The Mizukage Is Strong But Overly Cautious

Mizuki Ryosuke waited patiently in the shadows, unconcerned about whether the Third Mizukage could withstand the pressure now that a large number of Anbu had rushed toward the Lake of Mist.

After confirming that most of Anbu's main forces—including Yagura—had left, he finally moved.

Mizuki Ryosuke formed a one-handed seal, and eight irregular, diamond-shaped Hyōton ice mirrors, each about fifty centimeters in diameter, materialized around him. As they formed a complete 360-degree enclosure, refracted sunlight bent unnaturally, distorting the surrounding environment.

Then—he vanished.

In his place was an illusionary projection that blended seamlessly into the landscape.

Secret Technique: Magic Mirror Imitation!

Leveraging his Hyōton kekkei genkai, Mizuki Ryosuke combined light refraction with a precise genjutsu overlay. After rigorous trial and error, he perfected this secret technique, creating an effect akin to the optical camouflage used by the Yuki Clan's stealth operatives.

This advanced manipulation of light wasn't just a simple transformation—it was a complete erasure of his presence.

With this, Mizuki Ryosuke infiltrated the Anbu building.

From the beginning, he knew Yagura was never the greatest obstacle.

That boy—merely a puppet in the grand scheme—could be handled by Mizuki Taki.

But was Yagura a mere "chess piece"? Or a "chess player"?

Behind him, lurking in the shadows, could be Uchiha Madara—one of the twin titans of the shinobi world.

Uchiha Madara!

The man who clashed with Senju Hashirama, single-handedly turned the Five Kage into playthings, and wielded power that shattered mountains.

Even in his old age, despite implanting his Rinnegan into Nagato, he was still more than capable of eliminating Kage-level opponents with ease.

Mizuki Ryosuke needed to confirm whether Yagura was under Madara's control.

From his research, even if Madara used Sharingan genjutsu to dominate a Kage-level ninja, prolonged control would require proximity. There was no way to manipulate Yagura from afar.

Which meant Madara—or his agent—was inside Kirigakure.

Among the many possible locations, one stood out.

The Anbu Headquarters.

Thus, Mizuki Ryosuke aimed to exploit the current chaos, sneaking in while Anbu was at its weakest.

A dangerous move? Of course.

But ignoring a threat like Madara was the real risk.

A single mistake could see Kirigakure's leadership annihilated in an instant.

Fortunately, Mizuki Ryosuke had the advantage—he had planned every step meticulously. The probability of successfully infiltrating the Anbu building and escaping unharmed was at least 99%.

And if, by some misfortune, he really encountered Madara?

He wouldn't hesitate.

He'd abandon everything, return to his underground safe house, and flee with Lian and Mizuki Liuhua without a second thought.

No hesitation. No second chances.

Having solidified his resolve, Mizuki Ryosuke proceeded cautiously, entering the Anbu building with the utmost care.

What was once the most heavily secured facility in Kirigakure was now practically deserted.

The entrance was guarded by only two Chūnin.

For a ninja of his caliber, slipping past them was trivial. His Magic Mirror Imitation ensured he remained completely undetectable.

Inside, the headquarters was eerily empty—only a handful of shinobi remained to guard classified areas.

Weaving through the hallways undetected, Mizuki Ryosuke infiltrated the deepest section of the complex.

But even here, he found nothing unusual.

Rather than being disappointed, he smirked.

He had another theory.

Despite his unassuming special Jōnin status, Mizuki Ryosuke possessed far more secrets than most imagined.

One of them?

He was a natural-born five-element user.

As widely known, a shinobi's chakra nature determines the affinity they can train in.

Typically, the Mizuki Clan only possessed Wind and Water natures.

Their Hyōton (Ice Release) was a kekkei genkai formed from these two.

But Mizuki Ryosuke had all five elements—an anomaly found only among legends like Sarutobi Hiruzen, Senju Tobirama, and Hatake Kakashi.

(Kakuzu didn't count—his ability was due to his stolen hearts, not natural talent.)

A shinobi with five elemental affinities had unparalleled versatility.

And right now, it was about to prove invaluable.

A ninja lacking Earth Release would have been stuck at this dead end.

But not him.

Earth Style: Underground Fish Projection Jutsu!

With a flicker of hand seals, he dispelled his Magic Mirror Imitation and sank into the ground.

Because his real target…

Was the Anbu Headquarters' underground chambers.

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