Kitazawa looked at Yagura with a solemn expression.
Although it seemed like he had the upper hand, in truth, he didn't. Yagura was a perfect Jinchuriki — and he hadn't even revealed his true strength yet.
Kitazawa knew the real battle was only beginning.
Yagura glared at him, fury blazing in his eyes. Enraged, he unleashed his power without restraint as the red Tailed Beast cloak around him rapidly expanded.
A massive surge of chakra erupted outward, generating a colossal tsunami with Yagura at its center.
Even Kurenai and the others, who were fighting at a distance, were forced to retreat.
"What's going on?" Kurenai asked instinctively.
"Such terrifying chakra…" Hizashi muttered, his heart pounding violently. The pressure was so immense that even the Byakugan struggled to perceive it clearly.
"Hahaha! You're finished!" one of the Hidden Mist Jonin shouted with manic laughter. "This is a full Tailed Beast transformation!"
"How is that possible?" Hizashi's forehead was covered in cold sweat. "The Fourth Mizukage is still a perfect Jinchuriki?!"
"What is a perfect Jinchuriki? Is there a difference between that and a regular one?" Kurenai asked, her face pale.
"A perfect Jinchuriki can fully harness the power of their Tailed Beast," Hizashi explained grimly. "In other words, we're about to face a real Tailed Beast."
"What?!" Kurenai and the others' expressions changed drastically.
Boom! Boom!
As the chakra peaked, the red cloak transformed — chakra solidified into flesh and blood, and a massive Three-Tails Isobu emerged on the surface of the sea.
Its body was armored in a thick turtle shell, covered with sharp barbs.
Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!
The Three-Tails opened its maw wide, gathering chakra into an enormous sphere the size of a mountain, and fired it toward Kitazawa.
Kitazawa used the Konoha-Style Body Flicker Technique without hesitation. With his chakra reserves, he couldn't afford to clash directly against such power.
The instant he vanished, the massive water sphere slammed into the sea.
The ocean exploded violently — dense vortices twisted into existence, and giant waves surged outward in every direction.
"Retreat quickly!"
The Hidden Mist Jonin abandoned their fight with Kurenai's group and fled. They needed to escape the blast radius — and more importantly, Kitazawa was the real target.
If Yagura captured Kitazawa, Tsunade would be forced into a difficult position. As for Kurenai and the others, they were expendable.
"Go!" Kurenai commanded.
Her team retreated far into the distance before turning back. The Three-Tails loomed in the sea, an enormous, oppressive presence that felt like a mountain crushing their spirits.
"What do we do now?" Hizashi asked, anxiety filling his voice.
Though he had become a Jonin at a young age and was hailed as a prodigy of the Hyuga Clan, he was utterly helpless in this moment.
"We can only trust Kitazawa," Kurenai said, steadying her trembling voice.
She wanted to help, but she knew that at her level, stepping in would only be a burden.
"Would my Phosphorus Destruction Bugs be effective?" Torune asked quietly after a pause.
"Tailed Beasts are pure chakra entities. Poison won't affect them, and even your bugs might not pierce their defenses," Hizashi replied, shaking his head.
At that moment, the Three-Tails unleashed an earth-shattering roar that shook the sea.
Yagura, furious that his Water Bullet Technique had failed, roared back.
Water Release: Isobu Great Waterfall!
Standing atop the ocean, the Three-Tails slammed its front paw down.
Like an underwater volcano erupting, seawater shot skyward, forming a massive inverted waterfall that surged toward Kitazawa.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Kitazawa rapidly formed hand signs. A thick wall of water rose before him — but it lasted barely a second before being obliterated by the oncoming deluge.
Still, it bought him a brief moment.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
A huge wall of earth rose horizontally beneath him. Kitazawa stepped atop it, riding it like a surfboard as the massive wave carried him skyward.
Seeing this, the Three-Tails opened its mouth again, unleashing another torrent — a high-speed beam of water like a white dragon tearing through the air.
Compound Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Jutsu!
