"Such a violent burst of chakra... It must be a full Tailed Beast Transformation. Either they've encountered a formidable enemy, or the rest of the team has already been sacrificed."
Samui's nerves were taut. With so many of them, did they not even have time to use the new-model bombs?
Before Samui could even look toward Shisui, the Uchiha had already shot to their feet.
"You three hold the fort. We'll go provide reinforcements. Be extremely careful; the Akatsuki might have others coming to attack this location."
Samui replied in a low voice, "We're counting on you. We will be on high alert."
Tap... tap... tap...
Dressed in an Akatsuki cloak, Hiko led Kisame toward the others.
Juzo Biwa and the other two were surprised to see Kisame. The four of them were all elite shinobi from the Hidden Mist, yet they had all left the village for one reason or another.
As a member of the original Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Juzo Biwa was the oldest and most senior. A few years his junior was Kisame Hoshigaki. Zabuza and Suigetsu were from the generation that followed.
Seeing Juzo, Zabuza, and Suigetsu together, Hiko found the situation amusing. The first, second, and third wielders of the Executioner's Blade were all gathered in one place. And they all had the same ferocious look about them. The legacy was truly in good hands.
Ding... Ding... Ding... A series of prompts sounded.
Only then did Kawasaki remember that he had altered the fate of these three. When it came to Water Style abilities, he had plenty to spare.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for significantly altering the life trajectories of Zabuza Momochi, Suigetsu Hozuki, and Juzo Biwa.]
[Congratulations to the Host for acquiring: Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu x2, Water Style: Tate Eboshi x1 (Can be swapped for a similar ninjutsu).]
"What's the use of Water Dragon Jutsu? I already know it. Let's swap."
Tate Eboshi, on the other hand, was excellent. Was it even considered a Water Style technique? He wondered if the Second Mizukage's Steam Imp would count as well. Unfortunately, he could only swap for two Water Style ninjutsu right now, making Tate Eboshi the most valuable choice.
Following Kawasaki's decision, the reward changed to Water Style: Tate Eboshi x3.
While Kawasaki was checking his rewards, the others began to catch up.
"Well now, if it isn't Juzo Biwa-senpai. So you joined the Akatsuki too."
Juzo looked at Kisame, whom he knew well as a talented junior. "I never expected to see you back in the Land of Water, Kisame."
"Heh heh heh. My master specifically asked me to make this trip. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered coming back to this place."
"Master?"
This was the first time Juzo had met Hiko in person, and he was unaware of this relationship between him and Kisame.
Kawasaki, in his guise as Hiko, was still looking at his rewards. Hearing the question, he instinctively gestured to his Hidden Mist headband.
Juzo sized up Hiko, estimating his age. "I never imagined that Hiko, a fellow member of our organization, was a senior shinobi from the Mist."
But Juzo had no memory of this person at all. He had certainly never seen him back in the village.
Swoosh!
Just then, Suigetsu leaped into the air, reaching for the Samehada on Kisame's back.
Kisame tilted his head. "Hm?"
He threw a punch, which passed right through Suigetsu with a thud. A smile spread across Suigetsu's face as his hand touched Samehada.
Crack! Samehada vibrated violently.
Suigetsu was forcefully thrown back.
Kisame had a look of realization. "Oh, no wonder you looked familiar. You're Mangetsu's little brother, Suigetsu, aren't you? How come you still look like a kid? Don't you ever grow up?"
"Damn you!"
Suigetsu was about to retort when Zabuza, standing behind him, pushed him down.
"It's been a long time, Kisame-senpai."
"Hoh, you punk. Haven't seen you in years, but you've still got that same old attitude."
Zabuza said in a gravelly voice, "I never thought I'd run into you here, Kisame-senpai."
"This isn't like you at all, Zabuza."
Kisame was unaware of the psychological changes Zabuza had undergone over the years; he just felt that the man before him was not the Zabuza he remembered.
"Clap, clap..."
