In an instant, the four tails on Kazuyama Gekkō's body expanded, transforming into four massive hands that lunged in the same direction.
It was clear—that's where the Third Mizukage was hiding.
"Sharp, but a little too slow."
Using the water beneath him as propulsion, the Third Mizukage kicked off the waves and shot into the air, narrowly dodging the attack of the Tailed Beast's chakra.
But in the next second, he realized he'd made a grave miscalculation.
As soon as he leapt up, a blast of scorching chakra exploded in front of him.
"Surprised? Didn't expect that, did you? You must've forgotten—I know your coordinates like the back of my hand. No matter where you run, I'll catch you!"
The coordinates Kazuyama had planted earlier allowed him to instantly appear right in front of his opponent.
But this time, he didn't strike. Instead, he unleashed a surge of chakra outward with full force.
The Third Mizukage had no time to react before he was completely engulfed by the overwhelming Tailed Beast chakra midair.
A wave of blistering heat crashed into his senses.
"It worked!"
Feeling his chakra fully enclose his opponent, Kazuyama's face lit up with a satisfied grin.
Chōmei and the Third Mizukage both froze at the scene.
What did he mean, "It worked"? Did this kid seriously think he could take out the Third Mizukage just by smothering him with chakra?
"Hmph, kid, don't think you've won just by wrapping me in Tailed Beast chakra."
"I'm the Third Mizukage!"
"Water Release!?"
"Huh?!"
The Third Mizukage wouldn't give up just because he was caught in Tailed Beast chakra. He quickly formed hand seals, preparing to blast through with his Water Release.
But as he completed the seals and tried to cast, he suddenly realized—he couldn't form even a single drop of water.
"What's going on? Why can't I form water with my jutsu?"
After all, every elemental jutsu involves converting chakra—Fire Release transforms into fire, Water Release into water.
Even though he was wrapped in Tailed Beast chakra, his own chakra was still intact. So why couldn't he transform it?
Kazuyama had already landed, but his chakra remained, steadily compressing around the Mizukage, forming an even denser layer.
"You think I'm just releasing chakra?"
"Please."
"Tailed Beast chakra isn't like a ninja's chakra—it's more violent, and it carries the traits of each Tailed Beast."
"Chōmei's chakra can transform into scale powder. I've infused that transformation into my chakra."
"You think you're just wrapped in chakra? Sure, technically, but that chakra is filled with invisible, fine scale powder!"
Both the Third Mizukage and Chōmei were stunned.
Chōmei quickly sensed his chakra—Kazuyama was telling the truth.
His chakra was in a constant flux between chakra and scale powder, and that transformation was still ongoing.
No wonder Kazuyama had drawn on the chakra equivalent of six tails while still only displaying four—he'd masked the increase completely.
"Damn, Kazuyama! You totally set him up!"
"Crazy! I didn't even notice!"
"When did you figure out how to use my chakra like this? Why didn't I know?!"
Kazuyama just smiled slightly. He didn't rely solely on the system to grow stronger. He spent time figuring out how to maximize the ninjutsu and abilities he already had.
He'd long mastered chakra transformation—he just never had a reason to use it until now.
Faced with the Third Mizukage's sudden ambush, he finally revealed his hidden talent.
"Damn it! You brat—when did you start setting this up?!"
The Third Mizukage had been dominating the fight, yet now found himself completely turned around. Fury boiled inside him.
He tried desperately to refine his chakra and fight back.
But the scale powder, amplified by the surrounding chakra, immediately cut off that option.
"Don't waste your energy. This scale powder has a simple effect—it drains your chakra."
"In other words, the faster you try to condense chakra, the faster it dissipates."
"And with Chōmei backing me up, there's no way you'll beat me in a battle of endurance!"
Kazuyama's tone brimmed with confidence. The chakra surrounding him kept flowing outward, seemingly without end.
The Third Mizukage's expression darkened. He was the Mizukage—he would never surrender easily, not even to a Jinchūriki.
"Hmph, so what if you trap me? You think that's enough?"
"Kid, you're dreaming."
"I might not be able to use jutsu, but I can still move!"
With that, the Third Mizukage pulled out an explosive tag, ready to blast his way out.
But Kazuyama had anticipated this.
He brought his hands together, and the surrounding chakra thickened even more.
"Ugh!"
"You little bastard!"
As Kazuyama activated the next phase, the chakra around the Mizukage began to extract the very air from within.
The Third Mizukage gasped. His breathing grew labored, and his face twisted with strain.
He hadn't expected a brat to pull off something like this. Using the Tailed Beast's chakra so fluidly, as if it were his own limb?
Trapping him, restricting him with powder, and now removing the air—was he planning to suffocate him alive?
Seeing the Mizukage's grim expression, Kazuyama smirked.
"You guessed right. I am going to suffocate you."
"I'll slowly drain the air content from the chakra around you."
"You've been pummeling me all this time—you must be tired. But sorry, there's no rest for you now."
"Oh wait, scratch that. This is your rest. A nice, eternal one."
Taunts like that always hit hardest.
The Third Mizukage, already fuming, exploded internally when he heard Kazuyama's words.
He tried to curse, but no sound came out. The air was gone. Even breathing was a struggle—how could he shout?
He couldn't scream out loud, but in his mind, he was raging.
"Bastard! I won't accept this! My chakra! My Water Release!"
"Water Release! Water Dragon Bullet! Great Waterfall Technique! Water Dragon Flurry!"
No matter what he shouted in his heart, Kazuyama couldn't hear a word.
But the system could.
[Ding! Host has been detected using underhanded tactics, causing the Third Mizukage's mental defenses to collapse! He wants to scream but can't! He wants to break free but has no strength! He's entered a full-on rage and has cursed the host countless times in his heart! Special reward unlocked: Water Release Mastery (Third Mizukage version).]