"What?"
Minato was chatting with Konan and the others one moment, but his expression suddenly changed the next. The person chasing from behind was definitely not a friend, so he dashed to the stern.
His sharp eyesight could make out the turbulent seawater in the distance. Just as Nagato had said, something was rapidly approaching.
"Prepare to fight!"
The distance was still too far, and Minato couldn't identify the enemy yet. Everyone immediately took up their positions, and Nawaki joined Minato at the stern. The sea was considered his home ground.
"I'll go take a look," Nawaki said and soared into the sky, heading toward the churning sea. Running directly across the water would be too risky, which was why Minato had refrained from checking himself.
"Be careful," Minato cautioned, his eyes never leaving the approaching figure.
Nawaki reached the area above the churning waters. Without needing a closer look, he noticed the sea had suddenly calmed. A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately began forming hand seals.
"Minato, protect the ship."
"Water Release: Water Wall." As Nawaki completed the hand seals, a towering water wall rose from the sea, shielding the stern of the ship.
"They've caught up."
From beneath the surface, a giant turtle transformed into a human form—the Third Mizukage. Moving freely in the water, his eyes remained closed. He was a Jinchūriki.
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet."
In the environment of the open sea, his Water Release was terrifyingly powerful. As his Chakra surged, three water tornadoes formed on the sea's surface, resembling massive drills, their target set on the ship's hull.
The water barrier Nawaki summoned in haste looked like a child's toy compared to the ferocity of the water tornadoes, completely outmatched.
The tornadoes shattered the water wall and smashed through the ship's hull, breaking it into pieces. The attack also created a massive wave that rocked the surrounding waters.
As the water tornadoes broke through the surface, the Third Mizukage emerged, standing in front of Nawaki.
"Damn it," Nawaki growled, drawing the Samehada from his back and swinging it down in a powerful overhead chop.
"Courageous," the Third Mizukage murmured, tilting his head slightly to evade the strike. Nawaki noticed that the man's eyes were still closed.
The Mizukage then pulled out a kunai to counter the Samehada. Nawaki sneered; this time, the Samehada would have plenty to absorb.
Samehada carried tremendous force, and with the added weight of gravity and Nawaki's strength, the clash sent shockwaves through the water. The force drove the Third Mizukage's knees into the sea, creating a massive wave centered around the two of them.
While they were locked in a stalemate, the barbs on Samehada pierced through its bandages and reached toward the Third Mizukage.
Clang!
The Third Mizukage's body turned into a puddle of water and dispersed.
Before Nawaki could react, he was struck by a heavy kick to the stomach, sending him flying backward.
Pop!
Nawaki hurtled through the air but was caught by Minato, who steadied him with his hands, allowing Nawaki to regain his balance on the water's surface.
"I'm fine, I was careless," Nawaki said, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He realized too late that the figure he struck had been a clone, while the real Mizukage had launched a sneak attack.
He could never have anticipated how much combat experience the Third Mizukage had gained under Madara's control. Furthermore, the Mizukage clearly understood Samehada, so he would never make such a basic mistake. The speed of the clone's dispersal had simply caught Nawaki off guard.
"That's good," Minato said, relieved to see Nawaki still standing. He was also reassured to see only one enemy in front of them.
Their team was strong enough to challenge a Kage-level ninja, but Kage-levels were rare in the ninja world. How had they ended up encountering one so coincidentally?
With the ship destroyed, the group now stood on the surface of the sea, surrounded by the scattered remains of the wreckage.
"The Third Mizukage," the Clan Head of the Yuki Clan exclaimed in shock, recognizing him immediately. His face turned pale with fear, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
But soon, his fear gave way to a surge of hatred—the deep-seated hatred of almost seeing his clan destroyed. He glared at the Third Mizukage, biting his lips so hard they turned white.
"What?" Minato's mind raced. His only thought at the moment was, What the fuck? What kind of luck was this?
"It's good that you recognized me," the Third Mizukage said, a calm smile on his face. "Hand over the red-haired kid to me and I won't kill you."
It sounded as if he was offering a favor.
"What do you want Nagato for?" Nawaki asked, unable to comprehend the request.
If the Third Mizukage had come to reclaim the Ninja Blades, Nawaki would have understood. If it was to avenge the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, that, too, would have made sense. Even if his purpose was to annihilate the Yuki Clan, it would have been logical.
But demanding Nagato? What was the meaning of that? Did this old man have some strange fetish?
"None of your business," the Third Mizukage replied coldly. "You only need to answer me: will you hand him over?"
Though his tone remained calm, the fervent gleam in his eyes as he looked at Nagato was unmistakable.
"You're dreaming," Minato snapped without hesitation. There was no way he would hand over his Junior Brother, not even to the Third Mizukage.
"Very well, then I won't be polite."
The Third Mizukage had hoped to avoid unnecessary effort, but it seemed there was no other way. He began walking toward the group with an air of nonchalance. His pace quickened, and with each step, a massive wave rose behind him.
"Go!"
Minato shouted as he and Nawaki attacked from the left and right. They were the strongest in the group and took on the responsibility of facing the enemy head-on.
The others scattered behind them, looking for opportunities to assist and help the two fight their way out of the Mizukage's control. It was impossible not to feel nervous—this was Minato and Nawaki's first time confronting a Kage-level ninja.
The Third Mizukage engaged the two in close combat with a kunai. Their melee was fierce, their movements so fast it was dizzying to watch.
"So fast," someone murmured.
To the others, all three fighters appeared as blurs; their movements were completely indiscernible. Anyone who dared to intervene would likely be defeated in less than three moves. Surviving would depend entirely on the Mizukage's mood.
Only Nagato, with the aid of his Rinnegan, could barely follow their movements. Even so, watching the battle was exhausting, let alone imagining joining it. The sheer power of a Kage-level ninja's physical techniques alone was terrifying.
Nawaki and Minato, whose Taijutsu they had always taken pride in, were rendered ineffective against the Third Mizukage. It was baffling how someone fighting with their eyes closed could be so adept at Taijutsu.
The three remained locked in close combat, their proximity making it dangerous for anyone else to use Ninjutsu for fear of harming their allies.
"Not bad, young men," the Third Mizukage remarked mid-battle, even offering a compliment. After all, Konoha had once been his homeland.
He sidestepped Nawaki's attack and infused his kunai with water-attribute Chakra, slashing at Minato with incredible momentum.
Clang!
The metallic clash sent both Minato and Nawaki flying several meters. At last, the two sides pulled apart, creating an opening.
Seizing the moment, the rest of the group launched their Ninjutsu at the Third Mizukage simultaneously—Water Release, Fire Release, Paper Techniques, Ice Release, Wind Release, and more.
Due to the environment, Earth Release, which could counter Water Release, was less effective.
"Trivial skills," the Third Mizukage muttered, giving a dismissive smile as the barrage of Ninjutsu closed in. To him, such attacks were meaningless.
"Water Release: Water Prison Technique."
A spherical cage of swirling water formed around him, completely enveloping his figure.
Rumble!
The onslaught of Ninjutsu crashed into the water prison, creating massive waves that obscured his silhouette entirely.
"Is it over?"
As the group stood in a daze, a figure suddenly broke through the waves.