"Yes, Lord Darui!"
"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Dragon Projectile!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!"
Powerful Lightning Release techniques rained down one after another, filling the massive sphere of water with crackling electricity.
Suddenly, the entire water sphere was torn apart by the violent lightning, like a balloon on the verge of bursting. Sharp spikes of water shot in every direction.
Even Kisame Hoshigaki was intimidated by the overwhelming power. His face grew increasingly pale.
However, he still showed no intention of retreating.
"The Lightning Release techniques of the Hidden Cloud Village are truly fascinating…"
"Unfortunately, this is still far from enough."
Might Guy and Yamato exchanged glances before nodding at each other.
"Morning Peacock!"
"The Daytime Tiger!"
The power of the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates Formation erupted, pushing the already unstable Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave closer to complete collapse.
At the same time, Yamato unleashed a powerful Earth Release technique, splitting the ground apart and forcibly dividing the enormous body of water created by Kisame.
Kisame resisted with all his strength, but he knew he couldn't maintain the technique forever.
Eventually, the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave completely disintegrated, transforming into a massive downpour.
Kisame also separated himself from Samehada's transformed state and once again gripped his great sword.
Samehada.
Mei Terumi immediately stepped forward.
"I'll deal with this man."
"Go and support Uchiha Sasuke. Capture Uchiha Itachi!"
"Yes, Mizukage-sama!"
But just then, Sasuke suddenly spoke in a cold voice.
"Mizukage-sama, this is a matter between Uchiha Itachi and me."
"Please don't interfere."
As the curtain of water finally dispersed, Sasuke could still be seen fiercely battling Uchiha Itachi.
Perhaps only the two brothers knew whether everything that had happened earlier had truly been a clash of Taijutsu and Ninjutsu—or merely an elaborate battle of illusions.
Mei Terumi frowned.
"Uchiha Sasuke, this isn't a joke."
"That man is extremely dangerous. He is also a target that the Five Great Nations must capture."
Sasuke replied in a deep voice.
"No one knows how dangerous he is better than I do."
"But precisely because of that, he can only die by my hand!"
Might Guy could no longer hold himself back.
"Sasuke, this isn't the time to be stubborn."
Yamato nodded.
"Let us help you, Sasuke."
Just then, a figure suddenly emerged from the rain.
"Mei-nee, do as Sasuke says."
Mei Terumi was stunned.
"This… that…"
"Naruto?!"
The person who had arrived was none other than Uzumaki Naruto.
However, this was only Naruto's Shadow Clone.
In order to rescue Sasuke, Naruto had asked Fukasaku to communicate with the frogs in the Hidden Mist Village and use the Reverse Summoning Technique to send his Shadow Clone there.
Sasuke's expression changed as the figure became clearer.
"Naruto?!"
"How did you get here?"
Naruto didn't stop moving. He simply smiled.
"Did you forget, Sasuke?"
"I already told you when I brought you back to Konoha."
"I would never send you to your death alone."
"If you want to kill Uchiha Itachi, then take my power with you."
"Now is the time to fulfill that promise."
Sasuke's heart trembled slightly.
But he still shook his head firmly.
"Naruto, I appreciate it, but please don't interfere."
Naruto's expression changed.
"Sasuke, you…"
Sasuke spoke resolutely.
"I want to kill this man using my own strength."
"Naruto, this is the only request I'll ever make of you in my life."
Naruto stared into Sasuke's eyes, deeply worried about him.
In the end, however, he could only give in.
"Alright, Sasuke."
"But if you ever find yourself in danger, I will definitely save you."
"Even if doing so completely destroys our friendship and you never speak to me again, I won't stand by and watch you die."
A rare smile appeared on Sasuke's lips.
"Do whatever you want."
With those words, Sasuke once again plunged into his fierce battle with Uchiha Itachi.
Kisame Hoshigaki, who had been watching the scene, couldn't help but feel uneasy.
The number of reinforcements surrounding them continued to increase.
And now, even Uzumaki Naruto had appeared.