Balancing atop the moving wall, Kitazawa swiftly formed seals. A lightning-charged water dragon surged forth to collide head-on with the torrent.
With a thunderous explosion, the two forces clashed midair, sending torrents of spray raining down.
After a brief struggle, the torrent overpowered the dragon and continued its charge.
Kitazawa already knew his jutsu wouldn't hold for long. Before impact, he leapt away from the wall and activated another technique.
Water Release: Instant Water!
Diving into the sea, he melded into the current, vanishing from sight.
The colossal torrent crashed down, splitting the ocean apart and shattering the earth wall into pieces.
"Annoying rat!" Yagura snarled in frustration as Kitazawa escaped yet again.
Anyone else would have been dead long ago. But in the sea — the home ground of the Three-Tails Isobu — even surviving was an impossible feat.
Here, Isobu's Water Release was enhanced to its limit. It could even contend with the might of the Nine-Tails itself.
Just like how the One-Tailed Shukaku once dared to fight the Nine-Tails in the desert in the original story.
Kitazawa was also skilled in Water Release, and his Water Release ranked among the top in the Ninja World.
This gave him countless countermeasures when fighting at sea.
Besides that, there was another reason. The lethality of Water Release was insufficient.
Large-scale Water Release techniques relied on sheer volume—massive floods and tidal waves that swept away everything in range.
However, if the range was too wide, the power would be spread thin, lacking concentrated destruction.
Although such attacks were already enough to deal with most ninja, if Yagura had mastered a focused technique like Water Release: Water Severing Wave, Kitazawa would have found it extremely difficult to handle.
After all, a concentrated Water Release like that meant instant death upon contact.
But the reverse was also true—Kitazawa lacked a jutsu like Water Severing Wave, so his destructive power was not enough to pierce the Three-Tails' famed defense.
At least not in his regular state. Unless he used Senju Chakra Mode.
Fortunately, Kitazawa's goal was merely to buy time.
While the two clashed fiercely at sea, a tense meeting was underway at the Hidden Mist Village's main base.
"Lord Mizukage hasn't sent back any word for so long… I'm afraid something unexpected has happened," Ao said gravely.
Everyone knew about Yagura's ambush.
They had assumed that, with his strength, it would be an easy victory. But now, the situation had clearly gone far beyond their expectations.
"We must head there immediately!" Mei said in a deep voice.
Although she despised Yagura's tyranny, if anything happened to him, the Mist Village would face devastating consequences.
"There's no time to waste—let's move out!" Ao didn't hesitate any longer and immediately stood up.
Kisame Hoshigaki, Zabuza Momochi, and several others said nothing and followed him.
"Is that the Three-Tails?" Halfway there, Ao activated his Byakugan and spotted the Three-Tails from afar.
"Has the Fourth Mizukage been forced into a full Tailed Beast transformation?"
Terumī Mei's heart trembled at the words, her expression clouded with uncertainty.
Kisame and Zabuza exchanged uneasy looks—they all understood what that meant. A full transformation meant Yagura's situation wasn't easy.
"Full speed ahead!" Ao ordered sharply.
The sea churned violently, showing no sign of calm.
Kitazawa used the Konoha-Style Body Flicker Technique and Water Release: Instant Water to dodge the relentless attacks of Yagura—or rather, the Three-Tails Isobu.
Although he appeared to be a lone vessel tossed about in the vast ocean, in truth, his situation wasn't as perilous as it seemed.
He occasionally counterattacked with ninjutsu, but the Three-Tails' thick carapace made it difficult for his strikes to have much effect.
Yagura's patience finally snapped. Kitazawa was too slippery—like a fish darting through the depths.
In that case, he would evaporate the sea itself.
The Three-Tails raised its head and opened its massive jaws.
Endless chakra condensed into a black sphere—an ominous Tailed Beast Ball that radiated a destructive aura strong enough to shake the heavens.
Kitazawa's expression hardened. Without hesitation, he formed a rapid string of hand seals.
Water Transformation (Hydrification) Technique!
His body liquefied, merging seamlessly with the sea. But even that wasn't completely safe.
