Chapter 462: I, Yagami Takuya, Am Ordered to Assassinate You

The idea of a small barbecue ultimately didn't materialize. Takuya wasn't someone who acted recklessly; the priority right now was the mission.

Once the mission was completed and they returned to Konoha, he could eat as much barbecue as he wanted.

For now, everyone was conserving their strength, waiting for the target to arrive.

The Third Mizukage didn't disappoint. As per the anticipated route, his ship steadily approached the edge of the small island.

Watching the tiny black dot on the horizon gradually draw closer, Yagura felt a twinge of nervousness.

Whether they could change the current situation in the village hinged on the success of this assassination attempt.

This joint assassination wasn't intended to outright kill the Third Mizukage but to expose his secrets.

If it was confirmed that he was indeed under someone's control, killing him would be justified.

Takuya and Sakumo were tasked with taking the lead, while Yagura and Minato stayed hidden on the island, waiting to make their move once everything became clear.

"Will you go, or should I?"

Takuya drew his Kusanagi sword as Sakumo gestured for him to go first.

"Leave this kind of head-on confrontation to the younger generation," Sakumo said with a smirk. "Us older folks are better suited for sneak attacks."

"..."

Cunning old fox!

Engaging directly carried risks, but Takuya didn't refuse. If Sakumo wanted to focus on sneak attacks, he was free to do so.

As the ship drew closer to the island, the Third Mizukage rested inside while several Kirigakure shinobi stood guard on the deck, keeping watch for potential threats.

Whether due to Yagura and Genji's planning or the Third Mizukage's negligence, the ship lacked any sensory ninja.

This allowed the ship to approach the island without noticing the people lying in wait.

"What's that?"

Following its route, the ship passed by the side of the uninhabited island. Such small, uninhabited islands were plentiful in the seas surrounding the Land of Water and rarely drew much attention.

But suddenly, a terrifying chakra presence emanated from the island, accompanied by a brilliant flash of lightning. The shinobi on deck immediately sensed something was amiss.

"Trouble?"

One of them sounded the alarm, prompting the others to become vigilant and focus their attention on the distant island.

In the next instant, their hearts sank as they saw a glowing sphere of lightning hurtling directly toward the ship.

"Enemy attack!"

Even in the relative safety of their rear position, the Kirigakure shinobi quickly understood the gravity of the situation. Someone was trying to assassinate the Third Mizukage.

The shout startled the resting Mizukage in the cabin.

The shinobi on the deck instinctively launched counterattacks, trying to intercept the lightning sphere. But they overestimated their abilities and underestimated the power of Takuya's specially prepared lightning bomb.

This wasn't an ordinary explosive—its speed and destructive force were far beyond what they could handle.

Had they reacted instantly, they might have had a chance to intercept it. But their slight delay made it impossible.

"Boom!"

As expected, the lightning bomb struck the ship with a deafening explosion. The massive vessel was blown apart, sending splinters of wood, seawater, and even unlucky fish and shrimp flying into the air.

The sea erupted into a towering column of water before waves rolled outward in every direction.

Using Water Release to block a lightning bomb? Truly a genius move!

Takuya silently applauded the unfortunate shinobi. Their first instinct should have been to abandon ship and flee, yet they had tried to counter the lightning bomb with Water Release.

Did they think using Water Release automatically made them as powerful as Tobirama Senju?

Takuya wasn't sure if the shinobi had survived, but the Third Mizukage, who had been resting in the cabin, managed to escape.

What a miserable sight. The Mizukage had nearly been reduced to a lone survivor by a single lightning bomb.

Standing on the water with a dark expression, accompanied by two panicked bodyguards, the Mizukage confirmed what Takuya suspected—the guards on the deck were gone.

From their vantage point, Minato whispered to Yagura,

"Are all your Kirigakure shinobi this brave? Using Water Release against Takuya's lightning bomb?"

This was the same technique that had left even Hanzo the Salamander utterly helpless. And they thought Water Release would work?

Impressive.

"Enough already!"

Yagura's youthful face flushed with embarrassment. He internally cursed the fools on the ship countless times.

Using Water Release against a lightning bomb? Why not try blocking a Tailed Beast Bomb with Earth Release while they were at it?

Of course, such ridiculous scenes weren't unheard of. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, large-scale Earth Release techniques were indeed used to block a Tailed Beast Bomb—with predictably disastrous results.

Sometimes, you don't know the true meaning of despair until you've tried something and failed miserably.

Having struck the first blow, Takuya had no intention of hiding. Resting the Kusanagi sword casually on his shoulder, he began walking toward the Third Mizukage.

"Yagami Takuya, how dare you attack the Mizukage-sama!"

The two remaining bodyguards were both furious and alarmed.

They had expected a smooth journey back to Kirigakure, only to be ambushed halfway by none other than Konoha's rising star, Yagami Takuya.

"How dare I?"

Takuya smirked as if he'd just heard a joke.

"Kirigakure and Konoha are at war. We're enemies. I, Yagami Takuya, was ordered to assassinate the Third Mizukage. So what?

"Is there some rule in the ninja world that says we can't assassinate the leader of an enemy village?"

"Is there?"

"You—"

The bodyguards were furious but found themselves at a loss for words.

Because, indeed, there was no such rule. In fact, assassinating the leader of an enemy village was a standard strategy in war.

This is bad.

While the bodyguards fumed, the Third Mizukage wasn't thinking about fighting Takuya head-on. Instead, his priority was finding a way to escape.

He had no intention of engaging in battle here. With Black Zetsu's intelligence, the Third Mizukage was well aware of Takuya's strength—far beyond his ability to handle.

Moreover, if he fought with his full strength, the truth would come to light. By tomorrow, everyone would know that the Third Mizukage was under someone's control—and that this person could use Wood Release.

There was no way to win. Fighting would only expose him further. Escaping was the only viable option.

Wait... something feels off.

Wasn't White Zetsu supposed to gloat and taunt his opponents at a time like this? Why was the Third Mizukage silent, his eyes darting around as if plotting an escape?

Takuya sighed. If White Zetsu wasn't going to play along, he'd have no choice but to send him on his way.

"Mizukage-sama, retreat!"

Seeing Takuya lower the Kusanagi sword from his shoulder, the bodyguards felt a chill run down their spines. They immediately drew their own blades and rushed forward, trying to buy time for the Mizukage to escape.

"Lightning Release: Thunder Flash!"

Takuya wasn't in the mood to toy with them. In a flash of lightning, he darted past the two bodyguards.

The bodyguards froze mid-step, their bodies rigid as their pupils dilated. The swords they had drawn slipped from their lifeless hands.

"Pfft—"

Blood sprayed into the air.