Both Hikari and the Mizukage evaluated each other once again now. Hikari was as serious as ever before, and the Mizukage strangely calmed down his previous anger toward Hikari.
"It's really as I thought. You have managed to learn how to incorporate natural energy into your attacks for some reason. And you did it while so young... You might be the youngest in history to do that, Hyuga brat...",
The Third Mizukage remarked the first to break the tense silence following their dramatic, fast clash. Surprisingly, his tone had shifted from the fierce anger previously displayed to a strategic calm, as if the earlier display of rage had been nothing more than a ruse.
Indeed, the change in his demeanor revealed a deeper layer of tactical acumen. He had initially planned to conceal his true capabilities and intentions, hoping to catch Hikari off guard with the previous surprise maneuver.
That was because he had already partially guessed the true extent of Hikari's overall power from earlier reports. He himself was also involved quite heavily with natural energy-related matters, so he never underestimated him due to his young age.
This strategy had almost worked, as his feigned fury and aggressive front, alongside his objectively quite old age, nearly dealt a decisive blow to the young Hyuga during their initial encounter in the sky.
"How did you do it? Does it perhaps have anything to do with your eyes? It is, after all, impossible to do it that fast using the 'ordinary method'...", The Third Mizukage mused, his eyes narrowing as he intently studied Hikari's.
He was searching for clues, for something beyond the ordinary that might explain the young Hyuga's rapid mastery of natural energy.
The Mizukage knew all too well the arduous journey he had undergone to harness such power. Decades of continuous meditation, day and night, had been required, during which he had even sacrificed his sight to enhance his ability to perceive and interact with natural energy. This level of dedication was not just arduous; it was life-altering.
And from historical accounts, he knew he wasn't an exception. Samurai and monks of the past who sought to manipulate natural energy like that had faced similar grueling paths.
"So, you've found some kind of shortcut, haven't you, boy?", He continued, a mix of accusation and wonder in his voice.
"Sure enough, you cursed, bloody, kekkei genkai bloodline holders are the luckiest class in this world, not having to work even one-tenth as hard as us, the rest mere mortals...",
There was a hint of bitterness and resentment in his tone, revealing a deep-seated animosity towards those born with inherent abilities.
His experiences and struggles had evidently shaped a negative view of kekkei genkai holders, whom he saw as having an unfair advantage in the shinobi world.
His expression darkened, and his hissed words betrayed a history of conflict and perhaps envy, marking the stark difference in their paths to power.
As the Third Mizukage's words lingered in the air, filled with bitterness and resentment, Hikari's mind raced with its own thoughts and realizations,
'I was a bit careless..', He admitted to himself silently, analyzing the unexpected depth of his abilities, 'It was too unlikely that he didn't also possess some kind of power of this level...',
'Sure enough, he went blind, at that time, not only to better practice the chakra control and connection with the Water Release, but also this application of the natural energy. We're truly one of a kind then...',
Hikari's contemplation deepened as he considered the broader implications of their encounter. It was indeed always strange to him how no contemporary famous and eminent shinobi had managed to master such a potent use of natural energy in the original story.
'And this is the truth, this Kiri individual clearly did—it's just that he was never shown much in the original...', Hikari thought, reflecting on the unique and ancient external application of natural energy that both he and the Mizukage possessed.
"It is quite strange how we both possess a similar set of abilities, geezer. It's almost as if fate brought us together here, for one of us to die, and the other to potentially be the last possessor of such abilities in the world...",
Hikari spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of respect after a slight uncharacteristic sigh. The gravity of their encounter seemed to weigh on him more heavily than usual, marking a rare moment of reflection for the typically stoic Hyuga.
He continued, his tone blending understanding with a calmer clarity that had defined his approach so far, referring to the man's previous hostile words directed toward him, "I understand your grudge against Kekkei Genkai shinobi and the subsequent hatred you harbor for them. However, it's precisely that disdain that has allowed me and my clan to be so successful on this front, at least partially. So, I guess in a way, I'm thankful for that."