Turning into a stream of water, he raced toward the seabed at incredible speed.
Then—
Boom!
A blinding light erupted, like the birth of a second sun, tearing through the night sky.
The moment the Tailed Beast Ball hit the ocean's surface, the water vanished instantly. Everything within range disintegrated, obliterated by the overwhelming chakra.
Waves tens of meters high surged outward in all directions.
"Kitazawa!" The apocalyptic sight made Kurenai's heart seize in terror, and she cried out instinctively.
"Retreat!" Hizashi shouted, face pale.
"Kurenai-senpai! Kitazawa-sensei will be fine!" Uchiha Izumi shouted as she grabbed Kurenai's hand and ran.
Even after retreating several kilometers, the tremors beneath the sea could still be felt.
"Thankfully, we pulled back in time," Hizashi said, letting out a breath of relief.
"No wonder they say Tailed Beasts are monsters no ordinary ninja can defeat," a Konoha Jonin muttered. "Only when you see it yourself can you truly grasp their terror."
"If the Three-Tails is this powerful, I can only imagine how terrifying the Nine-Tails in our village must be," Hizashi said grimly.
Kurenai, however, couldn't bring herself to speak. Her eyes were filled only with worry for Kitazawa.
Uchiha Izumi and Torune shared the same expression, their faces tense with anxiety.
"Kitazawa!" A familiar voice suddenly rang out through the chaos.
Everyone turned toward it. They saw a figure speeding across the waves—unstoppable, powerful.
"Lady Tsunade?" Kurenai gasped.
"It's Konoha's reinforcements! We're safe!" Hizashi exclaimed, relief washing over him.
Using his Byakugan, he could see Shizune and Hyuga Hiashi following behind her.
"I'm going to find Kitazawa!" Kurenai declared, leaping forward without hesitation.
"Wait!" Hizashi called out. "It's still dangerous there!"
But it was too late—she was already gone. Just then, Shizune and Hiashi landed in front of the group.
"Hizashi! What's the situation?" Hiashi asked, catching his breath.
There was no way around it—the destructive power of that Tailed Beast Ball was beyond belief. Even from afar, they had felt its might reverberate through the air.
"Kitazawa-sama is fighting the fully transformed Three-Tails Jinchūriki, Yagura," Hizashi said quickly and urgently. "But after that Tailed Beast Ball, we don't know how Lord Kitazawa is doing."
"What?" Shizune felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
Could Kitazawa have withstood such a terrifying attack?
"Follow me to save him!" Shizune didn't dare think further. She turned around and moved at the fastest speed she had ever used in her life.
"We'll go too," Hiashi said, frowning slightly.
If Kitazawa died, Hinata would be heartbroken. More importantly, the relationship the Hyūga Clan had finally built with Kitazawa and Tsunade would vanish.
"Kitazawa!" Tsunade was the first to reach the center of the battlefield.
The power of the Tailed Beast Ball had carved a massive crater into the sea. Seawater poured in endlessly, yet it couldn't fill the pit.
The Three-Tails was panting not far away. Even for a Tailed Beast, releasing a Tailed Beast Ball was no small burden—except for the Nine-Tails, whose chakra reserves allowed it to fire them repeatedly.
"Kitazawa? He's already dead. No one can survive a Tailed Beast Ball," Yagura said coldly.
"He's not dead!" Tsunade snapped back, her body stiffening as she instinctively retorted.
"Tsunade, why deceive yourself?" Yagura's expression remained indifferent. "But it doesn't matter. I'll send you to see him."
Tsunade's face darkened. A terrifying aura surged from her body, making her hair whip in the wind.
She raised her gaze, her beautiful eyes filled with killing intent as she glared at the Three-Tails Isobu.
The diamond mark on her forehead pulsed, and the cursed seal spread.
Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth!
Tsunade dashed forward, instantly appearing before the Three-Tails.
Heavenly Foot of Pain! Her foot came down with earth-shattering force.
Chakra erupted beneath her heel, shattering the barbs on the Three-Tails' shell into dust.
