The vast ocean stretches endlessly.
A sea ship sails towards the Land of Water, braving the waves.
Akihara Kagura stands atop the ship's mast, gazing at the distant sea. The sea breeze scatters his long hair, an experience he has never had in his life.
"So enthusiastic..."
Hatake Kakashi busies himself setting traps on the ship. He glances at Uchiha Itachi, who is helping, and unusually compliments, "If Kagura could learn even half of your attitude towards life, it would spare me the worry of that kid doing something extreme..."
"Kagura-kun, huh..."
Uchiha Itachi looks up at Akihara Kagura standing on the mast, recalling their interaction before the Chunin Exam, and shakes his head, "He's actually quite a pitiful person!"
"That guy..."
Hatake Kakashi reflects on Akihara Kagura's background.
Though Akihara Kagura possesses a very powerful Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, he is unable to escape the fate of being manipulated, with even his thoughts and actions constrained by Shimura Danzo.
"Are you two discussing something impolite?"
Akihara Kagura leaps down from the mast like a boss inspecting work, "I have good news for you all! No more work is needed!"
"Eh?"
Hatake Kakashi stops his work in surprise, "Are we near the Land of Water already? Didn't the Mist ninjas come to check?"
"More or less..."
Akihara Kagura, speaking ambiguously, explains with a smile, "We are indeed close to the Land of Water, and the Mist ninjas haven't come for inspection..."
"It seems we are in luck..."
Uchiha Itachi breathes a rare sigh of relief.
"It should be considered quite lucky…"
Akihara Kagura continued leisurely, "Based on my observation, the Mist ninjas indeed have no intention of inspecting this ship. It seems a squad of more than thirty people is heading straight towards this ship from the sea. Their attire should belong to the elite forces of the Mist Village…"
"Prepare for battle!"
Hatake Kakashi's face changed, and he sped up the setting of traps in his hands, knowing they at least had a chance to confront the enemy on the ship!
Uchiha Itachi skillfully wrapped wire around several handheld swords, raising his hand to scatter these swords and nail them onto the ship's deck, creating a series of connected traps!
"Phew, thankfully we made it in time…"
Uchiha Itachi let out a sigh of relief, lying on the bow of the ship, carefully observing the formation of the fast-approaching Mist ninjas.
Uchiha Itachi noticed a small figure carrying a strange stick-like weapon at the forefront of the Mist team, reminding him of his memory at four years old when Uchiha Fugaku took him to see the Great Ninja War.
"There's a child on the opposite team…"
"Don't underestimate him."
Akihara Kagura stood beside Uchiha Itachi, speaking leisurely, "The other Mist ninjas are all wearing masks, only his face is bare, meaning he doesn't need to hide his identity, definitely a significant figure…"
Akihara Kagura watched as the Mist ninja squad, under the command of the child, dispersed and continued, "See, the others are all obeying his orders, and even show great respect when receiving instructions…"
"That is…"
Uchiha Itachi also noticed the anomaly and whispered, "Kakashi-senpai, Kagura-kun, am I seeing this wrong? They seem to be calling that child…"
"Mizukage."
Hatake Kakashi's forehead dripped with a bead of cold sweat, his gaze shifting to Akihara Kagura, "That child-like figure is the Mizukage of the Mist Village! You… you were right… We've hit the worst luck…"
Hatake Kakashi immediately made a decision, speaking solemnly, "You two run along the sea surface, as far as you can. I'll hold them off!"
Now was the critical moment!
Hatake Kakashi realized that their journey had fallen into a perilous situation. The battle was at sea, and the enemy consisted of Mist Anbu and the Mizukage of the Mist Village…
Hatake Kakashi felt that it was impossible to defeat the opponent, and even Mist might soon receive reinforcements. It would already be an achievement if the two youngsters could escape!
What exactly is the situation in Mist...
Why would the leader of a village come out with the Anbu to inspect the sea?
No wonder Konoha has always found it difficult to obtain information about Mist. With the Mizukage personally leading the team to blockade the sea, no spy could bring back any news!
The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, had no intention of inspecting this unauthorized entry of a sea vessel. He pulled out a flower-decorated club-like weapon from behind his back and pressed it down on the sea surface!
This Mizukage's use of Water Release Ninjutsu was incredibly effortless, almost not requiring hand seals, and easily utilizing his weapon for release. Even the effects of his techniques were somewhat different from those of ordinary Water Release ninjas!
"Water Release: Exploding Water Shock Wave!"
Suddenly, the sea surface began to tremble!
Waves continuously rose from the sea, rushing towards the ship. Yagura didn't care who was on board; he intended to flip the vessel over, allowing his subordinates to capture the people in the water!
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
Hatake Kakashi instantly appeared on the sea surface, quickly forming hand seals, and a tall wall of water emerged, continuously blocking the oncoming waves!
"Hatake Kakashi..."
The Mist ninjas immediately recognized Hatake Kakashi's identity!
"You guys, run!"
While resisting Yagura, Hatake Kakashi sternly ordered, "Kagura, Itachi, escape in different directions!"
"We can't escape."
Uchiha Itachi, observing the group of encircling Mist Anbu ninjas, shook his head and said, "We can't outrun them on the sea..."
"Moreover..."
"We can't just leave Kakashi-senpai in danger."
Uchiha Itachi drew the ninja sword from his back, his face set with determination as he spoke, "We stay and fight alongside Kakashi-senpai!"
As the words were spoken, Uchiha Itachi's eyes revealed the three-tomoe Sharingan, calmly waiting for the group of Mist Anbu ninjas to rush onto the ship...
With the help of the Sharingan and the traps on the ship, Uchiha Itachi certainly had the power to confront the enemy, but the only trouble was that there were far too many of them.
In the blink of an eye!
Three or four Mist Anbu quickly leaped onto the ship!
These Mist ninjas, accustomed to killing in their daily lives, couldn't help but burst into laughter upon seeing only two youngsters left on the ship!
Akihara Kagura pulled out the standard Anbu ninja sword from behind his back, and charged towards these Mist ninjas!
The open sea was not conducive for the use of Wood Release techniques. If a large tree were to grow on the ship, the vessel that Hatake Kakashi intended to protect might capsize first...
"Kagura...kun?"
Uchiha Itachi was actually full of confidence in his teammate Akihara Kagura. He believed that this opponent, who had defeated him in the Chunin Exams, must also possess superb swordsmanship!
Reality often turns out to be astonishing.
Akihara Kagura's swordsmanship was disastrously bad.
In a confrontation with a Mist ninja, Kagura's sword was knocked away in just three moves, and he even had to catch the enemy's sword with his bare hands...
Akihara Kagura only felt a momentary pain in his palm, and the chakra inside his body quickly became active. A cool and tingling sensation spread from the wound, which was healing rapidly, showcasing the astonishing healing ability of the Hashirama cells.
"This kid..."
The Mist ninja looked at the young boy who seemed to feel no pain while gripping the sharp blade, somewhat astounded.
The boy, holding the enemy's ninja sword in one hand, quickly flipped his palm closer and slapped the enemy's chest. In an instant, a wooden spike burst inside the enemy's body!