Kisame forced himself to stay calm, using the Body Flicker Technique to escape just before the shark missile hit him. Without hesitation, he immediately launched a counterattack.
Similarly, Qing Ming didn't back down at all; he directly engaged in a head-on confrontation with him.
Although Qing Ming's chakra reserves weren't as vast as Kisame's, he could still keep up for a short period, allowing them to clash in a grand, intense battle. This was only possible because they were at sea—if they were on land, they would have leveled at least a square kilometer.
Even so, the intensity of their clash caused both Mist and Leaf ninjas in the vicinity to back off, putting a considerable distance between themselves and the two combatants.
Their fierce battle raged on for nearly fifteen minutes, with neither able to gain the upper hand.
Yet, it had to be said that Kisame's combat experience was impressive. Realizing he couldn't outmatch Qing Ming in close combat, and that his ninjutsu couldn't finish him off quickly, Kisame adjusted his strategy, opting to fight underwater.
With his unique physical structure, Kisame could breathe freely underwater, giving him a substantial advantage in this environment.
Qing Ming knew this and refused to follow him into the water. The battlefield shifted from high intensity to absolute silence.
Qing Ming stood on the surface of the sea, his Sharingan focused to the utmost, scanning the water's surface and remaining vigilant for Kisame's surprise attacks.
Kisame, for his part, had endless patience, waiting quietly for an opening. As an elite Anbu operative trained to see himself as a tool, patience was his strong suit.
Besides, the surrounding environment meant that Qing Ming couldn't simply flee.
So Kisame could wait as long as needed.
But just because Kisame could wait didn't mean Qing Ming could.
Although his support mission had technically failed with the destruction of the ship, he still needed to reach the battlefield somehow; it was out of the question to sit around and do nothing.
However, this situation also presented him with an excellent opportunity.
Qing Ming hadn't forgotten his plan. If he wanted to turn Kisame into his "chakra battery," he had to capture him alive. A situation where he was seemingly at a disadvantage would make his trap seem all the more genuine.
That said, he had to proceed cautiously—he only had one chance. If Kisame became suspicious, capturing him would be much more difficult.
If Kisame realized what was happening and found himself unable to escape, he'd probably choose suicide without hesitation. That would leave Qing Ming's plan in ruins.
Thus, this opportunity had to be seized with care.
He also needed to be wary of the nearby Mist and Leaf ninjas.
The reason was simple: if he intended to capture Kisame alive, he'd likely have to use his Mangekyō Sharingan—a closely guarded secret and his second-most important trump card, which he couldn't afford to expose.
Fortunately, his prior clash with Kisame had already driven the others away, and they were far enough that, with a bit of care, they wouldn't notice anything unusual.
Time ticked away, with various thoughts flashing through his mind. At last, he made up his mind.
And just then, a water dragon burst out from the sea behind him.
Qing Ming turned instantly. Seeing the dragon, his eyes lit up, and he thought, "Perfect timing!"
His hands flashed through a series of hand seals, casting Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, summoning a dragon of his own.
The two water dragons collided in midair with a loud rumble.
Water sprayed down like a torrential downpour, briefly blocking Qing Ming's view.
In that moment, Kisame's figure suddenly appeared in the curtain of rain in front of him.
Qing Ming saw him forming hand seals, releasing a massive surge of chakra that merged with the falling rain, transforming it into hundreds of thin, needle-like projectiles that shot toward him.
Sensing the danger, Qing Ming didn't back away; instead, he surged forward, drawing his long sword with a sharp "swish."
Simultaneously, he brandished his blade, deflecting the rain needles as he rapidly closed the distance toward Kisame.
Kisame immediately tried to dive back into the water, but Qing Ming stomped on the sea's surface, injecting water-natured chakra into the surrounding water, making it as viscous as syrup.
This was one application of water-natured chakra transformation.
Similar to how Wind Release chakra was infused into a blade for cutting power, Qing Ming temporarily changed the water's properties, though this method was far less efficient.
Fortunately, Qing Ming had plenty of chakra to waste. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to use this technique so freely.
The effect was satisfying—Kisame's retreat was cut off, and Qing Ming closed in.
With a swift slash, the combat shifted into a realm where Qing Ming was most comfortable.
Though he had already proven earlier that his swordsmanship wasn't a match for Qing Ming's, Kisame was forced by the situation to draw his own sword to defend himself.
A series of metallic clinks echoed as their blades clashed.
Qing Ming's sword moved with lightning speed, his three-tomoe Sharingan operating at full capacity, analyzing Kisame's every move and predicting his responses based on previous experience.
This time, it took even less effort—within a minute, he had inflicted a grievous wound on Kisame.
His blade pierced forward, stabbing through Kisame's heart in one clean strike as Kisame looked at him in disbelief.
A triumphant smile appeared on Qing Ming's face.
But in the next moment, he heard a drip-drip sound.
Looking closely, he realized that instead of blood, water was trickling from the wound in Kisame's chest.
Qing Ming's eyes widened in shock as he quickly leapt back, thinking, "Damn it!"
Kisame's "body" collapsed with a splash, dissolving into a pool of seawater on the surface.
It was only a water clone.
Qing Ming had clearly fallen into a trap, and there was no time left to retreat.
Before he could react, Kisame's real body emerged from the water behind him, pressing one hand against Qing Ming's back.
In an instant, a pale blue water prison formed around Qing Ming, trapping him and rendering him immobile.
It was Kisame's signature technique—Water Release: Water Prison Technique!
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