The impact channeled through its carapace, sending waves of pain rippling through its massive body.
Even as a Tailed Beast, the Three-Tails couldn't withstand such terrifying power—it was driven down into the depths of the sea, waves surging violently outward.
Tsunade pressed her advantage. She clenched her fist and slammed it against its shell.
The Three-Tails sensed danger. It quickly lifted its head, opening its jaws to fire a massive water ball.
Tsunade's face burned with fury. She twisted her right hand and shattered the water projectile with a single punch.
Body Flicker Technique!
She closed the distance in an instant and struck the beast's head again.
The Three-Tails roared in agony. Even with its armored hide, it couldn't endure Tsunade's monstrous strength—its skin split, and blood erupted into the sea.
Tsunade froze for a moment, her pupils widening. That bloody, brutal sight pierced her mind, stirring old trauma.
Her body stiffened. But then—memories of the illusion Kitazawa had woven for her, the beautiful dream that had healed her phobia, flashed before her eyes.
Rage surged anew, burning away her fear.
"Die!" Tsunade roared, striking another devastating blow that left the Three-Tails dazed.
"No… worthy of Lady Tsunade!" Hiashi was stunned by the scene before him. Tsunade, at full strength, was actually suppressing the Three-Tails!
Only Shizune's expression grew tense. She knew the cost of this power. Tsunade had already activated the Strength of a Hundred Seal—a jutsu she would never use lightly.
Could it be… Kitazawa really was—? No. He wouldn't die that easily!
"Kitazawa!" Kurenai's anxious voice broke through the clash. She searched desperately across the turbulent sea, her face pale with fear.
"Hiashi Clan Head, please find Kitazawa!" Shizune snapped back to reality and shouted.
"Hyūga Clan ninja! Activate your Byakugan and search immediately!" Hiashi ordered sharply.
He had brought several Hyūga with him—and now their eyes would be crucial.
"The Hidden Mist's reinforcements have arrived," Hiashi said grimly. "I see Ao, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Terumī Mei."
"This is bad. With the Three-Tails on their side, victory may be impossible."
Shizune looked at Tsunade, still locked in her furious assault. Worry filled her heart, but she knew no one could stop Tsunade now.
Still, a strange thought flickered in her mind—why hadn't Tsunade's hemophobia been triggered?
Her heart trembled. It should have been something to celebrate, yet she felt no joy.
If Tsunade knew her recovery came at such a price, she would never have accepted it.
"Prepare for battle!" Shizune took a deep breath and ordered.
Not far away, the Hidden Mist ninja had halted. They stared at the battle between Tsunade and the Three-Tails in shock.
"The Tailed Beast Ball didn't finish Tsunade?" Terumī Mei's eyes narrowed.
She had assumed Yagura's Tailed Beast Ball had targeted Tsunade—but now, Tsunade wasn't just alive, she was gradually overpowering the Three-Tails.
"Lord Ao!" A Hidden Mist ninja who had clashed with Kurenai earlier spotted the group and rushed over.
"Report the situation," Ao commanded.
"It's Kitazawa!" the middle-aged ninja replied, quickly explaining the battle that had unfolded.
"This is impossible!" Zabuza's face twisted in disbelief. "How could Kitazawa be that powerful?"
Though arrogant, he knew his own strength hadn't yet reached Mizukage level.
And Kitazawa had fought Yagura to a standstill.
"It's his Water Release," Kisame said thoughtfully.
"Water Release that can match the Mizukage?" Terumī Mei murmured, realization dawning.
"Regardless, if Kitazawa was hit by that Tailed Beast Ball, he's dead," Ao said darkly. "Our priority is rescuing the Mizukage!"
The group accelerated toward the center of the battlefield.
"This Tsunade… she's even more terrifying than the legends say," Terumī Mei muttered, her expression tightening.
But even as she spoke, her eyes gleamed with resolve. After all, if she aimed to become Mizukage, she couldn't afford to fear any opponent.
"You and Zabuza take people to block the Konoha Village members."
