WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch⏰ Resets Monday!
--------------------
The Land of Lightning, Heavenly Gate Gorge. The mountain path was paved into stone steps leading up to a temple, lined with red torii gates shaped like the Myōjin Gates.
At the mountain's base, Kabuto's Futodama arrived, bringing Sasuke, Orochimaru, and Karin.
After activating her Kagura Mind Eye, Karin's expression turned grave. "The target is on the summit… That chakra, how do I put it? It's so powerful it's absurd."
Orochimaru gave an objective assessment. "Even without Samehada, Kisame's own chakra reserves are immense. That opportunistic blade wouldn't have partnered with him otherwise."
Kabuto scanned their surroundings. "This terrain doesn't offer a good vantage point. Following Sasuke up the mountain seems unwise…"
Orochimaru smiled. "In times like these, the abilities sealed within the Shinigami's belly—my dear teacher Sarutobi's—prove useful."
He had grown these past months. The ordinary abilities of the Hokage didn't require the full seal release; he could activate them directly.
—Ninjutsu: Telescope Technique!
Fwoosh!
An image appeared on the crystal ball forming in Orochimaru's hand—the scene from the mountaintop.
The image radiated an overwhelming sense of normalcy. Utterly mundane. Almost impossible to associate with the Akatsuki.
A simple thatched hut stood on the summit. A damp Akatsuki robe hung on a clothesline outside. Kisame sat in the sun, carving a piece of sugarcane with a small knife, savoring it slowly.
Kabuto pushed up the glasses slipping down his nose. "This… truly astonishes me. I can hardly connect this image with that group of S-rank missing-nin."
Yes, Kisame Hoshigaki. The man who had just captured a Tailed Beast for the Akatsuki. After parting ways with Itachi, he had begun a solitary vacation right where the beast was sealed.
If not for their sudden visit, this scene might never have been witnessed by outsiders.
Sasuke felt no such sentiment. His entire being craved an extreme battle. "I'm going."
He ascended the stone steps. The aura radiating from his back instantly turned the lazy air taut with tension.
Before the mountain hut, Kisame tossed the leftover sugarcane peel to Samehada. "Hm?" Suddenly, he sensed something. His fish-bulb eyes snapped up, locking onto the exit of the forest path.
There, a boy in a white kimono walked forward with steady steps, his Sharingan openly displayed.
Kisame paused, then guessed the visitor's identity. "Itachi's little brother?"
Sasuke: "Correct."
Kisame: "Here to find Itachi?"
Sasuke: "No. The one I'm looking for is you."
Shing!
The Kusanagi Sword left its sheath. His eyes held battle intent that brooked no argument.
"Itachi really does foresee everything…" Kisame mused, then stood up. "This is a temporary shelter I just built. Mind moving to a different location?"
Sasuke: "Fine."
Kisame yanked the still-damp Akatsuki robe from the line, pulled it on, and used his foot to flick up the massive Samehada, resting it on his shoulder. "Follow me!" He bared his shark-like teeth in a grin and sprinted into the distance.
Sasuke followed, neither too close nor too far, until they reached a clearing in the mountains.
Kisame turned slowly. "I heard you took down Sasori, Kakuzu, and Hidan alone. So let me ask—the two new recruits to our organization, Suigetsu and Jūgo. Did their disappearance have anything to do with you?"
Sasuke's gaze darkened slightly. "I don't know the two you speak of."
Kisame: "Good. My questions are done."
Sasuke: "Aren't you going to ask why I sought you out?"
Kisame chuckled. "Heh. When a shark bites its prey, it doesn't ask why! As for which of us is the prey… we'll find out after we cross blades!"
Thud!
The massive Samehada dropped from Kisame's shoulder to the ground. His other hand… actually formed the seal of confrontation before his chest!
The Opposing Hands Seal. Among powerful shinobi, it was a 'courtesy' only used before a fight when acknowledging an opponent as an equal.
"Come, Itachi's brother! Let me witness your power!!"
