While Fujin, Mieko and Hoka were dealing with their opponents, the others had begun fighting as well.
Renjiro finally managed to stop Mitsuzuka from running. Mitsuzuka looked at Renjiro and shouted, "Why the fuck are you here Renjiro? I have no interest in fighting you. I'll leave that fucking country of hot springs. That should fulfill your mission parameters, right?"
Renjiro smirked. He wasn't unaware of how foul-mouthed Mitsuzuka was. He said, "Unfortunately, you killed too many civilians. The Daimyo was very insistent on bringing your head back."
A scowl formed on Mitsuzuka's face. He shouted back, "Don't fucking underestimate me Renjiro! I killed dozens of your fucking subordinates in the last war. If you want to kill me, I'll take a fucking piece of you too!"
Renjiro didn't reply. There was no point in engaging in more talks. He made a hand sign.
'Water Release : Water Dragon jutsu'
A water dragon formed behind Renjiro and moved rapidly towards Mitsuzuka. Mitsuzuka flickered while making hand signs.
'Water Release : Water Shock bomb'
He released a jet of water that hit the dragon on its head and exploded. Both jutsus were neutralized. Water showered in all directions. Mitsuzuka thought, 'Too easy. There should be more.'
As Mitsuzuka thought, 3 Water Dragons appeared at the spot where the two jutsus had just clashed. The one in the center moved straight at Mitsuzuka. The other two water dragons split in opposite directions and attacked Mitsuzuka from his right and left.
Mitsuzuka moved backwards while making hand signs. Suddenly, he jumped backwards. A huge head of another Water Dragon appeared under his feet. The Dragon opened its mouth and shot a giant ball of water at Mitsuzuka.
Mitsuzuka watched with a grim expression on his face. He continued making hand signs.
'Water Release : Giant Mirror Shield jutsu'
Just when the water sphere was about to hit him, a giant mirror of Water appeared in front of him.
The ball of water hit the mirror and exploded. The mirror collapsed, but the impact didn't pass through it.
Behind the mirror, Mitsuzuka had used Water Prison jutsu to protect himself.
Renjiro watched from a distance. A sphere of water surrounded Mitsuzuka, who was about 15 meters in the air. Four Water Dragons moved rapidly towards the sphere of water. It looked as if the four dragons were competing with each other for food.
Mitsuzuka kept making more hand signs.
'Water Wall jutsu'
4 thick water walls appeared around the Water Prison. Each water wall blocked a water dragon. The Water Dragons pierced through the water walls and collided with the Water Prison. They exploded on contact.
Mitsuzuka infused a lot of chakra into the Water Prison jutsu. The explosions travelled through the water prison, but Mitsuzuka wasn't hurt. However, the Water Prison crumbled.
Mitsuzuka and water slowly fell down on the surface of the sea. As he was falling down, his eyes were glued on Renjiro, who was standing steadily. He saw that Renjiro wasn't making any move. However, he felt a strong sense of danger!
As soon as he landed on the surface of the sea, a giant claw attacked him. Mitsuzuka immediately flickered out of the way. The giant claw slashed his afterimage into two. However, Mitsuzuka wasn't unhurt. Though he moved quickly, the claw still left 3 long cuts on his back!
Mitsuzuka watched what had attacked him. His eyes widened. It was a gigantic, 25 feet tall, sloth! He muttered in annoyance, 'This fucking beast! I still recall reading reports in the 3rd war of a giant sloth killing and eating my subordinates!'
Renjiro smirked on seeing Mitsuzuka get injured. He had summoned the sloth under the cover of their first clash. He grabbed a sword and flickered towards Mitsuzuka.
Mitsuzuka noticed Renjiro's movement. The giant sloth also began swimming towards him. Understanding his disadvantageous position, Mitsuzuka dived underwater. Both Renjiro and the sloth followed him.
Mitsuzuka dived to a depth of 100 meters. He created 4 Water clones. Renjiro saw them and created 4 Water clones as well. In an instant, all 8 water clones disappeared.
The Water clones moved at a very fast speed underwater. One of Mitsuzuka's water clones attacked the sloth. The sloth, though strong and able to hold its breath underwater, was severely restricted by the water. One of Renjiro's water clones went to help him.
