"I really didn't expect Kumogakure to be defeated by Konoha, especially under the leadership of the Uchiha clan."
On an island within the Land of Water, Momochi Zabuza, now a graduate of the Ninja Academy, pulled his kunai from the neck of a rogue ninja and said in disbelief, "Are the Uchiha really that powerful, Anko?"
"The Uchiha clan is indeed an incredibly powerful shinobi bloodline—arguably among the strongest in all of Konoha, if not the entire shinobi world."
Mitarashi Anko, a bit younger than Zabuza, took the roasted fish that her summoned snake had caught and cooked, wiped it off, and took a big bite. With her mouth full, she mumbled, "After all, Konoha was co-founded by the Uchiha and the Senju. But now that the Senju are gone, the Uchiha naturally rose to become the top clan."
"But even so, they still don't hold a candle to our Yuki clan. With the Fourth Mizukage around, the Yuki are the strongest, hands down!"
"Absolutely!"
Mention of the Fourth filled Zabuza's face with reverence. "Lord Fourth is the strongest, no question!"
"We all know Lord Fourth is the strongest—but it's because of that, you all need to push yourselves harder, and catch up to him."
The voice came from behind them—Hoshigaki Kisame stepped forward, rrevealing a mouth full of sharp teeth.
"I remember you aimed to become one of the new generation of Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza. There are still many vacancies among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen now, so your chances are very high."
"Of course! This great me is a genius personally praised by the Mizukage-sama! The future Seven Ninja Swordsmen will definitely have a place for me!"
Looking at the confident Zabuza, Anko with her mouth full of fish, and the quiet, reserved Utakata sitting in the corner, Kisame grinned. The future of Kirigakure looked brighter than ever.
Ever since officially becoming a couple with Ayako, Kisame felt like life in Kirigakure—and his own world—had been completely transformed. He saw everything from a new angle, a new light.
A once gloomy, sunless life now seemed to glimmer with dawn's first light.
Perhaps this was the power of love.
Yoru, too, had noticed Kisame's change and, with a grand gesture, approved a long honeymoon leave. But Kisame wasn't the kind of man to sit idle—just a month later, he was already itching to return to duty.
Given the new dynamic between Mizuuchi Ayako and Kisame, Yoru wasn't about to assign him back into the darkness of Kirigakure's ANBU. Instead, He made this elite shinobi a jōnin instructor.
His team? None other than Momochi Zabuza, Mitarashi Anko, and Utakata.
"Alright, clean up—time to head back and report—hmm?!"
Kisame clapped his hands, calling the three young shinobi destined to become Kirigakure's backbone.
But before the words had left his mouth, his expression hardened. Without hesitation, he drew Samehada from his back.
His sudden shift to full alert immediately alerted the three to trouble. All of them turned their focus to the surroundings—only to freeze a moment later as the sea in the distance trembled, and a massive form emerged.
A jagged, heavy shell breached the surface of the water. Even with just a glimpse, the oppressive chakra it radiated was vast—immeasurable.
That overwhelming pressure locked all three of them in place.
"Th-th-this is…"
"The Three-Tails!"
...
Tailed Beasts are massive chakra entities created from the division of the Ten-Tails born of the Divine Tree—special lifeforms that cannot die as long as chakra exists.
Even if they're defeated or killed, they will eventually reform and revive. That's why Tailed Beasts can survive for millennia and remain ever-present in the world.
The Three-Tails, Isobu, was no exception.
Though it had vanished after the death of its jinchūriki on Tōmatsu Mountain, three years later, it had returned.
Its former memories had been lost with death, but the violent hatred and negativity toward humans left in its residual consciousness immediately surged to the forefront upon rebirth.
The giant, thick-shelled turtle reared back and let out a thunderous roar. With a deafening cry, it whipped its tail and stirred the sea into a violent maelstrom.
"So this… is a Tailed Beast..."
The sudden appearance of the Three-Tails shook the trio to their core—but Kisame was unfazed.
With one hand gripping Samehada, he bit into his other hand and performed a one-handed seal.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
BOOM!
A plume of smoke erupted, revealing a unique shark in front of Kisame, slapping the sea with its fins.
Kisame took out a scroll, rapidly scrawled encrypted ANBU codes using his chakra, then handed the scroll to the shark, which swallowed it whole and vanished in a puff of smoke.
"You three, fall back—now! Watch out for the battle shockwaves!"
Battle shockwaves?!
The trio froze.
Weren't they supposed to retreat as soon as they encountered a wild Tailed Beast during a mission?
Why was Kisame-sensei getting ready to fight?!
"Don't just stand there—go!"
Utakata grabbed Zabuza and Anko, dashing to the distance. Once they'd gained enough ground, Utakata released a stream of bubbles, enveloping the three and flying them toward Kirigakure's territory.
Even though the island was large, when it came to a Tailed Beast, no place was truly safe.
To Kisame, their presence was just a burden. The farther they were, the better.
But brilliant plans rarely unfold smoothly.
The blood scent left behind from the rogue ninja had drawn the attention of the freshly revived beast. Its eyes locked immediately onto Kisame's vast chakra, and the three genin escaping on a bubble in the distance.
