Chapter 118 - 13: Assassination
The chaos erupted suddenly, and neither side had time to gather their full forces. Yet, even with such limited numbers, the sheer destructive power of these high-level "players" was astonishing.
The Mizukage Building resembled a massive version of the blockhouses constructed during wartime, albeit hundreds of times larger. Its design was rigid and crude, even bordering on ugly.
To resist the corrosive effects of water vapor, the entire structure was built from half-meter-thick granite blocks, stacked and sealed with a mixture of black tar and glutinous rice paste instead of cement. The result was an exceptionally sturdy building, impervious to most ordinary jutsu.
But even such a robust structure could not withstand the ferocity of the battle. By the end, the Mizukage Hall was left in ruins. Apart from a few load-bearing walls, everything—tables, chairs, screens, counters, ceilings, and floors—was utterly destroyed. The intensity of the battle was evident from the devastation.
In this skirmish, Yagura Karatachi's faction suffered a crushing defeat. Yagura himself was struck across the right cheek by Yoake's iron hook, narrowly avoiding the loss of his right eye. The prodigious swordsman Mangetsu Hōzuki met a tragic end when Yoake's hook pierced his throat, killing him instantly. Two other newly-inducted members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Taro Aohira and Taro Benibana, also perished in the battle. Meanwhile, Yuri Hayama, another member, was critically injured when the Second Advisor, Siren, stabbed her in the lungs, rendering her unable to fight.
Yoake's faction, on the other hand, sustained minimal losses, with only two of his protectors killed. Just as Yoake was preparing to press his advantage and annihilate Yagura's faction entirely, Yagura decisively ordered a retreat. His forces fled in disarray, taking with them the "corpse" of the Third Mizukage. This marked a significant, albeit temporary, victory for Yoake and his militant faction.
Afterward, Yoake rallied a large number of armed followers and surrounded the residence of the Elder Master. His intentions were clear: submit to his authority, and all would be well; resist, and the very concept of the Elder Master might cease to exist in Kirigakure.
Not long after, the Second Advisor, Ao Peng, emerged carrying the Mizukage's blue conical hat (a tradition in Kirigakure where the Mizukage's hat is held by the Elder Master when the Mizukage is incapacitated).
"The Elder Master is advanced in years and frail in health. He will no longer involve himself in the village's affairs. You... do your job well."
With that, Ao Peng handed the Mizukage's hat to Yoake.
Yoake was overjoyed. The Elder Master's gesture not only tacitly acknowledged his claim to the Mizukage title but also signaled a complete withdrawal from power. This meant that once the old man passed away, the position of Elder Master would be abolished, leaving Yoake as the sole authority. The dual-power structure would become a single-power system, making Yoake the most powerful Mizukage in Kirigakure's history!