Although Earth Release techniques barely managed to counter Kisame's Water Release, his chakra reserves were simply too vast—perhaps even greater than Jiraiya's. He was a troublesome opponent. Defeating him might require using the power of these eyes.
Nagato closed his Rinnegan as battle strategies quickly formed in his mind. However, just then—
"Idiot!"
Nagato was forced to open his eyes and look behind him.
"Kakuzu-sama, I sincerely apologize. With my current chakra levels, this is the best I can do with Earth Release..." Nagato said, feeling somewhat ashamed. But his words did nothing to change Kakuzu's stern expression.
Kakuzu stepped forward, passing by Nagato without hesitation.
"Didn't Jiraiya teach you anything? A shinobi's only goal is to eliminate the enemy. Even if you hesitate to kill, at the very least, your objective should be to defeat them. You had a golden opportunity in front of you, and you wasted it on Earth Release. I'm utterly disappointed."
Nagato scratched his red hair in frustration. "Kakuzu-sama, then... what should I do?"
"Stand back. I'll show you."
As Kakuzu faced Kisame head-on, the latter's expression shifted slightly.
"How amusing. Kakuzu-sama, your name is legendary across the shinobi world. Perhaps in your eyes, everyone else is just trash. But don't get too cocky—you might end up biting your own tongue."
A glint of intrigue flashed in Kisame's fish-like eyes. Whether he could defeat Kakuzu never even crossed his mind. Raised in the Blood Mist, he had been trained from childhood to be nothing more than a tool. No matter how formidable the enemy, fear was never an option.
What irritated him was Kakuzu's arrogance—the way he spoke as if victory was already assured.
"Heh. Whether I bite my tongue or not, you'll find out soon enough."
Hearing Kakuzu's calm response, Kisame didn't waste another word. His hands began forming seals at high speed. Facing someone like Kakuzu, he needed to start strong.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
Rat, Ox, Snake—
Whoosh!
Just as Kisame was forming seals, Kakuzu suddenly vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, appearing directly in front of him.
Kisame's already small pupils widened dramatically.
"Nani???"
Body Flicker was a basic shinobi technique—almost everyone could use it. But mastering it to this degree was another matter entirely.
Kakuzu had been alive for nearly sixty years—longer than most shinobi had been born. Even without focusing on it, his Body Flicker was still at an elite level. Against him, most people wouldn't even have time to react.
"Who said you could form seals?"
Kakuzu's fist lashed out. Instinctively, Kisame abandoned his jutsu, crossing his arms in front of his chest to block the blow.
Boom!
"You blocked my punch. Not bad."
Hearing Kakuzu's backhanded compliment, Kisame wasn't pleased. He immediately retreated, fingers flying through another series of seals.
Rat, Ox, Monkey, Tiger—
Kakuzu was already on him again. A powerful kick flew toward him, forcing Kisame to dodge backward once more.
Monkey, Boar, Rat—
The exchange repeated itself over and over.
After more than a dozen failed attempts at finishing a jutsu, Kisame's shark-like face twisted in frustration.
"Kakuzu!!"
He wanted to say something—anything—but he couldn't find the words.
Because he had just realized a serious flaw in himself.
Back when he was a student in Kirigakure's Academy, he once tried shortening battle time by skipping hand seals altogether. His instructor caught him, slapped him so hard he spun three times, and scolded him for trying to take shortcuts. Shinobi had to master every step, one at a time. Cutting corners would never make him strong.
That slap had left an unforgettable mark on Kisame. Ever since, he had focused on properly forming hand seals. The habit had followed him all the way into adulthood.
He had thought that improving his hand seal speed would be enough to prevent interruptions.
But he had underestimated Kakuzu.
Kakuzu was too fast. Unless Kisame had hand speeds on par with Kakashi, he would never be able to finish a jutsu in front of him.
Seeing Kisame's normally pale face darken like a bruised liver, Kakuzu chuckled. He had toyed with him enough.
To be fair, Kisame was an exceptional talent. His chakra reserves alone, comparable to a Tailed Beast's, were beyond the reach of ordinary shinobi. To develop his Water Release to a level rivaling Senju Tobirama was no small feat either. Dragon's Country could use someone like him.
Kakuzu pointed to the Samehada lying on the ground.
"Pick it up. Treat it like a summon. Try establishing a connection with it. If you truly become a shark in the water, your power might increase by at least fifty percent."
Hearing Kakuzu's words, Kisame hesitated for a moment before reaching for Samehada. But then, he paused and looked at Kakuzu with his beady little eyes.
He could tell.
Kakuzu hadn't even been fighting seriously.
His grip on Samehada tightened, then relaxed.
"Kakuzu, there's a rumor going around. People say you're the strongest shinobi alive right now. I don't believe it—unless you can block my next attack."
Kakuzu didn't respond. He simply gestured for Kisame to proceed.
This time, I'll let him finish his seals.
Kisame didn't waste time. The moment his hand seals were completed, his cheeks puffed up like a balloon.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Shockwave!"
Although it was just a standard Water Release technique, Kisame's version was in a league of its own. The sheer volume of water could submerge an entire hilltop.
...
More than ten minutes later.
Kakuzu's left hand was drenched. The black tendrils of his Earth Grudge Fear pulsed with a crimson glow, indicating one thing—
He was full. The absorption had exceeded even the power of an Eight-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb.
As for Kisame, he sat heavily on the ground, exhausted. He had used every technique he had, yet it wasn't enough to deal with Kakuzu.
But there wasn't a trace of fear on his face.
He had seen death countless times. His hands were stained with blood. As the executioner of Kirigakure, he had never once feared dying.
Still, if he had to die, he would at least go out with dignity.
Standing up, he bared his sharp teeth in a wide grin.
"Heh heh heh... I guess life as a rogue ninja really is tough. I didn't even make it out of the village before getting hunted down. But hey—if I'm going to die, being killed by you don't sound too bad. Come on then. Show me your true strength."
Lifting Samehada, Kisame prepared himself. Even if he had no chance of winning, he would fight to the bitter end.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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