Ao looked at Terumī Mei and instructed, "Kisame, the rest of you follow me to save the Mizu—wait!"
He suddenly froze, eyes narrowing as if he had seen something impossible.
"What's wrong?" Terumī Mei asked in confusion.
Kisame Hoshigaki and the others also looked puzzled.
Bang!
A column of water erupted from the sea as a figure shot into the air.
"Kitazawa?" Terumī Mei's eyes widened.
She didn't need Ao to explain—she already knew why he was so shocked. Ao's Byakugan had seen it clearly.
"How is he still alive? And completely unharmed?" Zabuza's expression twisted in disbelief.
With the destructive power of a Tailed Beast Ball, how could any shinobi survive?
"It's Kitazawa!" Hiashi and the others spotted him as well.
Kurenai's knees went weak, nearly giving out beneath her. A relieved smile blossomed on her face. Thankfully, he was alive.
Tsunade heard the commotion and instinctively turned her head.
For a brief moment, she froze, her gaze locking onto Kitazawa.
An indescribable emotion surged through her chest. Taking a slow step back, she felt her entire body relax.
Kitazawa scanned the area, quickly piecing together what had happened.
He realized that because he had remained underwater for too long, Tsunade and Kurenai must have assumed the worst.
But he couldn't be blamed. Given the sheer power of the Tailed Beast Ball, even Water Release: Hydrification Technique might not have saved him if he hadn't dived deep enough.
As Tsunade momentarily halted, the Three-Tails Isobu seized the opportunity.
Under the pull of the chakra, the surrounding seawater surged upward, crashing down like torrential rain over Tsunade.
Reacting instantly, she used the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing from sight. When she reappeared, she was already beside Kitazawa.
At the same time, Terumī Mei, Zabuza Momochi, and the others charged toward Shizune and Kurenai.
Ao, who had intended to aid Yagura, found his path blocked by Hyūga Hiashi.
Ao's face darkened. He understood perfectly why Hiashi stood there.
Only Kisame managed to slip past the defenses, arriving near the Three-Tails.
He looked at Tsunade and Kitazawa, feeling a pressure unlike anything before. Fortunately, Yagura was still there—he wouldn't have to face them alone.
Zabuza scanned his surroundings, his gaze finally landing on Shizune.
Judging by the respect the other Konoha shinobi showed her, her status was anything but ordinary.
Just then, an ANBU ninja stepped forward from behind Shizune.
"Who are you?" Zabuza sneered at the masked figure. "I don't kill nameless people."
"Uchiha Itachi," came the calm reply.
Itachi had originally planned to confront Yagura, but with Tsunade and Kitazawa present, he decided to follow their lead instead.
"Uchiha Itachi?" Zabuza grinned, showing sharp teeth. "I've heard your name. Good—be my opponent."
Terumī Mei didn't waste words. She was immediately surrounded by Kurenai, Yakushi Kabuto, and Uchiha Izumi.
Both sides launched into a fierce battle.
"Lady Tsunade," Kitazawa said with a faint smile, "how about we fight side by side?"
He could have told Ao that Yagura was under Uchiha Obito's control—but he didn't.
He still held a grudge. Just moments ago, the Three-Tails had chased him relentlessly across the sea, making him look utterly miserable.
Now that Tsunade and the others had arrived, he intended to turn the tables.
Besides, a new system mission had been unexpectedly completed, giving him great confidence.
[Current Mission: Cure Tsunade's hemophobia.]
[Mission Reward: Half of Chakra limit.]
[Accept?]
The completion had come suddenly, but it was certainly a welcome surprise.
With her hemophobia cured, Tsunade—the legendary Sannin—was finally back to full strength.
Even a Jinchūriki could now be faced without fear.
The only pity was that the Wood Release granted as a mission reward was merely the bloodline itself—it didn't include any Wood Release ninjutsu.
Kitazawa would have to learn those techniques on his own. On second thought, that might be for the best.
If he suddenly used Wood Release, he'd have no reasonable way to explain it to Tsunade or the others.
