----
"Daytime Tiger" is a technique that can only be used when opening the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates Formation. It concentrates power into a single point and releases it at high speed, creating an air-compressed punch.
Upon impact, the compressed force violently expands, devastating the target. Gai refers to it as his 'one-hit-kill' technique."
Gai positioned his hands before him, forming a peculiar stance with his fingers. The blue steam around him enhanced his presence as a white tiger's head emerged from his fists. As it surged forward, the sheer force parted the water, leaving a trail of turbulence in its wake.
Even Naruto and Itachi, who were hovering behind Gai, felt the intense water currents, struggling to keep their bodies stable and avoid being dragged along by the force of the Daytime Tiger.
The roaring white tiger clashed directly with Kisame's Great Shark Bullet, and the two forces began a vicious struggle.
The shark's gaping maw tried to devour the chakra within Daytime Tiger, hoping to absorb its energy to increase its power.
But it was futile.
"It's already consuming his technique, so why isn't it absorbing any chakra?!" Kisame was utterly baffled.
The answer was simple Daytime Tiger contains no chakra at all.
This technique was pure taijutsu, executed through raw physical strength and extreme precision. The shockwave, the air compression, and the force itself all were purely physical phenomena, containing not a single trace of chakra.
No chakra means nothing to absorb.
Without additional energy intake, the Great Shark Bullet's power had reached its limit. Meanwhile, Daytime Tiger's force continued to expand.
Though it felt like a long exchange, it lasted only a fraction of a second.
Then, the white tiger shredded the blue shark, expanding further as it rushed toward Kisame himself.
"What kind of power is this?!"
Kisame barely had time to cross his arms in defence before the tiger's impact struck him directly.
CRACK.
His forearms snapped from the force, and his entire body felt like it had been smashed by a hammer, launching him backwards through the water.
The Daytime Tiger's shockwave didn't just hit Kisame it completely pierced through the Great Exploding Water Shockwave sphere.
Water exploded outward, scattering into the air as a massive storm rippled across the battlefield, extending for miles.
Perhaps it was because the water sphere had been ruptured, or maybe because Kisame himself had suffered a severe injury. Either way, the huge water sphere collapsed, turning into a normal body of water that rained down, merging with the lake below.
Kisame floated lifelessly on the water's surface.
The fusion between him and Samehada had completely dissolved, leaving him in his normal form, his body covered in wounds.
Samehada weakly extended its tail, trying to help Kisame heal but it had spent all day giving chakra away, and now it was starving.
Itachi gazed at Gai with genuine admiration.
He had always known that Gai was strong but seeing him unleash his full power in person was a different story.
"Such… incredible strength."
Itachi had copied the attack movements and even memorized the power distribution of the technique.
But if he actually tried to perform it, he was certain his arms would shatter.
Not even the Sharingan can copy everything…
Both Morning Peacock and Daytime Tiger were techniques that could only be used by someone who had honed their body through extreme discipline.
For the first time, Itachi understood the choices of Daiki, Gen and Jiro his three clan members who had dedicated themselves to taijutsu rather than ninjutsu.
Perhaps…
They had endured so much hardship and so much ridicule, all because they had sought power beyond the Sharingan.
"Whew… I don't use that move often."
Gai exhaled deeply, releasing the Eight Gates state. His breath was heavy, his fatigue evident. Even for him, the Eight Gates Formation was an immense burden.
"Let's finish the job before reflecting."
Naruto summoned two golden chakra chains, one binding Kisame, the other restraining the struggling Samehada.
"Cough… I never thought I'd fall to the least remarkable of you three…" Kisame let out a weak laugh, coughing up blood.
"No war… Only peace… Even just a glimpse… I wish I could've seen that kind of world…"
Naruto shook his head.
He wasn't sure if Kisame could still hear him, but he spoke anyway.
"Having a dream is good. Wanting a peaceful world is even better. The problem is… you all chose the wrong path."
"You guys think world peace is too hard, so you try to take a shortcut."
"But does real peace ever come that easily?"
For safety, Naruto left multiple sealing jutsu on Kisame's body.
After confirming he had no more signs of life, he sealed the corpse into a scroll.
As for Samehada, the morally questionable sword…
Naruto decided to seal it up for now, planning to tame it later.
If it behaved, he'd keep it. Maybe give it to Kakashi as a chakra battery.
If it didn't behave, well…
Fried fish or grilled fish Samehada could take its pick.
"Gai-sensei, do you want this sword? It's strong as hell."
Since Gai had landed the final blow, Naruto asked for his decision first.
"No need."
Gai pulled out a pair of nunchaku, twirled them skillfully, and then tucked them under his arm, striking a Bruce Lee pose.
"I already have the perfect weapon for myself."
"…Then I'll hold onto it. Feels like it would suit Kakashi-sensei well."
Samehada whimpered in protest as Naruto slapped more sealing tags onto it.
It wasn't just unable to absorb chakra anymore it couldn't even move.
"Oh! If it helps Kakashi, then it's fine by me!"
Gai grinned, thinking about how this would be another reason to challenge Kakashi later.
With Kisame dealt with and Samehada secured, Itachi nodded.
"Well then… It's time to rejoin the battlefield."
---
While Naruto and his team chased Kisame, Asuma Gen, Daiki, and Jiro had already caught up to Afei.
But this Tobi (Afei) wasn't actually Obito he was a special variant of White Zetsu.
Afei was unique he had been watching over and assisting Obito since Madara had first rescued him.
Notably, Afei's face resembled Obito's spiral-patterned mask, and he could even wrap himself around others like clothing.
Interestingly, Obito's name "Uchiha Obito (オビト)" when reversed, becomes "Tobi (トビ)".
And Obito's goofy personality as "Tobi" wasn't just an act part of it was his real self.
But another part came from spending too much time with Afei, unintentionally picking up his quirky mannerisms.
This time, Afei's job was to impersonate the mysterious "Tobi" of Akatsuki.
His goal? Put on a show, get "killed," and disappear.
Whether he died for real or had a less-intelligent clone replace him was up to Obito's judgment.
Ideally, everyone would believe "Afei" was just a special White Zetsu, now dead, having no relation to Uchiha Obito.
Obito didn't expect this trick to last forever, but he needed to buy more time for his next move.
Everything was going according to plan.
All Afei needed now… was to put on a spectacular fight before "dying."
…Or at least, that was the plan.
Until—
These Konoha shinobi suddenly did something unbelievably dishonourable.
----
Don't forget to drop some PowerStones!💎💎💎
For early access to advanced chapters on p@treon.
P@treon/iamxeno
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!