Chiba understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions perfectly. The Hokage was clearly using Might Guy as a means to vent his frustration, hoping that this battle would help him reclaim some composure after the humiliation he had endured during the conference. If Guy could also suppress Kirigakure's momentum and give Konoha a little more confidence for the negotiations to come, that would be an added bonus.
Chiba did not refuse.
On the contrary, he was genuinely interested in this fight.
The confrontation between Might Guy and Kisame Hoshigaki was far more nuanced than most people assumed.
Many shinobi instinctively believed that Might Guy's strength far exceeded Kisame's. In reality, that assumption was flawed.
Might Guy was a shinobi who grew stronger step by step alongside the progression of events. His power evolved in tandem with Hatake Kakashi's,from an elite jōnin, to Kage-level, and eventually beyond, until he was capable of standing against beings like Six Paths Uchiha Madara.
Looking at their encounters in the original timeline made this even clearer.
Their first meeting, during the Land of Waves aftermath, had been nothing more than a brief exchange that never truly escalated.
The second time, Might Guy opened the Sixth Gate, the Gate of View, and unleashed Asa Kujaku (morning peacock), yet he only defeated Kisame's Water Clone,a construct that contained merely thirty percent of Kisame's chakra.
Their third encounter was the true battle of life and death. Kisame ultimately fell to the Seventh Gate's ultimate technique, Hirudora. Even then, it was obvious to anyone with discernment that the outcome was heavily influenced by compatibility.
Kisame's Suiton: Daikōdan no Jutsu devoured chakra from nearly any ninjutsu, growing stronger before crashing back down on its opponent. Against most shinobi, it was a nightmare incarnate.
But Might Guy was different.
He was a pure taijutsu specialist. Hirudora was not a chakra-based projectile, but compressed air born from raw physical force.
That fundamental difference was what sealed Kisame's defeat.
Of course, if Might Guy were to open the Death Gate, even several Kisames would stand no chance.
But this was not a battle to the death.
It was a test.
And Chiba did not believe Kisame Hoshigaki was destined to lose here.
In an instant, both men released their chakra.
Might Guy's chakra surged violently, flooding his muscles and converting into terrifying physical power as he assumed the opening stance of Konoha-style taijutsu. The air around him trembled faintly under the pressure.
Opposite him, Kisame gripped Samehada with one arm. The massive blade pulsed eagerly, sensing the chakra before it, its hunger barely restrained. Kisame's grin widened, sharp and feral.
Boom!
They moved at the same moment.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
"Samehada no Ikari !"
Might Guy spun forward, his leg slicing through the air in a devastating arc. Kisame swung Samehada head-on, meeting the attack with brutal force.
The bandages around the blade tore apart instantly, revealing writhing spikes beneath. Any contact would shred flesh and drain chakra in the same breath.
At the moment of impact, Might Guy twisted midair with impossible control. Power surged from his waist as he altered his trajectory.
Konoha Whirlwind transformed seamlessly into Konoha Hurricane.
He slipped past Samehada's edge and struck Kisame directly.
In pure taijutsu, Kisame was no match.
His pupils contracted as he raised the flat of Samehada to block, but the force still drove him several steps backward, water rippling violently beneath his feet.
"So that's how it is," Kisame said, his grin sharpening. "A real Konoha no Aoi Yajuu (The Sublime Green Beast of Konoha). Your strength is no joke."
This time, there was no mockery in his voice.
Samehada slammed into the ground with a heavy thud. Kisame's hands blurred as he formed seals, his chakra swelling like a rising tide.
"Suiton: Suishōha!"
A massive water shark formed instantly, surging forward like a living cannonball toward Might Guy.
Might Guy frowned,but did not retreat.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
The Eight Gates Formation was already active. His power exploded outward, and with a single overwhelming strike, he smashed straight through the incoming shark.
Boom!
The water construct burst apart, exploding into mist and spray that drenched the battlefield.
Might Guy's mastery of the Eight Gates far surpassed Rock Lee's. Below the Fifth Gate, he could open them almost instantly. Only from the Sixth Gate onward did the true danger and strain manifest.
Kisame let out a low laugh. "Interesting. A taijutsu user who can overpower ninjutsu directly."
