Chapter 210: The Mizukage Captured!

The Mist Village forces retreated in disarray.

After the commotion, only the desolated Crescent Moon Island remained, along with its shell-shocked inhabitants.

This time, the Mist Village's attempt to strike was thwarted, and they suffered significant losses.

Momochi Zabuza, known as the "Demon of the Mist," was defeated by Uchiha Tetsuhi and was subsequently killed on the spot.

Mangetsu Hōzuki, the prodigy of the Mist, narrowly escaped death at the hands of Uchiha Chishūko. However, he suffered severe injuries and ultimately succumbed on the journey back, dying aboard their ship.

Two prodigious talents of the Mist met their untimely demise.

Worse still, the Mist Village's Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, was captured by the Uchiha.

The damage was severe.

This news reached the Allied Shinobi Forces' headquarters before anyone else.

It became evident that the Uchiha's goal was to gather the Tailed Beasts. What was shocking was that the two Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingan who captured the Six-Tails Jinchuriki were unfamiliar faces.

It seemed that even without Dan and Shisui, the Uchiha clan continued to surprise everyone.

The Fifth Hokage, Danzo, was also informed. He was aware of Tetsuhi's capabilities, but the sudden emergence of Chishūko surprised her.

He felt an increasing unease.

Danzo began to understand why the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had been so wary of the Uchiha clan. Their potential was terrifying.

Determined, Danzo decided that the Uchiha clan must be eradicated for him to sleep peacefully.

That day, the Five Kage convened a meeting to discuss strategies. While the Allied Shinobi Forces had the advantage against the Uchiha, underestimating them could lead to more surprise attacks and the loss of more Jinchuriki.

After all, the power of a Mangekyō Sharingan can control a Tailed Beast, and the combat strength of a single Tailed Beast could match thousands of soldiers.

Recognizing this threat, the other Kage shared Danzo's sentiment: the Uchiha needed to be dealt with urgently.

Meanwhile, as the Five Kage Summit was underway, Kakashi and Tenzō discreetly arrived at a coastal town, blending in using disguise techniques.

Inside a building, Kakashi, with dyed black hair, removed his iconic mask, revealing the lower half of his face for the first time.

For years, no one had seen Kakashi's face, making him unrecognizable even to close acquaintances like Might Guy, who was currently imprisoned in Konoha.

Upon hearing the recent events, Kakashi remarked, "Tetsuhi and Chishūko acted swiftly, capturing the Six-Tails Jinchuriki. The Uchiha are truly formidable."

As Kakashi contemplated, a knock echoed through the room.

Tenzō exchanged a glance with Kakashi before answering the door. Two familiar faces from Konoha stood there: Genma Shiranui and Raidō Namiashi.

"What can I help you with?" Tenzō inquired.

Raidō scrutinized Tenzō, asking, "You don't look like locals. Who are you, what do you do, and where are you from?"

As Tenzō glanced back at Kakashi, the latter stepped forward, standing beside Tenzō, silently observing Genma and Raidō.

"Answer me!" Raidō demanded, his hand reaching for his ninja blade.

"Engage," Kakashi whispered.

Reacting, both Genma and Raidō readied their weapons, but Kakashi and Tenzō were quicker.

In an instant, Tenzō's eyes gleamed with the crimson hue of the Mangekyō Sharingan, controlling Raidō, while Kakashi's Sharingan ensnared Genma in a genjutsu.

"Let them rest for a while."

Kakashi gave Tenzo a directive, deciding not to deal a fatal blow to the two Konoha ninja. After all, they were just caught up in circumstances beyond their control.

Minutes later, Kakashi and Tenzo used the Transformation Technique, adopting the appearances of Shingetsu Izumo and Tetsu Hagane, and emotionlessly exited the building.

With their borrowed identities, they infiltrated the Allied Shinobi Forces' camp without issue.

"Sensei, look," Tenzo whispered, signaling Kakashi.

Following Tenzo's gaze, Kakashi saw the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, exiting the meeting room with a somber expression.

"Let's get closer and observe."

Pretending to patrol, they discreetly moved closer. Outside the meeting room, Mei Terumī had been waiting.

"Mizukage-sama, how did it go?"

She stepped forward, inquiring, but Yagura's expression indicated things hadn't gone well.

As expected, he replied, "I asked the Fourth Raikage to send reinforcements to aid Kirigakure in tracking and eliminating those two Uchiha and recovering the Six Tails Jinchūriki. But they refused. They just stand by and watch Kirigakure's struggles."

