Kisame carried Samehada on his shoulder as he strode excitedly toward Yuzuru.
Seeing this, Yuzuru asked with mild interest, "Aren't you afraid of death?"
Kisame had always been a talkative man. Hearing the question, he grinned and opened his mouth. "Life and death are just different states."
"For someone like me, death might not be such a bad destination."
"Just like this world… I can't even tell what's real and what's fake anymore."
Yuzuru was slightly surprised by Kisame's answer.
Even though Fuguki Suikazan had long since died by his hand, Kisame still spoke like this.
It seemed that under Yagura's command, Kisame had done his fair share of 'dirty work.'
With that in mind, Yuzuru took the initiative and said, "Your name's Kisame, right? How about becoming my subordinate?"
"I intend to build a shinobi world where true, lasting peace exists. A world where everyone can live prosperous lives, where no one has to fear being stabbed in the back by their own comrades."
"Are you willing?"
A complex look flashed through Kisame's eyes before he chuckled. "Sounds interesting… but how do I know if what you're saying is true?"
Yuzuru spread his arms slightly and replied calmly, "The Raikage, Tsuchikage, Kazekage, Hokage… along with countless shinobi, have already acknowledged my ideals."
"Now, in the entire shinobi world, only the Land of Water remains outside my rule."
"My goal is nearly complete. As long as you've left the Land of Water even once, you should know that what I'm saying isn't false."
Yuzuru genuinely liked Kisame.
A shinobi often called a 'true man of the shinobi world'—polite in speech, meticulous in forming hand seals during battle, and unwavering in his beliefs until the very end.
It could be said that Kisame had earned many admirers purely through his character.
"Kisame, don't listen to his nonsense! Move now!"
Yagura's urging voice came from behind. Kisame pressed his lips together.
Then, he glanced strangely at Samehada in his hand.
The blade wriggled a few times… then suddenly broke free from his grip, hopping and bouncing its way toward Yuzuru.
Yuzuru laughed and caught Samehada in his hand. "Here, have a bite."
A vast surge of chakra poured out from his body. Samehada opened its massive mouth and chomped down greedily.
Before long, Samehada became as docile as a lamb, resting quietly in Yuzuru's grip.
Seeing this, Kisame's mouth twitched.
His longtime companion had defected before he even had the chance to.
"Kisame, aren't you coming?"
This time, Kisame didn't say anything more.
He silently walked to Yuzuru's side and stood behind him. "Lord Yuzuru."
Yuzuru tossed Samehada back to Kisame, who couldn't help but widen his eyes in shock.
He could feel just how satisfied Samehada was now.
As its wielder, Kisame knew better than anyone how insatiable Samehada's appetite was.
If allowed to feed freely, even the chakra of a Nine-Tails jinchuriki wouldn't be enough to satisfy it.
And yet Yuzuru had filled it up without even changing his expression.
Just how much chakra did that take?
"Terrifying…"
A bead of cold sweat slid down Kisame's forehead as he muttered in lingering fear.
Even someone like him, known as a 'Tailed Beast Without a Tail,' was stunned by Yuzuru's chakra reserves.
"Then again… only someone this powerful could truly create that kind of world—a shinobi world that exists only in dreams."
Yuzuru paid no attention to Kisame's thoughts. Instead, his gaze fell on Yagura.
"Now… it's your turn."
Yagura clenched his teeth, killing intent practically materializing around him.
Even knowing he stood little chance against Yuzuru, he had no path of retreat left.
There was only one option—fight to the death.
"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"
Yagura immediately used the Water Mirror Technique, creating a clone identical to Yuzuru.
But just forming that single clone nearly drained all the chakra from his body.
If not for the steady supply of chakra from the Three-Tails within him, he would have already lost the ability to fight.
Still, the technique had succeeded.
Looking at the mirrored clone of Yuzuru, Yagura felt a trace of confidence return.
But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Yuzuru's figure vanished from the spot. The mirror image clone was immediately alert, moving to block Yagura's front.
"Nothing but a clumsy fake. Do you also wish to dance?"
Yuzuru appeared before the clone, and a massive skeletal arm smashed down.
Boom!
The clone didn't even have time to react before it was shattered into a splash of water.
Seeing this, Yagura nearly collapsed in shock.
"How is that possible?! Why is my water mirror clone so weak?!"
By all logic, once the Water Mirror Technique successfully created a clone, it should possess combat ability on par with the original—even against Kage-level opponents.
He had never seen it destroyed in a single blow like this.
Yuzuru snorted lightly. "Did you really think a mere water clone could replicate my combat strength?"
Bang!
A single punch sent Yagura flying before he could even react.
Yuzuru's body then turned into a streak of lightning, flashing repeatedly through the air.
With every strike, Yagura's body was blasted away like a cannonball.
All anyone could hear were thunderous impacts echoing through the air, like the relentless beat of a death drum.
Boom!
At last, Yagura's body slammed heavily onto the ice, his aura now weak and unstable.
Yuzuru appeared at the same moment, stepping down on Yagura's back.
Facing the Mist Anbu who still remained loyal to Yagura, he spoke slowly, "Who else refuses to submit?"
His voice was calm, yet it made even these fearless Anbu lower their heads.
Soon, someone threw down their weapon and knelt.
"Lord Yuzuru, we surrender!"
Like a chain reaction, the remaining hundreds of Anbu all dropped to their knees on the ice, bowing deeply.
"Lord Yuzuru, we surrender!"
Even the shinobi on Mei's side knelt as well.
"Long live Lord Yuzuru!"
Looking at the scene of submission from all sides, a surge of bold pride rose within Yuzuru.
He accepted their worship without hesitation, then threw his head back and laughed.
"Ha… hahaha… hahahahaha…!"