Chapter 209: Tetsuhi and Chiyoko

Suddenly, a dense fog enveloped the entire forest at an alarming speed, obscuring the Moon ninjas within it.

Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Jutsu.

"Be careful!" the Moon shinobi exclaimed, drawing their weapons and forming a defensive circle. The fog thickened, reducing visibility to less than a meter. Yet within that fog, a pair of Byakugan eyes saw everything with unmatched clarity, stealthily approaching the Moon shinobi.

Moments later, screams echoed, and blood splattered. The Moon shinobi fell, having not even seen their attacker. Zabuza emerged beside their corpses.

"The Hyūga clan's Byakugan is truly convenient. Combined with my Hidden Mist Jutsu, my assassination techniques have improved considerably," he remarked, wiping his blade, Kubikiribōchō, clean.

Previously, Zabuza would rely on the sounds made by his enemies to locate them within his mist. But with the Byakugan's ability to see chakra through the fog, assassinations became much easier.

"It's a shame these guys are so weak. The real prey is from the Uchiha clan," Hōzuki Mangetsu commented, joining Zabuza.

Just then, a fiery explosion burst forth, dispelling the fog and revealing a man and a woman, Tetsuhi and Chiyoko.

"As you wished, the Uchiha are here," Tetsuhi stated calmly.

Intrigued, Zabuza licked his lips, "That man is my target. You can handle the woman," he told Mangetsu.

Mangetsu shrugged, "Always one step ahead, aren't you?"

Tetsuhi and Chiyoko exchanged glances. "Let's finish this quickly, within ten seconds," Tetsuhi suggested.

"Mm," was all Chiyoko replied.

Their eyes then transformed, revealing the iconic red swirls of the Mangekyō Sharingan - one with a crimson cross pattern and the other resembling a six-petal pinwheel.

Recognizing the legendary eyes, Zabuza and Mangetsu momentarily faltered.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan..." Zabuza whispered, recalling the tales of its power.

Despite their surprise, the duo quickly regained composure. They possessed the Byakugan, renowned for its prowess and on par with the Sharingan. With their skills and these eyes, they were confident.

"Killing them and obtaining their Mangekyō would be a significant achievement," Zabuza remarked, eager for battle.

Mangetsu nodded, "Then let's strike first."

Zabuza lunged at Tetsuhi, hands forming seals rapidly. He then exhaled forcefully.

With a resounding roar, a majestic water dragon surged from behind him, bearing down on Tetsuhi with fury.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.

In the past, Zabuza had to form forty-four seals in a single breath, taking at least ten seconds to execute the Water Dragon Bullet Technique. Now, he completed the jutsu in less than a second with just four seals. This was because the technique was refined by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, simplifying the seals required.

Tobirama was a prodigy, said to possess all seven chakra natures. Yet, he chose to specialize in Water Release, refining numerous techniques and inventing potent water jutsus. His motive? To counter the Uchiha clan, known for their Fire Release.

Zabuza saw it fitting to use Tobirama's water techniques against the two Uchiha before him, knowing Tobirama's deep understanding of the Uchiha's weaknesses.

However, as Zabuza released his technique, Tetsuhi responded by forming a single Tiger seal, and then unleashed a powerful fire jutsu.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.

Again?

Zabuza scoffed, finding it audacious that Tetsuhi would counter his Water Release with such a basic fire technique. But he soon realized that this was no ordinary fireball. Enhanced by Tetsuhi's Mangekyō Sharingan, the jutsu was empowered by "Tamamikoto," a technique amplifying Tetsuhi's abilities, similar to Sage Mode. The fireball swelled, easily overwhelming Zabuza's water dragon.

Cursing his underestimation, Zabuza evaded the attack using the Body Flicker Technique. While Tetsuhi's fireball was primarily a diversion, he capitalized on the moment, appearing behind Zabuza with his Mangekyō's cross-patterned eyes fixed on him.

Zabuza sensed the danger, but as he turned to counter, their fists collided. A crunching sound echoed; it was Zabuza's arm that had broken. Enhanced by "Tamamikoto," Tetsuhi's physical strength was amplified fourfold.

Zabuza was sent flying, clearly outmatched. The battle, as predicted, ended in under ten seconds.

Meanwhile, Mangetsu, wielding his sword Hiramekarei, channeled chakra, preparing to split Chiyoko in two.

Hiramekarei: Release.

Few dared to face this move head-on. Yet Chiyoko was an exception.

Drawing her ninja blade, she executed a slash emanating a dazzling cyan glow, backed by a powerful chakra surge.

"Shinatobikko."

This Mangekyō technique, residing in Chiyoko's right eye, summoned divine winds from distant realms, fusing them with her weapon, making it capable of cutting through anything. It was the ultimate Wind Release technique.

Even Dan Uchiha had once been wounded by Chiyoko's blade, leaving a scar on his chest.

Had Mangetsu known of its potency, he wouldn't have been so bold.

As their weapons clashed, the chakra-infused blades emitted blinding light, illuminating the entire forest.

The Twin Blade Hiramekarei was the leader among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, even surpassing the fame of the Great Blade Samehada. In theory, using it to sever a regular ninja blade should've been simple. Yet, to Mangetsu's astonishment, Hiramekarei bore a crack.

The blade was broken.

Immediately following, Chiyoko's blade, still charged with its momentum, bisected Mangetsu. Quick to act, he invoked his clan's secret technique - the Hydrification Technique. Transforming into water, he managed to mitigate some of the damage, but still screamed in pain as he retreated into a nearby river.

Chiyoko wanted to pursue, but Tetsuhi stopped her. "Let it be. With this one," he said, pointing to the unconscious Zabuza, "we've made enough of a scene. Enemy reinforcements will likely be on their way." They left swiftly, passing through the forest to the opposite end of Crescent Moon Island, intending to use the boats there to escape.

