"Sennjutsu: Inorganic Reincarnation!"
With a low shout, Seisuke channeled a torrent of senjutsu chakra into the water at his feet. The surface erupted like a boiling cauldron, bubbling furiously. Clear water surged upward, then split into countless razor-sharp water arrows that pierced through the bodies of unsuspecting Kirigakure ninjas.
"Ah!!"
Screams echoed as blood stained the water. Mei Terumī and the surviving ninjas watched in horror, deeply intimidated by Seisuke's sudden surge in power. How is this possible? His strength can't have skyrocketed so quickly! They had been evenly matched just moments ago—had he been hiding his true abilities?
"Mei, step back. I don't want to kill you."
Water swirled around Seisuke like a living guard. As an inorganic substance, it obeyed his will, moving with eerie intelligence. Mei gritted her teeth. "No. I am a ninja of Kirigakure. I can't let you rampage here."
"Then I must apologize." Seisuke sighed, extending his hand. The surrounding water morphed into writhing water dragons that lunged at Mei and her comrades. A dragon snapped a thick tree in half, forcing them to retreat.
Seisuke rode a water dragon toward Takeki Hyūga, a kunai coated in water chakra raised high. "Water Release: Water Blade Slash!" Takeki sprouted bone spikes to block the attack, but the force sent him crashing through trees, spitting blood. Though his Corpse Bone Pulse allowed rapid bone regeneration, the impact had left him unconscious.
"Lava Release: Solution Bullet!" Acidic projectiles forced Seisuke back. Mei rushed to Takeki's side, then ordered others to carry him away. "Your strength has grown faster than I imagined!"
"War demands survival." Seisuke formed seals quickly. "Mei, I truly don't want to kill you, but—"
Suddenly, a terrifying surge of chakra erupted, wild as a primeval beast, seething with anger and ferocity. Seisuke whipped around, sensing a colossal chakra mass—unimaginably huge.
"Roar—!!"
The thunderous howl was pure rage. The Third Mizukage, locked in battle with Orochimaru, was now wrapped in red chakra. Three tails lashed behind him, and a massive turtle shell protruded from his back. Crouched on the water, he condensed a basketball-sized sphere of red-and-blue yin-yang chakra—the Tailed Beast Bomb, capable of obliterating entire squads.
"Summoning: Triple Rashōmon!" Orochimaru's face darkened as he summoned three giant demon-faced gates. The asura carvings grinned mockingly as the Tailed Beast Bomb collided with them. BOOM! The explosion vaporized the forest and standing water, leaving Orochimaru unharmed but the Rashōmon destroyed.
Surveying the barren landscape, Orochimaru laughed. "So this is the power of Sanbi. Third Mizukage, I underestimated you—sealing a tailed beast within yourself to turn its power against us. Truly worthy of a Kage." Admiration flickered in his eyes.
The Third Mizukage, knowing his end was near, had sealed Sanbi within himself to become a jinchūriki. Win or lose, he calculated the outcome: a victory would cripple Konoha, while his death would "eliminate" Sanbi temporarily (the tailed beast could be recaptured later). A defeat meant his death, but Sanbi would regenerate in the Land of Water, testing the future Fourth Mizukage.
Now, the Third Mizukage could only roar in response. Sanbi's chakra overwhelmed his mind, its primal fury too much for his dying body to control.
"ROAR—!!"
Gone was all reason. Sanbi... had gone berserk.
The tailed beast's body swelled wildly, leaking even more terrifying chakra. Finally, a giant turtle with a single, maddened eye crouched on the battlefield, its only emotion hatred for the humans who had sealed it.
Hate! Hate! Hate!
Die, humans!!
It reared back, unleashing another Tailed Beast Bomb that obliterated a mountain. The shockwave raced outward like a hurricane. Seisuke ducked behind a tree as Mei shrieked, flung into the air by the blast.
"Tch—consider this a favor!" Seisuke summoned snakes to catch Mei, pulling her into his arms. She struggled, but he snapped, "Stay still! We'll be swept away otherwise."
Crack! The tree trunk splintered, hurling them both into the air.