Taijutsu, like anything else, requires a certain degree of innate talent. Experience can elevate a ninja's taijutsu to a certain level, but to reach even greater heights requires a certain spark, a natural aptitude... As everyone knows, Habara lacks the corresponding talent in any field that requires innate ability.
After a round of taijutsu exchanges with the Fourth Mizukage, it could only be said that Habara was slightly inferior. When he got back on his feet from the water's surface, he discovered that the Mizukage had already completed another set of hand seals, unleashing the next wave of attacks:
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
Facing the charging water dragon, Habara prepared to dodge to the side. Although the Water Dragon Bullet was a powerful Water Release ninjutsu, with Habara's speed, evading such an attack was no challenge at all. However, just as he prepared to move, he found that his right leg had lost its ability to function.
Habara looked down, and he was startled... He discovered that at some point, his right leg had become covered in a layer of coral. No, rather than coral, these things looked more like layers upon layers of stacked barnacles, a sight that would intensely trigger anyone with trypophobia.
With just a light touch from the opponent's palm, Habara was temporarily crippled. The "Coral Palm" was indeed a troublesome control skill. He channeled a strong Lightning Release through his leg, but such a technique was completely ineffective against this type of restriction. Habara couldn't instantly clear the debuff from his body.
The vibrant, solid water dragon continued to grow larger in Habara's vision.
"Forget it, I'd better finish this quickly."
Habara had more than one way to deal with the Water Dragon Bullet, and now he decided to use the most reliable one. This was, after all, the Land of Water, and their opponent was the Fourth Mizukage. If the battle dragged on for too long, they might very well find themselves surrounded.
Next, Habara was going to show the Mizukage what a clash between reptiles looked like. Before the Water Dragon Bullet could hit, a roar that seemed to pierce the clouds suddenly rang in everyone's ears. Looking at where Habara had been standing, his figure had disappeared, replaced by a serpentine monster with eight heads.
The Water Dragon Bullet crashed into Habara's Yamata no Jutsu form, not even creating a splash. Speaking of which, activating the Yamata no Jutsu just to deal with a Water Dragon Bullet seemed excessively dramatic, but it did conveniently dispel the Fourth Mizukage's Coral Palm.
The Yamata no Jutsu, a top-tier forbidden jutsu, possessed physical destructive power no less than that of a Tailed Beast. Ordinary ninjas had absolutely no way to counter such a technique... unless someone happened to possess a sealing artifact that was instantaneous, high-intensity, and immediately effective.
One of the serpent heads, along with half of its body, pressed down towards the Fourth Mizukage on the water's surface. Its speed seemed slow but was actually incredibly fast, and the massive shadow instantly enveloped the Mizukage.
Boom!
The enormous serpent body crashed onto the water's surface, creating both towering waves and a deafening sound. But this attack didn't hit the Fourth Mizukage. His body, along with the surging waves, escaped the area covered by the serpent's body.
The Fourth Mizukage instinctively looked at the serpent head, which was now close at hand. The exaggerated vertical pupils and twin dragon horns made him realize that the threat level of this monster was comparable to a Tailed Beast.
"Crap..."
The Fourth Mizukage was momentarily stunned by the massive body, the overwhelming chakra, and the indescribable spiritual pressure. In the next instant, he realized something was wrong, and an even more intense sense of danger came from behind him. The Mizukage instinctively turned his head, and he saw another giant serpent head.
The serpent head opened its mouth to its maximum extent, and then...
ExSnabur!
Brilliant blue electricity surged like a luminous pulse. Although the airborne Mizukage contorted his body in an almost impossible way, because of this sudden, wide-area attack, half of his body was directly hit.
It's common knowledge that anyone who can make their body larger can spit something out or emit something. Habara had simply changed his method of Lightning Release projection. Moreover, thanks to the massive size afforded by the Yamata no Jutsu, the amount of chakra he could release instantaneously was far greater than in his human form... or rather, this form was more conducive to releasing chakra than his human form.
And after confirming that he had hit the Mizukage, Habara subsequently deactivated this exaggerated form, returning to his original appearance.
"Habara!" Kakashi shouted. Setting aside the question of when Habara had learned such a ridiculous ninjutsu, he was worried that Habara had actually taken out the Fourth Mizukage. That would cause huge problems. This wasn't wartime; if the Mizukage's death caused Kirigakure to spiral out of control, things would get very messy.
"Relax," Habara said casually. He wasn't the type to stir up trouble for the sake of it. He couldn't actually kill the Mizukage here. Compared to its lethality, his attack just now was actually more focused on its paralyzing properties.
However, the unexpected happened next. The Fourth Mizukage had lost control of his body. After falling onto the water, he could only barely manage to keep himself from sinking, meaning he had indeed temporarily lost his combat ability. If someone wanted to kill him, this was the best opportunity.
Therefore, someone made a move. But it wasn't Habara, nor could it be Kakashi or Tenzo. It was... Fuguki Suikazan.
He dragged the massive Samehada behind him, charging towards the defenseless Fourth Mizukage at a speed completely incongruous with his size.
In the past two years, the Fourth Mizukage's personality had suddenly changed drastically, ruling Kirigakure with a heavy hand and bloodshed. A person's personality doesn't usually change without a reason. Because of his inner suspicions, Fuguki Suikazan had been secretly investigating the Mizukage's situation.
And now, even without investigating the reason for the Mizukage's change in temperament, there was a way to resolve the series of problems caused by the Mizukage—simply eliminate the Mizukage physically.
Fuguki Suikazan reached the Mizukage's side in the blink of an eye. He swung Samehada, slashing down at the Mizukage without hesitation. But at that moment, Habara suddenly blocked in front of the Mizukage.
"Stealing kills isn't exactly honorable behavior, especially when you're backstabbing a teammate."
Fuguki Suikazan had already witnessed Habara's forbidden jutsu earlier. That form was indeed fearsome. However, since Habara had deactivated that form and was now close enough, he was no longer to be feared.
"Get out of the way!"
He swung Samehada horizontally at Habara.
Habara raised a single hand, steadily blocking the blade full of barbs. Seeing his action, Fuguki Suikazan revealed a triumphant smile.
Samehada had the ability to absorb chakra. As long as he drained Habara's chakra, he would no longer be a threat, just like the Fourth Mizukage struggling on the water's surface.
But what Fuguki Suikazan heard next was Samehada's agonizing shriek. When he hurriedly pulled Samehada back, he saw that the front end of Samehada had been petrified to a small extent.
Natural energy, it seemed, was not on Samehada's menu.
At this moment, Kakashi and Tenzo arrived, once again engaging Fuguki Suikazan. Habara retreated, pressing his left hand on the Fourth Mizukage's shoulder and lifting him up, while his right hand lit up with a bright lightning glow.
"Ways to awaken someone from genjutsu, let me think... One is extreme physical pain, and two is chakra disruption."
As he spoke, Habara's right hand instantly pierced through the Fourth Mizukage's right shoulder. At the same time, the overwhelming chakra from his body surged through the Mizukage's chakra network like a tidal wave.