Duel with the Mizukage: Battle for Supremacy (3)

The Third Mizukage's emotions surged with a palpable, dark energy as the confrontation intensified. His voice, laced with venom, echoed across the battlefield, articulating a fierce resolve, his old face contorting,

"I would rather be shredded to pieces now than allow those two cursed clans to usurp my longstanding rule. I will kill you, Hikari Hyuga, and all your invading kin...",

"Be sure of that now...", He snarled, his wrinkled expression twisted in disdain, "And in doing so, I will be doing Konoha a massive favor by ridding them of your meddlesome presence.",

His words were not just threats; they were a declaration of his deep-seated animosity, "You think you can just march into Kirigakure and dictate the future? You and your ilk are nothing but a blight on the shinobi world—a plague that needs to be eradicated...", He spat out, each word dripping with hatred.

The Mizukage's prejudice against kekkei genkai holders wasn't a mere political stance; it was a deeply ingrained loathing that had shaped his entire leadership philosophy, "Your bloodlines, your cursed powers...",

"They've done nothing but bring chaos and destruction wherever they exist. My life has taught me that much. And now, you dare to bring that curse to my doorstep? I will bury you and your ambitions beneath the very waters of this village!"

However, at that time, Hikari's response finally came as a cold, calculated rebuke, his voice cutting through the tense air with precision.

"Huh, a sparrow wanting to kill a swan? Some things are fixed from the moment you are born; there are certain limits to everything you might try and do.",

"As you also probably understand deep inside, and that's why you hate us, out of sheer jealousy. Your entire life has been a futile cope.",

"There were limits that you couldn't cross no matter how hard you tried. Just as you didn't manage to deal with the Kaguya and others 'cursed' in all these decades, collectively with your faction, no matter how despicable the methods you used."

His gaze hardened, reflecting a deep-seated pride in his heritage, "Let me show you the superiority of the kekkei genkai in combat right here, right now.",

"Though I commend your relentless dedication—over fifty years of unwavering, nearly instinctive training, as constant as breathing itself—to push beyond your natural limits, I shall show you it was all in vain."

"You will also regret insulting me and my clan. There are some limits that ordinary 'average shinobi mortals' like you can't cross... And don't worry about our place in Konoha; the rest of Konoha will learn that, too, over time.",

Hikari's words were not just a defense of his abilities but an assertion of his disdain for the Mizukage's life-long vendetta against people like him.

It was a declaration of his intent to demonstrate the inherent power of his bloodline, not to avenge past wrongs inflicted on kekkei genkai holders at the hands of this Mizukage, but to assert his dominance and put the Mizukage in his place simply because he felt it was necessary—because he felt like it at that moment.

With his Byakugan glowing fiercely, Hikari prepared for what he hoped would be the definitive clash, one that would not only silence the Mizukage's continuous disdain but also cement the strength and standing of the Hyuga clan in a way.

As he readied himself, the air around them crackled with the impending burst of chakra and power, signaling the culmination of their confrontation.

The standoff between Hikari and the Third Mizukage then escalated rapidly as both unleashed the full extent of their natural energy-infused techniques instantly in the next second following his proclamation.

Once again, the battlefield quickly became a spectacle of raw power and 'charged-up' elemental fury, with each combatant drawing deeply from their surroundings to amplify their attacks with natural energy and senjutsu.

Hikari initiated the renewed assault, launching his Senjutsu: Wind Release Celestial Rotation Spheres. These spheres, formed of condensed, swirling wind, hurtled through the air towards the Mizukage. 

In response, the Mizukage demonstrated his mastery over water and senjutsu by conjuring some water orbs on his own. These orbs, infused with natural energy, mirrored Hikari's technique in form but not in element.

As each water ball soared through the air, it detonated mid-flight, not merely exploding but transforming into a barrage of water projectiles.

These projectiles fanned out in all directions, creating a rain of high-velocity water shards, each one capable of piercing through stone and steel.

The technique was a testament to the Mizukage's chakra control and his strategic acumen, countering Hikari's explosive force with a widespread area attack.

