"Hehehe, young man, you truly are a heaven-sent prodigy..."
The daimyo laughed in praise, though his smile carried a trace of bitterness.
Danwa Mayu, reading the atmosphere, seized the moment to proclaim Kamihane's championship title.
The crowd sighed in awe, unanimous in marveling that the Land of Iron had birthed a god-like youth this day.
Suddenly, a sharp-eyed samurai noticed Kamihane's right hand twitch.
Without warning, "First Frost's Resolve" flashed from its scabbard. The devastating slash rent the air, cleaving a distant viewing platform in two. The collapsing structure buried the assembled nobles beneath rubble.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
The screams persisted as Kamihane swung his blade repeatedly. Each strike sent jade-green crescents tearing through the sky, arcing toward multiple nobles like vengeful moons.
"Danger!"
"He's insane! Completely mad!"
"That boy's gone berserk!"
Azure flashes rivaling falling thunder illuminated the dusky sky in staccato bursts. Nobles turned ashen-faced - none could outrun these slashes. Their samurai retainers drew swords in futile defense, only to be bisected alongside their masters.
After evolving, "Leaf's Autumn Dew" had perfected chakra manipulation. Combining flowing water dynamics with ultra-compressed chakra density, it could slash from range or parry close combat, completely freeing his hands from constraints.
Amid sickening "thuds", blood flowed like rivers. The viewing stands transformed into slaughterhouses at the youth's whim. These were the Land of Iron's most influential figures, yet Kamihane executed them before the daimyo's eyes.
Chaos erupted across the arena, wails echoing everywhere.
"Ahhhh!"
"Is this Danwa Mayu's scheme too?"
"Save me! I'm too handsome to die here!"
Within mere breaths from first strike to noble deaths, everyone scrambled to escape the killing aura. This was the monster who'd crushed four elite swordsmen instantly - a once-in-centuries phenomenon. If truly enraged, perhaps all of Bushō Castle would become funeral offerings.
Then Kamihane's clear voice rang out again:
"All remain still!"
"Those slain were Water Country's purchased traitors."
"This purge was conducted under His Lordship's decree!"
"Now that the guilty are punished, you need not fear."
Under the ornate canopy, the Land of Iron's daimyo - having hidden behind shogunate samurai while burying his head beneath chairs - trembled as he cautiously peeked out.
"Eh...?"
His gaze mixed terror, confusion, and a hint of panic.
"Me...?"
Danwa Mayu then stepped forward. Supported by Kyoko and Yukino, he swiftly approached the daimyo.
"Your Excellency, Water Country is the root of today's calamity!"
With silver-tongued eloquence, he detailed Water's espionage network infiltrating their nation, their schemes to erode the "Three Iron Legacies", and manipulation of the tournament. He exposed how the Tetsukawa smithing failure and shogunate ambush were all Water Country machinations.
The daimyo regained composure, clambering back onto his seat while dabbing cold sweat with a handkerchief.
As Mayu explained beside him, the ruler listened obediently, occasionally stealing glances at Kamihane who stood on the arena gripping his divine blade.
What choice did he have? Should the youth frown and decide to decapitate him, there'd be no recourse.
At that moment, rubble shifted in collapsed ruins. A shadowy figure emerged like a specter, instantly darting toward the daimyo and Mayu with lethal momentum.
"Assassin!"
Two guards reacted swiftly, interposing themselves before the ruler.
"Draw Cut·Slash!"
Twin azure sword waves crisscrossed through air toward the intruder.
The assassin didn't evade, crashing straight through the slashes.
Onlookers frowned. Not everyone possessed Kamihane's monstrous abilities - samurai sword techniques were the nation's pride, yet today kept being disrespected.
Kamihane was one matter, being an acknowledged powerhouse. But this nobody assassin daring to ignore sword arts?
It trampled their dignity repeatedly.
The sword waves pierced through the attacker's body... only to splash water droplets. Unharmed, he raised handgun-shaped fingers.
"Water Release: Water Gun!"
Crystalline bullets shot from his fingertips, instantly piercing both guards.
Yet more samurai swarmed in, shielding their liege. "Pathetically dull..." The assassin complained, firing watery barrage indiscriminately.
Kamihane closed eyes, concentrating. An invisible ripple expanded from him.
All water bullets froze midair before pattering down like raindrops.
"What sorcery?!" The attacker gasped. No time for shock - killing these two would still achieve victory.
They'd already stolen Tetsukawa's "Hundred-Hand Legacy." Though failing to fully collapse Iron's Three Legacies, eliminating these key figures would secure Water Country's smithing supremacy!
Activating Body Flicker, he blurred forward. His right arm ballooned, swatting guards aside while reaching for the daimyo.
As fingertips brushed the ruler's robe, Kamihane materialized before him, palm striking chest.
Lightning-fast, unavoidable.
Yet hydration should nullify physical damage...
Wrong. The assassin's pupils contracted. His water transformation failed!
"Impossible..."
"All things are possible." Kamihane stated calmly. The frozen attacker hung midair, terror etched on his clean-shaven face with distinctive handlebar mustache and eyebrowless features.
"So it's you." Kamihane smiled leisurely.
"Hōzuki Gengetsu."
The forced grin cracked. "You know me? Friends perhaps?"
Of course. The future Second Mizukage who'd later perish against Iwagakure's Dust Release - how could he not recognize this master of aquatic arts?