If they suspected he had transplanted Hashirama's cells, it would be disastrous.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still investigating the mysterious masked man with both Wood Release and the Sharingan—traits that Kitazawa himself shared.
"Next time you make me worry like that, you'll…" Tsunade began, glaring at him with a mix of anger and relief.
She had truly been terrified just now—something she hadn't felt in nearly twenty years.
But she stopped mid-sentence.
She had been about to say "you'll die horribly," but the words felt too cruel at that moment, so she held them back.
"Don't worry. There won't be a next time," Kitazawa said, clearing his throat.
He had seen Tsunade's fury firsthand—and she was indeed terrifying. But knowing that it came from concern for him filled his heart with warmth.
"You deal with Kisame. I'll take the Fourth Mizukage and the Three-Tails Jinchūriki," Tsunade said, cracking her fists with a smile. "I haven't stretched my muscles in a long time."
Since developing hemophobia, she had rarely fought. Even when she did, she had to restrain her strength to avoid drawing blood. It had been endlessly frustrating.
But now, that burden was gone. She could finally fight without holding back—and her opponent was Yagura himself.
"Watch out for the Tailed Beast Ball," Kitazawa reminded her.
"Don't underestimate my Yin Seal," Tsunade replied, pausing for a moment before adding, "I'll teach it to you after the war."
With that, she vanished in a blur, charging straight toward the Three-Tails.
Kisame stood still and didn't try to stop Tsunade. Because he knew Kitazawa wouldn't let him go over and help.
"We parted in a hurry last time and didn't get to introduce ourselves," Kisame said calmly. "My name is Kisame Hoshigaki."
Although he wasn't confident in defeating Kitazawa, fear was not in his nature. Moreover, he didn't need to win—he only had to stall for time.
Kitazawa was about to reply when three lines of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Current Mission: Defeat Kisame Hoshigaki.]
[Mission Reward: Half of the Chakra limit.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
The last time he and Kisame had clashed with Water Release techniques, no mission had been triggered.
This time, finally, a mission appeared—and it was his favorite type: a Chakra reward.
Half a bar of Chakra was indeed worthy of Kisame Hoshigaki's title as a "Tailed Beast without a tail."
Kitazawa's eyes shifted toward Tsunade.
With her Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth – Strength of a Hundred Seal, she had temporarily gained the upper hand.
However, the Three-Tails' defense was overwhelming, and victory wouldn't come easily.
Kitazawa pondered for a moment, then decided to finish this quickly.
Using Creation Rebirth for too long had severe side effects, and with the Hidden Mist forces outnumbering Konoha's, dragging it out would only worsen their odds.
"You killed Lord Fuguki," Kisame said coldly, taking a deep breath and forming hand seals.
"So it's time to settle both old and new debts."
The surrounding seawater surged violently, transforming into a massive dragon that roared toward the heavens.
Senju Chakra Mode!
Kitazawa leaned back slightly, releasing a flood of Chakra. It blazed like the sun, scorching the very air around him.
Three massive fire dragons erupted from his body, roaring as they devoured the incoming water dragon and charged straight at Kisame.
Steam burst across the battlefield as water clashed with flame.
Kisame's pupils shrank in disbelief.
How could Kitazawa's Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique overpower my Water Dragon Jutsu?
Under elemental disadvantage, Kitazawa had completely overwhelmed him.
Kisame had assumed Kitazawa specialized in Water and Lightning Release, but now it was clear—his Fire Release was just as terrifying.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Kisame quickly formed a wall of water to block the fire dragons, using the moment to leap into the air.
The dragons vaporized the wall and streaked into the distance as steam filled the sky.
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
Kisame opened his mouth and spat out a giant water orb that plummeted toward Kitazawa.
Before it could hit, it burst apart, scattering countless streams of water that sealed off Kitazawa's escape routes.
"Uchiha Style: Gale Sword!"
Kitazawa vanished, reappearing behind Kisame in a flash. A blade of searing flame slashed through the air.
Startled, Kisame instinctively turned—
"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"
Kitazawa formed a hand seal with his left hand, sending an invisible wave of Genjutsu toward Kisame.
