in on Yagura, whose visibility shrank to barely a meter around him.
He could only hear the sounds of riots erupting all over the village.
The Reformist ninja were battling the Blood Mist Faction ninja.
Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals—the village's ninja were now irreconcilable. Reformists and the Blood Mist Faction, who advocated for the old regime, were mortal enemies; only one could remain.
Just then, a subtle sound of something slicing through the air reached Yagura's ears. He quickly maneuvered the Three-tailed tail behind him, raising it as a shield.
Bam!
The Three-tailed's tail shuddered; Yagura's pupils contracted sharply.
A finger-sized hole appeared in the tail—the attack had grazed his face, drawing a line of blood.
"Hozuki Clan's Water Spear Jutsu, is it? Still as formidable as ever, Lord Third."
Yagura's tone showed he was now serious.
Even an aged Kage was still a Kage—not so easily defeated.
The Third Mizukage wasn't a member of the Hidden Mist Hozuki Clan, but his mentor, the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu, was a powerful ninja from that very family.
Learning the Water Spear Jutsu from the Second Mizukage was only natural.
But unexpectedly, the Third Mizukage had mastered it to the point it could pierce even a Tailed Beast's hide.
Suddenly, Yagura sensed something and leapt sideways, hands forming a seal.
The Third Mizukage emerged from under the water where Yagura had previously stood. The surrounding water converged around his body.
"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"
The water enveloping the Third Mizukage grew unbearably heavy, forming an unbreakable sphere of liquid and trapping the Third Mizukage inside.
Before Yagura could relax, the Third Mizukage opened his mouth wide and, under Yagura's astonished gaze, drank all the water inside the sphere.
—Water Style: Water Dragon Slash!
The Third Mizukage unleashed all the water in one breath.
A thin jet of water slashed through the air—a chilling aura made Yagura break out in cold sweat as he leapt back in haste.
He narrowly dodged the attack, but a long, narrow gash appeared on Yagura's chest, and half of the Three-tailed's tail, severed, fell from mid-air into the water below.
"I'll say it again, Yagura—surrender, and I can be lenient!"
The Third Mizukage let out a deep sigh—he truly didn't wish to see such a prodigy like Yagura destroyed.
Yagura sighed softly and said nothing in reply. The look of determination in his eyes told the Third Mizukage that he had no intention of repenting.