"How is that possible…? His chakra is that massive?!"
Madara was genuinely shaken.
This wasn't Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands.
But three towering Thousand-Hand Wood Golems appearing at once—
It was enough to make him hesitate.
If he stepped in now and failed to kill Kazuki immediately, the risk would be enormous.
Worse—
Kazuki might discover traces of him.
As Madara hesitated, the three wooden colossi moved.
Layer after layer of enormous palms swept outward.
Each massive hand grabbed White Zetsu by the dozens.
The moment they were caught—
They were absorbed.
The Hashirama cells inside their bodies were drained instantly.
Their forms shriveled like dried husks, liquefying into nutrient fluid that dripped onto the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the Third Mizukage's Water Dragons slammed into the Wood Golems—
And did nothing.
It was like splashing water against a mountain.
That sight extinguished Madara's killing intent.
Kazuki was too strong.
The risk wasn't worth it.
Back then, even young Madara hadn't defeated Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands.
Now, as an aging man barely clinging to life—
Facing a rising monster like Kazuki?
He had no confidence.
"So after all these years… another has appeared."
"It seems I must revise my plans again…"
Madara faded into the shadows.
He wasn't stubborn.
He had faked his death once before at the Valley of the End.
He would retreat again.
As he withdrew—
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu vanished instantly.
The White Zetsu still emerging from the ground began retreating.
"Retreat?"
Kazuki's eyes sharpened.
"Try it."
The three Wood Golems moved in perfect synchronization.
They tore half-emerged Zetsu from the earth like radishes being yanked from soil.
Chakra flooded back into Kazuki in waves.
Overflowing energy surged toward the Yin Seal on his forehead, deepening its color.
At the same time—
Hashirama cells were absorbed continuously.
The fusion rate of his character card skyrocketed.
75%85%95%99%
In moments, more than 20% fusion was gained.
Just one percent short of completion.
When it surpassed 90%, Kazuki awakened a new ability—
Sage Mode.
Then—
Sage Art: Myōjin Gate.
And he sensed that once he reached 100%, he would unlock—
Sage Art: Wood Release — True Several Thousand Hands.
He exhaled slowly.
Just one percent more.
Maybe a few hours at most.
Then—
"Water Release — Water Severing Wave!"
The Third Mizukage seized the moment Kazuki paused.
A high-pressure blade of water shot from his mouth—
Sharper than steel—
And sliced straight through Kazuki and the Wood Golem from head to toe.
SWISH—
Kazuki split in half.
The Wood Golem beneath him collapsed.
But—
It was a clone.
The clone exploded in smoke.
Kazuki's real body stood elsewhere.
The battlefield fell silent.
Zetsu had fled.
The fodder had vanished.
Only the Third Mizukage remained.
The Mizukage looked around—
And his heart sank.
Where were the reinforcements?
Where was Zetsu?
He was alone.
"Madara Uchiha! You deceived me!"
He turned to flee.
For the first time—
He felt death closing in.
"Water Body—"
Before he could complete the technique—
His vision blurred.
BOOM!
He was smashed into the ground.
A massive crater formed, over a hundred meters wide.
The Third Mizukage lay at the center, sprawled in shock.
Above him—
Kazuki descended.
His eyes bore red markings.
A circular seal glowed faintly on his forehead.
His pupils had turned golden.
"This… Sage Mode?!"
The Mizukage's voice trembled.
Kazuki appeared before him in an instant.
And stepped down.
CRACK.
The Mizukage's spine shattered.
The Water Body Technique's seal completed—
But it was too late.
Interrupted.
Kazuki pressed him into the earth.
"Don't move."
Blood poured from the Mizukage's mouth.
His lower body was completely paralyzed.
He hadn't even lasted three seconds.
Two interrupted ninjutsu attempts.
One crushing blow.
Sage Mode amplified everything beyond reason.
No elaborate techniques needed.
Just raw power.
The system suddenly chimed.
[Ding. Based on the host's current situation, three options are available.]
[Option 1: Spare the Third Mizukage. Reward: Third Mizukage's surrender—]
The system abruptly cut off.
[Ding. Host has killed the Third Mizukage. Option 3 completed.]
[Reward obtained: S-Class Character Card — First Mizukage, Byakuren.]
Kazuki blinked.
Killed?
He looked down.
The Third Mizukage's eyes were open—
But lifeless.
Somewhere during the spine crush—
His heart had stopped.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The Third Mizukage.
Dead.
Just like that.
Kazuki hadn't even meant to kill him.
And yet—
One stomp.
And history had changed again.