"Since you have come here in person… witnessed the collapse of Kirigakure's forces with your own eyes, and heard the will of the Returning Army with your own ears…"
Uchiha An Lan paused slightly.
A sharp glint flickered through his eyes like a cold star breaking through clouds.
"Then perhaps… we can spare any further meaningless bloodshed."
He raised his gaze to meet the Mizukage's calm eyes.
His voice was not loud—
Yet it cut through the chaos of battle, through screams and steel, falling clearly into every listening ear.
"Tell me, Mizukage-sama—"
"Are you willing… to lead Kirigakure and submit under Infinite City?"
—
"What courage… for one so young."
The Third Mizukage—an old veteran from the Warring States era, long past sixty—
Spoke calmly.
No one could tell if it was praise—
Or merely a statement.
—
And then—
The stillness around him shattered.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave."
—
A thread of water—
So thin it was nearly invisible—
So compressed it reached the absolute limit of water-nature transformation—
Shot out instantly.
—
Too fast to see.
Only a faint distortion of light marked its path.
The air split—
A vacuum trail forming behind it—
As it shot straight for An Lan's throat.
—
"Heh… old man, that's not very honorable. Sneaking an attack like that?"
The three tomoe in An Lan's Sharingan spun violently.
His figure blurred—
—
And vanished.
—
Like wind.
—
The water thread pierced only an afterimage—
—
And struck a massive rock behind him.
—
Silently—
The upper half of the boulder slid off.
Then—
BOOM.
It crashed to the ground.
—
At the same moment—
Uchiha Mikoto moved.
—
Their movements crossed.
No words were exchanged.
Through the "Twin Wings" link—
Their thoughts were one.
—
She drew her blade.
A pale green wind aura wrapped around it—
Sharp.
Pure.
—
"Uchiha Style: Wind Sword—"
"Second Form: Talon Gale!"
—
An Lan slashed from left to right.
Mikoto struck from right to left.
—
Eight wind blades—
Interwoven—
Forming a net.
—
A killing cage.
—
It sealed every escape.
Front.
Back.
Sides.
Even slight movement—
Was death.
—
The air screamed.
Like a flock of birds bursting into flight.
—
The Third Mizukage remained unmoved.
Hands formed seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
—
Water surged—
From ground—
From air—
From above—
—
Forming a rotating sphere.
—
A perfect defense.
—
The wind blades struck—
SHHHHHH—!
—
Deep cuts formed—
The water churned violently—
Distorted—
—
But held.
—
The force was absorbed.
Redirected.
Dissipated.
—
Moments later—
The water dispersed.
—
The Mizukage stood—
Untouched.
—
He glanced at them.
"Good coordination. Good swordsmanship."
A slight pause.
"Then… what about this?"
—
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bite Explosion."
—
A massive vortex formed beneath them—
Trying to trap their movement—
—
But—
They were already airborne.
—
The vortex surged upward—
Transforming—
—
Two colossal water dragons rose into the sky.
—
They coiled—
Opened their jaws—
—
And unleashed a storm.
—
Countless high-pressure water bullets rained down.
—
At the same time—
The dragons themselves dove—
Crushing—
—
An Lan moved.
Mikoto followed.
—
They split.
—
An Lan faced the rain of destruction.
His blade traced a perfect circle.
—
"Fifth Form: Autumn Gale Falls!"
—
A spinning wind barrier exploded outward.
—
Water bullets entered—
—
And were shredded.
—
Deflected.
—
Reduced to mist.
—
Meanwhile—
Mikoto charged the dragons.
—
At the last instant—
She shifted.
Running along their bodies—
Spiraling upward.
—
"Sixth Form: Black Gale Mist Slash!"
—
Her blade pierced into the dragons—
—
Wind blades erupted inside—
—
Destroying them from within.
—
BOOM!
—
The dragons collapsed into rain.
—
No pause.
—
An Lan formed a seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
—
Poof!
—
A clone appeared.
—
Then—
Three figures attacked.
—
An Lan.
His clone.
Mikoto.
—
Closing in—
From different angles.
—
"Seventh Form: Tengu Cyclone!"
—
Spiral wind blades—
From all directions—
—
Tearing the battlefield apart.
—
The Mizukage responded instantly.
"Water Release: Multiple Water Prison."
—
Massive water spheres appeared—
—
Moving to intercept—
—
Just as impact neared—
—
An Lan vanished.
—
He had already moved.
—
Using mist.
Chaos.
Distraction.
—
He circled behind.
—
Timing—
Perfect.
—
"Eighth Form: First Gale Severance!"
—
He became wind itself.
—
A circular slash—
—
Then—
A second wave.
—
A collapsing vortex of countless micro-blades—
—
Closing inward.
—
The Mizukage's brow twitched.
—
He abandoned the water prisons instantly.
—
"Water Release: Water Substitute."
—
Slash—!
—
The attack cut through—
—
Water.
—
Exploding droplets—
Scattering light.
—
The Mizukage reappeared—
Ten meters away—
On higher ground.
—
His sleeve—
Cut.
—
A clean tear.
—
He looked down at it.
Then back at them.
—
Silence.
—
Wind passed.
—
Killing intent thickened.
—
Genjutsu didn't work…?
Mikoto's heart shook.
—
In his eyes—
She saw it.
—
Sharingan.
—
A realization struck her.
—
An Lan…
—
Stay calm, came his voice.
—
Kill him with me.
—
…Understood.
—
The Mizukage's eyes narrowed.
—
They attacked again.
—
CLANG! CLANG!
—
Two blades—
Two directions—
—
Blocked.
—
With just two kunai.
—
He twisted—
Escaped their pincer.
—
Then—
He moved.
—
"Water Release: Instant Water."
—
He vanished into moisture—
—
Appearing before An Lan—
—
Kunai thrust forward—
Deadly—
—
At the same time—
A compressed water blade formed—
Striking Mikoto.
—
Close combat.
—
Relentless.
—
An Lan shifted—
Like wind.
—
"Third Form: Clear Storm Strike!"
—
Wind bursts—
Shattering the water blade.
—
Mikoto stepped in—
—
"Uchiha Style: Flame Blade!"
—
Her strike slammed into the kunai—
—
Deflecting it.
—
She spun—
Counterattacked—
—
Fire-coated shuriken followed—
—
The Mizukage ducked.
—
Spat—
"Water Release: Water Bullets!"
—
They shattered the projectiles midair.
—
His kunai fell—
—
Caught mid-motion—
—
And thrust again.
—
An Lan teleported in—
Intercepting—
—
But—
At the last instant—
—
The Mizukage's attack changed.
—
A perfect redirection.
—
Ting!
—
An Lan's blade was deflected.
—
Then—
Water surged at his feet.
—
"Water Prison."
—
He broke free instantly—
Retreating—
—
Mikoto appeared behind—
—
"Flame Ascension Slash!"
—
Blocked.
—
Again.
—
Three figures.
—
Blades.
Kunai.
Wind.
Fire.
Water.
—
Clashing—
At terrifying speed.
—
The Mizukage—
Fighting two—
—
With ease.
—
Minimal movement.
Perfect control.
—
Even space-time displacement—
He adapted.
—
But—
—
An Lan and Mikoto—
Were flawless.
—
Sharingan vision.
—
Perfect synchronization.
—
Unbreakable rhythm.
—
The battle—
Locked.
—
A deadlock of monsters.
—
But—
—
Beyond them—
—
Kirigakure—
—
Was collapsing.