"Chōjūrō!!"
Mei Terumī saw everything from mid-air but had no way to stop it. She could only watch as the corrosive liquid dripped down, covering Chōjūrō's entire body without leaving a single gap.
This was acid strong enough to corrode even Susanoo.
"This is a battlefield. How dare you lose focus while fighting me?"
Delta immediately fired another purple laser.
Mei Terumī had no control over her body while suspended in the air. She could only endure the attack while trying to close the distance by riding the force of her own Water Release.
She forced a Water Dragon Bullet forward to block the beam, but the water dragon was instantly erased. What she saw next was Delta rapidly closing in.
Murderous intent filled Delta's eyes. Adjusting her posture mid-air, she twisted one leg and unleashed a sweeping whip kick toward Mei Terumī.
Too late!!
With no leverage in the air to dodge, Mei Terumī could only cross her arms in front of her head, bracing for the impact to avoid a fatal blow.
The strength of that leg was undeniable. It had just blocked Hiramekarei head-on.
Just as the howling kick was about to strike her abdomen—
A water cannon blasted upward from below.
Chōjūrō's eyes were fixed on Delta.
That was close.
He exhaled slowly.
His condition was terrible. Mei Terumī's Lava Release had nearly killed him. If he hadn't wrapped himself in a Water Prison beforehand, he would already be dead.
Even so, his skin was burned and corroded everywhere, throbbing with pain like thousands of ants biting into him.
"Oh? Wouldn't it be better if you just stayed down?" Delta looked down coldly.
"Destroying Laser!"
Chōjūrō gritted his teeth, pouring chakra into Hiramekarei once more. Blue flames wrapped the blade as he stomped the ground and shot upward again.
The laser was split apart like flowing water.
Delta didn't retreat. Her legs transformed instantly.
One stomped downward. The other twisted into a whip-like extension.
Chōjūrō sensed the danger immediately. He rotated one blade in a wide arc to build momentum and slashed upward, while the other sword guarded above his head.
Thump—!
The clash sent shockwaves blasting through the surrounding air.
Delta's leg coiled like a snake, slipping around the twin blades and sweeping toward Chōjūrō's back.
"Water Release: Water Arrow!"
Mei Terumī reacted instantly. Several arrows formed from condensed water and shot forward.
Ding—!
The water arrows struck Delta's leg and disrupted the attack.
Chōjūrō spun in mid-air and countered with a slash.
Sizzle—!
After several failed exchanges, he dropped back down and was caught safely by Mei Terumī's flowing water.
"Tch. They're really troublesome," Delta muttered, visibly annoyed.
What should have been an overwhelming victory had dragged on this long.
And Chōjūrō's injuries had mostly come from friendly fire.
That irritated her deeply.
On the ground, Chōjūrō breathed heavily. He had poured out a massive chakra without landing any real damage.
"Chōjūrō, your injuries—" Mei Terumī asked.
His clothes were almost entirely corroded, and large patches of skin were ulcerated. The calm Mizukage from before was barely recognizable.
"I'm fine," he said, steadying his breathing.
"Mizukage-sama, I noticed something. Aside from the laser and her transforming legs, she has no other methods. If we can strike her upper body, we might have a chance."
Mei Terumī smiled faintly. "Chōjūrō, have you forgotten your position after one battle?"
He froze, then smiled awkwardly.
Right now, she wasn't the Mizukage. She was the senior standing beside him.
The feeling reminded him of the Fourth Shinobi World War, when he had fought under her guidance.
Mei Terumī coughed lightly and refocused. "Her eyes allow her to absorb ninjutsu."
Just like Kaguya.
"In other words," Chōjūrō continued, "ninjutsu won't work. And those legs are troublesome. But her weaknesses are obvious."
"As long as we don't give her time to absorb, and we restrict her legs, we can do this."
"…But her legs are extremely strong. Without a ninja sword, can you restrain her?"
"Hehe," Mei Terumī laughed softly. "Let's worry about bringing her down first."
High in the air, Delta watched them whispering with impatience.
Mei Terumī posed little threat since her ninjutsu could be absorbed. Chōjūrō was the real problem.
A strange silence fell.
Then Chōjūrō suddenly realized something.
"This fog… It's not affecting her vision!"
Mei Terumī's eyes widened.
So this is the strength of Kara…
"Chōjūrō! Water Release: Waterspout!"
A massive water tornado erupted beneath them, lifting both of them upward within its rotating column.
Delta sneered. "Clumsy trick."
Her right eye glowed and began absorbing the waterspout, halting their ascent.
"Her eyes!!"
"I saw it!"
They immediately split apart, leaping onto nearby buildings and rushing toward Delta from two sides.
Delta turned her attention toward Chōjūrō. A laser locked onto his head with precise calculation.
"Water Release: Water Array!"
The surrounding mist was filled with tiny water particles. Mei Terumī manipulated them to block the laser.
Chōjūrō climbed higher without hesitation until he reached Delta's level.
Delta shifted her legs to intercept him—
At that exact moment, Mei Terumī's figure suddenly appeared beside Chōjūrō.
"Lava Release: Lava Monster Technique!"
Delta was caught off guard. Before she could retract her legs, the corrosive lava stuck them to the wall.
Chōjūrō instantly leaped onto her immobilized legs and used them as a bridge to close the distance.
Delta tried to absorb the ninjutsu from her legs, but had to switch to firing lasers instead.
Chōjūrō stood directly near her body. Close enough that his sword movements were completely unhindered.
Blade met laser.
Delta increased the output, forcing Chōjūrō to slide down toward her stuck knee.
"Tch. I almost got killed by you," Delta said.
Chōjūrō smiled faintly.
"Oh? Why would you think I want to kill you? …Though I really do."
Delta glanced at Mei Terumī standing on the wall and sneered.
"Her? Just her?"
"Yes," Chōjūrō nodded firmly.
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