Kisame met his gaze, his expression blanking for an instant—but his reaction was fast. He dispelled the illusion almost immediately, raising another water wall in defense.
The flaming sword sliced through it with ease. Kisame dodged, but not fast enough. The burning blade left a deep, charred wound on his shoulder.
Grunting, Kisame retreated, his eyes locked on Kitazawa with newfound wariness.
Fast hand seals… Water, Lightning, Fire, and Genjutsu… and that monstrous Chakra.
He's flawless.
Kisame quickly weaved more signs. "Water Release: A Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
The sea erupted as countless water sharks launched toward Kitazawa.
"Compound Ninja Art: Strange Mask Exploding Flame!"
The wind roared. A compressed wind orb formed above the sea and detonated.
A violent storm howled across the waves as Kitazawa exhaled another fireball.
The fireball merged with the storm—
—and in an instant, the sea itself became a raging inferno.
The water sharks plunged into the blazing current, igniting one after another.
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
Kisame countered swiftly, summoning torrents of water that exploded upward and rained down, extinguishing the flames.
But as the last embers faded—
Kisame's heart clenched. Where is he?
Suddenly, two hands reached from beneath the sea and grabbed his ankles. Before he could react, Kitazawa yanked him into the depths.
The seawater swirled violently. Kisame clenched his teeth and countered.
"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
A sphere of water enveloped Kitazawa. Kisame smirked, about to form another seal—
But Kitazawa's body dissolved into mud and vanished into the current.
"Earth Clone?!" Kisame's instincts screamed.
He kicked upward, swimming fast toward the surface. A faint ripple sounded behind him—
Too late.
Four water needles pierced through the water, striking his leg as blood spread in crimson streams.
Kisame grimaced and surfaced, clutching his wounded leg.
"What kind of Water Release is that…?" Just as he muttered, a shadow flickered beneath him.
"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique!" A massive shark-shaped projectile shot upward, splitting the sea.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
A sharp, birdlike cry filled the air as Kitazawa burst from the water, his right hand blazing with lightning. He slashed down at Kisame with lethal precision.
"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
At the last second, Kisame formed hand seals, and a stream of water enveloped him in defense.
Water Release: Water Prison Technique could be used to protect oneself, or to imprison enemies.
"Lightning Release: Super Vibrato Lightning Release Sword!"
But what Kisame didn't expect was that Kitazawa's right hand suddenly halted. His left hand pulled a lightning jutsu from the air, piercing straight through the water shield.
In that instant of shock, Kitazawa's right hand accelerated—and struck him head-on.
Kisame instinctively crossed both arms to guard his heart. But without Samehada, his arms were merely flesh and bone.
Blood sprayed wildly. Lightning Release: Chidori nearly severed both his arms.
The intense pain nearly made Kisame lose consciousness. He kicked out on instinct—
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!" Kitazawa countered with a kick of his own.
Empowered by Senju Chakra Mode, which carried half the strength of the Chakra EnhancedStrength, his blow landed with terrifying force.
Kisame's body was sent hurtling backward, crashing onto the sea's surface as his blood dyed the waves red.
Kitazawa didn't hesitate. With a Body Flicker, he appeared before the fallen Kisame, lightning blade raised high for the finishing strike.
Kisame was an enemy of Konoha—both as a former Hidden Mist ninja and as a future member of the Akatsuki. It was even possible that Uchiha Obito had already contacted him.
In the original timeline, most Akatsuki members were recruited through strength, beaten into submission by Konan or Pain.
But Kisame was different. He was personally chosen by Obito and had willingly accepted the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Kitazawa had no reason to spare him.
"Four Sharks Rain!"
At death's door, Kisame slammed both hands onto the sea surface. Four water sharks burst forth, leaping up to bite Kitazawa.
"Uchiha Style: Blazing Sword Meteor!"
Kitazawa twisted his wrist, infusing Fire Release Chakra into his lightning blade. Flames erupted, coating the blade in roaring heat.
