I'm doomed!
Seisuke thought. He never expected the black snake to be so unreliable. It insisted on fighting, and now he was in a situation where he couldn't escape.
Forget it. I'd better think about how to write my last will. And after that, there will probably be inhumane torture.
He didn't believe that after the Third Mizukage caught him, he wouldn't force him to reveal information about Konoha. After squeezing out his value, they would start to study him, tying him to an operating table and slicing him up for research.
I don't want that!!!
Thinking of this, Seisuke hardened his heart and said, "It seems I have to fight to the death today."
Flames flickered on him again, and the surrounding space distorted due to the intense heat.
The Third Mizukage suddenly coughed and said, "You seem to be cornered. Surrender now, and you can suffer less."
"I can't do that."
Seisuke shook his head. "Falling into your hands is more painful than death. I won't surrender. Third Mizukage, I'm a Konoha ninja after all. How could I give up?"
"I admire your will. Since that's the case, then get ready!"
The Third Mizukage made a sudden dash forward. In his palm, the water flow transformed into a sharp blade and slashed down.
Seisuke opened his mouth, and a snake flew out, lunging straight for the Third Mizukage's throat.
To protect himself, the Third Mizukage had to use the blade in his hand to cut the snake. But this gave Seisuke a chance to catch his breath. He kicked the Third Mizukage, and with the force of the kick, he retreated a long way, creating some distance.
"This place really isn't suitable for me. Teacher Orochimaru really tricked me."
He said this.
"So, is this how you think of me, Seisuke - kun?"
A hoarse and magnetic voice sounded beside Seisuke. It was Orochimaru's voice.
Seisuke was overjoyed. "Teacher Orochimaru?!"
A large snake emerged from the water, opened its mouth, and Orochimaru stepped out.
The Third Mizukage's expression turned serious. "Orochimaru? You actually came? It seems you value your disciple highly."
"After all, I'm his teacher. I have to fulfill some obligations. Besides, I was the one who revealed his whereabouts to you." Orochimaru said with a smile.
"..." Seisuke
"..." The Third Mizukage
"..." All the Kirigakure ninjas
Seisuke asked Orochimaru stiffly, "Umm, Teacher Orochimaru, did you just say that it was you who betrayed me?"
"Of course." Orochimaru didn't try to deny it. He smiled and said, "This infiltration mission was to train you. I thought you'd be exposed in a few days and then escape back. But you changed your identity every day. Even when discovered, you managed to escape. Later, you hid so well that I had no choice but to tell Kirigakure your whereabouts and let them chase you."
This mission was meant to train Seisuke, but this kid was so capable that Orochimaru had to resort to this strategy.
"There are so many Bloodline Limit ninjas on the battlefield. If I wanted to capture them, it would be easy. How could I need you to steal them from their village? Seisuke - kun, you did a great job. You passed this mission. I believe you've grown a lot from this experience." Orochimaru said, quite satisfied.
"..." Seisuke
Bastard, do you believe I'll assassinate you in the future?
You know, the rate of students killing their teachers in this world has always been high!!!
Orochimaru, unaware of Seisuke's rebellious thoughts, was very satisfied with his performance this time.
"You've performed well. Now we can retreat."
Seeing that Orochimaru didn't take him seriously, the Third Mizukage frowned and said, "Orochimaru, since you've come in alone, don't even think about leaving."
"You can't catch me. With your terminally ill body, you don't dare to fight me for long." Orochimaru sneered.
His words made the Third Mizukage's face change drastically. Not only him, but Yagura Karatachi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Mei Terumī, and the others who were approaching also had the same reaction.
"Lord Mizukage... your body..."
"Impossible. Lord Mizukage is still so healthy. It can't be true!"
"That's right! Lord Mizukage will lead us to keep fighting."
Yagura Karatachi knew it was time to calm everyone down. He was one of the few who knew about the Third Mizukage's physical condition. He said, "These are all tricks of the Konoha ninjas! Lord Mizukage's body is healthy. The so - called terminal illness is just a lie they made up to make you doubt."
Orochimaru licked his lips and said, "Whether it's a lie or not, you know in your hearts. The body doesn't lie. I have some knowledge in this area. Your combat power, Third Mizukage, is not what it used to be. Otherwise, I couldn't have retreated from the battlefield without getting hurt, and I wouldn't have come out personally to try to capture Seisuke - kun."
"Because your body can't hold up anymore. You're afraid of more variables. And Seisuke - kun can create too many variables. He might disrupt your arrangements before you die. So you came here yourself. Am I right?"
Those cold - blooded snake eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, making the Third Mizukage feel irritated. He sneered and said, "Orochimaru, spreading false rumors. Is this the kind of disciple the Third Hokage taught you to be, someone who only knows how to talk big? You're really embarrassing him!"
Orochimaru remained unmoved. He just smiled and said, "That has nothing to do with him. I just need to know that your physical condition is very poor. Third Mizukage, even if you don't die on the battlefield, you'll die in your sickbed soon."
He smiled, his eyes filled with mockery, which made the Third Mizukage even more annoyed, but he could do nothing about it because what the other said was the truth. He didn't have much time left.
The Third Mizukage didn't say anything more and started forming hand - seals. His speed was very fast, and Orochimaru did the same on his side.
"Water Release: Water Heaven Surrounding Attack!"
Rumble——
The water surface around them became restless. Huge waves rose around Orochimaru, surrounding him and Seisuke, ready to close in and trap the master - disciple pair.
"An upgraded version of the Water Prison Technique? But you underestimate me too much. Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Walls!"
Boom, boom, boom!
Tall stone walls rose up, surrounding him and Seisuke, blocking the waves.
Orochimaru smiled lightly, jumped onto the Multiple Earth Flow Walls, opened his mouth wide, and spat out a large number of small snakes, each about the length of an arm, densely packed.
The Grand Summoning of Snakes!!!
These snakes dived into the water, avoided the waves, then emerged from the water. They opened their mouths wide, and sharp blades extended from their mouths, stabbing towards the Kirigakure ninjas.
For a moment, there was chaos among the Kirigakure ninjas. Orochimaru had no intention of staying either. He smiled and said, "Third Mizukage, at the end of your life, I wonder what choices you'll make. It's a pity that I can't kill you with my own hands."
A large snake rose up from behind him, opened its mouth, and swallowed him and Seisuke. With a bang, they disappeared.
"But... Cough, cough, cough!" The Third Mizukage suddenly coughed violently and then spat out a mouthful of hot blood.
"Lord Mizukage?!"
"No, Lord Mizukage!!!"