Time seemed to split in two.
Crack—
A faint sound.
So faint—
Yet chilling to the bone.
Like ice fracturing.
Like steel being cleanly severed.
—
At Fuguki Suikazan's thick neck—
A thin white line appeared.
Then—
Blood.
Beads formed—
Connected—
And burst forth in a violent spray.
—
His eyes widened.
The last thing he saw—
Was the emotionless gaze of the Third Mizukage.
And a sky—
Tilting.
Spinning.
Falling away.
—
His vision rolled.
He saw—
His own body.
Headless.
Still standing for a brief moment—
Before Samehada slipped from his grasp—
Clang!
It hit the ground.
Blood erupted like a fountain—
Dyeing the battlefield red.
—
Then—
His head fell.
Tracing a short arc—
Thud.
Rolling across the scorched, muddy ground.
His face—
Frozen.
Shock.
Confusion.
A trace of absurdity.
As if—
Even in death—
He couldn't understand—
How it ended like this.
At the moment of "victory."
—
The Third Mizukage didn't even spare a second glance.
To him—
It was nothing more than trash.
He lifted his gaze—
Toward the next target.
—
For the Kirigakure shinobi nearby—
Who had been collapsing into despair—
That single strike—
Was salvation.
—
"Th-that…?!"
A wounded chūnin trembled.
"Mizukage… it's the Mizukage-sama!!"
Another jōnin screamed—
Voice filled with desperate joy—
Only to be beheaded instantly by an Uchiha.
—
The news spread like fire in oil.
"The Mizukage killed the traitor!!"
"I saw it! Water Severing Wave!!"
"He came to save us!!"
—
Hope surged.
Eyes turned—
Desperate.
Expectant.
—
But then—
They saw something else.
Two young figures—
Standing before the Mizukage.
Facing him.
—
"…Elder Genji?!"
Someone gasped.
—
Meanwhile—
Zabuza Momochi (Jūzō's counterpart here, Zabuza not present canonically but we keep story consistent—no correction needed, so ignore)
No—Jūzō Biwa.
—
He had just parried an attack—
When—
Something felt wrong.
Behind him—
A presence.
No—
The absence of presence.
A void.
—
His instincts screamed.
He twisted violently—
Kubikiribōchō raised like a shield—
—
Cling.
A light sound.
Too light.
—
A simple, aged blade—
Rested against his massive sword.
The wielder—
An old man.
Calm.
Gentle.
Eyes like still water.
—
Genji.
The elder of Kirigakure.
—
There was no overwhelming force.
No clash.
Just—
A strange pull.
A disruption.
His stance—
Stalled.
—
That single moment—
Was enough.
—
The old man's wrist turned.
The blade slid—
Like a living thing.
Curving.
Precise.
Unavoidable.
—
Move… MOVE!!
Jūzō's pupils shrank.
He tried to dodge—
—
Slice.
The blade pierced beneath his collarbone.
Not fatal.
—
But—
Intentional.
—
Then—
The second blade appeared.
In Genji's left hand.
Shorter.
Darker.
Deadly.
—
It struck.
Like a snake.
Silent.
—
Through the gap—
Created by the first strike.
—
Thrust—
Straight into the heart.
—
Jūzō's body trembled.
He looked down—
At the blade.
At the blood spreading.
—
His strength—
Fading.
—
Kubikiribōchō dropped.
Embedding into the ground.
—
He lifted his head—
Looking at Genji.
Eyes filled with—
Fear.
Anger.
Acceptance.
—
Genji simply withdrew both blades.
Clean.
Efficient.
As if finishing a practiced motion.
—
A quiet sigh.
—
Things had gone far beyond expectations.
—
"Sensei…?"
A trembling voice.
Terumi Mei.
—
She saw it.
That strike.
That figure.
—
Everything faded.
The battlefield.
The noise.
—
Only him remained.
—
Relief surged.
Pain.
Guilt.
Fear.
All—
Momentarily lifted.
—
Her teacher had come.
—
And across the battlefield—
Morale surged.
"The Mizukage and Elder are here!!"
"Don't disgrace the village!"
"Fight!!"
—
Genji glanced at her.
Calm.
Steady.
As if saying—
You've done enough.
—
But—
He stopped.
—
Two figures appeared before him.
Equally aged.
Equally powerful.
—
Elsewhere—
Raiga Kurosuki roared—
Lightning exploding around him.
He became a storm.
Cutting through Wind Forest ranks.
"Lightning Release: Thunder Sphere!"
Explosions.
Bodies fell.
—
But—
He was tired.
Breathing heavy.
Chakra fading.
—
"Raiga… you're the last of the Seven."
A low voice spoke.
—
Before he could react—
Lightning surged—
"Lightning Burial: Thunder Feast!"
He countered instantly.
Blades into the ground.
Lightning erupted—
—
But—
Kisame didn't dodge.
—
He charged straight through.
—
Electricity struck him—
Crackling—
But his body—
Absorbed it.
Neutralized it.
—
Then—
He struck.
—
BOOM!!
—
Raiga blocked—
But—
Too late.
—
His grip shattered.
Blood burst from his mouth.
He was sent flying.
—
Mid-air—
Defenseless—
—
Uchiha Yashiro moved.
Hands forming seals instantly.
Temperature rising.
—
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
—
Three massive fire dragons—
Roared into existence.
—
Charging.
—
Straight at Raiga.
—
His eyes widened.
He tried to form a defense—
Too slow.
—
"NO—!!!"
—
BOOOOOOM—!!!
—
The fire swallowed him.
—
Burned.
Destroyed.
Reduced to ash.
—
The Kiba blades fell—
Crackling faintly—
Ownerless.
—
Kisame glanced at them.
Ignored them.
His eyes—
Turned toward Samehada.
—
"Maintain formation. Advance."
Yashiro's cold command spread.
—
The Volcano Army responded.
—
Five elemental releases—
Merged.
Fire.
Wind.
Lightning.
Earth.
Water.
—
Forming—
A catastrophic barrage.
—
Like a man-made sun.
Blazing.
Overwhelming.
—
Kirigakure's counterattack—
Shattered.
—
Their hope—
Gone.
—
Even with the Mizukage—
Even with Genji—
Nothing changed.
—
On the battlefield—
A man stood calmly.
—
Beside his wife.
—
Facing the Mizukage.
—
Uchiha An Lan.
—
One hand resting on his sword.
Relaxed.
Unshaken.
—
"Never thought…"
He smiled faintly.
"I'd meet the Third Mizukage here."
—
"I am Uchiha An Lan."
"Acting Shogun."
"Ruler of the eastern Land of Fire."
200plus chapter ahead on patreon Ph4nt0mTL