Hiko clapped his hands. "Save the reminiscing for later. I don't have time to waste with you all."
Zabuza pulled the sulking Suigetsu back. They had no say in this.
Juzo agreed. "Where is the target for this mission, Killer Bee?"
Zabuza and Suigetsu were shocked. They hadn't known their target was the Eight-Tails.
Hiko read their expressions. It seemed Juzo hadn't told them about the mission. He pulled out a map and pointed. "We are here. Killer Bee is nearby."
"Let's move out."
Hiko set the direction and walked ahead, with an eager Kisame following close behind.
Juzo followed, a look of confusion on his face. "Hiko-senpai, you haven't told us the battle plan."
Hiko waved a hand without turning back. "No plan needed. Kisame will be the main attacker this time. We'll just provide support."
Juzo and Zabuza exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock and doubt.
Suigetsu couldn't help but scoff. "Haha, are you kidding me? That's the Eight-Tails, Killer B—"
Thwack!
Zabuza slammed Suigetsu's head into the water. "You don't get to talk here, kid."
Zabuza had some knowledge of Kisame's abilities, not to mention that Kisame's supposed master was also present. So, he shut Suigetsu up.
Suigetsu snorted and sullenly picked up a cup to drink more water.
...
Thanks to their Uchiha informant, it didn't take long for Hiko's group to catch up to Killer Bee, who was walking along while improvising a rap.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
With a rush of wind, the group instantly surrounded Killer Bee.
"Finally caught you, Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee," Kisame said, staring at him with excitement.
"Yo, I was enjoyin' my time in the woods, ya found me, ya punks, did ya really think ya coulds? Yo, fools, ya fools!"
Even though he was surrounded, Killer Bee wasn't nervous at all. Instead, he started singing a strange rap, performing an exaggerated dance, and even spun around twice before stopping.
Suigetsu couldn't help but complain, "What's with this Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Juzo snorted. "Don't be fooled by his appearance and let your guard down."
Zabuza calmly observed Killer Bee, looking for the perfect moment to strike.
Seeing that Killer Bee had no backup, Hiko felt this battle would not be a simple one. He wondered when Itachi and Shisui would arrive.
Killer Bee scribbled in a small notebook while dancing lightly on his feet.
"Yo, you wonder why I'm standin' all alone? You're a fool, ya fool, ya should have known! 'Cause that just makes it easier to surround you all, baby! Don't care who ya are or where ya come from, I'm 'bout to make your heads go numb, yeah!"
Though he didn't know who his opponents were, he could tell from their cloaks that they were Akatsuki. It was an unexpected encounter, leaving Killer Bee to fight alone.
Thus, upon being surrounded, Killer Bee immediately began his Tailed Beast Transformation, skipping all the intermediate steps and going straight into his full Tailed Beast Mode.
With the sound of flesh expanding, giant octopus tentacles sprouted from Killer Bee's back. In a matter of seconds, he had fully transformed into the Tailed Beast. As his chakra surged, the Samehada in Kisame's hand trembled violently.
"Looks like you really like chakra. Well then, enjoy the feast."
Whoosh! While Killer Bee was transforming, Kisame threw Samehada like a meteor hammer.
With a dull thud, it was caught by one of Killer Bee's tentacles.
"Yo, you damn fool, a sneak attack on me? Heh!"
Killer Bee let out a strange cry, grabbing Samehada and swinging both it and Kisame through the air.
The fully transformed Eight-Tails resembled a giant ox with eight octopus tentacles for a tail. It originally had two massive horns, but one had been severed by the Fourth Raikage when the previous jinchuriki went on a rampage, leaving it with only a single horn.
Kisame landed on his feet and retrieved Samehada, which had grown considerably larger. The barbs on its surface were all extended, and its excited tongue quivered.
"As expected of a perfect jinchuriki. To remain conscious at this size is impressive," Kisame remarked.
"Bee, that sword absorbs chakra," Gyuki warned him.
In his full Tailed Beast form, Killer Bee's chakra was so immense that he hadn't even noticed some of it being drained.
