"Lightning Style..."
Smack!
Just as Yagura was about to press his advantage and secure victory over Mangetsu, the latter suddenly exploded into water!
"A Water Clone?"
Yagura shielded himself from the splashing water, narrowing his eyes as he scanned his surroundings.
"When did he...?"
The Water Clone, eroded by the Lightning Chakra, was already falling apart. Keeping it active any longer would just be a waste of chakra.
Mangetsu decisively let go of his clone and launched a new round of attacks, completely unharmed.
As Yagura parried the relentless assault, he replayed the battle in his mind.
There shouldn't have been any opportunity for Mangetsu to use a Water Clone.
So... from the very beginning—was it a clone from the moment he entered my house?
Using a Water Clone to gather intel... Makes sense.
Yagura raised an arm to block a sweeping kick from Mangetsu, but the latter twisted his body, putting more power into his right leg, and sent another heavy kick his way!
Blow after blow, the fight continued until Mangetsu's speed finally started to slow.
Despite his caution, despite his best efforts to avoid direct contact with Lightning Chakra, the creeping paralysis in his body was undeniable.
Yagura shifted from defense to offense. In a swift motion, he grabbed Mangetsu's wrist and flung him away.
Then, with a powerful stomp, he propelled himself forward, intercepting Mangetsu mid-air with a palm crackling with lightning.
"I lose."
Hozuki Mangetsu dissolved into water, reappearing a few feet away, smoothly sheathing his sword before raising his hand in surrender.
Yagura blinked. "Huh?"
Mangetsu sighed. "What choice do I have, bro? Lightning Style completely counters me!"
He had been all fired up, brimming with confidence, only to be defeated in less than half a chapter.
What an embarrassing loss!
To be fair, Mangetsu didn't think he was weak.
—Not everyone could be a reverse-attribute master !
"You're a shinobi from the Mist... Why the hell are you using Lightning Style?!"
Mangetsu gritted his teeth and glared at Yagura in frustration.
When he first read Yagura's profile, he hadn't considered the possibility of him being a Lightning Style user.
The report stated Yagura had an affinity for Water, Wind, and Lightning Chakra. That meant a two-thirds chance he wouldn't specialize in Lightning Style!
But of course, he did specialize in it!
Mangetsu groaned. "I should've stepped out with my other foot this morning..."
Yagura scratched his chin thoughtfully. "That's actually a good question."
He grinned. "But my main focus is Water Style. Should I have fought you with that instead?"
Mangetsu: "...Honestly, I'd be okay with that."
Wait... so Lightning Style is just your secondary?
Yagura, do your parents even know how ridiculously strong you are?!
...
After taking some time to clear out the residual Lightning Chakra in his body, Mangetsu felt a wave of relief.
Damn, it felt good to be free of that paralysis!
He stole a glance at Yagura, then quickly looked away, unsure how to deal with the guy who had just made a fool out of him.
Yagura, noticing his awkwardness, chuckled. "Heading home to sleep?"
Mangetsu shook his head. "I'm still too awake for that." Probably going to read some manga first.
Yagura's eyes lit up. "Perfect. Let's take a walk and chat."
"..."
Mangetsu wanted to refuse, but...
Why the hell didn't I just say I was going to bed?!
...
"So, Yagura, what's up with your Lightning Style? It's different from the usual ones."
"The Lightning Style I've seen is always biu biu—you know, firing off from a distance."
"Man, if only I had Wind Chakra, I could counter it."
"How strong is your Water Style? Stronger than your Lightning Style?"
"You're this powerful, yet there's barely any info on you in my grandfather's records. Why is that?"
"Crap, I can already see my own death in the graduation exam, fried by your Lightning Style."
...
So. Many. Questions.
This guy... is a total chatterbox?!
But Yagura patiently answered every single one.
After all, this kid had potential. The kind of talent that could become the right-hand man of the future Fourth Mizukage.
"My Lightning Style boosts my cellular activity, similar to what the Raikage does in Kumogakure."
"My grandfather probably hid my information on purpose. I'm too strong—too strong to be made public."
"Water Style? I can use B-Rank techniques like Water Formation Wall. Wanna test it out?"
"Six years from now... Who knows? Maybe the Third Mizukage will be dead, and the Blood Mist era will be over. That means you wouldn't have to kill your classmates to graduate."
Mangetsu gaped. "You really dare to say that out loud?!"
Yagura shrugged. "He's an outdated relic from a past era."
Like Madara Uchiha—just another old man clinging to power. He should make way for the new generation.
And when I become the Fourth Mizukage, I'll lead Mangetsu, Mei Terumi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Zabuza Momochi, Ringo Ameyuri, and future shinobi like Suigetsu Hozuki, Haku, and Kimimaro to make Kirigakure the strongest village in the world!
With his eyes burning with ambition, Yagura turned to Mangetsu and solemnly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Mangetsu, what's your dream?"
"Dream?"
Mangetsu's tiredness vanished in an instant. Clenching his fist, he declared, "To become one of the next Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! No, their leader!"
Yagura smirked. "Good. As long as you don't want to be Mizukage, you can have any other position you want."
As long as you can keep Kisame and Zabuza in check, of course.
His gaze locked onto Mangetsu. "When I become the Fourth Mizukage, you'll be my Seven Ninja Swordsmen leader."
Mangetsu froze. "You? The Fourth?"
Yagura raised a brow. "You doubt me?"
"Not exactly..."
Mangetsu mulled it over. Yagura was already this strong at just seven years old. Given a few more years, maybe it was possible.
But that meant... the Third Mizukage would have to die before their graduation exam. And even if Yagura used up all six years, he'd still only be thirteen when taking the title.
A thirteen-year-old Kage?!
That had never happened before in any of the Five Great Villages!
Even their clan's pride, Hozuki Gengetsu, was already thirty when he became the Second Mizukage!
Yagura, how the hell are the rest of us supposed to keep up?!
Yet, looking into Yagura's determined eyes, Mangetsu couldn't bring himself to say it was impossible.
Instead, he found himself... excited.
...
Yagura extended his hand—index and middle fingers together, the rest curled in.
Mangetsu tilted his head at the gesture before mirroring it. "Biang?"
"You don't know?" Yagura grinned. "It's the Seal of Reconciliation."
Mangetsu's eyes flickered with recognition.
The Seal of Reconciliation, symbolizing that no matter the conflict, shinobi could find understanding.
It wasn't common in Kirigakure, but it was a staple in Konoha.
Mangetsu chuckled. "You're kind of a dork."
Still, he extended his fingers and firmly hooked them around Yagura's.
The Seal of Reconciliation—formed.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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