Chapter 219: Chains of Hatred

If someone were to look down at Konoha at this very moment, they would see that the area near the village gate was flooded. A massive hemispherical water prison, over a hundred meters in radius, was moving rapidly.

"Shisui, Kakashi, stay here. If there's any unusual movement, kill Obito immediately!" Hiruzen, upon seeing the gigantic water sphere, knew that Orochimaru wasn't adept at dealing with such things. Without hesitation, he gripped his adamantine staff and stepped forward.

Expecting a situation like this, Konoha had made ample preparations. Despite the short time frame, they successfully evacuated the villagers and students from the ninja academy near the execution ground. A large number of shinobi were guarding the area, keeping a close eye on the rapidly approaching enemy.

"Tsunade, you'll be in command here," Hiruzen gave his final instructions, then split into four shadow clones. Including his real body, five figures stood in different directions, each one rapidly depleting his chakra. Fire, lightning, water, earth, wind—five different elemental ninjutsu were launched in sequence, all aimed at the hemisphere.

—Five Elements: Grand Bullet Barrage!

Compared to that year, Hiruzen had aged significantly, and his combat strength had deteriorated severely. However, the destructive power of this compound ninjutsu was still immense, making it ideal for attacking a large target like this water prison.

BOOM!

The water sphere couldn't withstand the combined power of the Five Elements jutsu. In an instant, it was shattered, sending tens of thousands of tons of heavy liquid flying in all directions, leaving countless small craters in the streets.

Only after the hemisphere dissipated did Hiruzen see who had arrived. The old man's face immediately darkened.

At sixty years old, Hiruzen was well aware of the consequences of killing Mizukage Mangetsu Hozuki. Adding this to the death of Yagura Karatachi, it meant that two Mizukages had now died at Konoha's hands—an unbreakable grudge that could never be resolved. 'So, killing Mizukages is now Konoha's traditional skill, huh? A highlight of the succession ceremonies?'

'Can I really not enjoy my retirement in peace...?' Hiruzen lamented silently. Though he was frustrated, his actions did not waver. He stabbed his adamantine staff into the ground and launched himself at Mangetsu, much like a pole vaulter.

Following Mangetsu was Orochimaru, who, at some unknown point, had reclaimed his Kusanagi sword and was now charging directly at the enemy.

Although the impact of killing the Fifth Mizukage would be enormous, likely requiring countless lives from the Fire and Water Countries to settle, neither Hiruzen nor Orochimaru could afford to show any hesitation at this moment.

At the end of the day, Konoha was the world's top military force and a legitimate government. The only reason it could dominate the most fertile lands was that it could fight and kill without hesitation!

If someone comes to your territory and unleashes a massive Waterfall Jutsu without a word, failing to retaliate with even harsher measures would be no different from formally admitting, "Konoha is weak and easy to bully—come and take your share." At that point, it wouldn't just be a matter of a few wars.

Of course, there were exceptions. If Yuto were the one attacking, that would be a different story.

—Because, honestly, they just couldn't win.

The combat strength Yuto displayed four years ago was legendary, comparable to the likes of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. Against this most notorious S-class rogue shinobi, Konoha could only try to play dumb. If a battle did break out, they'd have to resort to forbidden techniques like the Impure World Reincarnation, risking everything they had—otherwise, there would be no chance.

But Mangetsu was no Yuto.

In the blink of an eye, the teacher and student duo had reached Mangetsu, one in front and the other behind, effectively cutting off any escape routes. They exchanged a glance, and in perfect synchrony, they both attacked—one stabbing a kunai into the chest, the other thrusting the Kusanagi sword through the throat.

Even in a one-on-one fight, Mangetsu was no match for the Third Hokage and the leader of the ANBU. Let alone after he had severely depleted his chakra and was being attacked by both at once.

Gasp... gasp...

Air flooded into his lungs, his throat filled with blood. Mangetsu struggled to breathe and exited his fusion state, causing the Samehada to drop to the ground with a thud. The hilt of the Samehada bent into a curve, clutching its owner's leg as if it were weeping.

"Huh?" Orochimaru exclaimed in surprise, "This thing is alive... and it's transferring chakra to keep Mangetsu alive! How loyal..."

However, neither of the Konoha shinobi expected that this life-saving chakra would give Mangetsu his final burst of strength.

In a flash, he slammed his hand onto his abdomen, pressing the "key" of the sealing jutsu into the center of the seal.

Deep within Mangetsu's body, the Three-Tails, bound by enormous chains, began to struggle. All the bindings melted away like snow.

A brutal chakra roared through Mangetsu's body.

Hiruzen and Orochimaru's expressions changed simultaneously. As masters of ninjutsu, they knew exactly what this was.

The kunai twisted sharply, shattering the heart; the Kusanagi sword shifted from stabbing to slashing, completely severing the neck bone.

Unfortunately, even though the teacher and student duo reacted quickly, they were still a fraction of a second too late.

Konoha knew that the Three-Tails had been under Kirigakure's control, but no one had ever imagined that the Fifth Mizukage would have sealed it inside himself!

"Summon the sealing team! Hurry—"

"ROAR—!"

A deafening roar interrupted Hiruzen's next words as the massive, three-tailed turtle-like beast emerged from Mangetsu's body.

The ferocious and raging chakra storm swept through everything. After four years, an uncontrollable tailed beast had once again appeared within Konoha Village.

…

In the southeastern part of Konoha, less than a kilometer from the village gate, a group of Kirigakure elite shinobi stood silently in the dense forest, watching the roaring Three-Tails from afar. No one spoke.

A red-brown-haired woman leaned weakly against a tree, biting her lips to keep from crying.

In front of the Kirigakure shinobi stood a mirror made of water—a type of ninjutsu that allowed them to observe distant scenes. It took a long time to prepare and couldn't be moved, making it almost useless in a surprise attack, but it was quite suitable for this situation.

Everyone had seen Hiruzen and Orochimaru kill Mangetsu, one after the other.

As for why the Mizukage suddenly attacked Konoha or why he sealed the tailed beast inside himself, those questions no longer mattered at this moment.

"Our leader was killed by Konoha." This was an undeniable fact. Even though Mangetsu had ruled with an iron fist, as long as he wore that Mizukage hat, everyone in the Land of Water had to acknowledge it.

Just as "Konoha must kill the Mizukage who attacked them," the Kirigakure side was also bound by a similar cruel and barbaric rule.

In the midst of this silence, the most seasoned shinobi, Yushige Kaguya, spoke softly, "Mei-sama, the Mizukage has fallen. What should we do? Should we charge in now to retrieve the body, or..."

Everyone turned to the red-haired woman, waiting for her decision.

In Mei's mind, the moment from five years ago when Mangetsu shielded her from the mutual explosive tags replayed again.

Her nails dug into her palms, and blood seeped from between her fingers.

"...Return to the village. Announce the death of the Fifth Mizukage." Mei paused, then began walking back.

In the setting sun, her silhouette was lonely and resolute.

(End of Chapter)