The Mizukage Is Strong But Overly Cautious

"The Hoźuki's Full Moon!!"

"What exactly is going on?!"

Yagura Karatachi's face darkened as he realized the tide of battle had shifted dramatically. The sudden arrival of Hoźuki Mangetsu was an unmistakable sign that things were not in his favor. He clenched his fists, his mind racing.

Hoźuki Mangetsu, the prodigy of the Hoźuki Clan and master of all Seven Swords of the Mist, stood confidently before him. Unlike the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he had long been a wildcard, and now he had declared his allegiance.

Mangetsu merely smirked at Yagura's frustration, making no sudden moves. He knew that time was on his side. If Mizuki Taki successfully completed the unsealing of Isobu, the Three-Tails, the battlefield would shift in Mizukage's favor.

That addition alone—a Bijū at full strength—would tip the war's scales beyond repair.

"Xiguashan, you look absolutely pitiful right now."

Before Mangetsu could speak, a mocking voice interrupted. A tall, one-eyed man wielding a massive, wide-bladed sword sneered at the Suikazan fuguki.

"Disgraceful."

Beside him, a short, stocky man let out a cruel chuckle.

These were none other than Jinin Akebino, wielder of the Kabutowari (Helmet Splitter), and Jinpachi Munashi, wielder of the explosive blade Shibuki.

Finally, the last voice came from Kushimaru Kuriarare, the most composed of the three, yet his scorn was unmistakable.

"This is not the legacy the Second Mizukage intended for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen." His cold gaze locked onto the Suikazan fuguki. "Your betrayal is a disgrace to our name."

Yagura's expression hardened. These three—Jinin, Jinpachi, and Kushimaru—were all loyal to the Hoźuki Clan. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were originally formed under the Second Mizukage, a close ally of the Hoźukis, so their allegiance was unsurprising.

With this shift, Yagura's advantage in elite combat power had just crumbled.

First, Raiga Kurosuki had been critically wounded. Now, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were evenly split.

Three against three.

"Hoźuki Mangetsu," Yagura called out, his voice firm but measured. "This battle has nothing to do with your clan. Why interfere?"

"You and I both understand the state of Kirigakure under Mizuki Taki."

"I act only for the good of the village."

"There's no need for us to be enemies. If you won't stand with me, at least don't stand against me."

"I'll offer you a deal—withdraw now, and when I claim victory, the title of Mizukage is yours."

Yagura's tone was sincere, his scarlet Sharingan-like eyes meeting Mangetsu's gaze. Even now, he played the role of a man with Kirigakure's best interests at heart.

"Pfft… Hahahaha!!!"

Instead of replying, Mangetsu burst into laughter. His laughter grew wilder, shaking with amusement, until tears formed at the corners of his eyes.

Yagura's expression turned grim.

"What's so funny?" he snapped.

Mangetsu wiped his eyes, his smile fading into cold amusement.

"I'm laughing at you, of course. How pathetic."

"You actually thought I'd believe that nonsense?"

"And you say this has 'nothing to do with the Hoźuki Clan'?"

"Anyone who dares to conspire with Iwagakure is an enemy of the Hoźuki Clan."

At that moment, Mangetsu's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by icy hostility. His violet eyes gleamed with malice as he tossed a sealing scroll into the air.

With a burst of chakra, the scroll unraveled, and from it rolled a severed head.

A head with an Iwagakure forehead protector.

The crowd fell into stunned silence. Even among the Anbu under Yagura's command, many were visibly shaken.

They had been loyal to him, but the revelation that he had conspired with Iwagakure was a betrayal of Kirigakure itself.

The morale of Yagura's forces plummeted.

"So that's how it is…"

Yagura's gaze flickered toward the severed head, his expression darkening with understanding.

No wonder his Iwagakure contacts had suddenly gone silent.

No wonder the Hoźuki Clan had mobilized so quickly, as if they had been waiting for him to make a move.

This was a trap.

They had planned to expose him from the beginning.

The realization made Yagura grit his teeth.

He thought back to an unexpected late-night visit from Maeda Genshō, and the sudden appearance of a cryptic letter before he had left his stronghold.

Someone had orchestrated this entire scenario.

They had manipulated every move he made, forcing him into this exact moment.

But who?

His instincts told him it couldn't be Mangetsu alone.

Mangetsu was powerful and intelligent, but he lacked the patience for such a long-term game.

No, someone else had set this in motion.

A shadow hidden behind Mizuki Taki.

A mastermind who had orchestrated everything flawlessly.

And that was what truly terrified Yagura.

Because for the first time in his life…

He had no idea who he was up against.

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