The Third Mizukage acts decisively.
Faced with unfavorable battlefield conditions, he decisively divided a portion of the troops, choosing to cut losses to survive...
The units that had advanced were already caught and decimated by Konoha's ground forces.
Coordinating with the airborne wing-suit units, raining down poisoned needles from above, it was nothing short of a massacre.
Only the rearguard near the Third Mizukage's position, sheltered by Ice Release, managed to avoid most of the impact and still retained some semblance of combat capability.
But under the seemingly cataclysmic black flames, their fighting spirit collapsed, turning them into a rout.
The elders of the Terumi Clan watched this scene in a daze, grateful they had been cautious and stayed at the back.
Under the protection of the Third Mizukage's Ice Release, they used Water Release to fend off the black flames, narrowly avoiding excessive casualties.
The Kaguya Clan nearby faced a similar situation.
However, interestingly, many of the hot-blooded Kaguya members still wanted to utilize their Dead Bone Pulse powers, with some even attempting to touch Amaterasu...
Thanks to the bone growth from the Dead Bone Pulse and their body's strong recovery abilities, the Kaguya Clan ninjas weren't crippled or reduced to fuel for Amaterasu, but they understood the level of this Fire Release...
So strong!
Seeing Kaguya Kimijiro and Terumi Mei, the previously stubborn clan elders began to realize why these two geniuses from their clans were so determined to join under Aomi's command...
This young man from the Uchiha Clan is truly formidable.
Especially with Aomi's Warring States-style blood red plate armor, reminding many elders of unpleasant memories...
A complex feeling.
Aomi's personal combat style somewhat resembles Uchiha Madara's.
Lavish, wild, especially with those scarlet Sharingan, their dangerous power feels like daggers, causing pain even when just glanced at.
However, Konoha's collective warfare tactics reminded the Third Mizukage of Senju Tobirama.
Sly, cunning, enjoying setting traps and tricks, manipulating hearts while unleashing new types of Kinjutsu and ninja tools for the harshest strikes on the enemy.
In Aomi, the Third Mizukage saw two individuals who had once been the biggest headaches for Konoha's foes...
"Ice Release: Thousand Ice Seal"!
Even though he wanted Aomi to chase after him, his hands moved to block him.
With his jutsu, the ground was covered in a smooth layer of ice, studded with sharp icicles.
Then, with his fingers moving rapidly, a dozen ice dragon heads erupted from the ground, whistling as they spat ice spears at the aerial units.
The Hidden Mist troops, under his leadership, fled desperately in the direction they came.
Not only did the Third Mizukage want to lure Aomi to the water's edge, but the Hidden Mist ninjas thought the same...
Having witnessed the Third Mizukage subduing the Three-tails in the ocean and his extraordinary skill in Water Release techniques, they still harbored a faint hope.
If Aomi rashly led the Konoha forces to the sea, then even in this already lost war, there might be a chance for a desperate counterattack...
And behind them.
Just as they had hoped, Aomi led the charge with elite Root members following close behind in pursuit...
"Although he's a cunning Uchiha brat, he still holds the arrogance typical of their clan!"
The Third Mizukage glanced back at the pursuing Aomi, gritted his teeth, and muttered, "Terumi Mei, Kisame, Zabuza, Kaguya Kimijiro..."
"You four traitorous scum from the Hidden Mist Village, I'll sentence you to the extreme penalty!"
"Your biggest mistake was not persuading this Uchiha not to follow you to the sea!"
In the Third Mizukage's view, his reputation was well-known in the Hidden Mist.
In this village surrounded by the sea on all sides, he was one of the strongest ninjas, and over the years, the Hidden Mist had solidified this belief.
Otherwise, given the brutality of the Blood Mist Village he initiated, there would've been ninja clans planning a rebellion long ago...
But, the Third Mizukage was indeed very strong, to the extent that it forced the Hidden Mist ninja clans to endure.
Chased and pursuing, with the Third Mizukage's deliberate maneuvering and Aomi's intentional slowing of pace, the two sides arrived at the seashore.
At the seashore.
Nearly a hundred speedboats and a dozen heavy ships bobbed in the nearby waters, the unique vessels of the Hidden Mist Village.
The Third Mizukage's gaze brightened, and he quickly boarded a ship, ordering an increase in speed, as if he couldn't wait to scurry back to the Hidden Mist Village...
Though his actions were somewhat exaggerated, his acting was generally passable.
Aomi watched the scene with a faint smile, shaking his head.
Just trying to lure him onto the open sea, huh?
