Naruto: The Otsutsuki Naruto

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At dawn the next morning, Kumogakure's search team finally arrived at the site where Killer Bee and Kisame had fought.

Kumogakure ANBU: "There are numerous traces left by swords here. It's definitely Bee-sama, and there's another blade—judging by the cuts, it's the Mist Village's great sword, Samehada!"

Raikage: "Hmph! Hoshigaki Kisame—it's Akatsuki, no doubt!!!"

ANBU: "The battle marks are fresh. The fight likely occurred last night. Bee-sama didn't use a Tailed Beast Bomb; otherwise, this entire area would have been leveled."

Indeed, before encountering Kisame, Killer Bee had been training in enka with his mentor, Sabu. Using a Tailed Beast Bomb would have risked harming his teacher, so Killer Bee hadn't gone all out.

Raikage: "What about Bee? Can you find him?"

ANBU: "The ground here is damp, with significant water residue. Judging by the chakra traces, this was caused by a large-scale Water Release jutsu. If the caster had been defeated, the water would have dissipated quickly. Since it's still here, it suggests the caster is alive!"

"Bee-sama isn't skilled in such large-scale Water Release techniques. Therefore, we deduce that this is the enemy's doing, which means Bee-sama has likely… been defeated!"

"Damned Akatsuki!!!!!!"

In a fit of rage, the Raikage punched a massive tree, shattering it in one blow.

"The fight happened last night! He can't have gotten far with Bee in tow!!! Search every inch of this area! There's no way he escaped unscathed after fighting Bee. He must have left some trace! Track down that Akatsuki scum—I'll rip his head off myself!!!"

With that, Kumogakure launched a full-scale pursuit of Kisame.

---

By noon.

Kisame was only ten kilometers away from the designated village.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions echoed from the forest behind him.

Kisame stopped and turned to look back.

"The traps I set are being triggered one after another. Clearly, the pursuers know the traps are there and are charging through them anyway. This kind of reckless behavior..."

He glanced at the still-unconscious Killer Bee.

"Must be your big brother, coming to save you…"

Knowing that a fierce battle was inevitable, Kisame took out an iron chain and securely bound Killer Bee to his back. Gripping Samehada tightly, he faced the forest behind him.

From the distance, lightning crackled as the Raikage led the charge, followed by Darui, Cee, and a squad of Kumogakure ANBU.

Unfazed, Kisame declared, "Raikage, your brother is right here on my back. If you want to save him, you'll have to turn me into a corpse first!"

The Raikage roared, "As you wish! Darui, the rest of you—stay out of this! I'll deal with this Akatsuki scum myself!!!"

Crackle! Crackle!

Encased in his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, the Raikage crouched after landing, then launched himself forward with explosive speed!

The hundred-meter distance was covered in an instant as he drove his lightning-charged elbow straight toward Kisame!

—*Liger Bomb!*

This was the same technique that had once reverted Jūgo from his Cursed Seal Level Three state back to normal!

Kisame raised Samehada to block in front of him. With a heavy thud, the Raikage's elbow struck the blade head-on!

"!" Kisame gritted his teeth, struggling to hold his ground as he was forced to retreat. He quickly braced the back of the blade with his free hand, channeling his monstrous strength to resist. Even so, he was pushed back repeatedly.

Boom! With a second surge of force from the Raikage's elbow, Kisame was sent flying backward. As he soared through the air, he drove Samehada into the ground, skidding dozens of meters before coming to a stop. The trees on either side of his path had been shattered in the process.

Feeling the numbness in his arms, Kisame muttered with genuine admiration, "What a terrifying monster. Your strength surpasses even your brother's pseudo-Tailed Beast transformation..."

"Hmph!" The Raikage snorted, cracking his thick neck with an audible pop.

"Now that you understand fear, it's already too late…"

He launched another assault.

Kisame didn't dare underestimate him.

—*Samehada: Flying Chain Slash!*

The hilt of Samehada extended over ten meters, twisting like a chain as the blade slashed toward the Raikage!

Crackle! Crackle!

The Raikage shifted his position mid-charge, dodging the attack.

