The Ability of the Line
Is that... a tail?
What kind of monster is this guy?
Kururi Kushimaru's eyes widened, his hands trembling slightly as he realized the dire situation.
Gritting his teeth, he released his grip on the Long Blade: Sewing Needle, choosing to abandon the cherished weapon in a desperate attempt to flee to the surface.
But it was too late.
Kisame, utilizing his shark-like tail, had already surged forward, closing the distance between them.
On the lake's surface, the water churned violently, resembling a fountain, indicating a fierce underwater battle. Suddenly, a blinding silver lightning illuminated the lake, flickering for over ten seconds.
As the light faded, the lake returned to a serene calmness, as if nothing had occurred.
The sudden stillness startled both Pakura and Wuli Jinba, causing them to pause their battle.
What happened underwater?
"Hey, what's going on?" Wuli Jinba, momentarily forgetting Pakura, rushed to the shore, calling out for Kururi Kushimaru, his brow furrowed in concern.
He sensed something was amiss.
His fears were confirmed when a tall corpse slowly surfaced. The body bore "current spots" and severe burn marks, with some areas exposing bone.
It was Kururi Kushimaru.
His Anbu mask had shattered, revealing a terrified expression, as if he had witnessed something horrifying before death.
"How could this be..." Wuli Jinba staggered back, panic evident in his eyes.
An opportunity!
Seizing the moment, Pakura launched a scorching fireball at Wuli Jinba. Though uncertain of Kisame's allegiance, she recognized that he had intervened and saved her. Determined to reciprocate, she aimed to help Kisame eliminate Wuli Jinba.
The battle dynamics shifted.
Pakura, now on the offensive, fought with renewed vigor. Wuli Jinba, caught off guard, struggled to defend against her relentless attacks while also being wary of Kisame's presence underwater.
Beneath the lake, Kisame floated upright, his shark tail swaying gently to maintain balance. Holding the Long Blade: Sewing Needle, his eyes gleamed with anticipation as he activated the unique ability within him.
A "ding" resonated.
The blade trembled violently, its slender steel wire thrashing in the water, attempting to escape Kisame's grasp.
"Good boy, just like your brother, the Thunder Blade: Kiba. Once you become part of me, I'll be very pleased," Kisame murmured, pressing the blade with one hand while gripping the steel wire with the other, channeling his thoughts into the weapon.
His shark tail swayed joyfully, emitting a burst of thunder, echoing Kisame's sentiments.
Having previously assimilated the Thunder Blade: Kiba, Kisame found the process of merging with the Long Blade: Sewing Needle more efficient this time.
Swish.
The blade transformed into a stream of light, merging into Kisame's body, coursing through his limbs before settling in his right index finger, which now resembled a miniature version of the Long Blade.
Moreover, a nearly invisible line extended from his fingertip, stretching dozens of meters ahead.
This line, a materialized chakra thread combined with the steel wire of the Long Blade, could be manipulated at will. Its strength and length depended on Kisame's chakra reserves.
He pondered names like Doflamingo, Jolyne Cujoh, and Spider-Man—characters known for manipulating threads. From them, Kisame envisioned various applications: detection, sound transmission, traps, bindings, sutures, and even controlling others like puppets.
However, he set these ideas aside for now.
Another target awaited—the Blasting Blade: Shibuki—and his hunger was far from sated.
With renewed determination, Kisame propelled himself towards the shore.
Boom!
A scorching fireball struck the Blasting Blade, causing Wuli Jinba's grip to falter as he staggered backward.
"I'll deal with you later," he spat at Pakura, swinging the blade's reel to release numerous explosive tags, creating a fiery smokescreen between them.
Amidst the chaos, Wuli Jinba attempted to retreat.
But Kisame acted swiftly.
Whoosh!
A transparent thread shot from the water, weaving through the grass to entangle Wuli Jinba's legs.
Startled, Wuli Jinba slashed at the thread with the Blasting Blade, but it proved resilient, emitting a harsh metallic screech upon contact.
Suddenly, a powerful force pulled him off balance.
Crash!
He fell hard, the Blasting Blade slipping from his grasp.
Emerging from the water, Kisame approached, the thread still connected to his fingertip.
"Damned traitor," Wuli Jinba growled, channeling chakra into the Blasting Blade, preparing to unleash a barrage of explosive tags.
Kisame merely flicked his finger.
Whoosh!
His right index finger, now needle-like, shot forward with a sharp whistle, piercing Wuli Jinba's sword-wielding arm with precision.
"Hiss!"
Wuli Jinba gasped in pain, the Blasting Blade clattering to the ground.
"Hoshigaki Kisame, you traitor!" he roared, but before he could continue, a wave of heat approached.
Turning, he met Pakura's fierce gaze as a scorching fireball engulfed him. In moments, he was reduced to a mummified corpse.
Thus ended the notorious "Ruthless Duo" of the ninja world.
Swish.
Kisame manipulated the chakra thread to retrieve the fallen Blasting Blade, securing it.
Turning to Pakura, who watched warily from a distance, he grinned, revealing sharp white teeth.
"Burning Pakura, we meet again," he said, arms open in a mock embrace.