Hikari paused, his expression growing colder as he delivered his next words, "Also, I'm sorry that after I kill you now, I'm afraid to say that I've already designated those bloodline holders from the Kaguya and Yuki clans to succeed you and take over this village, aligning with a broader plan I have for it.",
"So, I guess I'm sorry for that too, knowing how much you hate them, that is.", With a slight chuckle that didn't quite reach his eyes, Hikari added,
"But if it makes it any easier for you, I suppose you can curse me a little now as much as you want like that. After all, this will be your last chance to spite one of us...", His composure and confidence fully returned, his stance firm and his eyes clear with the cold resolve and intent.
The Third Mizukage, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a flare of deep-seated emotions, responded to Hikari's words with a mixture of disdain and introspection.
His history with bloodline holders and his personal tragedies had forged his views, making him particularly sensitive to Hikari's provocations.
"You think you understand the weight of these decisions, Hyuga brat?" the Mizukage began, his voice heavy with the burden of years of conflict. You speak of plans and succession as if you grasp the full complexity of what drives a man to protect his village and the length I would go to never allow your words to materialize today in front of me."
He paused, the memories of his lost family haunting his expression for a moment, "I did what I believed necessary to safeguard Kirigakure from those who would tear it apart from within.",
"My actions, however severe, were meant to cleanse our land of instability. Those bloodline holders you so proudly bring up—they were used as weapons against my own family, leading to the slaughter of my wife and children.",
"How could I not act against such threats? This didn't make the village weaker, as you probably think, but stronger. We don't need such crazy and selfish people in our village. Just like the Konoha would probably do better without you.",
The Third Mizukage, known for his steely composure, had not felt such a surge of emotions in many years. Typically, he remained detached, his demeanor calm and controlled even in the face of adversity.
Yet, there was one issue that could ignite a fire within him—bloodline holders. His antipathy towards them was not merely a personal vendetta; it was deeply entwined with the darkest chapters of his life and the history of Kirigakure.
Decades ago, before he rose to the mantle of Mizukage, the treatment of bloodline holders in the Land of Water was inconsistent and largely driven by societal fears and prejudices.
They were ostracized, sometimes violently, by ordinary civilians rather than through any organized effort by shinobi.
This unstructured discrimination was chaotic and largely unchecked, leading to sporadic but brutal violence.
However, when he assumed leadership, the Third Mizukage transformed this scattered persecution into a systematic purge.
He believed that only through controlling and molding these powerful individuals from a young age could the village harness their abilities for the greater good.
Under his rule, bloodline holders had only one pathway to survival: enrollment in Kirigakure's shinobi academy as children, where they could be shaped to serve the village's needs.
The catalyst for this drastic policy was a tragedy that marked Mizukage's life with sorrow and irrevocable change.
A faction of political dissenters from within the Land of Water, from another island, driven by separatist ideologies and desperate to overthrow the existing order, employed rogue bloodline holders as assassins.
Their target was the Mizukage himself, but the mission went awry, resulting in the death of his wife and young children instead.
This loss did not just deepen his resolve; it hardened his heart. From that point forward, he destroyed his own eyes to make progress as fast as possible in his chakra control and natural energy connection, and he immediately decreed that bloodline holders would be controlled or eliminated.
This policy reshaped Kirigakure, embedding a deep-seated mistrust and fear of bloodline abilities within the village's culture and governance.
It was a decision born of personal anguish but executed with the cold precision of a leader determined to prevent any future threats to his rule and his village, even if it meant sacrificing the freedom and lives of a powerful minority.
In this current confrontation with Hikari Hyuga, all the old wounds and the stringent policies he had implemented were being challenged. The battle was not just physical but symbolic, a fight over the future direction of Kirigakure and the legacy of its current leader. He would never allow someone like Toru Kaguya or Arata Yukki to replace him in a 'humiliating' turn.