If this continued, escaping would become extremely difficult for both him and Itachi.
Suddenly, Uchiha Itachi clashed with Sasuke once again.
The two brothers separated almost immediately afterward.
Without looking back, Itachi said,
"Kisame, leave."
"Lord Itachi…"
"This is a battle between Sasuke and me."
"You don't need to continue participating."
Mei Terumi snorted coldly.
"Uchiha Itachi, don't be so naive."
"Do you really think you can still escape?"
"Sasuke has made his decision, and since Naruto has asked me to respect it, I will do so."
"After all, Naruto is the benefactor who once saved our Hidden Mist Village."
"However, even though I promised not to interfere with the battle between the two brothers, Kisame Hoshigaki is still a missing-nin of the Hidden Mist Village."
"As Mizukage, I cannot simply let him go."
Kisame chuckled.
"Facing this many powerful opponents at once really is troublesome…"
"But…"
"Water Release: Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
In an instant, countless water sharks appeared once again.
Thousands of sharks surged forward like a devastating tidal wave, overwhelming everything in their path.
The technique created an overwhelming numerical advantage, making it extremely difficult for any group of enemies to defend against it.
In the original battle, even Might Guy's Morning Peacock had been unable to completely deal with this technique. He had eventually been forced to open the Seventh Gate and unleash the Daytime Tiger before finally managing to break through it.
At this moment, Mei Terumi and the other ninjas also displayed their respective abilities and engaged Kisame in a fierce battle.
But Naruto paid no attention to that fight.
His eyes remained fixed on the battle between Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi.
"Sasuke…"
Naruto completely understood what Sasuke was thinking.
Sasuke wanted to avenge his parents and his clan using his own strength.
There was nothing strange about that.
It was a natural desire.
But as long as Sasuke was in danger, Naruto would intervene without hesitation.
No matter what Sasuke said.
---
Meanwhile, a fierce battle continued under the pouring rain along the outskirts of the Hidden Mist Village.
Not far away, two more figures appeared.
One of them was half-submerged underground, with only his upper body and lettuce-like head exposed.
The other was a mysterious masked man.
"Hey, Tobi. Pain ordered us to remain at the base."
"Is it really okay to openly ignore his orders?"
Tobi's expression remained calm.
"There's no need for that nonsense when it's just the two of us here, is there?"
His voice was completely different from the cheerful and foolish tone he normally used as Tobi.
Zetsu chuckled.
"Yes, Lord Tobi…"
"Ah, no. I suppose I should call you…"
"Lord Uchiha Madara!"
Black Zetsu's deep voice followed.
"Even if you're only here to observe the battle, why did you choose the Hidden Mist Village instead of Konoha?"
"Pain's battle should be the most important one, shouldn't it? After all, he is going to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki himself."
The mysterious masked man nodded.
"If Pain succeeds, then naturally, that would be the best possible outcome."
"But even if he fails…"
"That doesn't necessarily mean it will be a bad thing."
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu exchanged glances.
"What do you mean?"
The mysterious masked man remained silent for a moment.
"Nothing."
"Regardless, I'm more interested in this battle."
"Especially in that man…"
His gaze shifted toward the battlefield.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
"Oh?"
"Uchiha Sasuke?"
"Compared with Uzumaki Naruto, he seems completely overshadowed."
"Why are you interested in him?"
The mysterious masked man spoke indifferently.
"I sensed an inexplicable power within him."
"A power that seems to be closely connected to that man."
Black Zetsu's expression changed slightly.
"So, you're saying…"
"Exactly."
Both Black Zetsu and White Zetsu turned their attention toward Uchiha Sasuke in the distance.
"But even if that's true, so what?"
The mysterious masked man stared at Sasuke.
"He could become a key piece in our plan."
White Zetsu chuckled.
"But I'm afraid he'll die at the hands of Uchiha Itachi before that happens."
"Perhaps."
The mysterious masked man remained calm.
"But it doesn't necessarily have to end that way."
________________________________________
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