Chapter 50: Snatching Prey from the Tiger's Jaws — The Three-Tails
Once it entered the lake, the battlefield instantly became the absolute domain of the Three-Tails, Isobu.
The water seemed like an extension of its own body. That massive, seemingly cumbersome frame moved through the lake with unbelievable agility.
With a casual sweep of its enormous tail, towering waves erupted, like violent Water Release techniques unleashed at will, crashing toward the Kirigakure shinobi on the shore.
Isobu opened its mouth and fired—though its destructive power fell short of a Tailed Beast Bomb, the Water Cannons it spat out were still terrifying. Like an unending barrage of high-pressure water artillery, they precisely blanketed the Third Mizukage and the elite shinobi around him.
"Scatter! Evade!"
The Third Mizukage's expression was grim as he barked orders, directing his subordinates to dodge while he himself pushed forward against the torrent, continuously countering with ninjutsu while reinforcing his defenses.
But within this aquatic battlefield, Isobu's chakra seemed inexhaustible. Its attacks only grew more violent, while Kirigakure's forces were forced into a passive struggle, unable to retaliate effectively.
Just as the Third Mizukage drew a deep breath, preparing to suppress the Three-Tails at any cost—
A figure appeared without warning at the edge of the battlefield.
The newcomer was completely encased in a ferocious suit of bone armor—utterly unlike the style of the Kaguya clan.
The armor enveloped the entire body, even the face sealed behind dense bone plating, leaving only a pair of emotionless eyes exposed.
The chakra emanating from this figure was strange—clearly not at its peak—but the aura it carried, blending chilling menace with overwhelming vitality, instantly drew every gaze.
The moment he appeared, Yami wasted no words.
He transformed into a streak of icy-white light and shot forward at breathtaking speed—straight toward the Third Mizukage.
"What?! Who are you?"
The Third Mizukage was both shocked and furious. He never imagined someone would dare interfere at such a moment.
The unfamiliar bone armor and bizarre chakra signature set off alarms in his mind.
Without hesitation, he flicked several poison-coated senbon, aiming precisely at the joints of the bone armor, probing for a weakness.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The senbon struck home—only to erupt in crisp metallic impacts before bouncing away entirely, leaving not even the faintest scratch.
Yami's momentum did not slow in the slightest.
Already formidable taijutsu became overwhelmingly oppressive under the enhancement of the bone armor. He drew back his fist and smashed it down toward the Third Mizukage.
Having witnessed armor that even senbon couldn't pierce, the Third Mizukage didn't dare meet the blow head-on. He flashed backward and hastily unleashed a Water Release: Violent Wave.
Though only a C-rank technique, when empowered by a Kage's chakra, its might was on a completely different level—compared to this, Nawaki's Violent Wave looked like a child's water gun.
But events did not unfold as the Third Mizukage expected.
The bone-armored figure ignored the oncoming torrent entirely. The armor on his arm seemed to come alive, rapidly extending into a vicious, pale bone blade that swung straight into the rushing water.
Hiss—RIP!
The raging Violent Water Wave was cleaved apart—split cleanly down the middle.
At the same instant, a grotesque bone chain shot out from behind the bone-armored figure, whipping violently toward the Third Mizukage.
The Mizukage's instincts screamed. He twisted sideways at the last possible moment, the bone chain grazing past his cloak and tearing fabric as it passed.
Having lost the initiative, the Third Mizukage was forced onto the defensive—steadily driven back toward the shoreline, farther and farther from the Three-Tails.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
In an instant, the battlefield became a living textbook of Water Release techniques. Roaring dragons, surging tides—jutsu flowed from the Third Mizukage as naturally as breathing.
Yet Yami's fighting style was brutally direct.
Time and again, he forced his way through incoming Water Release head-on, enduring the impact just to close the distance.
But the Third Mizukage's battlefield experience was vast. Through seamless chaining of ninjutsu and flawless positioning, he gradually seized control, dragging the fight into his own rhythm.
Even as he exchanged blows with the bizarre bone-armored enemy, the Mizukage's mind raced.
That armor… this level of resilience… it's far beyond anything the remnants of the Kaguya could possess.
And those chains—just approaching them sends a chill down my spine. If caught, escape might be impossible.
And now, interfering at this exact moment…
His real target is the Three-Tails.
Realization struck like lightning.
This wasn't coincidence—it was a calculated attempt to seize Isobu amid the chaos.
And the one who had orchestrated the slaughter between the Kaguya and Yuki clans…
was almost certainly this same man.
He must not succeed.
Compared to a temporarily escaped tailed beast, a shadowy enemy wielding an unknown and terrifying bloodline—one intent on claiming a tailed beast—was an even greater threat.
"So that's it," the Third Mizukage barked coldly. "You're after the Three-Tails? Not happening."
"Ninja Swordsmen—move! Take him down with me. I want to see who this madman is, daring to stir chaos in Kirigakure!"
His offensive intensified instantly, layered Water Release forming a crushing web of firepower.
At the order, several of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen joined the fray.
Fighting tailed beasts might not be their strength—but killing people was their specialty.
Only Samehada's wielder, Fuguki Suikazan lingered at a distance. The moment he drew too close to the lake, Samehada began thrashing wildly, nearly tearing itself from his grip.
Surrounded, Yami remained eerily silent.
Relying on the bone armor's terrifying defense and the bone chains' fluid lethality, he weaved through the attackers, trading blows with ruthless precision.
Occasionally, he exposed what looked like flaws—reckless lunges, greedy advances—only to be driven back again and again.
As the battle dragged on, the Third Mizukage felt his tension ease slightly.
This is only a matter of time.
As long as the Three-Tails remained nearby—
…Wait.
Why is the Three-Tails' chakra weakening?
The answer revealed itself too late.
While every eye was drawn to the explosive clash on shore, another figure—identical in appearance—was silently approaching the Three-Tails in the depths of the lake.
The one fighting the Third Mizukage…
was nothing more than a bone clone, crafted using Yami's newly awakened bloodline—realistic enough to deceive even a Kage.
The true Namikaze Yami had already moved.
Fresh from breaking free of its seal and venting its rage upon Kirigakure, the Three-Tails felt exhilarated. Seeing no one paying it any heed, it prepared to sink into deeper waters and leave this battlefield behind.
That was the opening.
Yami's eyes flashed.
Though he held no natural advantage underwater, exposure was no longer a concern.
"Eight Gates Technique—Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit—OPEN!"
Unlike before, this wasn't for brute force.
It was for pure speed.
His body shot forward like a living torpedo, closing the distance in an instant.
Only then did the Three-Tails sense the massive chakra surging up behind it—but before it could even turn—
Yami was already upon it.
"Yumi-no-Kuni Bone Chains."
From his back erupted several uniquely forged bone chains—golden, serpentine, alive.
They wrapped around the Three-Tails' colossal body in an instant.
Its forward momentum slammed to a halt.
"ROAR—!"
Isobu bellowed in fury and shock, thrashing violently—but the chains, infused with terrifying sealing power and absolute resilience, tightened like living shackles.
The more it struggled, the deeper they bit.
Like a titan trapped in a swamp, the Three-Tails found itself bound—
unable to break free.
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