Kisame frowned. "Even more troublesome than your strength is your speed…"

He let go of Samehada and rapidly formed hand seals.

—*Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique!*

Whoosh! A massive amount of chakra condensed into a shark-shaped water projectile, hurtling forward at incredible speed!

"Hmph! A mere trick!"

The Raikage scoffed, charging straight through the Water Shark Bullet with his body.

However, the water's resistance slowed him down slightly.

Kisame seized the moment to retrieve Samehada and reposition himself.

"Ordinary Water Release techniques are meaningless against a body like his. I'll have to use that move…"

He rapidly formed more hand seals, his chest swelling as he inhaled deeply.

—*Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!*

Whoosh!!!

A massive wave erupted from Kisame's mouth, forming a colossal, ellipsoid water prison. From above, the surrounding forest could be seen submerged under the vast sphere of water.

Darui and the others, who were observing from a distance, quickly retreated further back, marveling at the sheer scale of the technique.

"What a monstrous jutsu. The water left behind at the previous battlefield must have been from this technique, right?"

"Fighting in the enemy's domain puts the boss at a disadvantage!"

Shing! Darui unsheathed his blade. "Prepare to assist the boss if needed!"

Inside the water prison, the Raikage, now fully submerged, struggled against the overwhelming pressure. His vision was obscured, his movements hindered by the water's tension, and most critically, he couldn't breathe.

You might wonder why lightning doesn't conduct through water here. That's because the Lightning Release chakra would be absorbed by the water.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

On the other side of the water prison, Kisame had fused with Samehada, transforming into a half-man, half-shark form.

In this state, Kisame could breathe and move freely underwater, while also gaining the abilities to absorb chakra and sense chakra signatures.

"Your greatest advantage—your speed—is now nullified. That layer of lightning around your body is made of chakra, which means it's destined to be absorbed. And I'll make sure to expedite that process…"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Kisame darted through the water at high speed, repeatedly slamming into the Raikage's body.

Fused with Samehada, Kisame himself acted as the blade. Each collision drained a significant amount of the Raikage's chakra.

The lightning armor surrounding the Raikage began to flicker and fade. He closed his eyes, burying his face deeper into his chest.

Kisame taunted, "Losing chakra and unable to breathe—painful, isn't it? Don't worry, your suffering will end soon…"

Outside, Darui anxiously asked, "What's the situation?!"

Cee activated his sensory abilities. "The boss isn't moving right now…"

"Damn it! Is it still not enough?!" Darui prepared to charge in.

"Wait… the boss's chakra—it's not decreasing. It's increasing!"

Darui stopped, sheathing his blade. "Looks like the boss is about to use *that*. It's his way of saying he doesn't need our help. What a stubborn guy—he could've just let us gang up on the enemy, but no, he insists on a one-on-one fight!"

Crackle! Crackle!

Inside the water prison, the Raikage's lightning surged even more violently. His hair stood on end, transforming into sharp, hardened spikes.

—*Lightning Release Chakra Mode: Full Power!*

Swoosh!

Kisame darted toward the Raikage again, only to find his target had vanished!

"What?! He's resisting the water pressure and dodging my attacks? And his chakra—it's suddenly surged to a level comparable to a Tailed Beast's! What's going on?!"

Bubbles rose as the Raikage held his breath and charged forward!

Realizing the danger, Kisame immediately switched tactics, retreating rapidly. The water prison moved with him, as it was centered around his body. By maintaining distance, he aimed to keep the Raikage trapped within the water prison's boundaries.

With continuous chakra loss and suffocation, even the Raikage couldn't hold out for long!

The Raikage, aware of Kisame's strategy, pushed himself even harder to close the gap. However, despite his speed, the water prison still restricted his movements. Moreover, this was Kisame's domain, and the Raikage couldn't sense his chakra.

Gradually, the Raikage began to falter.

"Damn it! These Akatsuki bastards—every one of them has such disgusting abilities!"

Focusing all his senses on the Raikage, Kisame thought with relief, "Now, it's just a matter of time…"

"The eighth blade."

But at that moment, a low murmur escaped from Killer Bee, who was still bound tightly behind Kisame…