Chapter 76: The Secrets of the Hidden Mist, The Pinnacle Strike!

Chapter 76: The Secrets of the Hidden Mist, The Pinnacle Strike!

However, in the face of this terrifyingly powerful forbidden technique…

"Enough!"

Terumi Mei's face showed no trace of panic as she stepped forward again, meeting Mangetsu Hozuki's gaze coldly.

Then, she spoke sharply:

"Those five Hunter-nin—weren't they intentionally sent by you to be killed?"

"When I used the Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave to flood the battlefield, you could have ended this fight right then and there."

The technique Water Release: Shield of the Eboshi requires a massive amount of water to initiate.

In the environment created by Water Release: Cutting Rain, if Terumi Mei wanted to hold back Mangetsu, she would inevitably rely on Water Release as her primary means.

Other elemental jutsu, including Bloodline techniques, would serve only a supplementary role in that setting.

Once Terumi Mei resorted to Water Release or if Mangetsu himself used a large-scale Water Release, the battle would effectively be over.

With the home-field advantage and a technique of this scale at his disposal, Mangetsu was essentially invincible.

Looking up at him, Terumi Mei questioned coldly:

"Yet, you didn't use this technique right away!"

"What were you waiting for? Were you just waiting for your five subordinates to fail?"

She pointed at the five lifeless bodies on the ground, directly exposing his motives:

"So callous and ruthless—you truly embody the cold-blooded nature of a Hunter-nin, with your hands stained by your comrades' blood."

"I initially thought Uchiha Ci's suspicions were nonsense, but your actions prove them true!"

Faced with this accusation, Mangetsu fell silent.

Terumi Mei paused briefly, then raised her head again to continue.

"Mangetsu Hozuki,"

"So eager to learn the whereabouts of Yagura…"

Her gaze sharpened as she stared at him intently, speaking with absolute certainty:

"You are nothing more than a demon bent on overthrowing the Hidden Mist, ready to slay your own master!"

This line of questioning seemed to agitate Mangetsu slightly; a trace of impatience flickered across his face, and his eyes grew darker than usual.

He immediately retorted coldly:

"So what? Or rather, what difference does it make?"

Mangetsu took a deep breath, speaking indifferently:

"As a Hunter-nin, a butcher with hands stained by my comrades' blood, I have long been prepared. It's a simple truth—killers will be killed."

"If they died, it merely proves their skills were lacking; they were unfit to be butchers. Nothing more."

Terumi Mei couldn't help but frown, sternly questioning:

"Does that mean you see yourself as suited to be this butcher?"

"If you were ordered to assassinate the Third Mizukage, how far would you go?"

Mangetsu's expression darkened, and a trace of struggle flashed in his gaze. Then he replied coldly:

"This pointless probing ends here, Terumi Mei."

"Living under the carefully crafted illusion of light, you're not ready for change. Just stay in your sheltered greenhouse and play the role of a flower vase."

He then stared her down, pressing her coldly:

"Now, tell me—what exactly is Yagura planning?"

Terumi Mei showed no anger at being dismissed as a mere decoration; instead, she finally felt a sense of relief.

At this moment, after Uchiha Ci's bold suspicions and several rounds of probing, she had finally managed to draw out Mangetsu's true objective.

With both of them now in a tentative alliance, this crisis was barely defused.

Taking a deep breath, Terumi Mei resolutely declared:

"As you suspected, Yagura, the Captain of the Hidden Mist's Jonin Division, has gathered sufficient evidence to bring down the Third Mizukage!"

"Soon, the Mist will usher in a new era of reform."

"We—Lord Yagura, the Elders, and the Bloodline clans—will unite to reinstate the policies of the First and Second Mizukage, systematically dismantling the years of oppressive, blood policies from the academy onward."

With a determined expression and a fervent light in her eyes, Terumi Mei spoke firmly to Mangetsu:

"We'll no longer need Hunter-nin, and no one will bear the burden of killing their own comrades!"

"And you, as the future captain of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, can once again serve under the Mizukage!"

"The Elders sent us to find Yagura, precisely for this purpose!"

"Oh." Mangetsu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Is that so?"

He replied with a blank expression:

"Then take me to Yagura. If he's not fit to be the Fourth Mizukage…"

"I'll kill him myself."

Terumi Mei clenched her fists, deliberated for a moment, then bit her lip and nodded in reluctant agreement.

"Fine, but once we reach the place, you'll have to submit to a seal!"

"It doesn't matter." Mangetsu turned expressionlessly and looked at Uchiha Ci, standing behind Terumi Mei.

"In that case—"

Mangetsu's voice turned icy as he revealed his shark-like teeth in a chilling grin.

Biting his finger, he formed hand seals for a summoning jutsu:

Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ram!

He pressed his hand onto the Seven Ninja Swords Summoning Scroll and drew it across in a wide sweep!

"[Dual], [Long], [Thunder], [Break], [Explosive], [Blunt], and [Large]!"

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Seven plumes of smoke rose, revealing seven uniquely shaped swords lined up on the head of a massive aquatic creature.

Mangetsu drew a Thunder Sword, flicking it to create a glinting arc, and aimed it directly at Uchiha Ci, announcing coldly:

"Little Uchiha, let's finish this battle!"

Uchiha Ci took a deep breath, already expecting this confrontation.

He stepped forward, passing by Terumi Mei, and drew his own sword.

With both hands gripping the hilt, he lifted his gaze.

His crimson Sharingan fixated on Mangetsu, who loomed atop the monstrous creature, as he restrained his fear of the giant.

With his feet rooted firmly, shoulder-width apart, he readied himself for combat.

"Wait! Mangetsu!" Terumi Mei suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with shock.

"What are you planning?!"

Mangetsu only shook his head at her, replying indifferently, "The Hidden Mist's matters are not for him to know."

Then, he looked icily at Uchiha Ci, speaking coolly:

"Don't worry, I'm just sending him on his way—after all, isn't that why he came here?"

"Whether he dies by that creature below the cave or by my hand, it's all the same."

With that, Mangetsu drew the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari and the Great Sword: Samehada, strapping them to his back.

He looked down from over ten meters above, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he stared at Uchiha Ci!

Uchiha Ci took a deep breath, looking up at Mangetsu atop the water creature.

He smirked menacingly:

"You think you can kill me?"

"Then bring it on!"

In an instant,

he activated the Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear Stitching!

Threads of thick, black chakra extended from his wrists, binding his hands tightly to his sword hilt. The threads wound up along the blade, weaving into an inverted spiral form, narrowing as they went.

He then activated his final use of the Forbidden Technique: Body Revival!

His muscles rippled, wringing out a fresh surge of chakra from his nearly exhausted body. He directed all of this power into the Serpent Seal formed by his hands around the sword hilt.

Water Release: Water Fang Blade whirled into action!

The spiral of water surged, expanding into a six-foot-long water blade charged with chakra.

He cautiously added a touch of Swordsmanship: Chakra Infusion, enhancing its sharpness just slightly.

Holding his peak-form water blade aloft,

Uchiha Ci raised it, pointing directly at Mangetsu, who stood atop the towering creature with the most formidable swords in the ninja world, sneering:

"You think I'd be afraid?"

With a menacing glint in his eye, he couldn't help but grin wildly, shouting:

"Come! Face me on the path of death!"

Under Terumi Mei's stunned gaze, the young man fearlessly raised his sword, charging directly toward Mangetsu!