Chapter 172: Weighing the Situation
The overwhelming, surging power made Mizuki almost forget—any strength gained without cost will eventually demand payment at the right time.
"So this is what it's like to fight as a Jinchūriki? This power… is far stronger than a tailed beast acting on instinct alone."
The violent force surging through him was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Even in previous battles where he'd risked his life for the slimmest chance of survival, he'd never lost control of his body and power like this. The three forces awakened by natural energy within him were interacting with each other in strange ways. If they hadn't shared faint compatibility, Mizuki might have been torn apart by the power storm inside him.
But now, just like a Jinchūriki losing control, Shukaku's chakra—now mingled with natural energy—was giving Mizuki tremendous power at the cost of immense strain. Fortunately, his Sage Chakra and the Curse Mark greatly enhanced his body, allowing him to stay alive and even temporarily overpower Shukaku in this chaotic form.
…
What had been an intense battlefield grew utterly unpredictable with Shukaku's unexpected behavior. Most thought Mizuki and Hidan had taken a massive hit from the tailed beast's attack—but the real surprise came when Mizuki erupted with a terrifying power and manhandled the beast, slamming Shukaku around like a rag doll. It shocked everyone.
Among those watching, Hyūga Neji saw everything clearly through the battlefield haze. As he observed Mizuki's condition, he couldn't help but ask, "Is that really Captain Mizuki? That red energy flowing off him… Wait, is that even chakra?"
"You're not wrong," Yamashiro Aoba replied grimly. "That's Mizuki, alright. I didn't expect things to get this bad."
"A human can actually go toe-to-toe with a tailed beast like that?" Aburame Shino asked in disbelief.
"Of course," Aoba said, pointing toward Mizuki. "Tsunade-sama, the Fifth Hokage, could do the same. And Jiraiya-sama probably could too."
"So… does this mean Captain Mizuki already has Hokage-level strength?"
"Not a chance." Aoba shook his head. "Becoming Hokage isn't just about power. Besides, I know Mizuki well. He's a guy who always plans ahead. But this? This definitely wasn't part of his plan…"
"An unintended power-up," Neji murmured. Both he and Shino began to feel a growing unease.
It was a classic case: last-resort powers often came with deadly side effects. A textbook example was the Akimichi clan's Three-Color Pills. Delivering a fatal blow with one came at the price of death. And if the power gained was even more overwhelming and unexpected? The cost could be even more catastrophic.
"So in the end, we were useless?" Neji and Shino, both praised as geniuses, were left deeply frustrated. This was their first true S-rank mission—and they hadn't just failed to contribute, they hadn't even kept up.
"What are you two brooding about?" Aoba clapped their shoulders. "You didn't notice? I'm a Special Jōnin and I couldn't even do anything either. And who says you were useless? You've helped a lot."
Indeed, they had. From scouting, to critical warnings, to helping Aoba pin down Kakuzu. The Water-element heart that Mizuki had nearly destroyed with a punch finally collapsed under pressure, thanks to Shino's bugs and Neji's Gentle Fist stalling Kakuzu's attacks.
Now forced to release his elemental hearts to make up for being outnumbered, Kakuzu's side was thrown into chaos. But just as the battle was about to become an all-out ninjutsu slugfest, Mizuki and Shukaku's collision changed everything.
Seeing Mizuki flatten both Shukaku and Hidan with brute strength made Kakuzu hesitate. Losing either would be a huge problem. Reluctantly, he broke away from Aoba and the genin to rush toward his downed partner and the beast.
…
Despite his brutal display of strength, Mizuki was running low on energy. The rapid increase in power was becoming a heavy burden. His chakra reserves from Breath Suppression were depleting. If they ran out, no one knew what would happen next—whether he'd be devoured by nature energy, consumed by the Curse Mark, or torn apart by Shukaku's chakra.
Mizuki couldn't afford to waste time.
He rushed forward toward Shukaku, who was still stunned. With a red energy claw, he swiped at Shukaku's head, stripping away a chunk of sand.
"No sign of Gaara. Why's he so well hidden?"
This wasn't like when Naruto punched Gaara and broke the trance. This time, Shukaku had forcibly seized control, hiding Gaara's body deep within.
Unfortunately, just as Mizuki was about to continue the search, Kakuzu arrived.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Before Kakuzu even reached Mizuki, a spear of lightning launched from the mouth of his demonic Lightning Mask. Mizuki couldn't dodge in time—but his energy cloak absorbed the blow. The follow-up explosion knocked him off his feet, creating a crater beneath him.
Before Mizuki could get up—
"Fire Release: Head Hunter!"
A fireball surged from another elemental mask, engulfing Mizuki in flame. Though his cloak shielded him again, Mizuki noted the drawbacks.
"So this pseudo-tailed beast cloak increases power but kills agility and perception… Have I become just a walking artillery piece?"
Not only was Mizuki slower, but his senses were dulled—everything looked drenched in blood-red mist. Still, he could easily spot Kakuzu's massive elemental beasts.
Since the damage wasn't severe, Mizuki wasted no time. His red energy hand seized Shukaku's tail again and hurled the tailed beast straight into Kakuzu's elemental summons.
Kakuzu was forced to scatter his beasts, abandoning further attacks.
"This is what pure power looks like. No matter how many tricks you have, if I smack you with a tailed beast, you'll yield eventually."
Even if it wasn't his preferred style, Mizuki couldn't deny the satisfaction.
He quickly unleashed a second red arm from his left hand, wreaking havoc around Kakuzu and his masks, preventing them from regrouping.
But Mizuki knew—this was a losing game. The power from Shukaku's chakra was nearing another outburst. If he got too close again and lost control, it might not just break Sage Mode—it could turn him into a real Jinchūriki. Worse, Shukaku might use the resonance to revive through Mizuki's body.
So, Mizuki's only option was to burn through this power before it exploded.
Meanwhile, the humiliated Shukaku, after being slammed around like a sandbag, was furious. Though not as bloodthirsty as Kurama, the tanuki's wrath was real—especially when it came to Mizuki, who had tampered with its very essence.
Finally recovering, Shukaku started struggling violently. And just then, Kakuzu caught his breath.
But Mizuki wouldn't be alone much longer.
With Sasori dead and Hidan still flattened, only Kakuzu remained a real threat.
Sensing the momentum, the other allied ninjas weren't about to let this opportunity slip by.
"You're really going to gang up on me now?" Kakuzu muttered.
Approaching him were Maki, Akatsuchi, Kurotsuchi, Aoba—and Mizuki himself.
Kakuzu knew the battle was lost. He still had four lives, but losing even one here wasn't worth it. A ninja who had lived this long wasn't about to risk everything.
Before he could be surrounded, he swiftly recalled his elemental hearts and dodged the encirclement.
He made his way to Hidan, who was still flattened into the ground.
"You're finally here, Kakuzu!" Hidan's still-intact head complained. "Hurry up and stitch me back together! I'm going to curse that bastard into oblivion for smashing me with a tailed beast!"
"Shut up." Kakuzu released his Earth Grudge Fear threads, messily bundling Hidan's limbs together. "We're leaving."
Without waiting, Kakuzu vanished into the trees, dragging the loudly cursing Hidan behind him.
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