LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 44: "I Stomped Him To Death"
At this moment, light rain began to fall, and the mist thickened, almost as if mourning the death of the Third Mizukage.
Yoruichi shook his head, glancing at the lifeless body before him. "This Mizukage was fake, right? So weak," he muttered. "Or is it because my Sage Mode is too strong?"
Despite the disbelief, Yoruichi picked up the Third Mizukage's corpse. "Taking this back to Konoha should earn me plenty of merit," he thought. Not only that, but the death of the Third Mizukage would throw the Hidden Mist Village into chaos, reducing the threat it posed to Konoha in the short term.
Yoruichi clasped his hands together, quickly forming hand seals. Along the shattered bridge, massive wooden roots erupted, reconnecting the broken structure to the mainland. The effort wasn't particularly difficult, but it drained a fair amount of chakra.
He sighed. Although his Yin Seal still stored some chakra, he had already used a significant portion fighting. Thankfully, he had recently absorbed the chakra of several White Zetsu, leaving him with a decent reserve.
Yoruichi's gaze turned distant, his mind briefly worrying about Uchiha Mikoto, Team Seven, and Terumi Mei. He hoped his earlier actions hadn't endangered them. When he summoned the wood clones during the battle, it had drained him significantly.
Suddenly, a golden flash streaked across the horizon, closing in fast.
"Minato," Yoruichi muttered, recognizing the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Minato Namikaze arrived moments later, his expression both stunned and cautious as he surveyed the battlefield. The ground, once flat, was now a basin littered with massive roots and severed vines. No bodies remained, only a strange, heavy rain and an eerie mist.
Minato's sharp gaze locked onto a shadowy figure emerging from the haze. His hand instinctively tightened around his Flying Thunder God kunai.
"Yoruichi?" Minato called cautiously.
"It's me," Yoruichi replied, stepping forward, his figure becoming clear.
Minato lowered his weapon and hurried over. "The Hokage sent me to assist you. Are you alright?"
Yoruichi dropped the corpse from his shoulder, revealing the battered, bloodied body of the Third Mizukage.
Minato's eyes widened in shock. "That's… the Third Mizukage?"
"Yeah." Yoruichi gestured dismissively. "Help me carry this."
Minato hesitated, his gaze flickering between Yoruichi and the lifeless Mizukage. "You... killed him?"
"Obviously," Yoruichi said flatly, brushing past Minato. "Let's head back."
As they made their way toward Konoha, Minato remained silent, unable to hide his astonishment. The idea that Yoruichi had taken down the Third Mizukage seemed unreal. Just a few years ago, Yoruichi was a Genin while Minato was already a Jonin. Now, Yoruichi had accomplished something extraordinary.
"How did you even manage it?" Minato finally asked.
Yoruichi shrugged. "He was weak. I literally stomped him to death."
Minato blinked, struggling to process the casual tone. He frowned as memories surfaced. "Our intel mentioned something strange about him. Over the past year, the Mizukage's public appearances became rare. We suspected either an ulterior motive or severe illness."
"Maybe both," Yoruichi mused, recalling the influence of Madara Uchiha manipulating things from the shadows.
Minato nodded, his expression serious. "Whatever the reason, this will throw the Hidden Mist Village into complete disarray. Their leadership vacuum will leave them vulnerable."
"Well, whatever the fallout, Konoha won't have to worry about them for a while," Yoruichi said confidently.
Minato looked at him with admiration. "Yoruichi, you've done something incredible. The entire ninja world will soon hear your name and will come to know your feats."