"Wow! The ocean!"
"This refreshing air! Where's my swimsuit! I'm going down for a swim first!"
Having finally arrived at the seaside, Killer B opened his mouth already talking about enjoyment.
The very next second, he grabbed his swimsuit and went off to find a place to change.
Watching this, Motoi and the other two felt their blood pressure skyrocket.
"You two keep an eye on him. Absolutely do not let him go cause trouble."
"I'll go ask about the current situation."
Motoi really couldn't stand it anymore. He felt that if he stayed any longer, he might actually explode.
So he immediately used "checking the situation" as an excuse and slipped away.
Left behind, Mabui and Samui could only shake their heads helplessly. Along the way, Killer B's various behaviors had already pushed even these two young women to their limits.
It was truly like a wild horse breaking free of its reins and returning to the grasslands—completely uncontrollable.
"Finally here."
"That wasn't easy."
Their arrival naturally didn't escape Gekko Chizan's eyes.
He had been waiting for several days.
"Chizan, you've really got the nerve to say that?"
"These past few days, aside from flying off to the Land of Birds for vacation, you were vacationing in the Land of Frost."
"Honestly, letting you learn a ninjutsu like Shadow Clone is just too unfair."
"One clone goes off to enjoy life, while the poor clone stays behind."
Chōmei's voice was full of teasing, making Gekko Chizan burst out laughing. Being mocked by his own partner like this was nothing new.
Chizan didn't care at all—after all, who would really suffer here waiting?
Much better to go enjoy himself.
"Chizan, what do you plan to do?"
"Lead them out onto the sea?"
Chōmei was very curious about Gekko Chizan's next move. After all, they were facing the Eight-Tails—it required caution.
"Let's see how they act first."
"If we're going to fight, we need Killer B to go berserk. That way, neither he nor the Eight-Tails will retain any memories."
"Are you confident you can handle the Eight-Tails?"
Gekko Chizan had already made up his mind to fight. The Eight-Tails—so what if it wasn't the Nine-Tails?
Even if it was at sea, so what? Using the terrain, his Water Release could output at maximum power. He wasn't afraid of the Eight-Tails.
"Tch, if you had confidence, that'd be strange. That's the Eight-Tails."
"But still, synchronized combat—just the two of us against him—I'm very interested."
Chōmei knew very well that his own strength alone couldn't match the Eight-Tails. But he wasn't alone.
With both him and Gekko Chizan fighting together, even the Nine-Tails would be worth a try—let alone the Eight-Tails.
One man and one insect exchanged a smile, both eagerly anticipating the upcoming battle.
"..."
"So you're saying those giant sea snakes are in the waters not far off the coast?"
"Mm... last time someone went out to sea, they were attacked before they got very far."
"Alright. Village chief, lead the villagers to evacuate first. Things might get a bit loud next."
Motoi glanced at the sea horizon. If they really were massive sea snakes, they might have to use the Eight-Tails' power. In that case, staying in the village wouldn't be safe anymore.
The people of the Land of Lightning trusted the shinobi of Kumogakure. Very quickly, the village chief led the villagers to evacuate inland.
Coastal villages generally had their own shelters. After all, the ocean's climate was unstable, and events like tsunamis required emergency evacuation.
"..."
"Wow! Samui, Mabui, how's my swimsuit!"
Having finished changing, Killer B reappeared in front of the two women.
Seeing the octopus-branded oversized beach shorts he was wearing, both Samui and Mabui closed their eyes.
Unbearable to look at! Truly unbearable! It was way too ugly!
"Pfft!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Is this guy an idiot? That sense of aesthetics—way too ugly!"
Chōmei's wild laughter almost deafened Gekko Chizan.
Even so, Gekko Chizan couldn't help laughing either. After all, Killer B's beach shorts really were… distinctive.
"B! Do you really think we're here on vacation?!"
"What are you wearing?! Oh my god!"
"Samui, Mabui, I've already secured a boat. It's over there—go get ready."
"Dammit! B! Change it right now!"
Motoi had just returned and happened to see Killer B in those beach shorts. His blood pressure instantly shot up to 200—total meltdown.
If he were given another chance, he would absolutely never agree to go on a mission with Killer B again. Torture! Pure torture!
Out to sea! Hurry up and get out to sea!
"Motoi, you totally don't know how to appreciate!"
"Octopus beach shorts! The best!"
Killer B didn't care what Motoi thought. As long as he thought it looked good, that was enough!
When the boat heading out to sea was ready, it wasn't the four of them moving together.
"Samui, Mabui, you two wait here."
"If any sea snakes rush toward the shore, you're responsible for dealing with them."
"We'll handle what's in the sea."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Motoi bit his finger and slammed down a summoning jutsu. As the white smoke dispersed, an owl larger than a human appeared before him.
"I'm counting on you."
The owl glanced at him, grabbed Motoi's shoulders with its talons, and lifted him straight into the air.
Meanwhile, Killer B piloted the boat alone, heading out toward the open sea.
"..."
"Oh? Splitting up?"
"Interesting. That actually makes things easier for me."
Gekko Chizan watched as the other side divided their forces—one in the sky, one at sea.
And the other two young women were actually left on the shore. He was about to laugh himself to death.
This way, wouldn't his actions be even more convenient?
Mabui and Samui had been his targets from the start. Talents like them absolutely had to be sent to Takigakure.
No—before sending them to Takigakure, it would be better to send them to Orochimaru first for a bit of brainwashing.
After all, the two of them were shinobi of Kumogakure, with deep loyalty to their village. Without brainwashing, they probably wouldn't be useful to him.
Having settled his plan, Gekko Chizan moved without hesitation.
Transparent Release activated, he walked straight toward the two women on the shore.
As for Killer B and Motoi, who had already entered the sea, they were greeted by the sea snakes.
"Boom!"
The sea surface split apart as four or five enormous sea snakes burst out. Their massive bodies paired with eerie snake eyes made them terrifying to behold.
"So they really are giant sea snakes. With bodies like that… are they really from Kirigakure's side?"
Circling in the air, Motoi looked down at the sea snakes that had appeared, a grave expression on his face.
Sea snakes of this size would likely require two full squads to handle even one. After all, the ocean was their domain—using the terrain made them even harder to deal with.
"Good thing it's B taking action. Otherwise, the losses would be even greater."