Yagura clenched his teeth, clearly frustrated by the situation.

Hearing this, Mei sighed, "Maybe we should wait for Ao and Chōjūrō to return. With our combined strength, we can retrieve Yugito Nii."

Yagura shook his head, "Over the years, I've depleted Kirigakure's resources. And this invasion of Crescent Moon Island, my decision, resulted in the deaths of Zabuza Momochi and Mangetsu Hōzuki. Even our Jinchūriki was captured. If something else happens, Kirigakure might be left defenseless. So..."

He paused, determination in his eyes, "I've decided to go alone to track down those Uchiha and reclaim the Six Tails."

"No, it's too risky! Mizukage-sama, you can't!" Mei immediately protested, thinking the decision reckless.

Yagura calmly responded, "If you accompanied me, it might not help. And facing those Mangekyō Sharingan users from the Uchiha clan... I don't have much time left."

His revelation shocked Mei, "What do you mean?"

Yagura sighed, "Being manipulated by Uchiha Obito for so long might have had aftereffects. I feel my life force waning, and controlling the Three Tails Isobu within me is getting harder. It might go berserk anytime."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Mei lamented the long-term damage done to the Mizukage.

Yagura added, "So, while I can still fight, I want to do one last thing for Kirigakure – reclaim the Six Tails and exact revenge on the Uchiha."

Understanding the weight of his words, Mei nodded.

Yagura then handed Mei his Mizukage hat, "If I don't return, you must lead Kirigakure."

She accepted it solemnly, feeling the burden of the responsibility.

That day, Yagura departed alone from the Allied Forces' camp, venturing into the vast sea. Kakashi and Tenzo silently observed.

"Our chance has arrived," Kakashi murmured.

Tenzo, surprised, asked, "Sensei, are you suggesting... we take down the Fourth Mizukage?"

Kakashi analyzed, "Tetsu and Chiyo already captured one Jinchūriki. We can't fall behind. Yagura is not just the Mizukage but also the Three Tails Jinchūriki. Capturing him would severely demoralize the enemy."

Feeling confident, Kakashi and Tenzo discreetly followed Yagura.

Meanwhile, Mei returned to her room, revealing her Sharingan. She later met with a crow, handing it a letter. The crow took off, and it was clear: Mei, the future Fifth Mizukage, was a double agent for the Uchiha.

In this looming war between the Five Great Shinobi Countries and the Uchiha Clan, while the battles hadn't fully ignited, the Uchiha were clearly gaining the upper hand in the intelligence war.

...

Amidst the endless expanse of the sea, under the clear skies, a single streak cut through the tranquil waves, sending ripples in its wake. It was Yagura Karatachi. Currently, a large tail covered with grey spines sprouted from his back, moving to and fro in the water, propelling him at a speed faster than a shark. This was the power of the Three-Tails, Isobu. As the Tailed Beast's Jinchūriki, Yagura was filled with confidence, especially in the sea where he felt almost invincible.

To protect their Tailed Beast from the Uchiha clan's potential threats, Kirigakure had placed a special chakra mark on Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchūriki. Yagura was using this mark to track Utakata's chakra.

Suddenly, not far ahead, a small uninhabited island appeared. Though such islands were not uncommon, Yagura felt something amiss. Unlike the typical barren islands, this one was teeming with lush greenery. More than that, he felt a faint chakra emanating from it.

Yagura approached with caution and set foot on the island, venturing into the forest, searching for the source of the chakra. As he moved, he stepped on a vine. Oddly, the vine seemed to recoil as if hurt.

Suddenly, he realized that the forest floor was free of any leaves or twigs. This was no ordinary forest – it had been conjured out of thin air. Yagura sensed that the entire forest was the source of the chakra he had felt.

Without warning, the trees came alive. Vines and branches whipped around like monstrous tentacles, converging on him from every direction.

Ambushed!

Despite being the Mizukage and a Tailed Beast Jinchūriki, Yagura found himself overwhelmed. Vines wrapped around him, and as they tightened, the ground beneath him turned soft, like quicksand. In moments, he was pinned beneath a growing tree.

Wood Style: Deep Forest Burial!

"Is it over?" Tenzo emerged from the woods, looking at the place where Yagura was trapped. He and Kakashi had laid this trap, using Wood Style to create a forest to lure Yagura.

Suddenly, with a burst of chakra, a red figure with three tails emerged, breaking free. Yagura, now in a semi-Tailed Beast form, with an aura of red chakra, turned his gaze to Tenzo, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Tenzo quickly melded into a tree to avoid confrontation.