"Gotta be careful then, you see! Fools, ya fools!"
"Ya-hoo!" Killer Bee yelled strangely.
His body collided with Kisame's again, but this time Kisame was sent flying. He tumbled across the ground, spitting blood, yet his fighting spirit only burned brighter. With several broken ribs, Kisame gripped Samehada tightly. The chakra flowing from the blade rapidly healed the grievous wound on his chest.
Gyuki warned in his mind, "Bee, be careful not to get dragged into a battle of attrition."
Killer Bee had also noticed Kisame's recovery. "Don't you worry now, he can't block our attack, baby!"
"Hey!" Killer Bee let out a peculiar roar and launched a fierce assault.
An octopus tentacle whipped out, slamming into the ground with a deafening boom and carving out a crater. Every one of Killer Bee's attacks could shatter mountains and split the earth. Each impact shook the ground like an earthquake, and the rocks sent flying were just as deadly.
Kisame fought while retreating, avoiding a direct confrontation with Killer Bee. Though he was sent flying with each exchange, he always managed to recover quickly thanks to Samehada.
Only then did Juzo and the others understand why they had been told not to interfere. Killer Bee's attack style in his Tailed Beast form was a natural counter to taijutsu-focused ninja like them. If they tried to get close, they would be signing their own death warrants. The reason Killer Bee operated alone was to create an environment where he could go all out with his transformation. Under these circumstances, his decision to immediately transform was the wisest choice.
Suigetsu tried an attack, shaping his hand like a gun and firing off several blasts from his Water Gun technique. However, whether it was due to his lack of power or the thickness of Gyuki's hide, all the water bullets were deflected.
After a few more rounds, although Samehada had absorbed a great deal of chakra and grown massive, it had reached its limit. The amount it had taken was insignificant to the fully transformed Eight-Tails. Though Kisame had been knocked around repeatedly, his will to fight only intensified.
After being struck by a tentacle once more, Kisame looked at the bloated Samehada and a smile crept onto his face. He brought two fingers together.
Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
Boom!
Like a geyser erupting, a massive volume of water spewed from Kisame's mouth, forming a giant, oval-shaped water prison that trapped everyone inside. But Kawasaki and his group were skilled with Water Style and felt no discomfort in the water. Suigetsu was even more at home, moving with perfect ease. Gyuki, being part octopus, was just as agile in the water.
"Yo, this guy just did somethin' dumb, what a fool, this punk's a real bum!"
Killer Bee swam through the water, his speed increasing steadily. At that moment, Samehada began to slowly merge with Kisame's body. Gills split open on his shoulders, fins grew from his arms, and a tail sprouted from his back, transforming him into a half-man, half-shark creature.
"Bee! He's fused with his sword!" Gyuki warned.
"I see it! Yo! A half-fish man, for real! No, a man-like fish, what's the deal? Man, he's ugly, what a fool!"
Kisame reveled in the freedom of the water, a wide grin on his face. "Now then, it's my turn to perform."
...
Kisame didn't attack immediately. In his new form, he understood why Samehada had been trembling with excitement. The Eight-Tails' immense chakra was its favorite meal. Since it was full of chakra, he had to make good use of it.
Kisame formed a hand seal.
Water Style: A Thousand Feeding Sharks!
Countless sharks materialized in the water, swarming toward Gyuki.
Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique!
Consuming a massive amount of chakra, Kisame instantly created a giant, shark-shaped water missile that shot forward. After expending so much chakra, Samehada sent a signal of hunger. Kisame grinned and immediately swam toward Killer Bee.
By now, Killer Bee's tentacles were being assaulted by the countless sharks. Though each swat could make a shark disappear, they seemed endless. Moreover, the massive shark bullet was hurtling straight for him.
The onlookers felt a sense of relief at the sight. Only Hiko watched coldly from the side, knowing that a perfect Tailed Beast was not so easily defeated.
"Yo, looks like you're all out of tricks! This guy fights so dirty!"
