The only reason Senju Haruto could unleash a Water Dragon Bullet of this magnitude was because he was channeling the chakra of a Tailed Beast.
Without the Three-Tails, the scale of his ninjutsu would shrink drastically.
But Yagura couldn't understand — how could Haruto possibly pull this off?
He was just a Konoha shinobi.
"This… this is impossible…"
Yagura clenched his teeth, unwilling to believe the scene before his eyes.
And yet, denial meant nothing — it was happening right now.
Haruto's Fire Release didn't just withstand his Water Dragon Bullet… it completely evaporated it.
This was even with elemental advantages working in Yagura's favor.
"Could it be… this guy isn't bluffing after all…"
Beside him, Ao sucked in a sharp breath. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, no amount of explanation could make him believe that someone could use Fire Release to overpower the Water Release of the Mizukage.
"Mizukage-sama, could it be that this man… is also a jinchūriki?"
Ao's voice was low and tense. It was the only explanation that made sense — he couldn't imagine anyone possessing chakra reserves on par with a Tailed Beast otherwise.
And it was true: all five great villages had their own Tailed Beasts.
"A jinchūriki…"
The thought clicked in Yagura's mind. Ao's reasoning seemed sound.
"Should we retreat for now?"
Ao spoke carefully after thinking it over.
But Yagura shot him down immediately.
If their guess was correct, then Senju Haruto was a terrifying combination — wielder of multiple Sharingan, a master of an elite ninja blade, capable of Wood Release, and possibly a Tailed Beast's host.
If they could capture or kill him here, it would greatly weaken Konoha's power and boost the Hidden Mist's strength.
But if they backed down now… this invasion would be over.
If the Mizukage himself retreated, who in the Mist could stand against Haruto?
If Haruto kept growing, with his strength and talent, he would one day replace Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage.
Another Hashirama Senju would rise in the shinobi world.
Yagura steadied his breathing.
The only good Haruto was a dead one.
"Ao, get out of here. Now."
Yagura's gaze locked onto Haruto as he spoke quietly.
Ever since catching Haruto's Water Dragon Bullet, Haruto had stood motionless, making no move to attack.
Was he wary of Yagura's power? Or was there another reason?
Either way, in Yagura's view, Ao had no reason to risk himself here.
"No, Mizukage-sama."
Ao shook his head without hesitation. He was not only Yagura's right-hand man but also the Mist's strongest sensory ninja.
And as the Mizukage's guard, how could he possibly abandon him now?
He stepped forward, voice and eyes both resolute.
"I'm staying."
"…I see."
Yagura glanced at Ao and understood his resolve.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Without waiting for a reply, Yagura gripped his strange weapon and lunged at Haruto with blinding speed.
Clang!
Haruto raised his Zanpakutō with one hand, blocking Yagura's frontal strike.
"I thought you'd just keep spamming ninjutsu."
"I never said I wouldn't!"
Yagura roared back, shifting to a one-handed grip on his weapon to keep Haruto locked in place, while his free hand formed a palm strike that slammed toward Haruto.
If Haruto truly was a jinchūriki, then their chakra levels were evenly matched.
In that case, relying on large-scale techniques like Water Dragon Bullet or Great Waterfall wouldn't quickly finish him.
Better to fight like this — a direct, all-or-nothing clash — to seize the advantage.
After all, battles between shinobi were battles of information.
By now, Yagura felt he had read all of Haruto's trump cards.
His own… remained unrevealed.
A torrent of chakra surged from Yagura's body, instantly scorching away his human skin. In its place, a dark red cloak of Tailed Beast chakra wrapped around him.
This was the second form available only to a perfect jinchūriki.
His small frame transformed into a mighty turtle-like form, three tails whipping into existence behind him.
"Coral Palm!"
In this form, Yagura could not only unleash a Tailed Beast Bomb, but also wield another of his unique abilities: wherever his strikes landed, coral would instantly grow, immobilizing his target.
Against taijutsu specialists, Yagura was their worst nightmare.
Haruto silently took it all in.
Aside from mild surprise that Yagura had gone straight into partial transformation, he remained calm.
Even the supposedly troublesome coral technique didn't faze him.
He saw it clearly with his Sharingan — Yagura was aiming for his abdomen.
Haruto instantly concentrated chakra in that area, summoning powerful Wood Release to sever the rapidly growing coral from his body.
At the same time, Yagura tossed aside his weapon and, relying on the raw power of the Tailed Beast, swung a massive punch at Haruto.
Not far away, Ao remained tense.
He had sworn to stay and help, but in a battle of this level, he couldn't intervene.
All he could do was watch and pray that his Mizukage would emerge victorious.
"You are strong."
Even in his second transformation, Yagura's mind was calm, his thoughts clear.
Haruto had countered his attacks with almost effortless precision.
It was only now that Yagura realized — he had underestimated this man completely.
"But it's a pity… I am the more perfect jinchūriki."
Yagura's voice sank lower. He opened his mouth, rapidly condensing chakra into a single point — the strongest attack of this form.
The Tailed Beast Bomb!
"Perfect indeed."
Haruto's eyes narrowed, a note of admiration in his tone as the sphere took shape.
Of all the opponents he had faced, Yagura was one of the few who made him take things somewhat seriously.
If Yagura unleashed his full power, his destructive capacity could rival — perhaps even surpass — the Raikage.
But unfortunately for him… Yagura was doomed to tragedy.
In the original timeline, he crossed paths with Uchiha Obito.
Now… he had crossed paths with Haruto.
"Thunder, roar — Benrai!"
Haruto's voice was low and deliberate as his Zanpakutō shifted into its half-released form.
The gleaming blade morphed into a pair of deadly gauntlets.
Even Yagura's eyes widened at the sight.
But what truly shocked him was this — just as he was about to fire the Tailed Beast Bomb, lightning erupted around Haruto, crackling louder and louder.
Then, the lightning surged inward, flooding Haruto's body and transforming his very physique.
"This is… the Lightning Release Chakra Mode…? The Raikage's technique?!"
Stunned beyond words, Yagura let the Tailed Beast Bomb fly.