119. Duel with the Mizukage: Battle for Supremacy (2)

119. Duel with the Mizukage: Battle for Supremacy (2)

Both Hikari and the Mizukage evaluated each other once again now. Hikari was as serious as ever before, and the Mizukage strangely calmed down his previous anger toward Hikari.

"It's really as I thought. You have managed to learn how to incorporate natural energy into your attacks for some reason. And you did it while so young... You might be the youngest in history to do that, Hyuga brat...",

The Third Mizukage remarked the first to break the tense silence following their dramatic, fast, clash. Surprisingly, his tone had shifted from the fierce anger previously displayed to a strategic calm, as if the earlier display of rage had been nothing more than a ruse.

Indeed, the change in his demeanor revealed a deeper layer of tactical acumen. He had initially planned to conceal his true capabilities and intentions, hoping to catch Hikari off guard with the previous surprise maneuver.

That was because he had more or less already partially guessed the true extent of Hikari's overall power, from earlier reports, as he himself also basically was involved quite heavily with natural energy-related matters, so he never underestimated him due to his young age.

This strategy had almost worked, as his feigned fury and aggressive front, alongside his objectively quite old age, nearly led to a decisive blow against the young Hyuga during their initial encounter in the sky.

"How did you do it? Does it perhaps have anything to do with your eyes? It is, after all, impossible to do it that fast using the 'ordinary method'...", The Third Mizukage mused, his eyes narrowing as he intently studied Hikari's.

He was searching for clues, for something beyond the ordinary that might explain the young Hyuga's rapid mastery of natural energy.

The Mizukage knew all too well the arduous journey he had undergone to harness such power. Decades of continuous meditation, day and night, had been required, during which he had even sacrificed his sight to enhance his ability to perceive and interact with natural energy. This level of dedication was not just arduous; it was life-altering.

And from historical accounts, he knew he wasn't an exception. Samurai and monks of the past who sought to manipulate natural energy like that had faced similar grueling paths.

"So, you've found some kind of shortcut, haven't you, boy?", He continued, a mix of accusation and wonder in his voice.

"Sure enough, you cursed, bloody, kekkei genkai bloodline holders are the luckiest class in this world, not having to work even one-tenth as hard as us, the rest mere mortals...",

There was a hint of bitterness and resentment in his tone, revealing a deep-seated animosity towards those born with inherent abilities.

His experiences and struggles had evidently shaped a negative view of kekkei genkai holders, whom he saw as having an unfair advantage in the shinobi world, just like that.

His expression darkened, hissed words betraying a history of conflict and perhaps envy, marking the stark difference in their paths to power.

"How could I not act against such threats? This didn't make the village weaker as you probably think, but stronger. We don't need such crazy and selfish people in our village. Just like the Konoha would probably do better without you.",

The Third Mizukage, known for his steely composure, had not felt such a surge of emotions in many years. Typically, he remained detached, his demeanor calm and controlled even in the face of adversity.

Yet, there was one issue that could ignite a fire within him—bloodline holders. His antipathy towards them was not merely a personal vendetta; it was deeply entwined with the darkest chapters of his life and the history of Kirigakure.

Decades ago, before he rose to the mantle of Mizukage, the treatment of bloodline holders in the Land of Water was inconsistent and largely driven by societal fears and prejudices.

They were ostracized, sometimes violently, by ordinary civilians rather than through any organized effort by shinobi.

This unstructured discrimination was chaotic and largely unchecked, leading to sporadic but brutal violence.

However, when he assumed leadership, the Third Mizukage transformed this scattered persecution into a systematic purge.

He believed that only through controlling and molding these powerful individuals from a young age could the village harness their abilities for the greater good.

Under his rule, bloodline holders had only one pathway to survival: enrollment in Kirigakure's shinobi academy as children, where they could be shaped to serve the village's needs.

The catalyst for this drastic policy was a tragedy that marked Mizukage's life with sorrow and irrevocable change.

A faction of political dissenters from within the Land of Water, from another island, driven by separatist ideologies and desperate to overthrow the existing order, employed rogue bloodline holders as assassins.

Their target was the Mizukage himself, but the mission went awry, resulting in the death of his wife and young children instead.

This loss did not just deepen his resolve; it hardened his heart. From that point forward, he destroyed his own eyes in order to make progress in his chakra control and natural energy connection, as fast as possible, and he immediately Mizukage decreed that bloodline holders would be controlled or eliminated.

This policy reshaped Kirigakure, embedding a deep-seated mistrust and fear of bloodline abilities within the village's culture and governance.

It was a decision born of personal anguish but executed with the cold precision of a leader determined to prevent any future threats to his rule and his village, even if it meant sacrificing the freedom and lives of a powerful minority.

In this current confrontation with Hikari Hyuga, all the old wounds and the stringent policies he had implemented were being challenged. The battle was not just physical but symbolic, a fight over the future direction of Kirigakure and the legacy of its current leader. He would never allow someone like Toru Kaguya or Arata Yukki to replace him, in a 'humiliating' turn.