Killer Bee's eight tentacles began to dance wildly, swatting away all the sharks. Then, they coiled back, wrapping tightly around his body.
BOOM!
The giant shark-shaped water sphere slammed heavily into the Eight-Tails' tentacles. Instantly, a vast amount of chakra flooded into it, causing the shark missile to swell to an even more monstrous size.
Kisame's eyes glinted. He knew this would become a battle of endurance. He swam forward, sharp fins extending from his body.
But just then, the tightly coiled Killer Bee began to spin at high speed.
Tailed Beast Eight Twists!
A colossal storm erupted, pulling even the surrounding water into a powerful vortex.
With a deafening roar, Killer Bee became a massive tempest. In an instant, all the sharks were swept away, and the Great Shark Bullet was torn to shreds.
Killer Bee advanced while spinning, crashing directly into the half-shark Kisame. One side of Kisame's body was instantly crushed and twisted as he was sent flying.
SPLASH! The water within the sphere shot out in all directions. The torrent leveled the surrounding trees, completely altering the landscape. Hiko and the others, despite being at a distance, were also swept far away.
Kisame lay on the ground, blood streaming from his nose and mouth, his half-shark form gone. His right shoulder was completely shattered, his upper body twisted like a dishrag. Samehada whined as it channeled chakra into him.
Kisame howled in pain as his body snapped and twisted back into place. He then spat out a mouthful of blood. "I really thought... that was it for me this time."
As Kisame regained consciousness, Samehada gave a couple of happy twitches. But due to its depleted chakra, it had shrunk considerably and lost its earlier vigor.
Killer Bee, recovering from the dizziness caused by his rapid spinning, started walking toward them.
"You worked hard, partner," Kisame said, picking up Samehada.
He intended to fight on!
...
Kisame still wanted to continue the battle. But Hiko could already see that there was a gap between the current Kisame and the fully transformed Killer Bee. Kisame's spirit was strong, but his body was clearly at its limit.
After a few calls, Hiko and the others gathered by his side.
"You're badly injured. We should retreat," Juzo said.
Zabuza and Suigetsu, despite their usual confidence, also felt they were no match for Killer Bee after witnessing the power of his Tailed Beast Transformation.
Lying on the ground, Kisame managed to stand with Juzo's help. "Mas... ter..."
Hiko moved forward to check on Kisame. Thankfully, the chakra Samehada had provided in time had improved his condition.
Seeing his opponents about to retreat, the recovered Killer Bee grew furious.
"Tryna run away? I was just gettin' into the groove! You fools! Ya fools!"
The group felt a powerful surge of chakra.
"GROOOOAR!!!"
Gyuki's massive mouth opened wide, and a huge black sphere of energy condensed between its upper and lower rows of giant teeth. As a dark vortex rapidly converged, a Tailed Beast Bomb took shape!
It formed so quickly! Everyone's heart sank. There was no way to dodge an attack of that speed!
This is bad!
A wave of true fear washed over them. Samehada leaped up, pressing itself against Kisame. It desperately poured what little chakra it had left into its wielder.
Zabuza grabbed Suigetsu's arm and violently threw him to the side. Juzo, meanwhile, drew the Executioner's Blade and held it defensively across his chest.
"Zabuza! Formation C!" he roared.
Gyuki's eyes glowed red as it lowered its head, and the massive Tailed Beast Bomb erupted forth.
In the blinding light, Juzo's last thought was: Dying in my homeland isn't so bad... Zabuza, I hope you make it out alive...
Zabuza's final thought was: Suigetsu Hozuki, may you live to see the Hidden Mist become a truly better place...
In the instant Suigetsu was thrown, Zabuza didn't have time to look back.
"ZABUZA!!!"
Hiko sighed. It would be a waste for these men to die. He had to try and save them. This Shadow Clone didn't have enough chakra to block a Tailed Beast Bomb. He had no choice.
Curse Mark Stage Four -> Curse Mark Stage Three