Sasuke returned the seal, his mind already working. 'In my past life, I never saw Kisame go all out. But I know he's a master swordsman, can absorb chakra, and possesses Water Release rivaling the Second Hokage. A protracted battle is inevitable. He likely has intel on me from Tobi and Zetsu. First, I'll cast some bait… to lure out the shark's deeper abilities.'
He drove the Kusanagi Sword into the ground beside him and brought his hands together before his chest!
Clap!!
—Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!!
Down the mountain, watching the crystal ball, Kabuto was surprised. "Starting with the Wood Release? That doesn't seem like Sasuke's usual style!"
Orochimaru saw the bigger picture. "Sasuke-kun long ago stopped clinging to the past. He adapts his combat style flexibly based on his opponent. Furthermore, knowing Kisame possesses chakra reserves not inferior to his own, using a steady, large-scale technique like Wood Release to apply appropriate pressure is also beneficial for quickly probing Kisame's capabilities."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Facing the surging, earth-rending forest, the equally battle-hungry Kisame laughed heartily. "Hahaha! What a novel greeting!"
—Samehada: Flying Chain Slash!
The handle of his Samehada suddenly elongated over ten meters, bending and curving like a chain. Wielding it with monstrous strength and swordsmanship, Kisame swung it like a whirlwind—as if truly holding a blade over ten meters long—shattering the advancing trees.
But the Advent of a World of Trees wasn't a technique that could be resolved by swordsmanship alone.
As his slashes reached their limit, Kisame released Samehada, formed hand seals, and spewed a torrential flood of water at the ground before him!
—Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave!!
Shooooooom!
The water rapidly swelled into a disaster, transforming into a raging tidal wave that crashed against the wooden world!!!
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
The colossal impact officially marked the beginning of the third bout.
Kisame stood on the churning, rising water, his hands holding the orthodox seals, a predatory grin on his face as he watched his opponent's movements closely.
RUMBLE…!!!
As the remnants of the forest scattered with the receding tide… what was revealed behind it was a dark purple behemoth!!
Kisame's fish-bulb eyes widened, bloodshot veins of excitement rising within them. "You really do keep opening my eyes…"
There, encasing Sasuke, stood the second stage of Susano'o. A giant purple arrow was already nocked on the fully drawn bowstring, its deadly point aimed directly at Kisame.
—Divine Tool: Ama no Makagami Yumi!
Fwoosh!
The arrow shot through the air!
"Bring it on!!!"
Kisame roared, pulling back the extended handle of Samehada and swinging it forward with all his might!!
CLAAAAAANG!!
A deafening crash. Samehada was sent flying back. But the arrow's trajectory was also deflected, tearing through the earth beside Kisame with terrifying force, sending shards of rock flying!!!
However, as Kisame tried to reel Samehada back in… a second arrow was already on the string.
Granting no respite, the second shot followed instantly!
BOOM!!!
Kisame's figure was pierced through by the arrow, exploding into countless streams of water!
Sasuke's gaze deepened. 'At the moment I fired, I could confirm he wasn't a clone. A high-level Water Clone, executed in an instant… Then, the real body…'
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE…!!
At that moment… the ground where Sasuke stood within his Susano'o began to tremble violently!!!
Sasuke focused. 'Earth Release? No, this is…'
"Itachi's brother… you really are irresistible…!"
Clap!!!
Kisame, who had hidden underground using Hiding in Rock Technique, fiercely formed a hand seal!!
—Water Release: Super Water Pillar!!!
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE…!!
A violent water column, rivaling an underground water vein, blasted apart the earth and rock, erupting from beneath Susano'o's feet, hurling Sasuke and his colossal avatar skyward!!!
--------------------
[FULL STORY ACCESS]
🚀 Why wait? Unlock (120+ Chapters) ahead of the public release!
Join Binge Ink on Patreon to access the full archive and read until the very last page today.
✨ Support the author:Patreon.com/BingeInk