"You... you are..."
A bolt of realization struck Pakura as she finally recognized the man before her.
Though Kisame's appearance had changed significantly, his signature, unsettling smile remained etched in her memory.
Three months prior, under the moonlight beside a towering waterfall, the shark-faced boy had stepped back toward the cliff's edge, arms outstretched.
"Pakura of the Scorch Release, if you survive, let's meet again."
With those words, he had leapt into the abyss.
Pakura had assumed the lunatic had perished at the cliff's base, never expecting to encounter him again—especially under such familiar circumstances.
This time, however, Kisame wasn't fleeing.
"Hoshigaki Kisame... I underestimated you."
Pakura's gaze swept over the formidable shark tail behind Kisame and his peculiar right index finger. She quickly analyzed the situation, deducing his intentions.
It appeared Kisame's intervention wasn't to assist her but to acquire the two ninja swords.
Previously, he had slain Kurosuki Raiga and claimed the Thunder Sword: Kiba.
This man seemed capable of absorbing the powers of these swords, integrating them into his own body.
Could this be a unique kekkei genkai?
"It seems you've discovered my little secret."
Kisame noticed Pakura's scrutiny and approached her leisurely.
As he advanced, Pakura's eyes narrowed. She thrust her arm forward, unleashing a barrage of scorching fireballs toward him.
She didn't believe she could defeat the monster before her.
Using the fireballs as a distraction, Pakura turned to flee.
But Kisame wasn't about to let her escape.
Facing the incoming fireballs, he swiftly formed dozens of hand seals within seconds.
"Roar!"
With a thunderous roar, the lake behind Kisame surged, forming a colossal, lifelike water dragon.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
Kisame leapt atop the dragon's head, guiding it as it demolished trees and boulders in pursuit of Pakura.
While Scorch Release could evaporate water within the human body, Kisame's vast chakra reserves rendered him unfazed.
As a master of Water Release, Kisame's techniques were formidable, often surpassing similar B-rank jutsu in power.
Pakura, having previously battled the Mist ninjas led by the ruthless duo, had nearly depleted her chakra. Even at full strength, her Scorch Release might not have harmed Kisame.
Conversely, Kisame, having recently absorbed the Long Sword: Needle, had only grown stronger.
The water dragon effortlessly consumed the fireballs, closing the distance between them.
Realizing the danger, Pakura hastily formed seals, channeling her remaining chakra to conjure a massive fireball, radiating intense heat.
With a sharp cry, she launched the scorching orb toward the pursuing water dragon.
Kisame's eyes narrowed as he vaulted into the air.
Boom!
The water dragon collided with the fireball, obliterating a vast section of the forest and generating a dense mist.
Amid the fog, a figure darted away.
Pakura aimed to use the mist as cover to escape.
However, she underestimated Kisame's pursuit capabilities.
Thud!
Just as Pakura believed she had evaded him, a sharp pain pierced her left shoulder, halting her movement.
She stumbled and fell.
Like Wuli Jinba before her, she had been struck by Kisame's launched index finger, now transformed into a needle-like weapon, and ensnared by his chakra threads.
Bound and humiliated, Pakura found herself immobilized.
Emerging from the thick fog, Kisame approached, lifting Pakura with one hand and clutching the Blasting Sword: Shibuki in the other, swiftly departing the scene.
Late at night, all was silent.
Kisame carried Pakura through the dark woods for several kilometers before arriving at a secluded mountainside, discovering a hidden natural cave.
After ensuring the area was secure, he tossed Pakura to the ground.
"Ugh."
Pakura's face hit the ground first, eliciting a painful groan. She remained silent, her eyes dull, awaiting Kisame's judgment.
There was no plea for mercy, no outburst of anger—she understood that the man before her was a true cold-blooded killer.
In the presence of such a ruthless individual, surrendering completely was the only way to ensure a less painful death.
Kisame didn't address Pakura immediately.
He retrieved a candle, lighting it to illuminate the cave, then sat cross-legged, placing the Blasting Sword: Shibuki across his knees.
"Let's begin," he murmured internally, activating his unique assimilation technique once more.
"You'll be reunited with your two brothers soon. I'm genuinely happy for you. Hurry up—if you're late, someone else might take your place, and I won't find a suitable spot for you in my body."
He stared at the Blasting Sword, speaking to it as if it could understand.
Surprisingly, the sword responded obediently. Without resistance, it transformed into a fiery red light and merged into his body.
The energy coursed through Kisame, finally settling in his left arm.
Opening his cloak, he observed his left arm now adorned with black patterns resembling explosive tags. These markings extended along his entire arm, converging at his palm, where the kanji for "explode" (爆) had formed.
His left arm had effectively become a powder keg, primed to unleash massive explosions at will.
Indeed, this was the case.
With a mere thought, Kisame extended his left hand, pressing it against the ground. As the "explode" symbol on his palm glowed faintly, a peculiar chakra surged forward along the earth.
Boom.
The ground several meters ahead erupted violently, causing part of the cave to collapse and sealing the entrance.
This was the power granted by the Blasting Sword: Shibuki.
Kisame could now create invisible explosive tags through chakra, enabling long-range detonations, timed explosions, or simultaneous multiple blasts.
Whether for direct combat or ambushes, this ability was immensely valuable.
In just a few days, Kisame had significantly enhanced his strength.
He now harbored three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's blades within him, each bestowing unique abilities akin to kekkei genkai. With further chakra development and mastery over these powers, he was on the path to becoming a formidable Kage-level shinobi.
In the Naruto universe, achieving Kage-level status meant entering the elite ranks, capable of challenging even the most formidable opponents.
The journey ahead remained arduous.
After contemplating his future, Kisame refocused.
This time, besides acquiring two ninja swords, he had also captured a female prisoner.
With that thought, Kisame turned his gaze to Pakura lying beside him.