Chapter 53: Fathead Fish
The sealing of the One-Tail was a marathon of endurance, stretching across three exhausting days and nights. Deep within the cavern beneath the Land of Rivers' jagged red rock, the Akatsuki channeled their chakra into the Phantom Dragon Nine Consuming Seals. The Outer Path Demon Statue loomed over them, its grotesque form radiating an oppressive aura, its nine eyes spinning with eerie light as the ritual hummed with dark energy.
Zetsu's colorful phantom materialized, his voice cutting through the cavern's stifling air. "The enemy is closing in," he announced, relaying his clone's urgent message.
"Enemy?" Deidara perked up, his fingers itching to sculpt explosive clay, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "A Jinchuriki? That'd be a blast, un!"
Zetsu's Rinnegan glinted as he nodded. "A high-level expert from Konoha. Might Guy."
"Who's that?" The Leader's voice was sharp, his masked gaze demanding answers.
Zetsu offered no response, his silence heavy with unspoken knowledge.
Itachi's calm, measured tone broke the tension. "A Konoha Jonin, renowned for his Taijutsu prowess. His strength is exceptional. Underestimating him would be a grave mistake."
"Oh, Konoha's rare beast!" Kisame's shark-like grin widened, his hand tightening around Samehada's handle. A Taijutsu master was exactly the kind of challenge he craved, a chance to test his brute strength against a worthy foe.
The Leader's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "Use that Ninjutsu." The sealing ritual was at a critical stage; their main bodies were tethered to the statue, unable to move. A decoy technique, though not as powerful as their full strength, would buy them the time they needed.
"I'll handle it," Kisame declared, slinging Samehada over his shoulder with a confident smirk.
The Leader nodded. "Your vast chakra reserves make you the best choice for this."
His gaze swept the cavern, searching for another member. "Maki—"
Hasumi Maki was nowhere to be seen on the cavern floor. The Leader's brow twitched in irritation, but a flash of blue caught his eye. Perched atop the Outer Path Demon Statue's massive head, Maki was lazily poking at one of its rotating eyeballs, his expression one of bored curiosity, as if the fate of the Tailed Beast didn't concern him in the slightest.
"…" The Leader's silence spoke volumes, a rare flicker of exasperation crossing his hidden face. "Maki, go with Kisame."
Maki sprang to his feet, his heterochromatic eyes—silver-gray and grayish-blue—sparkling with sudden energy. "Alright! I'm bored out of my skull anyway!" he said, stretching his arms with a theatrical yawn.
...
Land of Rivers
Pakkun's nose twitched as he led Might Guy's squad—dispatched by Tsunade to reinforce Team Kakashi—through the rugged terrain toward the red rock rendezvous point. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and river water, but a faint, unfamiliar odor set his hackles rising. "Someone's coming, and they're close!" he barked, his small frame tensing.
Might Guy's bushy brows furrowed as he turned to Neji. "Check it out, Neji!"
Neji nodded, his Byakugan activating with a pulse of chakra. Veins bulged around his eyes, and the world snapped into sharp focus, every detail within kilometers laid bare. Two figures emerged in his vision, one chillingly familiar. His pupils constricted, and his breath caught in his throat, a rare crack in his composed demeanor.
"Neji?" Guy halted, signaling Lee, Tenten, and the others to stop. The Hyuga's frozen expression sent a ripple of unease through the squad. "What do you see?"
Before Neji could respond, the figures appeared, stepping out from the rocky horizon.
Pakkun's eyes widened, his fur bristling. Hasumi Maki stood before them, stretching lazily, his heterochromatic eyes sweeping over the group with a bored, almost disappointed air. Not spotting his desired target, he let out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, how dull. These guys are all yours, Kisame. If you can't handle them, you're 'Fathead Fish' from now on, got it?"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +500!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +500!]
[Chakra (30,043,000 / 100,000,000)]
Kisame drew Samehada, his shark-like teeth bared in a taunting grin as he locked eyes with Might Guy. "Let's see if Konoha's beast lives up to the hype."
"Renji?" Lee's voice trembled, his eyes wide with shock. The figure before him was a near-perfect replica of his friend—same blue hair, same stitched tattoos crawling across his face.
Maki's eyebrow arched, a sly, predatory smile curling his lips. "Hmm? We shouldn't have met before, right?" His boredom evaporated, replaced by a twisted spark of amusement. He took two steps forward, pointing to his face with a theatrical flourish. "So, you know my little brother?"