He slashed once, and all four sharks were cleaved apart, their forms dissolving into steam.
Kisame used the opening to retreat, widening the distance between them. But as soon as he steadied himself, dizziness washed over him.
"Konoha Style: Willow."
An S-rank sword art requiring no hand seals. Kisame froze where he stood, eyes wide.
Countless phantom blades danced before him—sword shadows and killing intent intertwining.
He clenched his teeth, ready to form hand seals to dispel the Genjutsu—but a flaming blade pierced straight through his heart.
Kisame's eyes widened. He tried to speak, but only a faint gurgle escaped his lips.
Then he fell backward, lifeless, sinking into the sea.
[Current Mission: Defeat Hoshigaki Kisame.]
[Mission Reward: Half a card of Chakra upper limit.]
[Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]
The system was, as always, perfectly punctual.
With the added Chakra capacity, Kitazawa's Senju Chakra Mode could now last another thirty seconds.
[Current Mission: Hold out until Tsunade and the others arrive.]
[Mission Reward: Mangekyō Sharingan Resistance.]
[Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]
Kitazawa's pupils flickered as a flood of information filled his mind.
Just as he expected, Mangekyō Sharingan Resistance nullified Genjutsu control from Mangekyō users.
Simply put, it made him immune to Mangekyō Sharingan illusions.
However, ocular Ninjutsu such as Amaterasu or Kamui still worked normally. And illusions from the Eternal Mangekyō or Rinnegan could not be resisted.
Even so, it was an extraordinary ability. Especially with Shimura Danzō as his next opponent.
He had always been wary of Kotoamatsukami—that terrifying Genjutsu that could rewrite a person's will without them ever realizing.
Even if Danzō were to use it, it would likely target Tsunade, not him. But preparation was everything.
Now, with Mangekyō Resistance, Kitazawa no longer feared it. He only needed to watch Tsunade closely—if she ever acted strangely, it would mean she'd fallen under Kotoamatsukami's influence.
And if that happened, the Hyūga Clan could assist him. In the worst case, he could even reveal his Byakugan to confirm it.
Closing the mission prompt, Kitazawa flickered to Tsunade's side.
"You dealt with Kisame?" Tsunade asked, slightly breathless, her tone filled with disbelief.
Less than two minutes had passed—and an Elite Jōnin had been defeated.
No wonder Kitazawa had once managed to hold off Yagura. His strength was already nearing her own.
"Yes," Kitazawa replied with a calm nod.
"You truly surprise me." Tsunade exhaled softly, then her expression hardened. "Yagura's full Tailed Beast Transformation is collapsing."
The Three-Tails possessed nearly infinite Chakra. As long as it wasn't slain outright, it could continue fighting endlessly.
But Yagura was human. Even as a perfect Jinchūriki, he had limits.
"Alright then," Kitazawa said, tightening his fists. "Let's beat him back to his original form!"
"Together!" Tsunade smirked, her battle spirit blazing.
"Chakra Enhanced Strength!" She surged forward as Kitazawa followed.
His fist slammed down onto the Three-Tails' head with a heavy thud.
The beast roared in pain, opening its jaws to bite.
Bang!
Tsunade appeared on Kitazawa's left, her kick crashing into the beast's shell. The immense force stunned Isobu, leaving its mouth wide open.
"Wind Release: Rasengan!" Seizing the moment, Kitazawa drove a spinning sphere of wind and chakra straight into its maw.
The attack shredded through the beast's mouth, sending a spray of blood into the air.
"Kitazawa!" Tsunade's voice rang out as her chakra surged.
Her fist glowed with a terrifying aura of power—so strong that even before she struck, the air itself trembled.
Kitazawa instantly understood. He gathered his chakra in his fist.
"Chakra Enhanced Strength!"
Their fists struck simultaneously. A blinding explosion of force erupted.
The Three-Tails' head burst open into a bloody mess under their combined blow, a roar of agony echoing across the sea as its massive body convulsed and began to shrink.
When the mist cleared, Yagura was back in his human form.
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (45+ Advanced Chapters)