"The sea is my domain."
"The seawater is my strength."
"Summoning Technique!"
The Third Mizukage whispered softly, then directly bit his finger in the seawater, instantly activating the summoning.
White smoke exploded underwater, and a pitch-black creature emerged.
Seeing it appear, relief flashed through the Third Mizukage's eyes.
"Now, Hague, devour him!"
"Roar!"
Above the sea, Kazuyama had just finished releasing his Torrential Pear Blossom Needle when he immediately became vigilant, activating his Hive Mind to search for the Third Mizukage's position.
But when he saw what appeared below, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Without a second thought, he soared upward again.
"Chōmei! Fly higher!"
"Quick!"
Wings sprouted, and Kazuyama desperately ascended into the sky.
What exactly had he seen?
A freaking giant electric eel!
Terrifying electrical currents were already spreading across the sea surface. The very second after he took off, massive surges of electricity transformed the water he'd just stood upon into a lightning hell.
"Roar!"
A ferocious howl sounded from beneath the waves, and streaks of electricity burst into the sky like beams of deadly light.
"A water user who summoned an electric eel as his beast?"
"Are you tired of living?!"
Kazuyama couldn't wrap his head around it. Summoned beasts should ideally match their summoner's abilities.
Water conducts electricity. So why would someone who specializes in Water Release summon a beast that generates electricity? Isn't he afraid of electrocuting himself?
Kazuyama watched numbly as the electric eel continued its rampage.
"Hmph, Hague and I have been together since childhood. To fight alongside him, what's a little electricity? Besides, electricity doesn't harm me."
The Third Mizukage slowly rose from the water, with his eel summon, Hague, circling around him. Electricity surged everywhere, yet the Mizukage remained completely unaffected—as if electricity simply couldn't touch him.
Kazuyama narrowed his eyes slightly. His mind raced, quickly spotting the key detail.
The Third Mizukage was covered in droplets of water, but those droplets were oddly visible, clinging without penetrating his skin.
Oil! That's oil!
No wonder the bastard wasn't afraid of electricity; oil is fundamentally different from water.
Seawater's conductivity stems from the countless ions within it, moving freely under electric fields, allowing electricity to flow.
But oil, being an insulator, contains virtually no free-moving charges, making it non-conductive.
Was this similar to the oil-based techniques used by the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki?
"Combining water with electricity boosts my attacks to a new level."
"Heretic brat, obediently surrender!" "Water Release! Dance of Waves and Blades!"
The seawater surged upward, morphing into countless blades—a spectacle both astonishing and terrifying.
At the same time, Hague continued releasing electricity, coating each blade in crackling lightning.
Just as he claimed, combining water and electricity vastly enhanced the technique's power.
"Fire Release! Great Fire Destruction!"
Kazuyama wasn't backing down. Water and electricity—so what? His fire techniques weren't to be underestimated either!
He unleashed a sea of flames downward.
The first fierce collision of fire and water erupted, with both sides continuously pouring chakra into their attacks.
Searing flames rapidly vaporized the seawater, filling the entire battlefield with dense steam, making visibility nearly impossible.
"It's just a stinking electric eel!"
"If we're summoning backup, I won't lose to anyone!"
"Summoning Technique!"
Even denser smoke burst forth, followed immediately by four enormous figures appearing simultaneously—gold, blue, yellow, and green.
Their colossal bodies crashed down onto the sea, splashing enormous waves into the air.
"Hm? What's this feeling?"
"Hague, be cautious! The enemy's summons are formidable."
The Third Mizukage grew serious for the first time. His senses, especially sharp on the sea, clearly picked up an intense aura of aggression from the newly summoned beasts.
"Ocean battles—I love them!"
"But when it comes to killing, I love that even more!"
Kinrin's voice, brimming with fighting spirit, echoed out of the smoky haze. The massive golden serpent didn't hesitate, immediately lunging at the electric eel with jaws wide open.
"Kinrin, watch out! Their summoned beast is an electric eel!"
"You don't have to tell me twice! Just a little electricity, after all. Today's main dish will be grilled eel!"
Among the four Kinrin sisters, Kinrin was by far the most battle-hungry.
Yulín flew up swiftly, catching Kazuyama and carrying him safely out of the steam.
"Hm? This guy's chakra level is quite impressive. Isn't this already the human limit?"
Though Yulín wasn't particularly strong in battle, his flight speed and perception were extraordinary, instantly recognizing their opponent's abnormal power.
"The Third Mizukage of Kirigakure isn't someone easy to deal with."
"Seirin, Korin, you're up!"
"Fire Release! Great Fire Destruction!"
Another sea of fire emerged. At the same instant, Kinrin's jaws clamped fiercely onto the electric eel Hague, forcefully dragging him underwater.
The Third Mizukage trusted his summon to handle itself. Instead of rushing to its aid, he targeted Kazuyama and the three serpents still airborne.
Seirin sprayed out a thick cloud of poisonous mist, while Korin swung its tail, generating powerful sonic waves.
Facing this simultaneous assault, the Third Mizukage didn't panic. His hands rapidly formed seals, then pressed onto the water.
"Water Release: Wave Giant."
Without pause, he unleashed another technique:
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
Huge pillars of seawater erupted into the sky, accompanied by deafening waves.
Though seemingly just defensive, the Mizukage had transformed the technique into a nearly perfect shield. The roaring seawater drowned out Korin's sonic attack, and the surging columns intercepted both the flames and poisonous mist.
Meanwhile, his initial technique was already taking shape—a towering giant formed entirely of seawater, its massive arms swiping aggressively toward Seirin and Korin.
Watching this unfold, Kazuyama felt thoroughly inspired.
He silently vowed to seriously train his Water Release if given the chance. After all, mastering water created epic scenes—and was terrifyingly effective to boot!
"You dare get distracted now, brat? Get down here!"
"Water Release: Seaweed Technique!"
The battlefield's advantageous terrain gave the Third Mizukage unmatched dominance. Huge streams of seawater turned into countless ribbons that shot toward the sky, swiftly entangling Yulín.
A tremendous force yanked downward, forcing Yulín toward the water.
But Kazuyama smiled confidently, unfazed.
"You're wrong about that—my counterattack is just beginning!"
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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