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In the Nation of Qin, Qin Yi was exceedingly generous to his soldiers and generals, freely imparting the secrets of Ninjutsu.
Every available means of strengthening his forces had been distributed without hesitation.
There was no need to worry about betrayal— his people were loyal. His only concern was expanding his dominion, continuously strengthening his command.
This was precisely why the Three Generals showed no hesitation in facing the Mizukage alone.
"QinKage, the Nation of Qin has only just been established. If you kill me, you'll ignite a full-scale war. You must realize that our nations are not far apart!" Beads of sweat formed on the Mizukage's forehead as he struggled to maintain his composure, his voice ringing with forced authority.
He was completely surrounded. The coordinated Ninjutsu of the three Jōnin had restricted his movements just enough— just that fraction of a second's delay was already too much.
At the same time, he couldn't help but be shocked by the sheer strength and precision of the Shinobi from the Nation of Qin.
Yet Qin Yi's expression remained impassive. His gaze was cold, razor-sharp.
"Save your breath. If you have anything to say, tell the underworld guards when you get there."
The chilling words sent another wave of dread through the Mizukage.
At that moment, Qin Yi's figure flickered, twisting out of sight. The three Shinobi moved in unison, launching their attacks.
Faced with a four-pronged assault, even the Mizukage felt his options slipping away.
"Whoosh!"
A faint breeze brushed past him.
"Behind me!"
His face darkened in alarm.
Qin Yi reappeared in an instant, a glowing blue Rasengan already forming in his right hand. The speed of his Slash Instant combined with the Rasengan made it nearly impossible to react.
"And in front. To the left. To the right."
The Mizukage's expression grew grim—h e was completely boxed in. There was no path of retreat.
"Buzz, Buzz, Buzz!"
The Rasengan in Qin Yi's hand roared to life, its spiraling force distorting the air as it hurtled toward the Mizukage's back. The sheer pressure shredded his robes.
From all sides, the Three Generals unleashed their own techniques, their attacks converging at the same moment.
"I can't evade this…!"
Cold sweat trickled down the Mizukage's temples.
"Boom!"
The Rasengan slammed into his waist, its vortex of energy violently twisting his flesh. His body lurched, spinning uncontrollably under the impact.
But then—
"Mokuton— Wood Dome Wall!"
A commanding voice rang out.
Qin Yi's eyes narrowed as he immediately pulled back.
At the same moment, Qin Lin and the other two generals had already fired off their techniques, their attacks streaking forward.
Just as the Mizukage was about to lose control completely, towering wooden pillars burst from the ground, bending inward to form a protective barrier around him.
Qin Yi's gaze sharpened as he turned.
"Swish, Swish, Swish!"
A dozen figures appeared in an instant, their leader standing at the front— which was none other than Senju Hashirama.
"Hashirama." Qin Yi's voice was calm, unreadable.
"Qin, show some restraint," Hashirama said, his tone firm but laced with unease. As the wooden pillars retracted, revealing the Mizukage, Hashirama's pupils contracted.
"Drip… Drip…"
Bright crimson blood dripped steadily from the Mizukage's back. The Rasengan had carved deep spirals into his flesh, twisting his muscles in a gruesome pattern.
The sight left both the Konoha Shinobi and the surrounding warriors in stunned silence.
The mighty Mizukage is reduced to such a pitiful state. If Hashirama had arrived a moment later, he might already be dead.
"Mizukage Sama!"
The Shinobi of the Water Nation rushed to his side, surrounding him with tense, wary expressions. Their eyes burned with a mixture of fear and anger.
"Mizukage and Kazekage had planned to join forces to eliminate me, but they never expected this outcome." Qin Yi's cold gaze swept across the assembled Shinobi from the Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist Villages. He paused for a moment before continuing. "They tried to steal something of mine and kill me— only to end up losing their own lives."
The moment these words left his lips, the Shinobi from both villages erupted in fury, while Senju Hashirama's expression shifted to one of grave seriousness.
He hadn't anticipated Qin Yi's strength to advance so quickly. Even with two Kage working together, they had failed to subdue him. Instead, it was they who had paid the price.
"Where is Kazekage?" Hashirama asked, his voice deep and steady.
Qin Yi smiled faintly. "Naturally, he's dead."
The Shinobi of the Hidden Sand paled, their expressions a mixture of shock and seething rage as they glared at Qin Yi.
Even Hashirama, known for his calm demeanor, was momentarily stunned.
"Just now, under your mediation, Hashirama, the six of us Kage signed an agreement," Qin Yi continued, his voice carrying an air of indifference. "Yet before the ink had even dried, these two attempted an ambush, completely disregarding the peace we had just established."
His gaze swept across the gathered Shinobi. "To those who break their word, I show no mercy."
A tense, suffocating silence fell over the battlefield.
No one had expected that the once-unknown Kage of the Qin Nation would be this powerful. Two veteran Kage had attempted to eliminate him— one was dead, and the other barely clung to life.
Among the Shinobi of the Hidden Mist, fear mixed with their anger. The death of the First Kazekage would undoubtedly throw the Land of Wind into turmoil. The Hidden Sand Village had only recently been founded; losing their leader so suddenly would destabilize their entire structure.
Hashirama, usually ever-smiling, remained quiet. He felt both anger toward the Kazekage and Mizukage for betraying their agreement and shock at Qin Yi's overwhelming strength.
More than that, he now understood the kind of ruler Qin Yi was— a man who did not hesitate when it came to taking a life.
Their relationship, already strained since their encounter in the Land of Iron, had just become even more precarious.
"Since they made the first move, let's put an end to this matter here," Senju Tobirama finally spoke, his voice calm yet firm. "QinKage, I ask that you refrain from pursuing Mizukage any further. After all, the agreement was just signed."
Qin Yi chuckled coldly and cast an indifferent glance at the Mizukage, whose pale face was drenched in sweat, his wounds still bleeding.
"Heh, Mizukage, it seems fortune favors you today." With a slight nod to the Senju brothers, Qin Yi turned away.
"Until we meet again."
With that, he and his Three Generals vanished into the distance, leaving behind only Konoha and the battered remnants of the Hidden Mist and Hidden Sand forces.
The Mizukage, still struggling to catch his breath, bowed slightly toward Hashirama. "Hokage, I owe you my life. You have my deepest gratitude."
The Shinobi of the Hidden Sand, on the other hand, gritted their teeth in silent fury. Losing their Kazekage was a devastating blow, and their hearts were in turmoil.
Hashirama sighed, his normally warm expression tinged with an unusual coldness.
"Lord Mizukage, take care. And to the Shinobi of the Sand— I advise you not to act recklessly."
With that, the various parties dispersed, each retreating with their own troubled thoughts.
---
Deep within a dense forest, far from the battlefield, Qin Yi and his group moved swiftly.
"Your Majesty, it seems we may have provoked Konoha this time," Qin Lin said cautiously. "The expressions on the Senju brothers didn't look good."
Qin Yi smirked. "They won't be displeased. On the contrary, this only proves the might of our Qin Nation to the world."
His gaze remained calm, unwavering. "Konoha now understands our strength, and soon, the other forces will too."
He clasped his hands behind his back. "If you don't show your fist to the world, how can they learn to fear it?"
A faint smile played on his lips as he continued forward, leading his people deeper into the unknown.
(End of Chapter)