Then his chakra surged again,far more violently than before.
"Suiton: Baku Suishōha (Water Release: Great Exploding Water Shockwave)!"
A colossal torrent erupted from Kisame's mouth, crashing into the ground and instantly reshaping the terrain. Earth vanished beneath water as the battlefield transformed into a vast lake.
The Land of Iron's grounds were flooded, nearby buildings partially submerged as waves surged outward.
For a moment, even the observers were stunned.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened. "To create this much water without a natural source… and reshape the terrain so completely?"
"That chakra volume," he muttered, "it's on the level of a Bijus."
Hatake Kakashi nodded grimly. "No exaggeration. Kisame Hoshigaki truly deserves the title of the Bijus without a Tail."
Might Guy leapt high, evading the initial flood, then landed lightly atop the lake's surface. Chakra gathered beneath his feet, stabilizing him as ripples spread outward.
Kisame grinned. "This is my territory now."
"Suiton: Suirō no Jutsu (Water Release: Water Prison Technique)!"
The water beneath Might Guy began to churn violently. Columns surged upward, closing in around him. His expression sharpened as he launched himself skyward, barely escaping before the water sealed shut.
Below him, massive spherical water prisons formed one after another.
One mistake,and he would be trapped.
"Then try this!" Kisame roared.
Suiton: Shisameu ("Water Release: Four Sharks Rain)!"
He slammed his palm onto the lake's surface. Four enormous water sharks burst upward, tearing through the water as they leapt toward Might Guy with gaping jaws.
Might Guy drew his nunchaku midair, muscles tightening as he roared.
Twin Fangs!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The water sharks were shattered in rapid succession, exploding into torrents of spray.
But that was only the beginning.
The shattered sharks fragmented into countless chakra projectiles, raining down like a storm of bullets.
Hundreds,thousands,of miniature water sharks screamed through the air.
Might Guy's eyes widened as he moved instantly, dashing backward across the lake's surface while explosions erupted around him. Columns of water shot skyward, waves crashing violently like falling meteors.
"Fast," Kisame muttered, his gaze sharpening. "Very fast."
Both men understood,this had gone beyond a simple exchange.
Almost simultaneously, they decided to end it.
"Suiton: Goshakuzame (Water Release: Five Sharks Feeding Frenzy)!"
"Eight Gates Formation,Sixth Gate, Gate of View, open!"
"Asa Kujaku (morning peacock)!"
Five colossal water sharks tore through the lake, attacking from above and below. They devoured chakra relentlessly, regenerating endlessly as long as Kisame maintained contact with the water.
At the same time, Might Guy's fists blurred.
Each punch ignited the air. Friction turned atmosphere into flame, and burning air cannons rained down in a relentless barrage.
"AAAAAAAAH!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fire and water collided head-on.
The lake split apart as if cleaved by a god. Water was hurled outward in all directions, shockwaves tearing through the air with terrifying force. Even the spectators standing on rooftops felt the impact rattle their bones.
Hiruzen and Kakashi both went pale.
To force the Sixth Gate and Asa Kujaku (morning peacock),this opponent was undeniably terrifying.
When the waves finally crashed back down, the lake slowly reformed.
Both fighters stood revealed.
Might Guy was gasping for breath, steam rising from his body as the Sixth Gate's strain took its toll.
Kisame stood opposite him, clothes torn and scorched, Samehada resting at his side, his breathing equally heavy.
They locked eyes.
Neither wanted to stop.
But Chiba spoke calmly.
"That's enough."
"If this continues, it will become a battle to the death."
Hiruzen nodded at once. "That's enough, Guy."
Kisame clicked his tongue and withdrew Samehada. Might Guy released the Eight Gates Formation, his aura gradually settling.
They had not gone all out.
Yet both knew,this was the clash of equals.
Kisame grinned. "Konoha no Aoi Yajuu (The Sublime Green Beast of Konoha)… Might Guy. I'll remember that name."
Might Guy wiped sweat from his brow. "And yours?"
"Kisame Hoshigaki."
"Oh. I'll remember it too… probably."
Hatake Kakashi remained silent.
Chiba knew that if this fight had continued, Might Guy would have forced open the Seventh Gate,and unleashed Hirudora.
