Chapter 50: This Round is a Draw

The scene before them was a fatal blow to the morale of the Mizukage’s side.

The fight hadn't even started, and out of two great generals, one defected before the battle, and the other was backstabbed and killed in seconds.

How could they fight?

The leader of the Mizukage Guard stared at Suikazan Fuguki, his eyes seemingly about to spit fire.

Traitors are looked down upon everywhere.

Kurosuki Raiga struggled to crawl up from the ground, blood still constantly gushing from the hideous wound on his chest.

"Suikazan..."

"You despicable villain..."

Kurosuki Raiga cursed at Suikazan Fuguki, who had already jumped far away, while wiping the blood gushing from the corner of his mouth.

Due to a ninja’s physique, a wound that would be fatal for an ordinary person should still be treatable for Kurosuki Raiga if rescued in time.

But at this moment, Kurosuki Raiga obviously had little chance of being rescued.

Regarding this, Suikazan Fuguki still wore a malicious smile.

Because he was close to Kurosuki Raiga in daily life, Suikazan Fuguki knew very well that Kurosuki Raiga had a move similar to "self-destruction."

So naturally, the further away he was, the better.

And this suicidal attack move would soon become unusable as his body became increasingly weak.

Kurosuki Raiga, the wielder of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen’s Lightning Sword, Kiba, became the first high-end combatant to be eliminated in this battle.

"Hahahahaha!!!"

Suddenly, a harsh burst of laughter brought everyone’s consciousness back to reality, and they saw Karatachi Yagura laughing wildly and saying to Suikazan Fuguki:

"Suikazan, you did a great job!"

"I didn't expect you to act so well."

Karatachi Yagura praised Suikazan Fuguki, who was not far away, with a ferocious smile.

It was very clear that this wielder of the Great Sword Samehada had long been bought off by Karatachi Yagura.

And the purpose was precisely for this critical moment.

Hearing this, Suikazan Fuguki also jumped to Karatachi Yagura’s side and said with a fawning expression:

"Everything is due to Chief Karatachi’s brilliant strategy."

"I just followed the trend."

Suikazan Fuguki’s fawning posture made the surrounding ninjas frown one after another.

Even though they belonged to the same camp, they looked down on a sycophant like Suikazan Fuguki.

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Karatachi Yagura still seemed unsatisfied and looked at Suikazan Fuguki with a meaningful look.

Soon, Suikazan Fuguki reacted.

"No, it’s Lord Fourth."

And this time, Karatachi Yagura smiled.

Seeing this, everyone felt a chill; this member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had far less of a bottom line than they had imagined.

"Very good, Suikazan, I really didn't misjudge you."

Karatachi Yagura nodded in satisfaction, his posture one of someone who already had victory in his grasp.

In fact, Karatachi Yagura’s actions were understandable.

After all, looking at the current situation, whether it was a contest of high-end combat power or sheer numbers, Karatachi Yagura held an absolute advantage.

Especially after the loss of Kurosuki Raiga, if Karatachi Yagura were to lead the three remaining members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in a swarm, the Third Mizukage would be unable to fend off so many attackers; defeat was inevitable.

With such an overwhelming advantage, how could he possibly lose?

Before Karatachi Yagura could revel in his triumph for long, the situation on the field changed abruptly.

A thick fog suddenly permeated the surface of the lake, reducing visibility to less than a meter and rendering everything impossible to perceive.

Sight, hearing, and smell were all severely restricted.

This was, of course, no natural mist, but an ability familiar to almost every Mist ninja.

Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Jutsu!

"Playing god, are you?"

"Is this all you have left? Are you really going to embarrass yourself with such petty tricks?"

Karatachi Yagura said with disdain.

As a Mist ninja, he was naturally extremely clear on the characteristics of the Hidden Mist Jutsu.

Within the Mist Anbu, if not everyone could use it, at least half of them could.

As the Mist Anbu Commander and one of the top powerhouses in the Hidden Mist Village, how could Karatachi Yagura not know how to counter this jutsu?

Wind Style: Typhoon Passage!

A massive cyclone began to condense in the air, and the mist permeating the surroundings was absorbed by the whirlwind one by one.

This was no ordinary Wind Style, but Karatachi Yagura’s exclusive jutsu, specifically designed to break the Hidden Mist Jutsu.

In less than ten seconds, the thick fog had completely dissipated.

But the scene that followed made Karatachi Yagura’s pupils contract violently.

"Commander Karatachi, thank you for letting everyone see such a farce."

A cold, effeminate voice rang out over the lake, and everyone gasped the moment they saw the figure.

Especially Suikazan Fuguki, who stood beside Karatachi Yagura; he couldn't help but take a sharp step backward.

Originally, the outermost perimeter of the Lake of Mist was guarded by the Kaguya clan, with a massive barrier maintained by Mist Anbu ninjas.

The purpose was to prevent the Third Mizukage from escaping and to block external reinforcements from reaching the center of the lake.

At the very center was the island where the Three-Tails unsealing was being nervously conducted, along with nearly a hundred elites led by the Mizukage.

The main force led by Karatachi Yagura was currently surrounding the island, postured for a full-scale assault.

And now, in the zone between Karatachi Yagura and the Kaguya clan on the outside, a new force had appeared.

Countless ninjas wearing Mist uniforms and headbands appeared as if dropped from the heavens, splitting Karatachi Yagura from the Mist Anbu maintaining the outer barrier and the Kaguya clan ninjas.

"Hozuki Mangetsu!"

Karatachi Yagura coldly spat out the name. He looked at the white-haired youth with eyes full of shock, his face incredibly gloomy.

This was an effeminate youth of medium height, thin and fair-skinned.

The youth wore his white hair in a short, ear-length cut, giving him a delicate, handsome appearance that was in no way inferior to the popular idols of his past life.

The youth was none other than the current head of the Hozuki clan, recognized by his contemporaries as the greatest genius of the Hidden Mist: Hozuki Mangetsu!

Besides him, standing at Hozuki Mangetsu’s side were three strange ninjas carrying various blades.

Furthermore, a large number of ninjas belonging to the Mizukage’s faction and the Hozuki clan stood behind Hozuki Mangetsu.

Even a small portion of Mist Anbu ninjas, who hadn't removed their outer cloaks, were mixed into the crowd behind Hozuki Mangetsu.

Karatachi Yagura swept his gaze toward his own men; sure enough, a small portion of the Mist Anbu under his command had suddenly vanished.

It stood to reason that they had quietly switched sides during the time the Hidden Mist Jutsu was active.

Well, nearly a hundred Mist Anbu ninjas for one Suikazan Fuguki—a fair trade.

This wave of mutual defection before the battle could be considered a draw.

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