Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 235: The Great Northern Fish

In the end, the Third Raikage couldn't withstand the relentless pleas of his fellow shinobi.

He dispatched his son, A, along with three thousand Kumogakure shinobi to return and defend their village.

Even after sending reinforcements, the remaining four thousand ninja in the Land of Hot Water still outnumbered the Konoha forces.

However, this adjustment significantly reduced the pressure on Jiraiya. With only four thousand enemies left, he was confident he could hold them back.

The moment he received this information, he relayed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tonari, giving Tonari more time to plan his retreat.

Moving three thousand ninja across a warfront wasn't an easy feat. Once they left, they wouldn't be able to return for months.

Additionally, with the Mist ninja's sudden attack on the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure might hesitate to deploy their forces so recklessly in the future.

At the very least, they would station more forces in the north to prevent another disaster.

Tonari understood the situation well. If he lingered any longer in the Land of Lightning, he'd soon be facing an army of thousands.

His group of fifty shinobi had managed to remain hidden only by controlling the flow of information.

It wouldn't take thousands of enemies to corner them—even a few hundred would be enough to expose their location.

But Kumogakure couldn't afford to take that risk. If they lost hundreds of their own, they might not recover from the damage.

Standing once again atop the coastal cliffs, Tonari and his fifty Mist ninja surveyed the destruction they had caused.

Where once towering mountains stood, now lay a flooded wasteland.

As the waters receded, the submerged valleys gradually re-emerged.

The sight was a testament to their actions.

But there was one major difference from before—

Tonari and Fuguki Suikazan were acting strangely.

"Something's wrong."

Fuguki turned to Tonari, forcing a grin. "Sanzo-sama, our mission is complete, correct?"

Tonari's smile was unsettling, almost unnatural.

"Before we leave, I'd like to give the Land of Lightning… a farewell gift."

Fuguki's expression stiffened. "Another one?"

His fake smile mirrored Tonari's. "That might not be possible."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"I'm afraid so."

Both men stared at each other.

Both knew exactly what the other was thinking.

Tonari sighed, as if genuinely disappointed.

"So, you refuse to drain more chakra?"

"It appears so."

Fuguki gripped his blade tightly.

Slowly, he began unraveling the white bandages around Samehada.

The hulking, grotesque sword emerged—covered in jagged, scale-like barbs.

At its tip, a gaping maw opened, its long, slimy tongue writhing.

From the hilt, a whip-like tendril extended, swaying like a serpent's tail.

Samehada.

Among the Seven Swords of the Mist, it was the only living blade.

It could think for itself.

It could choose its master.

And it devoured chakra.

The monstrous weapon looked almost too natural in Fuguki's massive hands.

His towering 2.5-meter frame made the hulking blade seem perfectly proportioned.

The other Mist ninja also drew their weapons.

The moment of betrayal had arrived.

Everyone turned their blades against Tonari.

Only one person hesitated.

Kisame Hoshigaki.

Watching his comrades turn on their own, Kisame froze.

He had seen this before.

He had done this before.

His sword had always pointed at his own allies.

But this time… he wasn't the one swinging it.

For the first time, Kisame saw himself from the outside.

Tonari wasn't surprised.

He had anticipated this betrayal long ago.

He had held onto Hiramekarei (the Twin Swords) for too long.

"At least the Third Mizukage kept his word," Tonari mused.

They waited until after the mission.

"But now that we've outlived our usefulness…"

He lifted Hiramekarei from his back.

By now, he had fully mastered the blade.

He had grown attached to it.

Of course, this didn't mean he would abandon his original weapon—Round Dance Blades.

But using Hiramekarei for prolonged periods… would make his identity too obvious.

"This isn't betrayal."

"It's strategy."

CLANG—

Hiramekarei split apart.

He now wielded two massive cleavers—Hirame (Flatfish) and Karei (Flounder).

Tonari smirked. "So, you really plan to fight me?"

Fuguki pointed Samehada at him.

"If you surrender Hiramekarei, I promise not to harm you. We'll walk away peacefully."

He grinned.

"Besides… Samehada doesn't seem to like your chakra very much."

As if to confirm, Samehada's tongue writhed in rejection.

Tonari laughed.

"Oh? Hiramekarei is right here. Come and take it."

Fuguki's expression darkened.

He turned to Kisame. "Kisame, kill him."

Then, he charged forward.

Along with forty Mist ninja.

Tonari stood his ground.

He was about to fight fifty elite shinobi—alone.

Fuguki struck first.

CLANG—

Hiramekarei clashed against Samehada.

Sparks flew.

Tonari felt his chakra drain away.

Samehada was feeding.

"Useless!" Fuguki roared. "No matter what you do, you'll lose! My chakra is infinite!"

Tonari smirked. "That so?"

Then disappear for a moment.

A blur of lightning and steel.

He vanished.

Then—

A streak of blue energy cut through the battlefield.

By the time the Mist ninja reacted, three had already fallen.

They barely saw him move.

Tonari wasn't aiming for the strongest.

He was eliminating the weakest first.

The lower ranks were easier targets.

Fuguki was too durable—but these foot soldiers?

They couldn't stop him.

For each ninja that fell—

Hiramekarei glowed brighter.

More chakra.

More power.

"Damn it! Stop him!" Fuguki bellowed.

He looked to Kisame.

"Why are you hesitating?!"

Kisame gritted his teeth.

He knew Tonari's words were getting to him.

But… a mission was a mission.

Kisame finally charged.

Now, Tonari was up against them all.

The elite Jonin surrounded him.

The Chunin and Genin retreated.

This meant one thing—

They could finally unleash their full power.

Tonari's smirk widened.

"Good."

His eyes met Kisame's.

"Remember, Kisame—"

"The longer you live, the more your life will mean."

Then, the sea began to stir.

A whirlwind of white mist surrounded Tonari.

A cyclone of energy rose from the water's surface.

"Fourth Gate: Pain Gate—OPEN!"

The waves trembled.

The Mist ninja panicked.

Fuguki swung Samehada.

Kisame hesitated.

The others unleashed a barrage of Water Release jutsu.

But Tonari—

He didn't move.

"Fifth Gate: Limit Gate—OPEN!"

A green aura exploded around him.

Then, he vanished again.

—SLASH—

A Mist Jonin fell.

Fuguki finally realized—

This was a mistake.

By the time they could stop him…

It would already be too late.

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