I'm game.
"You all hold your ground here, I'll go test the Third Mizukage's strength, be right back..."
Aomi waved his hand, signaling Kisame and the others behind him to stay put.
"Master Aomi, it's really dangerous!"
Kisame's small shark-like eyes widened to their maximum as he urgently said, "Water Release ninjas become exponentially stronger near water sources!"
"Especially for someone like the Third Mizukage who knows the Water Transformation Jutsu, the ocean is his endless supply of water and weapon!"
Zabuza and Terumi Mei also urged.
The war this time was already a huge victory.
The Hidden Mist Village had lost about half of its combat power and was on the verge of collapse overall.
Once we return to the village, it will require massive effort just to push off the responsibility for this war and engage in internal conflicts, making it nearly impossible to wage war against Konoha again.
From a strategic standpoint, indeed, there's no need to take the risk of fighting the Third Mizukage on the ocean anymore.
"This is an order."
Although Aomi had a smile on his face, his tone became firm, "Stand by."
Then, Aomi chased after them alone…
Behind him, the Root Ninjas stood in a row, waiting for their commander to return triumphantly.
Only Kisame and the others were anxiously moving around, staring at Aomi's retreating figure, sweating profusely.
"We need to come up with a plan, in case something unexpected happens, how to save Master Aomi..."
Terumi Mei frowned deeply, "Kisame, both you and I are proficient in Water Release, so when the time comes, we'll have to rely on us!"
Kisame nodded heavily, constantly reviewing the hand seals for the Great Bursting Water Wave in his mind, wanting to be faster when it was time to release ninjutsu.
Zabuza sighed; would the Hidden Mist Jutsu be of any use?
Only Kaguya Kimijiro appeared deep in thought and slowly said:
"Tell me, is there a possibility that Master Aomi is actually very strong in Water Release?"
"Otherwise, given his wisdom, how could he put himself in danger? He is no ordinary member of the Kaguya Clan who only knows how to fight, but a wise man who understands the true meaning of life..."
The corner of Kisame's mouth twitched; how did Master Aomi become a member of the Kaguya Clan?
The patterns engraved on that plate armor, they are of the Uchiha Clan!
Upon hearing these words, Hyuga Hizashi burst into laughter, patting Kaguya Kimijiro on the shoulder and said with admiration, "As expected of our Hyuga Clan's close kin, you're smart and perceptive!"
"Quite observant!"
Even Terumi Mei couldn't hold back, thinking that Kaguya Kimijiro's intellect was top-notch even in the Hidden Mist Village...
And this can still be considered smart and flexible?
But seeing the looks of expectation on the faces of the Root Ninjas around, both Terumi Mei and Kisame hesitated a bit...
Could it be that Aomi is truly proficient in Water Release?
Even though they had seen Aomi's Hidden Mist Jutsu, they did not think any other ninja could surpass the Third Mizukage's Secret Technique of Water Release...
Especially since Aomi was an Uchiha.
Thousands of meters into the sea territory.
"Kid, I admire your courage, but it's all over now!"
The Third Mizukage suddenly turned his gaze fierce, jumping off the ship, "In the ocean, no one can defeat me!"
"Water Release: Water Cannon Jutsu!"
The Third Mizukage made a gun gesture, and in the ocean, he did not need to draw much from his own chakra to use Water Release; he only needed to harness the inexhaustible water sources around.
At his fingertips, countless water sources compressed to form a spiraling heavy water mass, buzzing loudly.
Aomi squinted his eyes and nodded.
No wonder Kisame and the others were so afraid of the Third Mizukage near the sea...
From what Aomi remembered of Hozuki Gengetsu's Water Cannon Jutsu, it did not have such power.
"Can Hozuki Clan's Water Cannon Jutsu gain such an enhancement in the water territory?"
Aomi and Senju Tobirama asked in amazement, "Isn't this stronger than you as a Water Release Grandmaster?"
Senju Tobirama looked slightly displeased but still nodded:
"The Hozuki Clan's Secret Technique naturally aligns their physique with water sources, giving them tremendous advantage in water battles..."
"This kid isn't the strongest; the former Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu's Water Release was truly difficult. I once analyzed and roughly figured out the techniques, but before I could digest and learn them after the war, I was ambushed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku!"
In Aomi's eyes, the tomoe in his Sharingan glowed with peculiar light, focusing on the Third Mizukage's technique—
His hand also formed a gun gesture.
And at Aomi's fingertips, a more powerful Water Cannon Jutsu instantly charged up!