As Yagura attempted to escape the forest, a blinding arc of lightning streaked toward him, accompanied by the distinct chirping sound of Chidori.

Lightning Style: Chidori.

The user was a silver-haired man with a cold, piercing gaze and a Sharingan with three tomoe in one eye – Kakashi Hatake.

Yagura tried to dodge, but the Chidori severed two of his tails. Losing balance, Yagura skidded across the sand, leaving a long trail behind him.

"Tenzo."

Emerging from the woods, Tenzo joined Kakashi, and both turned their attention to Yagura. Despite his semi-Tailed Beast transformation, Yagura still maintained a significant degree of his sanity. Squinting, he looked at the Sharingans of the two men in front of him and spoke, "Kakashi, and you, the Wood Style user Tenzo. I've heard that you're now rogue ninjas on Konoha's S-rank wanted list. It seems you've joined the Uchiha clan and become their dogs."

Facing Yagura's taunts, Kakashi remained unfazed, calmly stating, "Please come with us."

Yagura sneered in response, disdainfully retorting, "Just the two of you? One's a fake Uchiha with a transplanted Sharingan, the other a cheap imitation of the First Hokage. Two knock-offs daring to act so bold here."

To Yagura, only a true Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan was worthy of his attention. He dismissed these two "impostors."

But as he finished speaking, he lunged at them.

Seeing Yagura's aggressive approach, Kakashi, with a focused gaze, told Tenzo, "Stay back, I'll handle him," and swiftly moved to intercept Yagura.

Their fists clashed in a rapid melee. This guy... wasn't going to be easy.

Yagura quickly realized he had underestimated Kakashi. Their strengths and speeds matched evenly, with neither gaining the upper hand. To his surprise, even his Tailed Beast cloak couldn't harm Kakashi, thanks to Kakashi's own protective cloak — Guruguru.

Empowered by Guruguru, Kakashi's combat abilities rivaled that of a semi-transformed Yagura.

Coral Palm!

Suddenly, Yagura spotted an opening and swiftly moved behind Kakashi, launching his attack. This technique would cause corals to sprout on anyone it hit, immobilizing them.

But what he hadn't expected was that Kakashi had deliberately left that opening. Not only did Kakashi possess the Sharingan, but he also had a transplanted Byakugan. With a 360° field of vision, he had anticipated Yagura's every move.

Byakugan, activate!

Kakashi's temples bulged as he activated his Byakugan, effortlessly dodging Yagura's Coral Palm.

In a split-second counter, Kakashi's hand glowed with the brilliance of lightning and landed a blow on Yagura's chest.

Intense electric currents paralyzed Yagura, incapacitating him. At that moment, wooden tendrils shot up from the ground, ensnaring him — Tenzo's Wood Style binding technique.

"Roar!"

Furious, Yagura roared, preparing to unleash the full power of his Tailed Beast.

His form expanded, covered in spines, breaking free from the wood bindings and forcing Kakashi back. Full Tailed Beast transformation.

But Kakashi and Tenzo were ready.

"Now!"

Kakashi yelled, channeling Guruguru's chakra through his Sharingan to disrupt Yagura with a genjutsu.

The real coup de grâce came from Tenzo. Dashing forward, Tenzo formed hand seals. Holding his right wrist with his left hand, a black "座" character appeared on his right palm.

With a swift motion, he placed his hand on Yagura's forehead.

The technique, Fire Style Ear Whisper Technique: Kokuō Entrance Hand, released a massive amount of Wood Style chakra into Yagura.

Suddenly, massive wooden pillars rose from the ground, forming a cage around Yagura. His transformation halted midway, and he soon collapsed, unconscious.

It was a success.

The technique was one used by the First Hokage, possessing potent hypnotic effects capable of subduing even the Nine-Tails. While Tenzo might not possess the First Hokage's immense power, subduing the Three-Tails was well within his capability.

"Good thing he didn't fully transform, or we'd be in real trouble," Kakashi mused.

The two exchanged relieved glances, acknowledging their efficient teamwork.

With Kakashi's enhanced strength thanks to Guruguru, he had managed to keep Yagura occupied from the front. Tenzo, with his Wood Style, capitalized on the opportunity, effectively capturing Yagura.

"Let's go."

Kakashi instructed Tenzo, binding the unconscious Yagura with Wood Style.

Together, they swiftly departed.