Chapter 275: The Counterattack Begins, Inflicting Injuries

Just a few days ago, Kazuyama had confidently declared that his strength had reached Kage-level.

But today, looking at the reality—well, he was still a bit short of a real Kage. Not that it mattered much—after all, he wasn’t fighting alone.

Chƍmei inside him was his partner. Not enough chakra? Use Chƍmei’s. Attack power not enough? Borrow Chƍmei’s.

As long as Chƍmei was there, Kazuyama had confidence to spare.

If it’s time to fight back, then fight back—taking hits without hitting back just wasn’t his style.

“Yulín, get ready to bite him to death!”

He activated Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting both himself and the snake.

Yulín, who’d been entangled midair by a current, suddenly vanished—only to reappear below the sea’s surface.

A small snake swam underwater, a technique kunai in its mouth, making its way toward the Third Mizukage’s feet.

The moment the Flying Thunder God Technique triggered, YulĂ­n appeared directly beneath the Third Mizukage, jaws wide open to strike.

“Space–Time Ninjutsu?”

“This must be the technique created by the Second Hokage. Hmph, he could’ve just stuck to perfecting Water Release, but no—he had to go tinkering with ninjutsu.”

“Striving for perfection is the path of the strong.”

The Third Mizukage dodged at high speed, casually throwing out his opinion on the Second Hokage with a hint of disdain.

Right now, the battle was at a stalemate.

Beneath the sea, the electric eel Hague was locked in a brawl with Kinrin. No matter how much electricity Hague discharged, Kinrin just absorbed it—and even looked a bit too comfortable doing so.

Above the sea, the wave giant held its ground against both Kƍrin and Seirin.

Neither Seirin nor Kƍrin were close-combat types, so they had to chip away at the wave giant bit by bit with their own abilities.

Kazuyama had also returned to the surface using the Flying Thunder God Technique, watching the Third Mizukage and thinking about his next move.

Just then, Kƍrin’s voice rang out.

“Kazuyama, that guy isn’t normal—there’s some unknown chakra in his brain. He’s being controlled!”

Kƍrin’s specialty was sound-based sensing, and her perception was top-tier. By now, her sound waves had blanketed the entire area.

With the boost from natural energy, she could clearly perceive the Third Mizukage’s condition.

“Being controlled?”

“Genjutsu?”

“To control the Third Mizukage... No way—is it Madara Uchiha?”

Kazuyama’s thoughts spiraled.

Controlling a Kage-level ninja with Genjutsu—only someone with the Uchiha Clan’s ocular powers could manage that.

And in this era, there was only one possible culprit—Madara Uchiha, hiding in the shadows.

But why? Why would he control the Mizukage to assassinate him?

A horrifying thought struck him—

Could it be that Madara, through Zetsu’s intel, had found out he took the Seven-Tails and now saw him as a threat?

Damn, if that’s the case, then he’s on the kill list...

“In that case—Transformation Technique!”

If there was any jutsu Kazuyama loved most, it was the Transformation Technique—simple and effective.

With a shift in form, he turned into Madara, clad in full armor.

“Third Mizukage, look who I am!”

He stood atop the sea, shouting at the Third Mizukage.

If Madara had really cast a Genjutsu on the guy, then seeing "Madara" should’ve immediately broken the effect.

“I don’t care who you are!”

“Water Release! Water Dragon Flurry Technique!”

Kazuyama froze as countless water dragons surged forth.

This... wasn’t what he expected at all!

“Ahhh! Why didn’t it work?!”

“I’m out!”

The murderous look on the Mizukage’s face immediately crushed his confidence.

Could it be... it wasn’t Madara Uchiha who did it?

Then it hit him.

Of course! Madara at this point in time was an old man, practically on his deathbed. There’s no way he looked like his prime-era self.

He dodged another attack from the Third Mizukage, his brow furrowing.

“Chƍmei, give me more chakra. I’m fighting back now.”

“What’ve you been doing this whole time? Just getting beat up?!”

“Uh... yeah, pretty much...”

Chƍmei was speechless. He’d handed over plenty of chakra, and this guy just kept getting smacked around. Unbelievable.

“Crystal Release! Jade Crystal Clone!”

Crystals formed, and Kazuyama split into ten clones, all rushing the Third Mizukage.

“Hmph, finally have the guts to face me head-on?”

“Brat, heretics like you should just die already.”

“Water Release: Wild Water Wave!”

It was a low-level Water Release technique, but coming from the Third Mizukage, it carried intense pressure.

All ten Kazuyama clones jumped into the air, forming hand seals in unison.

“Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Prison!”

Crystal Release’s greatest strength was its ability to crystallize anything—including seawater.

With all ten clones channeling chakra, the sea around the Third Mizukage turned into crystals, trying to trap him.

“Not a bad Kekkei Genkai.”

“Water Release, Water Formation Pillar.”

Another pillar of water shot skyward.

It, too, was inevitably going to crystallize—but the surge slowed the effect.

Taking advantage of the delay, the Third Mizukage leapt high, trying to escape the attack range.

But Kazuyama had been waiting.

“Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!”

Countless serpents shot out, wrapping around the Third Mizukage’s body and binding him.

An opportunity!

“Got you—slash!”

His wing blade appeared, slashing downward.

The Third Mizukage’s brow twitched slightly, but he didn’t panic.

A surge of water exploded from his body, condensing into a blade.

“Water Release, Water Fang Blade.”

The water blade shattered the snakes.

Clang!

Two weapons—not quite swords—clashed violently.

Water and crystal shards exploded in all directions.

“Tch! Tough guy!”

Kazuyama abandoned the wing blade and instead launched a punch toward the Mizukage’s face.

They were still mid-air, and the Mizukage had nowhere to dodge—so he threw a punch of his own.

Exactly what Kazuyama wanted.

As their fists connected, he planted a Flying Thunder God mark on the Mizukage.

The seal instantly shifted onto him.

The clash sent both of them flying backward.

“Not bad, for a brat. Good at Taijutsu too.”

“Too bad, in the end, this world is—”

Shhhk!

The Third Mizukage had just landed and started speaking when something felt off.

He quickly dodged—

But it was too late.

Pain shot through him. A long crystal blade had pierced his right arm.

And the one holding it—was Kazuyama.

“No wonder you wanted to get up close...”

“You were placing a Space–Time Ninjutsu marker, weren’t you?”