The Mizukage Is Strong But Overly Cautious

Mizuki Ryosuke's luck wasn't bad. When he checked, the Rock shinobi was still breathing, though already unconscious.

This Rock Shinobi belonged to the Iwagakure elite, likely a user of the Doton: Iwa no Yoroi (Earth Release: Rock Armor), a defensive technique that hardens the body like stone. It seemed this technique, activated at the last moment, had saved his life.

Without any outsiders around, there was no need for pretense.

Mizuki Ryosuke formed a one-handed seal, and his palm emitted a soft green light.

Shōsen Jutsu! (Mystical Palm Technique!)

As the most fundamental medical ninjutsu, it wasn't difficult for Mizuki Ryosuke to master. With his emergency treatment, the Rock shinobi 's breathing stabilized.

Lifting the unconscious Rock Shinobi onto his shoulder, Mizuki Ryosuke moved to regroup with his three subordinates.

…

Due to chakra exhaustion, the three had retreated from the battlefield early, observing from a safer distance. Though they hadn't witnessed the exact details of the battle, the tremors and violent explosions left them shaken.

Every deafening impact made them flinch.

Mizuki Mitsuhiko, in particular, found his perception of power completely upended.

At this moment, Mizuki Ryosuke's status in his mind had surpassed even the man he had always aspired to surpass—Zabuza Momochi.

His eyes fixated on the enormous, crystalline formation in the distance—an Ice Release technique unlike anything he had seen. His breathing hitched. He had never imagined Hyōton (Ice Release) could be wielded on such a massive scale.

The sheer chakra required stunned him.

As the saying went, when the heavens gifted someone with unparalleled talent, they also took something in return.

This was the balance of nature.

The Mizuki clan's Hyōton bloodline made them exceptional, but it also left them at a disadvantage—low chakra reserves.

For this reason, few Mizuki clan members developed large-scale Ice Release techniques. Yet, the frozen wasteland before him defied that limitation.

Even the current Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, known for his Sanbi (Three-Tails) Jinchūriki chakra, lacked such devastating ice ninjutsu.

For now, Mizuki Mitsuhiko set aside his turbulent thoughts.

At that moment, Mizuki Ryosuke arrived, carrying the unconscious Iwa Jōnin.

"This isn't a safe place to talk. We need a stronghold first."

Mizuki Ryosuke was direct. The battlefield was still dangerous, and they had to move fast.

The presence of Rock shinobi meant their original mission—to hunt down a defector—had drastically changed.

Now, even Kirigakure, their own village, and the source of the mission—the Mizukage himself—were no longer trustworthy.

Mizuki Ryosuke could only hope this Rock shinobi possessed useful intelligence.

…

By midnight, the group had left the forest, taking shelter in a concealed cave.

After Mizuki Ryosuke's medical treatment, the Rock Shinobi finally regained consciousness.

Yet, upon seeing Mizuki Ryosuke, his face drained of color, and he fainted again.

Without hesitation, Mizuki Ryosuke placed a single finger against the man's forehead.

A deathly frost spread across his body.

The Rock shinobi 's eyes snapped open in terror.

"Y-Your Excellency… Your Excellency…!"

As soon as he came to, the Rock shinobi broke into desperate pleas for mercy.

"I ask, you answer."

Mizuki Ryosuke's tone was devoid of emotion.

"This… this…"

"As long as you let me go, I—"

Before he could finish, Mizuki Ryosuke grabbed his arm.

A surge of absolute zero cold radiated from his fingertips.

In an instant, the Rock shinobi 's entire arm was frozen solid.

Crack.

With a flick of his wrist, Mizuki Ryosuke shattered it into ice fragments.

The Rock shinobi 's scream was inhuman.

"I ask, you answer."

The words were spoken again, as cold and unyielding as the frost itself.

Across the cave, Terumi Mei averted her gaze, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Why did you know about our mission and prepare an ambush?"

The Rock shinobi trembled violently before he began to spill everything.

From the death of Duff to Hunter's thirst for vengeance, to the details of their setup—he held nothing back.

"As for… as for…"

"The reason we knew your location…"

His voice quivered.

"It's because there's a spy inside Kirigakure feeding information to Iwagakure."

"I don't know their identity, but someone high-ranking is involved."

Mizuki Ryosuke's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What was your objective?"

The Rock shinobi hesitated.

Mizuki Ryosuke reached out again.

Panicking, the man sputtered, "Our mission was an S-rank assassination order…"

"The target was… the Mizukage."

A tense silence filled the cave.

"As for the details, only Hunter had full knowledge. I don't know much else."

"And Koji Nakajima?" Mizuki Ryosuke pressed.

The Rock shinobi looked confused.

"A Mist Shinobi found us a day ago and attacked without hesitation. We killed him."

Mizuki Ryosuke's pupils contracted sharply.

The puzzle pieces clicked into place.

"Who is the traitor inside Kirigakure?"

"I—I don't know…" The Rock shinobi swallowed hard.

"But during our infiltration into the Land of Water, we received assistance from within Kirigakure itself."

"And during the assassination… that person was supposed to help us."

"The only ones who knew their identity were Kari and Mitsuhashi… but they're both dead."

"Please… I swear, I don't know anything else…"

Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded.

Mizuki Ryosuke simply turned to Takeda Yoichi.

After receiving a silent nod—

Slash.

A clean cut.

The Rock shinobi 's head hit the ground.

Even in death, his expression remained frozen in despair.