Boom!
A fiery explosion erupted as the detonating tag detonated, propelling Zabuza Momochi through the air. Blood spurted from his mouth as he crashed heavily to the ground, his body battered and bleeding. His internal organs felt displaced, his consciousness fading—survival seemed unlikely.
Yet, his will to live remained unyielding.
With a thud, he mustered his remaining strength to activate the signal flare in his hand. A sharp whistle pierced the air as the flare ascended, trailing a crimson tail into the sky.
This was his final hope.
But in the next instant, that flicker of hope was extinguished.
From the woods, a blue, shark-shaped water projectile soared upward. With a graceful leap, it intercepted the flare mid-air, swallowing it whole.
It was over.
Witnessing this, despair washed over Zabuza's face.
"Hoshigaki Kisame..."
He recognized the figure emerging from behind the trees, uttering the name with bitterness.
Kisame halted five or six meters away. Like a seasoned hunter, he had wounded his prey and patiently waited, ensuring Zabuza was too weakened to retaliate.
Though Kisame's strength surpassed Zabuza's, he had chosen to remain hidden until now, striking only when victory was certain.
"What a... despicable fellow."
Lying on the ground, Zabuza looked up at Kisame, a wry smile on his bloodied face.
In this jungle, he had lost—but he refused to accept it. Even on the brink of death, he clung to the belief that he was stronger than Kisame.
"You and I are the same kind."
Kisame spoke slowly, "But to survive, sharks eat their own kind."
With that, he deftly formed hand seals, summoning several sharks. Their gaping mouths closed in on Zabuza, consuming him swiftly.
These were real sharks, summoned creatures bound by contract to Kisame. They served various purposes—combat, communication, and corpse disposal.
Bang bang!
As white smoke dissipated, the sharks vanished. Kisame approached the spot where Zabuza had fallen.
Only a pool of blood and a bulging ninja pouch remained.
He retrieved the pouch, finding shuriken, detonating tags, and other tools. Among them were forehead protectors from several Sand shinobi and a hefty sum of 200,000 ryō.
After collecting these spoils, Kisame turned toward the river.
Splash!
He entered the water.
The Sand shinobi had destroyed bridges and dams throughout the Land of Water. To track them, following the waterways was the best strategy.
Though the enemy was cunning, Kisame had his methods
He summoned hundreds of sharks, commanding them to spread out through the rivers and lakes, infiltrating the intricate waterways of the Land of Water.
Sharks possess an acute sense of smell. These summoned sharks, bound to Kisame, could detect the scent of blood from several kilometers away.
Thus, if a battle occurred between Kirigakure and Sunagakure shinobi, Kisame would be promptly informed by his aquatic spies.
Underwater, Kisame unleashed his full speed, propelling himself forward like an arrow.
Hours passed.
Kisame surfaced, observing a destroyed bridge collapsing into the river, creating massive waves.
Above the wreckage, over a dozen Kirigakure and Sunagakure shinobi clashed fiercely.
Kisame had no intention of intervening—his target was elsewhere.
He submerged once more, silently passing beneath the battling shinobi, heading toward the next conflict zone.
Two more hours elapsed.
As dusk settled, a massive explosion erupted in the distant woods, accompanied by a brilliant flash.
"What?"
Kisame surfaced again, sensing multiple chakra signatures—several jōnin were engaged in combat.
He retracted his shark-like features, emerged from the water, and stealthily approached the battlefield.
At the forest's edge, he saw numerous Sunagakure shinobi bound to trees with steel wire, bleeding profusely—a signature tactic of Kurihara Kushimaru.
Nearby, a large crater emitted steam and sparks, the aftermath of explosive techniques. Charred corpses of Sunagakure shinobi lay scattered.
Additionally, Kisame noticed mummified bodies of Kirigakure shinobi, their fluids evaporated—a result of Pakura's Scorch Release.
The battlefield was a grim tableau of varied and brutal deaths.
Venturing deeper, Kisame spotted familiar figures.
Most of the main forces from both villages had perished.
From Kirigakure, only the "ruthless duo"—Kuri Hunkumaru and Wuli Jinba—remained. Sunagakure had Pakura and an Anbu jōnin still standing.
The two sides engaged in a 2v2 duel.
"Hahaha, give me death!"
Wuli Jinba appeared frenzied, resembling a war-crazed maniac. Wielding the Blasting Sword: Shibuki, he unleashed a barrage of detonating tags that exploded violently ahead.
The Blasting Sword: Shibuki is among the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, renowned for its immense power and inherent danger. Its volatile nature means that any miscalculation can result in harm not only to the enemy but also to its wielder.
Despite its risks, Jinba handled the sword with audacious mastery
Bang!
The successive explosions forced both Pakura and the Sunagakure Anbu to retreat, unable to withstand the onslaught.
"Watch your step!" Pakura suddenly warned her comrade.
But it was too late.
Swish, swish.
Steel wires erupted from the ground beneath the Anbu's feet, intertwining rapidly and severing his legs instantly.
This was the work of Kushimaru Kuriarare, another member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, known for his gruesome tactics. Utilizing the Longsword: Nuibari, he executed his signature technique, impaling his victims with threads and needles.
"Ahhh!" The Sunagakure Anbu's scream was abruptly silenced as Nuibari pierced through his neck, ending his life swiftly.