Suddenly, multicolored bubbles descended around them, encapsulating them.

Then, they exploded.

The blast was so forceful that it razed a significant portion of the forest. "Is it over?" a man's voice echoed amidst the trees.

A long-haired, delicate-looking man in a blue feathered robe sat high in the trees, blowing bubbles from a horn, observing the scene below with lazy eyes.

The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata.

Always appearing carefree and untroubled in the Mist's midst, he was, in actuality, a dangerously unpredictable man.

"Ah?" Utakata exclaimed. The smoke cleared, revealing that his surprise attack had failed. Tetsuhi had activated his Susano'o, shielding both himself and Chiyoko from the bubble bombs.

Witnessing Tetsuhi's Mangekyō Sharingan and Susano'o, Utakata grew serious. "This just became troublesome," he mumbled to himself. He never intended to get involved in this battle, but seeing a formidable Mangekyō user, he would've chosen to feign ignorance.

It was too late now.

Utakata stood, forming a hand seal, and a large purple tail sprouted behind him. "The Six-Tails Jinchuriki," Tetsuhi noted, realizing Utakata was a prize worth capturing.

Zabuza, meanwhile, was now expendable. With a swift motion, Tetsuhi slit Zabuza's throat, discarding him.

Zabuza woke up abruptly, desperately clutching his bleeding neck. But it was futile. His eyes lost their light, and he collapsed, lifeless.

The end for the infamous "Demon of the Hidden Mist" had come.

Seeing Zabuza's fate, Utakata understood he might meet a similar end. He blew into his horn again, sending a barrage of bubbles toward Tetsuhi and Chiyoko.

Unflinching, Tetsuhi, protected by Susano'o, charged forward. As the bubbles exploded upon impact, Susano'o remained unaffected, much to Utakata's shock.

As Utakata hurriedly put away his horn, ready to flee, the massive hand of the Susano'o reached for him, grasping him like an eagle seizing a chick.

In peril, Utakata, not holding back any longer, released a surge of chakra, entering a partial Tailed Beast transformation. A highly corrosive liquid secreted from his Tailed Beast cloak, burning Susano'o's hand and forcing it to release its grip.

Then, the partially transformed Utakata aimed at the nearby Susano'o and spewed a torrent of potent acidic solution. Ninjutsu: Acidic Decay! This acid, originating from the Six-Tails Slug within him, was far more potent than Mei Terumī's Lava Style and was capable of corroding Tetsuhi's third form of Susano'o.

"Damn it," Tetsuhi cursed, deactivating his Susano'o and retreating to Chiyoko's side.

Determined, Utakata launched an even more powerful attack — the Tailed Beast Bomb. A dense orb of black energy was swallowed and then spit out in a straight line towards the duo, with enough force to obliterate a mountain.

"I've got this," Chiyoko said, stepping forward, breaking her usual stoic demeanor.

In surprise, Tetsuhi watched as she activated her Mangekyō Sharingan, squatted down, and adopted a peculiar stance. She looked... somewhat adorable, in a bizarre sort of way.

With a fierce shout from Chiyoko, a strange energy emerged from her left eye, quickly forming a translucent spherical barrier around them.

This was Chiyoko's left-eye technique: The Heavenly Rock Door. Using her Mangekyō's power, she created a barrier around her, warding off any physical or mental attacks. To breach this shield, one would require chakra at least ten times stronger than Chiyoko's.

The outcome was predictable.

With a loud explosion, the Tailed Beast Bomb collided with Chiyoko's barrier, causing significant destruction to the surrounding forest and even shaking Crescent Moon Island. Yet, both Chiyoko and Tetsuhi emerged unscathed.

"How is that possible?!" Utakata exclaimed in disbelief, confronted with not one, but two Mangekyō Sharingan users from the Uchiha clan.

Their combined strength and strange powers overwhelmed him, filling him with a profound sense of hopelessness. He considered retreating, but facing the combined might of the duo, escape wasn't an option.

Flame Control: Grand Fire Annihilation! Kamui Windstorm!

Tetsuhi and Chiyoko simultaneously launched their combined attack. The union of a vast sea-like flame and a fierce wind formed a terrifying combined ninjutsu. Utakata had no chance to evade and was immediately engulfed by the inferno.

In the midst of piercing screams, Utakata's Tailed Beast cloak faded, and he reverted to his original form. Tetsuhi appeared in an instant, using his Mangekyō's genjutsu to subdue him.

Their mission was complete.

Exchanging a glance, Tetsuhi and Chiyoko took the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, and made their way across the sea.

Minutes later, Ao, Yagura Karatachi, and hundreds of Mist shinobi arrived at the scene. Amidst the charred forest, they found the body of Zabuza Momochi.

"What happened here?" Ao exclaimed, observing the extensive damage to Crescent Moon Island, trying to comprehend the magnitude of the battle that took place.

Just then, a weakened Mangetsu Hōzuki emerged from the river, severely injured from Chiyoko's Kamui Windstorm. Before passing out, he relayed what he'd witnessed: two Mangekyō Sharingan users from the Uchiha clan had infiltrated Crescent Moon Island, battled with Utakata, and subsequently kidnapped him.

This news devastated the Mist shinobi.

There was no doubt about it; this was a crushing blow to the Hidden Mist Village.

"All units, retreat from Crescent Moon Island and return to base immediately!" Ao commanded, fearing another attack.

After all, they were up against two Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingans, entities on par with the legendary Shinobi like Minato Namikaze. Even with hundreds on their side, the Mist shinobi stood no chance.