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The Silent Ridges. Deep woods by a murmuring stream.
The crackling campfire pushed back the night's chill, its warmth seeping into blood grown cold from the long exposure.
"Ugh…"
Killer B's eyes opened. An unfamiliar weight on his chest made him instinctively reach to claw it off.
"Wouldn't do that if I were you. Samehada, using what little Eight-Tails chakra you have left, barely patched your insides back together. If those wounds tear open again out of spite, I'll be shipping you straight to the King of Hell."
B lowered his hand. He followed the voice to the figure beside the fire. That man…
In his wildest dreams, B never imagined the one to drag him back from death's door would be the damn shark bastard he'd clashed with half a dozen times!
Feeding another stick into the flames, Kisame spoke, his voice flat. "Don't mistake it. I saved you for one reason: to keep Samehada in my debt. So it continues to serve me."
Samehada, propped up beside him, was quiet as a sleeping infant.
A hundred conflicting emotions warred inside Killer B. But right now, his greatest concern was for his savior's own precarious situation. "That masked guy… he's your partner, right? You saved me behind his back. How are you gonna explain it?"
Kisame fell into a long, heavy silence.
A month and a half ago, on a desolate island, he, alongside Suigetsu and Jūgo, had subdued the Eight-Tails. Sasuke stormed the battlefield, and Kisame, following orders, brought B back to their base to await sealing.
He never expected Samehada's betrayal midway, feeding its chakra back to the beast.
Isolated and overwhelmed by the counterattack, Kisame had nearly died in the ocean that day. That was when… he'd seen Itachi.
An Itachi like a 'Shōtensen' projection.
Itachi had told him the truth of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
And asked him to see the path ahead with his own eyes.
After cheating death, Kisame had vanished. Healed his wounds somewhere no one could find him.
"When I lost all faith in this world, in people, in what it means to be a shinobi… Madara—no, Tobi-nii—showed me an ideal world. No lies. No conflict. The Infinite Tsukuyomi. That world was everything I craved. So I gave myself utterly to fight for it."
"But Itachi… tells me that ideal world is a mirage. A lie. A conspiracy woven through a thousand years of shinobi history… How cruel."
"Tobi-nii. Itachi-san… Both were men I truly admired. Who was telling the truth?"
For a time, Kisame lost all appetite. He wandered like a living corpse.
He thought. And thought.
Once healed, he didn't return to Tobi. Perhaps… his heart had already found its answer.
But he didn't seek out Itachi's trail either.
Even if Itachi's words were true, to run to him now would be no different from when he abandoned his village and threw his lot in with Tobi!
"To be honest, even now, I don't know. If I confirm everything you said is real… what will I choose then? But… there is no other path for me to take."
"Is this what you wanted to see, Itachi?"
"This time… I'll do as you wished. I'll see the road ahead with my own two eyes."
His thoughts returned to the present.
Faced with B's concern, Hoshigaki Kisame replied with detached coldness. "How I answer to him is none of your business."
With that, he pulled Samehada from the ground and slung it over his shoulder. "I've sent word to Kumogakure. Your precious big brother is probably tearing through the wilderness to get here right now."
Watching Kisame's solitary back, Killer B's earnest, simple heart spoke up. "If you got nowhere to go… come to Kumo! If my bro doesn't welcome ya, I'll hide you myself!!!"
Kisame's steps paused. The corner of his mouth lifted, just slightly. "Must be nice… being a simpleton. I think I see why Samehada took such a shine to you… But you and I, we're just not the same kind of creature. A final piece of advice: stay in your octo-pot. Don't go wandering. A hundred lives wouldn't be enough for you to squander otherwise!"
Without another glance back, Kisame walked on. Into the unknown road ahead. Alone.
…
On Azure Moon Island, Itachi awoke from the exhaustion of the prolonged battle and sat alone by the shore, watching the restless sea.
The great serpent was also awake, having sought him out. "Are you well?"
Itachi replied, "No lasting harm."
Orochimaru said, "Tobi, having obtained the power of the Senju and the Rinnegan, successfully hunted the Eight-Tails. It seems Killer B couldn't be kept after all."
Itachi said, "Killer B is alive. Kisame saved him."
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes widened in intrigue. "Oh? And how do you know that?"
Itachi covered his left eye lightly. "Amenosagume. Once a connection is established, I can monitor all the target's information in real time, without their knowledge…"
Orochimaru mused, "That… is a power bordering on the divine."
Itachi offered no comment on that.
"The Eight-Tails held a crucial strategic position. It was a barrier, slowing the progress of the Eye of the Moon Plan. With that barrier broken, Tobi can now turn his full attention to the Nine-Tails."
"His next targets are inevitably Naruto… or you. If he has already grasped the key intelligence that Madara occupies Naruto's body, the likelihood is high that he will point his spear… at you."
"He is undoubtedly searching the world for your whereabouts right now."
Orochimaru smiled. "That is precisely the outcome I hoped for."
Itachi turned his gaze. "For Sasuke's Ninth Trial… you intend for him to face Tobi?"
Orochimaru: "There is no better candidate."
Itachi slowly looked back to the sea, a trace of concern on his face. "The power of Kamui. A close approximation of the First Hokage's abilities. The Rinnegan. The Gedo Statue, now sealed with eight of the Tailed Beasts… Tobi's current arsenal might be excessive even as the Tenth and final trial…"
Orochimaru: "Correct. But times have changed."
Itachi: "How so?"
Orochimaru: "During the Eighth Trial… Sasuke-kun had an unexpected harvest."
Itachi: "You mean… the 'Quadruple Scrolls' left by the Second Tsuchikage?"
Orochimaru's smile widened. "That technique… is of monumental significance. That Second Tsuchikage was truly prescient. When he bestowed that parting gift, he foresaw that technique could shine brilliantly in Sasuke-kun's hands. It might even bring about a revolution in ninjutsu itself!"
A wave of relieved pride washed over Itachi. "It seems… during my slumber, Sasuke has grown again. If you, Orochimaru-sama, are personally overseeing this, I have no objections."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod. "Good. Before the Ninth Trial, I will let Tobi discover my trail. Using the other half of the Nine-Tails as bait, I will orchestrate a battle between him and Sasuke!"
…
Dawn. Madara—within Naruto—opened his eyes.
The face that greeted him was Izuna's, etched with anxiety and worry.
"Izuna. How long was I out?"
Hearing that familiar tone and address, the stone lifted from Izuna's heart!
"Over half a month! Brother, you're finally awake!!!"
"That long?"
Madara frowned. His eyes flicked subtly toward Zetsu, his thoughts guarded. Zetsu… I wonder if he said anything unnecessary to Izuna…
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