Hagoromo naturally noticed the gaze Kakashi was leveling at him—a look filled with emotions that were difficult to put into words. Was there a problem with what I said?
Hmm? What's with that look in your eyes?
"Hey, how about we swap?" Hagoromo explained. "I'll handle the eyebrow-less kid, and you take this lady in front of me? Just a heads-up: don't let her gender or young age fool you. Her strength is likely greater than the opponent you're facing."
"I know."
Kakashi gave a helpless sigh. He hadn't said he had an issue with it; besides, he was already closing in on Zabuza. According to Konoha's intelligence, this kunoichi likely possessed a Kekkei Genkai, so it was best to leave her to Hagoromo.
As for Zabuza, his heart's deepest desire was to kill Hagoromo first. At this point, it wasn't even about threat levels or combat strength anymore.
First, Hagoromo had violently butchered the Executioner's Blade he had just acquired... looking at those pathetic fragments, there was no telling how much time it would take to restore it.
Second, Hagoromo's repeated comments about him having "no eyebrows" had left Zabuza fuming.
He pushed his forehead protector up, revealing his... eyebrows.
The man had eyebrows, alright? He simply tucked them away with extreme care to prevent them from being singed or damaged in battle—he was not like Juzo Biwa. It was precisely to avoid ending up like Juzo that he took such precautions, yet here he was, being slandered for it.
That masked guy... the face under that mask is probably the one with no eyebrows, Zabuza thought. This is nothing but pure jealousy.
The two from the Mist weren't the only ones with shifting moods. Once she regained her composure, Mei Terumi was also livid.
Lady? Big sister? Are we that close?
More importantly, do I really look that old?
Age-wise, Hagoromo and Mei Terumi were likely peers, a fact Hagoromo could clearly deduce. As for his choice of address, it was either because his internal image of a Mizukage was that of a mature woman, or he was simply trying to provoke her. An emotional shinobi was a shinobi who left openings.
Having used a Substitution to evade Hagoromo's strike, Mei now stood atop the roof of an old house. From this vantage point, she could survey the entire battlefield. Seeing Hagoromo still standing before that ruined wall, and remembering the sudden ambush she had just endured—combined with his tone and that "lady" comment...
"Zabuza, I'll handle this guy alone."
Mei finally spoke, issuing the command to Zabuza before turning her gaze back to Hagoromo. Her face was a mixture of gravity, anger, a touch of hatred, and... a very prominent handprint.
Hagoromo let out a sudden, involuntary snort of laughter. It wasn't that he was being unprofessional in a serious situation; it was just that the sight was genuinely absurd. That handprint would likely remain a permanent, unerasable memory for her.
Hagoromo's laughter caused Mei, who had just managed to suppress her temper, to explode once more. She was an exceedingly rare shinobi possessing two Kekkei Genkai—what happened when you truly enraged her?
Hagoromo's answer was simple: he turned and bolted.
The hand seals she was weaving were complete, and those seals looked very familiar to him.
A violent surge of water erupted behind Hagoromo. The rapidly rushing torrent easily demolished the long-abandoned houses in its path.
Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
A large-scale technique capable of creating a small lake wasn't intended for Hagoromo alone. Naturally, the battling Kakashi and Zabuza were also swept up in the deluge.
Fine, let's all just go with the flow.
Without looking back, Hagoromo waved a hand, a wild burst of Lightning Style instantly severing any obstacles in his path. Yet, even with a linear dash, it was difficult to escape the radius of a jutsu like this in time.
The water surged around from both sides, threatening to merge and drown him!
He pivoted, planting a foot firmly and using the momentum to kick off a nearby wall. With a fluid motion, he flipped onto a rooftop and leaped forward. Channeling chakra to the soles of his feet, he landed on the crest of the wave and began to slide along the rushing water.
But Mei Terumi was right behind him, riding the surface of the water in pursuit!
Hagoromo sensed her immediately. He gripped the hilt of the broken Executioner's Blade in his left hand and braced the lower part of the blade with his right arm.
Clang!
Using the wide blade as a makeshift shield, Hagoromo blocked Mei's incoming kunai. However, by the time he turned to counter, she had already retreated.
She clearly understood the nature of Hagoromo's Lightning Style; engaging in direct physical contact offered her no advantage whatsoever. But she only backed away a few steps.
At this distance, they were practically face-to-face.
Long auburn hair veiled her right eye. Her emerald gaze was cold. Her nostrils flared slightly. Her cherry-blossom lips were parted, teeth bared.
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Hagoromo had no interest in admiring her features. The silence wasn't strange—logically, it's impossible to speak while you are busy "vomiting" a technique.
The next move was one of Mei Terumi's Kekkei Genkai: Lava Style!
Lava Style: Melting Apparition Jutsu!
The corrosive substance spewed from her mouth. This viscous, sticky sludge was far from beautiful; the Melting Apparition Jutsu was never meant to be aesthetically pleasing.
However, it was incredibly powerful. The technique carried a potent acidity and a faint, pungent odor. This was a technique capable of melting even a Susanoo; a body of flesh and blood stood no chance. Hagoromo absolutely did not want that stuff touching him.
Deactivating his lightning, he countered with water.
Water Style: Water Encampment Wall!
The aquatic environment created by Mei's previous jutsu provided Hagoromo with a distinct advantage. This time, he didn't even have to spit; the wall of water rose directly from beneath his feet to stand before him.
As the two substances—secreted by the male and female shinobi—clashed, Hagoromo expected the Lava Style to be diluted. To his surprise, the substance was entirely insoluble in water.
A constant sizzling erupted as the Water Encampment Wall was dissolved in a mere heartbeat.
However, that single moment was all Hagoromo needed. He used the opening to put distance between himself and Mei, while his next jutsu was already prepared.
Like a great whale inhaling the sea, the water spiraled upward from below, coiling around Hagoromo's arm. It was condensed, compressed, and then launched.
Water Style: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!
The water spear flew straight at Mei Terumi.
She didn't flinch. Maintaining her Lava Style, she simply tilted her body to the side, allowing the attack to whistle past. In her mind, such a high-density technique only mattered if it hit. A missed jutsu? Meaningless.
But the reality was different. Even without a direct hit, the Hard Whirlpool Water Blade was effective. It was an area-of-effect technique—much like a certain Wind Style sphere, it could detonate after being thrown.
In an instant, a massive water tornado formed behind Mei. It completely disrupted the trajectory of her Melting Apparition Jutsu and swept her up into the air!
Hagoromo came to a halt.
The Water and Lava styles were churned together, and the corrosion continued. It was precisely because of that corrosive, destructive element that the Water Blade failed to reach its full intended power.
Then a question arose: would Mei Terumi be dissolved by her own technique?