After pondering countermeasures for an entire night, fatigue washed over Kakashi once more.
He never missed an opportunity to rest. The moment Mei was awakened by the faint light filtering through the mist outside, the silver-haired shinobi instantly shut his eyes, forcing himself into a deep sleep.
The young woman approached the figure near the cave entrance. Finding him asleep while standing, she gently draped his jacket back over his shoulders.
Their freshwater supply inside the cave was depleted, and Mei felt thirsty. Mustering her courage, she ventured out, climbing up the cliff face to the upper level of the small island.
She disliked the feeling of constantly being cared for; it made her feel useless. Although her current situation undeniably made her resemble dead weight, she wanted to help with small, manageable tasks.
The salty tang of the sea breeze filled her nostrils. Steeling herself, Mei quickly searched for potential water sources and food. The island wasn't lacking in small animals and birds, which could be eaten after some simple cooking. After capturing two edible creatures, she finally discovered a water source near the island's center.
There were footprints in the mud beside the water. Mei grew vigilant. Comparing them carefully, she realized they were Kakashi's... likely left when he came to fetch water while she was unconscious.
After another scan confirmed she was alone, Mei filled her portable water flask, drank half herself, then refilled it completely.
"This should last a day," she murmured.
Turning around, the previously calm water surface behind her rippled with rising bubbles. Without warning, an unrestrained killing intent washed over Mei, chilling her to the bone. The sensation beneath her feet told her she had already walked into an encirclement.
"No need to be tense. It's just me."
Hozuki Mangetsu emerged from the water, wielding a slender ninja sword. Mei certainly recognized him. During the Kirigakure graduation test, he had pushed her into a corner with no escape. If Kakashi hadn't intervened, she would likely be a corpse by now.
This guy... he might be the strongest Genin among our peers in Kirigakure.
Mei understood that even among Kekkei Genkai users, there were differences in strength. While she possessed two bloodline limits, the Hozuki clan's Hydrification Technique was the bane of nearly any Water Release user. Unfortunately for Mei, her own Kekkei Genkai were still developing, making Water Release her primary combat tool.
She tentatively threw two exploding tags. As they detonated in the water, sending up massive columns of spray, Mei retreated, trying to get back to the cave and regroup with Kakashi. But Mangetsu, appearing as if from nowhere, once again blocked her path.
Droplets of water rained down, landing on both Mei and Mangetsu.
"Why is it you?" Mei demanded.
"I guided the four Masters here," Mangetsu replied calmly. "Combat isn't my primary role, but finding you means that Konoha ninja, Hatake Kakashi, isn't far away, right?"
Mei had no desire to waste words. Her hands blurred through several seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" (Suiton: Suijinheki)
A swirling wall of water erupted around her. Despite the high-pressure barrier, a single blade of water pierced through, aiming for her abdomen.
"Quick reflexes," Mangetsu noted coolly. "But you should understand, you can't hold out for long. Let me tell you some bad news: Lord Suikazan Fuguki accompanied me to this island. Judging by the time, he should be arriving very soon."
He paused, his tone softening slightly. "I don't want to kill you; you still have your uses. Won't you surrender obediently?"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" (Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu)
While Mangetsu spoke, Mei had already prepared her next jutsu. A massive dragon formed from the lake water behind her surged forth, roaring like a living creature. Lifting Mei onto its back, it didn't immediately attack Mangetsu. Instead, it coiled around tree trunks, snapping branches with ingenious mobility, turning the terrain to her advantage.
Lake water flooded the ground, torn up by the earlier explosions, quickly forming a new pool centered around the deepest point. The softened, wet mud seemed to shift under Mangetsu's feet, each step causing the ground to sink slightly, which he seemed to find rather agreeable.
The water dragon's eyes glowed blue. It opened its maw and, coordinating with Mei's Kekkei Genkai, unleashed streams of highly corrosive acid, steaming white as they flew unpredictably towards Mangetsu.
"A compound Kekkei Genkai attack?"
For the first time in the fight, a flicker of surprise crossed Mangetsu's face. Clearly, his opponent was significantly stronger and cleverer than in their last encounter.
"But it's meaningless," he declared. "Unless it's an instantly fatal liquid, it can't harm me."
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!" (Suiton: Suijōkiri - Adapted Name)
Swish! Swish! Several sounds of slicing air cut through the tense atmosphere. The shark-toothed youth balanced precariously on his left foot, right leg extended like a ballet dancer. Leveraging the vast water surface, his movements became almost too fast for Mei to track.
High-pressure water streams collided with Mei's acid spray, splashing violently in all directions. Several large trees caught in the crossfire were instantly corroded through at the trunk. The chaotic ripples on the water's surface were momentarily unified by the vibrations of the falling trees, only to grow even more turbulent.
The very earth seemed to tremble with the frequency. The water in the newly formed pool bulged upwards, forming a water wall several meters high that crashed down towards Mei's position with the force of a tsunami.
The water dragon dissipated. Mei executed several flips, landing lightly on the water's surface. Mangetsu had vanished.
"Below!"
A hand made of liquid grasped her ankle. With a sudden, powerful tug, Mei was helplessly dragged underwater. Freshwater rushed into her mouth and nose as Mangetsu calmly observed her desperate struggles from beneath the surface.
The agony of suffocation spurred Mei to act instinctively. Twisting her body, she released a burst of water in the opposite direction, finally breaking through the pressure and surfacing.
Gasping for air, Mei didn't let her guard down.
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!" (Yōton: Yōkai no Jutsu)
Combining Fire and Earth nature chakra, she expelled a viscous, highly corrosive stream of magma from her mouth. It solidified upon hitting the water, instantly raising the temperature and creating a small, stable island platform for her to stand on.
"Struggling is useless," Mangetsu stated, still sounding composed despite being forced back by the intense heat. His slightly disheveled appearance, however, detracted from his confident tone.
"What do you think now, monster of the Hozuki clan?" Mei pressed, trying to use words to make him give up the fight now that she seemingly had the upper hand. Her chakra was more than half depleted, and she believed Mangetsu couldn't be much better off. Even with the advantages of his Hydrification Technique, maintaining it constantly consumed chakra.
"Ha!" Mangetsu scoffed, flicking his slender ninja sword dismissively. He deactivated his Hydrification Technique and charged directly at her.
There was no time for ninjutsu at this range. Mei drew a kunai, parrying his strikes. Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal, the grating sound jarring her nerves. After several exchanges, her kunai snapped. Mangetsu swung his sword horizontally, aiming for her neck.
Mei ducked instinctively, diving into the water – playing right into Mangetsu's hands. He entered the water like a fish, his now-solid hands forcefully gripping her arms and snapping them.
Mei let out a sharp cry of pain before darkness claimed her.
Back in the cave, Hatake Kakashi's eyes snapped open. Bloodshot veins traced across his sclera as he stared at the figure approaching the entrance. The figure's inhumanly large frame and the monstrous, scale-covered sword strapped to its back – Samehada – made Kakashi's heart plummet. A quick scan with his senses confirmed his fears: Mei's chakra signature, faint but detectable in the distance, was rapidly fading.
Instantly, the entire cave filled with the sharp, roaring crackle of lightning.
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