Against a taijutsu specialist like Might Guy, the best strategy was to maintain distance.
Kisame Hoshigaki understood this well.
"So you want to fight me?" Kisame grinned, gripping Samehada.
Chen Xing glanced at Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi.
"You three handle the other one."
Kakashi shook his head slightly, eyes fixed on Itachi Uchiha.
"We're not enough to defeat him."
Chen Xing didn't argue.
"Then Kisame is yours."
"Good," Kakashi replied.
---
Kisame wasted no time forming hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
The lake roared as multiple water dragons surged forward.
Kakashi immediately countered with the same technique.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
The two jutsu collided violently, sending water crashing in all directions.
---
Meanwhile—
Chen Xing faced Itachi alone.
"I won't hold back," Chen Xing said calmly.
Itachi's gaze remained cold as he formed seals.
"Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!"
A massive rotating water stream shot toward Chen Xing at high speed.
Without dodging, Chen Xing raised his hand—
"Boom!"
He shattered the attack with a single punch, dispersing it instantly.
Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
In the next moment—
Chen Xing vanished.
A blur of speed.
"!"
Itachi's body was struck and sent flying—
—but instantly dissolved into a flock of crows.
"Crow Clone…" Chen Xing muttered.
Above him, Itachi reappeared.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball descended.
---
Chen Xing's expression didn't change.
His eyes shifted—
The ripple-pattern pupils of the Rinnegan emerged.
"Shinra Tensei."
The fireball froze mid-air—
Then reversed direction.
---
"What?!"
Even Kakashi and the others were shocked.
A ninjutsu… reflected?
---
The fireball surged back toward Itachi.
But before it struck—
"—!"
His body split into crows again, scattering and reforming at a distance.
This time, his gaze fixed tightly on Chen Xing's eyes.
"Those eyes…"
For the first time, Itachi showed visible surprise.
That was not the Sharingan.
---
Kisame, forced back by Guy, also noticed.
"What kind of dojutsu is that?"
---
Chen Xing didn't answer.
Instead, he stepped forward, voice calm but cold.
"You don't need to understand."
---
He turned slightly toward Kakashi.
"Fall back."
Kakashi hesitated—but nodded. He could tell this fight had gone beyond them.
The others quickly retreated to the edge of the lake.
---
Chen Xing faced the two Akatsuki members alone.
"I've had some unfinished business with your organization," he said.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"So I'll settle it here."
---
The pressure in the air shifted.
Even Itachi grew more cautious.
The battle… was about to escalate.