Even without full memories, the instinctive hatred of humans and the desire to flaunt its rebirth surged up.
The beast raised its head, opened its mouth, and began gathering a terrifying mass of chakra!
"Bastard…"
Kisame's expression darkened. He couldn't let the beast unleash a Tailed Beast bomb before the kids reached safety.
"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
His hands flew through seals. A massive, transparent shark leapt from the sea, jaws open, rushing at the Three-Tails just as it was about to fire.
In an instant, Isobu (Three-Tails) noticed its gathered chakra being devoured. Then a massive force slammed into its belly—countless chakra sharks bit into its shell, trying to break through.
The Three-Tails, which had intended to play a little 'balloon popping' game, was instantly enraged.
You dare strike me?! I'm the Three-Tails!
"ROAAARRR!!"
The beast roared. Its massive body twisted in the water with surprising agility, tail lashing out to destroy the invading chakra sharks.
But another surge of power hit its tail. For a moment—it felt its body being torn apart!
The pain made it thrash violently, and as it looked closer, it spotted a half-human, half-shark figure circling like a predator, ready to pounce.
"Such sweet, exquisite chakra…"
Already merged with Samehada, Kisame grinned with bloodlust. His chakra reserves were vast—though not as massive as Isobu's—but the longer the battle lasted, the more that changed.
And in an oceanic environment like this, he was in his element. This was his hunting ground.
"In the Third Shinobi World War, Kirigakure lost both the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails. Our village has thrived since then, but without Tailed Beasts, can we truly be called a Great Village?!"
"Surrender, Three-Tails!"
Kisame exploded through the water like a blood-scented shark, launching a ferocious assault.
In just an instant, the high-speed Kisame charged to the Three-Tails' front. Even when the Three-Tails contracted its limbs, preparing to block Kisame's attack with its hardest shell armor, the moment they collided, a slight weakness emanated from the Three-Tails' body.
Yes, the Three-Tails was known for its defense—even the Nine-Tails might take time to crack its shell (or so it believed).
But for Kisame, this chakra-laden shell was his favorite prey.
Every strike drained chakra from the beast and added it to his own, growing stronger by the second.
After only a few exchanges, Kisame's strength surged. His afterimages blurred into dozens, like a school of sharks closing in.
And then—Isobu realized something was wrong.
Kisame's blows were landing heavier and faster. Cracks spidered across its once-impenetrable shell. Worst of all—it felt... weak.
Tailed Beasts did have "infinite" chakra—but that only referred to regeneration. Their active reserves were not limitless.
And now—this half-human, half-shark thing had chakra comparable to its own.
Impossible!
"To take down a Tailed Beast solo... he really is a monster."
Several figures appeared on the shore. Hōzuki Mangetsu watched the sea battle in awe.
In the water, the Three-Tails was at its strongest. Even his Hydrification Technique wouldn't guarantee victory.
Yet Kisame had single-handedly dominated the beast—utterly.
"Tch. He's just abusing Samehada's properties," Ringo Ameyuri scoffed.
"It's not just that. Among the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kisame is undeniably the strongest."
Yoru arrived late, her words making Ameyuri purse her lips in frustration.
"And besides, Ameyuri, you've been slacking off lately."
"F-Forgive me, Lord Yoru!"
Ringo bowed low, as if struck by lightning. "I'll train harder! I swear I won't let you down!"
BOOM!!
A massive splash drowned her words.
The half-shark Kisame, now surging with immense chakra, launched Isobu out of the ocean—then planted a foot on the unconscious beast's head.
He separated from Samehada, exhaled slowly, and turned to see Yoru and the others approaching.
"Mizukage-sama!"
"Well done, Kisame." Yoru gave a nod, making no effort to hide her satisfaction. "You've become strong enough to shield Kirigakure from the storm."
"You flatter me, Mizukage-sama."
Kisame grinned, baring teeth. "It just happened to be this big turtle. If it were any other Tailed Beast—say, the Six-Tails—I might not have been so lucky."
"But… what will you do with the Three-Tails?"
"Oh, that?"
Yoru glanced at the unconscious beast, drew her Zanpakutō, and—before anyone could react—sliced downward.
A wave of glacial air erupted. The freshly revived Three-Tails was instantly frozen, then shattered into icy fragments—dead again.
"Mizukage-sama, you—"
Kisame was stunned. He'd been wondering who would become the Three-Tails' jinchūriki, but Yoru had simply killed it!
Wouldn't Kirigakure be back to having no Tailed Beast at all?!
"I understand what you're thinking, Kisame. The Three-Tails is indeed a powerful asset. But to stop certain people's schemes, we must ensure its absence."
Yoru sheathed her Zanpakutō, listening to the mission completion reward sounds in her ear, and spoke softly:
"And besides—Kirigakure doesn't need a Tailed Beast to prove its strength anymore, does it?"
...
Everyone present paused, a sigh forming in their hearts.
Who wouldn't want more power—especially something like a Tailed Beast?
But in the end, this was Yoru's way of cutting the roots of evil—before they could grow.