Kisame Hoshigaki's ultimate trump card, Suiton: Daikōdan no Jutsu,was, in truth, perfectly countered by his opponent. If the battle had been allowed to continue down that path, it would no longer have remained a controlled exchange, but would have escalated into a genuine fight to the death. And in such a scenario, the one who would inevitably suffer greater losses would be Kisame himself.
Chiba smiled faintly and turned his gaze toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"It seems the two of them are evenly matched," he said in a calm, measured tone. "Still… it was a truly magnificent battle, wasn't it?"
Hiruzen had clearly failed to achieve what he wanted, and dissatisfaction churned beneath his composed exterior. Yet with so many eyes upon him, he could only respond in agreement.
"Indeed," he said slowly. "The so-called Biju's (Tailed Beast) without a Tail truly lives up to his reputation."
By that point, the massive disturbance had already drawn the attention of everyone present. Representatives from all major factions had witnessed the battle from start to finish,Ōnoki of the along with Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi from Iwagakure; the Yondaime Raikage, Darui, and C from Kumogakure; Rasa, Maki, and Yura from Sunagakure; and even Mifune, the samurai leader of the Land of Iron. None of them could deny their admiration for the overwhelming strength displayed by both Might Guy and Kisame Hoshigaki.
Chiba turned toward Mifune and offered a small, apologetic smile.
"My apologies. Their sparring ended up flooding this entire street."
Mifune was just about to respond when Chiba casually raised his hand. In the next instant, the enormous lake created by Kisame froze solid. The raging waters crystallized in place, transforming into a vast, translucent mass of ice,thick, pristine, and radiating a bone-piercing cold. With another gentle motion, the mountain-like ice sheet rose effortlessly into the air, drifted toward the distant wilderness, and then crashed down violently, shattering into countless fragments with a thunderous roar.
Hiruzen Sarutobi,and everyone else present,stared at the scene in stunned silence. For many of them, this was the first time they had gained a truly direct and visceral understanding of Chiba's strength.
Mifune chuckled softly, breaking the tension.
"Mizukage-sama, it was only a private exchange. There is no need for apologies. Still… it truly was an impressive battle. And the power you revealed just now was even more impressive."
Chiba merely smiled, neither confirming nor denying anything.
Among the Five Kage present, only Ōnoki and the A (Raikage) were witnessing Chiba take action for the first time. Both men silently revised their evaluations of the Mizukage, gaining a far clearer,and far heavier,understanding of his true strength. As for Rasa and Hiruzen, they had already witnessed Chiba's Ice Release before; what he displayed now, while formidable, did not surpass the shock of those earlier encounters.
Ōnoki stroked his beard and laughed.
"As expected of the Mizukage. Your reputation is well deserved."
The Yondaime Raikage merely snorted in response, offering no comment.
This sudden clash shattered the quiet of the Five Kage Summit's night, but under Mifune's mediation, the tension gradually subsided. Before long, the various parties dispersed and returned to their respective lodgings.
…
At the newly arranged Kirigakure residence, Kisame lowered his head slightly.
"My apologies, Mizukage-sama. I acted on impulse."
Chiba shook his head with a faint smile.
"It's nothing. Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted an outlet for his frustration. Even if you hadn't reacted, he would have had Might Guy step in regardless. You did well,judging by the look on his face, this exchange alone made it worthwhile."
Kisame let out a rough chuckle.
"That 'Aoi Yajuu (The Sublime Green Beast of Konoha)'s' taijutsu really is terrifying. Of all the shinobi I've encountered, none surpass him in that regard. The Eight Gates technique he used… that's the same one that killed four members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, right?"
Chiba nodded.
"Yes. That was used by Might Guy's father,Might Duy. But Might Guy's strength far surpasses his father's, by an unimaginable margin."
Kisame nodded in agreement, falling silent for a moment before speaking again.
"And somehow… I feel we'll meet again. Next time, it probably won't end so cleanly."
"Heh."
Chiba smiled softly.
The two of them truly were bound by fate. But this time, Chiba had no intention of letting Kisame Hoshigaki die at Might Guy's hands. And for that, his next steps,every move from here on,would be crucial.
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