"Brother?" Lee's face lit up, his boundless optimism blinding him to the danger. "Yes! Yes! We're great friends with Renji! Hello!"
"Hey! Lee!" Tenten's face twisted in alarm as she yanked him back, her sharp eyes fixed on Maki's Akatsuki cloak. Every instinct screamed danger, and Lee's clueless enthusiasm was going to get them all killed. She sighed inwardly—how could he be so oblivious in a moment like this?
Maki's laughter erupted, wild and unhinged, echoing across the vast, barren wilderness. He doubled over, tears of mirth streaming down his face. "You're so cute!" he gasped, his tone laced with a mocking edge that made Tenten's skin crawl. A storm was brewing, and they were caught in its path.
His laughter cut off abruptly, replaced by a cruel, sadistic grin. "Fathead Fish, you take that 'Wild Beast' guy. These three—my brother's precious friends—are mine."
The thought of their deaths fueling Renji's despair sent a shiver of glee through Maki. "It's truly a pity Renji isn't here to watch you die by my hand. Oh, the despair that'd bring!" His eyes gleamed with cold, calculating malice, already picturing Renji's broken sobs.
Suddenly, his expression softened, his voice dripping with feigned affection. "But it's okay. I care for Renji too much. After I kill you, I'll send him to reunite with you." He wiped a mock tear from his eye, gazing at the boundless blue sky with exaggerated melancholy. "How could there be a brother who thinks so much for his younger brother? Renji's truly too fortunate…" His voice carried a sickening blend of sarcasm and menace.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +1000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +1000!]
[Chakra (30,044,000 / 100,000,000)]
Kisame groaned, his patience fraying. "Stop saying such disgusting things." He longed for the days of partnering with Itachi—calm, professional, and blissfully quiet. Maki, on the other hand, was a walking headache, tolerated only because the Leader saw value in his chaotic prowess.
"Hey!" Lee shouted, his confusion mounting. "You're Renji's brother! Why are you saying such strange, incomprehensible things?"
Boom!
Maki's figure flickered, appearing in front of Lee in an instant. Before the genin could react, Maki's hand lashed out, striking with brutal force. Lee flew through the air, crashing into the dirt with a sickening thud, coughing up blood as pain seared through his chest.
"Lee!" Tenten and Neji rushed to his side, their faces pale with shock and fear.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (30,054,000 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (30,064,000 / 100,000,000)]
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (30,074,000 / 100,000,000)]
Maki's grin widened, his eyes glinting with sadistic delight as he savored the surge of Cursed Energy. This was just the beginning. If their panic was this potent now, the real torment would be a feast. He stretched leisurely, cracking his knuckles with deliberate menace, as if preparing for a casual spar rather than a slaughter.
Might Guy's body erupted with raw power, blue steam pouring from him as he opened the Sixth Gate of View. The air crackled with his overwhelming chakra, his muscles taut with youthful vigor. Whoosh! His figure blurred, moving like a bolt of lightning toward Maki, his fists clenched with fiery determination.
"Your opponent is me!" Kisame roared, intercepting Guy with a predatory grin. Samehada swung down with bone-crushing force, aimed at the Jonin's head, the blade's scales shimmering with chakra-devouring hunger.
Maki didn't spare them a glance. His smile turned icy as he faced Tenten and Neji, who were struggling to help Lee to his feet. With a casual flick, he reached into his ninja tool pouch, pulling out a dozen finger-sized transfigured humans. As they hit the ground, they swelled into massive, grotesque beasts—hulking monstrosities with gaping maws and twisted limbs, roaring with primal fury that shook the earth.
"What are these things?!" Tenten recoiled, her stomach churning at the sight of the hideous creatures, their unnatural forms a stark contrast to the weapons she knew so well.
"Renji has similar abilities!" Neji warned, his Byakugan tracking the beasts' erratic movements. "Stay sharp!"
No sooner had he spoken than a bear-like creature lunged, its massive claws slashing toward them. Neji spun, his voice steady but urgent. "Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!"
A whirlwind of chakra erupted, deflecting the attack, but the beast's sheer size and ferocity forced him to brace with every ounce of his strength.
Maki's laughter rang out again, sharp and unhinged, cutting through the chaos. "Let's see how long Renji's little friends can survive my pets!"
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