The initial exchange culminated in a spectacular series of mid-air collisions. Wind spheres and water orbs met with explosive force, creating a symphony of elemental chaos.

The impacts generated shockwaves that reverberated through the air, distorting the surrounding mist and sending vibrations through the ground beneath their feet.

Almost instantly after the mid-air explosions, Hikari and the Mizukage closed the distance between them with breathtaking speed. They appeared like specters, their movements so fast they seemed to teleport from one spot to another.

As they approached each other, both activated their defensive techniques—Hikari with his armor of swirling wind and Mizukage with his shield of spiraling water.

When they clashed, it was with the force of a tempest meeting a tsunami. Their drills, one of wind and the other of water collided with such intensity that the surrounding mountains seemed to tremble repeatedly.

The potency of the natural energy around them was palpable, almost visible as ripples in the air. Their deep connection to the natural forces amplified each strike and maneuver, turning the battle into a cataclysmic event that reshaped the very landscape around them.

However, as the battle raged on, Hikari couldn't help but acknowledge the Mizukage's formidable mastery of natural energy techniques,

'He is at least a Middle Kage level shinobi, just like me now. However, he is much more experienced in using those natural energy external application techniques above all else.",

"In fact, had he been younger biologically, this would've probably been over for me relatively quickly. But now I still have a chance...', Hikari thought, reassessing his opponent's strengths and vulnerabilities.

The realization that the Mizukage's age might be his Achilles' heel spurred Hikari to adapt his strategy. Despite the Mizukage's impressive skill set, his older physique couldn't possibly sustain high-intensity combat indefinitely.

'I need to leverage this to my advantage. My naturally superior, younger physique should give me the edge if I can hold out long enough. With each of his moves, I'm also gaining unexpected insight into the applications of natural energy, allowing me to make progress in real-time. This unexpected development could work in my favor, helping me compensate for my lack of experience in this uncharted area of natural energy within the shinobi world.' he assessed, planning several moves ahead.

With each exchange, Hikari absorbed crucial insights into the application of natural energy, inadvertently gaining a crash course in advanced techniques from one of the most skilled practitioners he had ever faced, specializing in and spending decades researching that area. This would also be very useful to him later in life if he managed to survive this ordeal.

'I need to try to also bring this battle closer into Kirigakure, to use this to my advantage, to have him put in tough spots more there, have him more 'between a rock and a hard place, in a way, and use his allies against him... I'm already almost there, he didn't expect me to get past the swordsmen group so fast so he intercepted me relatively late...', He planned additionally.

Therefore, with this set of new tactics in mind, Hikari began subtly steering the direction of their combat, aiming to push their battle toward the heart of the Kirigakure more and more.

Meanwhile, as Hikari and the Third Mizukage continued their ferocious duel, moving closer to the heart of Kirigakure, Hikari's keen Byakugan picked up the chaotic scenes of intense fighting throughout the village itself, which were obviously caused by the Kaguya and Yuki's planned intrusion in the village from the other direction.

Despite the ferocity elsewhere, he noticed how the entire battle inside Kirigakure seemed to pause for a second when he and the Mizukage clashed anew, their surges of chakra emitting waves of power that could be felt across the battlefield.

Combatants and bystanders alike were momentarily transfixed by the magnitude of their confrontation. Hikari barely caught on in one pause between his clashes with the Mizukage.

'Hold on, hold on, just push a little bit first with my larger chakra reservoir, use it up a little bit to force him inside... Lose something first to gain something and win in the end...',

Hikari mentally strategized, recognizing the need to leverage his younger, more resilient body and larger chakra capacity to his advantage.

With each calculated strike and maneuver, Hikari sought not only to physically overpower the Mizukage but also to drive him back, step by step, into the village. He was burning through his chakra like crazy, but he knew that it was the tactic that made the most sense overall.

The fight continued a blur of motion and energy, with Hikari constantly pushing, always with the goal of drawing the Mizukage deeper into a tactical trap within the heart of Kirigakure.