The Mizukage Is Strong But Overly Cautious

Three shinobi of different ages, backgrounds, and strengths sat quietly a few meters apart near the lake, awaiting Mizuki Ryosuke's arrival.

Despite the stillness, an unspoken tension lingered in the air. The trio's differing statuses and personalities ensured that the atmosphere was far from harmonious.

Unlike the simple patience of Mizuki Mitsuhiko and Terumi Mei, Takeda Yoichi had been assigned an additional task by Mizuki Ryosuke—intelligence gathering. His targets? The very two individuals seated beside him.

As a longtime subordinate and battle-hardened comrade who had faced life-and-death situations alongside Ryosuke, Takeda Yoichi obeyed his orders without hesitation. He also recognized that this mission was more than just reconnaissance; it was a test.

After considering his approach, Takeda Yoichi devised a plan.

Takeda Yoichi, who had been seated cross-legged, suddenly stood up, retrieving a scroll from his pouch. With a flick of his wrist, he unfurled it and activated the storage seal, summoning an iron pot.

Without delay, he gathered firewood, fetched water from the lake, and ignited a flame using Fire Release. Soon, the water began to boil.

For shinobi, drinking purified water was a precaution against illness—one of the many basic survival techniques taught in the Academy. Even in a Hidden Village where war was common, such details mattered.

Once the water was ready, Takeda Yoichi carefully poured it into a cup and handed it to Terumi Mei.

"Here, drink."

Terumi Mei accepted the cup with a nod, her expression composed. "Thanks."

She had traveled non-stop to reach this meeting point, and though she concealed her fatigue well, the warmth of the water was welcome.

After she finished drinking, Takeda Yoichi turned to Mizuki Mitsuhiko, offering him the same cup with a simple, honest smile.

"Your turn."

However, beneath his seemingly friendly demeanor, his sharp eyes keenly observed Mitsuhiko's reaction.

A flicker of disdain crossed Mizuki Mitsuhiko's face. As the son of a prestigious elder of Kirigakure, how could he possibly drink from a cup that had just been used by someone else?

"Get lost."

His voice was sharp, his disgust undisguised.

Takeda Yoichi's expression darkened slightly.

From the other side, Terumi Mei's sharp gaze flicked toward Mizuki Mitsuhiko.

Thud!

She stood up abruptly, her posture rigid.

Mizuki Mitsuhiko scoffed. "What's the matter? The petrol bottle has something to say?"

At his words, Terumi Mei's expression turned cold.

"Petrol bottle? You must be talking about yourself." Her retort was swift and cutting.

Mizuki Mitsuhiko's smirk vanished. His voice dropped to a lower, more menacing tone. "You wanna test that?"

"Gladly."

The moment those words left her lips, Terumi Mei moved.

Water Release: Water Horn Technique!

Her hands formed a rapid sequence of seals, and with a sharp exhale, she unleashed a high-pressure jet of water toward Mitsuhiko.

However, Mizuki Mitsuhiko remained unfazed. His hands blurred as he formed a counter-seal, slamming his palm onto the ground.

Ice Release: Ice Wall Technique!

A thick, translucent ice wall rose in an instant, intercepting the water attack.

Though neither of them had reached the speed and precision of Mizuki Ryosuke during the Jōnin Exam, their skill level was far ahead of most shinobi their age. Their fundamentals were solid.

However, Terumi Mei was not deterred.

She quickly executed another set of seals, her lips parting as she expelled several fast-moving fireballs in an unpredictable trajectory.

Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Technique!

The flames twisted through the air, curving around the ice wall in multiple arcs, aiming directly at Mitsuhiko.

Seeing this, Mizuki Mitsuhiko's eyes flashed with caution.

Boom!

The explosion of flames engulfed his position.

But before the smoke could settle, a blur of motion shot forward—Mizuki Mitsuhiko, now wielding a kunai coated in ice.

He had used Body Replacement Technique to evade the attack and immediately counterattacked.

Terumi Mei reacted swiftly, blocking his icy blade with her kunai. The two exchanged dozens of quick blows in rapid succession, their movements sharp and efficient.

Realizing that he couldn't gain an upper hand in close combat, Mizuki Mitsuhiko's eyes gleamed coldly.

Ice began creeping up his legs, reinforcing them with hardened chakra-infused frost.

Then—he kicked.

Terumi Mei barely managed to block, but the sheer force sent her skidding backward.

Seizing the momentum, Mizuki Mitsuhiko executed another technique.

Ice Release: Ice Shard Barrage!

Countless ice spears materialized in midair, launching toward Terumi Mei at blinding speed. At the same time, he formed another set of hand seals, creating ice kunai that he hurled in rapid succession.

It was a long-range battle of attrition.

Terumi Mei narrowed her eyes. She deflected the incoming projectiles with her own kunai, but her limited supply of metal weapons was quickly being exhausted.

"No, I can't just stay on the defensive."

She activated Body Replacement Technique, dodging the next barrage of ice shards. Taking advantage of the momentary gap, she executed a high-level Fire Release technique.

Fire Release: Great Eruption!

A roaring blaze surged toward Mizuki Mitsuhiko. He instinctively prepared another Ice Wall, but before he could complete the jutsu—

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful gust of wind howled through the battlefield, merging with the flames. The combination drastically amplified the fire's intensity, turning it into a deadly inferno.

For the first time, Mizuki Mitsuhiko's expression changed.

His defensive techniques weren't enough to stop an enhanced Fire-Wind combination attack.

He only had one chance.

Ice Release: Ice Strangulation!

A desperate maneuver—sharp, jagged ice tendrils erupted from the ground, twisting toward Terumi Mei in an attempt to entrap and pierce her before the flames could consume him.

The clash of elements reached its peak—

But just before the battle could escalate further—

"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar."

A towering column of water erupted between them, dousing both fire and ice effortlessly. The immense pressure instantly neutralized their attacks, reducing them to nothing.

It was as if their jutsu were mere child's play.

The source of the technique stepped forward, his white robes pristine, his expression unshaken.

With a gentle smile, Mizuki Ryosuke observed the exhausted combatants.

"Good, good. You both have energy to spare."

Terumi Mei and Mizuki Mitsuhiko, now breathless, collapsed onto the ground from sheer exertion.

Meanwhile, Takeda Yoichi quietly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.