Uchiha Itachi studied Chen Xing calmly.
"What business do you have with me? We've never met."
Chen Xing's voice was firm.
"You possess something I need—so I'll be taking it."
Before either Itachi or Kisame could respond, Chen Xing's hands blurred through seals faster than most ninja could track.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
A massive dragon-shaped torrent of flame surged across the clearing toward the two Akatsuki members.
Kisame's eyes widened.
"He's fast—!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu."
In a single smooth motion, Itachi stepped forward, his cloak fluttering. Water spiraled upward and formed into a dragon that collided with the incoming flames.
BOOM!
Steam exploded outward, the air erupting into a cloud of scalding mist.
A second attack flashed through the haze.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The huge fireball detonated against the ground, devouring the clearing in a blaze before finally dying out.
When the flames faded, Chen Xing stood unharmed, cloak lightly singed, while Itachi and Kisame faced him tensely.
Kisame exhaled.
"Didn't expect a kid whose seals are faster than even yours, Itachi. That's… pretty insane."
Itachi didn't respond. His Sharingan remained fixed on Chen Xing.
Chen Xing's expression didn't change.
He wasn't here to fight both of them—only to take Itachi's left eye. Prolonged combat against Itachi's Sharingan and Kisame's monstrous chakra reserves would be dangerous.
Kisame stepped forward, cracking his knuckles with a grin full of shark teeth.
"Let me handle him. I'll see how heavy he hits."
Itachi silently stepped back, observing.
Chen Xing moved instantly.
A purple blur shot forward—
Kisame barely had time to react.
Their fists collided.
Though Kisame blocked with instinctive precision, the force sent a shock through his arms.
"Tch—fast little brat!"
But the moment he adjusted, Chen Xing vanished again.
"Behind—!"
Kisame twisted, blocking with Samehada—just barely.
The impact reverberated down his ribs, strong enough to hurl him backward into a boulder.
He coughed, clutching his side.
"Damn… he actually cracked a rib."
Chen Xing backed off several meters, refusing to overextend with Itachi still watching.
Kisame wiped the blood from his mouth, irritation rising.
"Alright, enough hand-to-hand. Let's see how you handle this!"
He formed seals rapidly.
"Water Release: Water Shark Bomb Jutsu!"
Even in the dry mountain terrain, Kisame forcibly pulled moisture from the environment, forming two enormous water sharks that lunged at Chen Xing.
Chen Xing's seals were faster.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A violent gust burst forward, shredding the sharks into a rain of droplets. Kisame's cloak was drenched, but Chen Xing didn't even look wet—his chakra barrier had dispersed the spray before it touched him.
Itachi's eyes narrowed.
"A chakra coating… He's reinforcing his entire body with it."
A shrill crackle suddenly filled the air.
Lightning erupted in Chen Xing's hand—sharp, concentrated, unmistakable.
Itachi's eyes widened slightly.
"That technique… Kakashi's Chidori."
Before Kisame could brace, Chen Xing exploded forward at lightning speed.
Kisame slammed his hands to the ground, raising a column of water to block—
SHRRRIP!
Chidori sliced through the water instantaneously.
"Ghost shark! Dodge!"
Itachi's voice cut through the air.
Kisame twisted aside at the last instant—
But even so, the Chidori grazed his shoulder, carving through cloth and leaving a bloody gouge.
Kisame reappeared beside Itachi, panting slightly.
"Tch… If I hadn't moved, that would've gone straight through me."
Itachi took a half-step forward, raising a hand to stop Kisame.
"That's enough."
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun slowly.
"We have a mission, and lingering here is pointless. This fight ends now."
Even Kisame understood the meaning—Itachi had judged Chen Xing too troublesome to continue a pointless battle.
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