"Well, he's completely made of water. I was hoping he'd be a bit more fragile, but now it seems like no matter what I try, it won't work. Maybe I can use Lightning Release inside him or just blow his head off?"
"That won't do anything. In here, you can't even let out a fart."
Any attempt to form a Ninjutsu within Suigetsu—any technique at all—ends in failure. Even reaching out and trying to create a Rasengan ends up the same.
His chakra simply can't reach Suigetsu, or rather, once it touches him, it gets absorbed? Suigetsu directly draws Naruto's chakra into his body.
"Heheheh…" Suigetsu grins widely. He can feel Naruto's chakra revitalizing his body. "This chakra is absolutely wild. If my body didn't have something that neutralizes and filters Natural Energy, you might've attacked me directly from the inside using your pure chakra alone."
Damn it! Can he steal Sage Chakra too? How is that possible!? Is there really a technique capable of this?
Plus, the density of the water is too high—it feels just like swimming through oil. So now, it all depends on how long he can hold his breath. Alright, Plan A has failed. Time to back off and think up some new tactics.
By the time Naruto finally reaches the back of Suigetsu's head, he finds himself completely immobilized. He can't unleash the kind of powerful force he used when he first entered Suigetsu's body.
"Oh, are you struggling?" Suigetsu mocks him as the seawater that forms his body continuously draws away Naruto's chakra. "I wonder how long the Nine-Tails will last. Samehada has always been the best weapon for countering Jinchuriki. There's no chakra it cannot absorb."
Even with Samehada cutting and stabbing at the edges of the water prison, nothing works.
Naruto must come up with something fast, or else he'll suffocate to death. Losing chakra isn't much of an issue.
The Nine-Tails can directly lend him Sage Chakra, allowing him to stay in Sage Mode indefinitely, but he can't keep holding his breath forever.
He needs to stay calm. Every second gives him enough time to come up with two plans in his mind while observing everything around him more carefully.
Wait a second. What's at the center of Suigetsu's body? Didn't Suigetsu mention something about Samehada just now? He couldn't hear clearly—his ears were filled with water. His whole body was surrounded by water, which distorted his sense of sound.
But yes—he was certain Suigetsu had said it.
Looking toward the core of Suigetsu's body, right at chest level, Naruto spots two objects. Since he doesn't have any better plan at the moment, he decides to take the chance. He pushes forward, diving deeper into Suigetsu's body.
After some effort, he finally gets close enough to confirm—the Samehada is indeed located exactly at the center of Suigetsu's body. Its sharp spikes extend outward like writhing nerves.
So that's why Suigetsu previously claimed he could use two swords, although only Samehada was visible. This was the reason he could absorb chakra through contact. [Cunning bastard.]
Naruto spotted a small creature floating nearby as he swam toward the sword—it resembled Suigetsu's head in its normal size, but more bubble-like.
"Heh, found something interesting, huh? You're not wrong. Attacking from the inside out makes anything easier to break," the Nine-Tails said, amused by Suigetsu hiding inside.
Naruto couldn't help but stare at Suigetsu. So this must be the control center?
Since Suigetsu hadn't attacked him yet, that meant Suigetsu couldn't stop him from inside his own body unless he chose not to let him go.
At least he wouldn't sabotage the Great Waterfall Jutsu—doing so would release Naruto.
Naruto threw a punch in Suigetsu's direction, propelling himself backward as he swam straight toward Samehada and grabbed it.
Just as he opened his mouth, he nearly choked on shock and pain—the moment his hand touched Samehada, its spikes pierced through his palm.
"Like hell! I'd rather bleed than drown in this damned place!"
Channeling the power of Sage Mode, Naruto wrenched Samehada free from Suigetsu's massive water body. The seawater that formed Suigetsu cascaded back into the ocean like a waterfall.
The Kumo ninja aboard the ship had never seen so much water fall from the sky before. Seeing the monstrous wave barreling toward them, they screamed in terror.
"Oh no!" B shouted, leaping onto the wave's surface and fully fusing with his tailed beast in its purest form.
"Just leave it to me!" Chakra surged around Eight-Tails as it emerged in full form—a massive bull with four horns, arms, and torso, its eight tails lashing behind like long tentacles.
Surprisingly, he blocked the entire tidal wave with his massive body, protecting the ships until the surge passed.
Seeing their village's guardian appear, the ninjas aboard the ships burst into cheers. And B, ever the showoff, raised one arm high, extending his index and pinky fingers to mimic bull horns while roaring in beastly delight.
"YEAHHHHH!!"
Above the water's surface, drenched and dripping, Naruto still clutched Samehada tightly, glaring at the blade as it kept piercing his palm.
"You better stop now. As long as I'm in Sage Mode, your spikes can't pierce my defenses, and I won't let go. No matter how much chakra you drain, it won't do you any good. Steal another drop of my chakra, and I'll seal you in the darkest abyss imaginable. Don't push me, you rotten fish!"
Apparently realizing resistance was futile, the monstrous blade retracted its spines.
What a sentient weapon. It probably obeyed just as obediently when Itachi did the same. Naruto didn't understand how Suigetsu managed to control it.
Maybe Suigetsu had killed enough men at sea, draining their chakra until he could finally dominate the sword.
Speaking of Suigetsu, Naruto looked down at him and found him already back to normal size, eyes snapping coldly at Naruto.
"This isn't over yet."
It was already the second time.
This would be the second time Naruto had caused him to lose a sword—directly or indirectly.
Honestly, he was beginning to suspect that Suigetsu was only doing this to spite him.
"I still have more than enough chakra left! Don't think you've won just because you stole Samehada from me. I'll take it back once you're dead!"
"Oh?" Naruto said, lazily pointing at Samehada with a single finger. "You want this?"
"You damn well know I do."
Naruto didn't say another word, then turned around and hurled Samehada with all his strength. It shot forward like a missile, blazing straight toward B, who caught it with his tentacles.
"Whoa, I must've gotten water in my ears... and maybe even my lungs, because I swear I just heard you handing Samehada over to that freakin' octo-bull hybrid!"
"Both of you? Die!" Suigetsu bellowed at Naruto. "Don't think you're out of danger yet!" He started weaving hand seals, pausing on the final one.
[Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!] Time to crawl home to your mother in tears!
"My mother's already dead."
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