The other 3 water clones flickered around at great speeds and tried to sneak attack Renjiro. Renjiro's clones stopped their sneak attacks and sneak attacked Mitsuzuka as well.
2 men and 6 clones engaged in a high-paced melee underwater. They used numerous Water Release jutsus. While underwater, the power of Water jutsus was amplified by a huge degree. The surface of the sea above them became very chaotic due to the impacts happening under it.
Mitsuzuka was very well-versed in underwater battles. He attacked Renjiro from innovative and unimaginable angles. However, Renjiro was no slouch. He blocked all his attacks.
The battle between the remaining 2 clones and the sloth also continued. Renjiro's clone and the sloth kept attacking as well, but Mitsuzuka's clone countered properly and prevented the sloth from interfering in the battle.
The two remained in a deadlock for a few minutes. To increase the pressure on Renjiro, Mitsuzuka created 3 more clones. Renjiro smirked and created 6 water clones in response.
3 of them went ahead to intercept the 3 new clones of Mitsuzuka. The remaining 3 moved together in a group. Renjiro thought, 'Let's see how you counter this.'
The group of the 3 water clones attacked a clone of Mitsuzuka who was engaged in combat. It was caught off guard due to being suddenly attacked by 3 more clones. One of Renjiro's water clones sent a flying slash at him and dispelled him.
Mitsuzuka's face became grim. He realized the danger that the group of 3 clones posed. He immediately recalled his clones. They stopped fighting and retreated next to him. Renjiro and his clones tried attacking and dispelling them, but they were able to dodge everything and go back safely.
Mitsuzuka and his 6 Water Clones looked at Renjiro and his 10 water clones and his Sloth summon. Renjiro immediately pressed on the attack. His 10 water clones dispersed in different directions and assaulted Mitsuzuka from all sides.
Mitsuzuka's clones entered into a defensive formation. They desperately defended Renjiro's assault. Mitsuzuka cursed in his mind, 'These fucking Senju and their fucking huge reserves! If I keep fighting, my chakra reserves will dry up. I wanted to take advantage of him chasing me and land a killing blow, but he has been so fucking careful! I need to escape. Or I'll be dead. Worse, I'd be eaten by the fucking beast!'
Renjiro's clones kept up the assault. Renjiro floated next to his summon and observed, 'He is in a crunch. If he just makes one misstep, I'll kill him. Either he will need to create more clones or he will need to find a way to escape.'
After desperately defending for a couple of minutes, Mitsuzuka made his decision. He made a hand sign. 5 more Water clones appeared around him.
All his water clones immediately moved to attack Renjiro's clones. The last one attacked Renjiro and his summon. Meanwhile, Mitsuzuka turned around and ran away.
Renjiro noticed it. It was as he anticipated. He quickly made two water clones to intercept the incoming clone. He rode the sloth to chase after Mitsuzuka. The sloth went around the battlefield of the water clones and swam towards where Mitsuzuka had escaped.
However, soon it stopped and turned around and attacked a water clone. Renjiro was surprised. He hadn't instructed the sloth to do anything like this. However, his eyes widened as he realized why the sloth had done this.
The 'water clone' had a grim face! It was actually Mitsuzuka disguised as a water clone. The one who ran away was actually a clone. Mitsuzuka wanted to lure Renjiro's main body away. Then he could create more clones to block all of Renjiro's clones and run away before Renjiro realized that he was tricked.
He immediately began cursing, 'What the fuck? How the fuck can this beast smell underwater?'
He immediately fell into a difficult situation. Renjiro and his clones made a hand sign and assaulted Mitsuzuka with dozens of water bullets.
Mitsuzuka barely managed to dodge and block them. However, a few cuts appeared on his body. Once the Water bullet barrage was over, the sloth moved forward and swung its massive claws at Mitsuzuka. Mitsuzuka immediately moved to dodge it.
Renjiro appeared in his path and attacked him with his sword. Mitsuzuka knew about Renjiro's abilities with a sword. He grabbed his kunai and channeled his chakra through it.
He blocked Renjiro's sword and used the force of the sword to move away from Renjiro. However, Renjiro's clone intercepted him and attacked him with Water Dragon jutsu. At the same time, the sloth as well as Renjiro moved forward to attack Mitsuzuka.
Mitsuzuka desperately defended himself.
