Outside Konoha, in the Fire Country forest, three figures moved swiftly, their passage disturbing insects and birds.
"Sir, should we set an ambush?" Kisame asked, a hint of excitement in his voice as he recalled Kai's breathtaking attack. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced by awe. He knew that one strike could have easily pierced him.
"No need. We need to find a base and then begin the final plan," Kai said, glancing behind him.
Zabuza paused. "Sir, are we being followed?"
"No. Let's continue and rendezvous with the others."
"Others?" Kisame's expression shifted, then a grin spread across his face. "Sir, are these others… powerful?"
Zabuza also showed eagerness. A larger team meant higher expectations and a need for greater strength. Only those with exceptional abilities could truly make their mark.
"Decent. Besides Kakuzu, whom you know, there are three new members," Kai said, touching his nose.
His presence had completely disrupted the original storyline, altering the power dynamics significantly.
"We're here," Kai said, pointing to a basin that suddenly opened up before them. He leaped forward, but a wave of intense heat washed over him.
"Lava Release: Lava Dragon Explosion Technique!"
Roar! A hundred-meter-long dragon of molten lava roared, charging through the trees.
The sudden attack caused everyone's faces to change. Kai's body crackled with lightning as he disappeared using Lightning Release Shunshin.
The lava dragon missed its target and headed straight for Kisame and Zabuza.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Kisame and Zabuza reacted instantly, their hand seals creating two massive water dragons that collided with the lava dragon.
Boom!
High-temperature steam erupted, a powerful shockwave engulfing the surrounding forest. Everyone's nerves were on edge. In that instant, they felt as if unseen eyes were watching them from the darkness.
"Rōshi, it seems we're outnumbered. Should we retreat?" a voice suddenly called out from the mist.
"Hmph, not now. Anyone who dares betray Iwagakure will pay the price," Rōshi coldly replied.
"I think you'll be paying the price first," Zabuza's cold voice echoed.
A ghostly figure appeared behind them, a powerful gust of wind scattering the steam and mist as a swift strike aimed at a nearby ninja.
The ninja's face paled; he raised his kunai to defend, but it was too late.
Clang!
A deafening sound echoed as the ninja's arm shattered, and a large blade swiftly decapitated him.
Psh!
Hot blood sprayed, shocking the nearby ninjas.
"That's the silent assassination technique from Kirigakure!" someone exclaimed.
"Correct. But realizing that now is a little too late," Kisame's voice cut through the mist as he swung Samehada from a deadly angle.
Psh!
A head flew through the air, blood spraying, sending a shockwave of tension through the assembled ninjas.
The attack was swift and brutal, a powerful water jutsu combined with a silent assassination technique, using the steam as cover.
The seamless transition between techniques left them completely unprepared.
"Rōshi-sama!" The remaining ninjas' faces paled; the unknown enemy filled them with unease.
"Everyone, use Wind Release!" Rōshi roared, his voice laced with anger.
The ninjas calmed slightly, forming hand seals and unleashing their Wind Release techniques.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Wind Release: Hurricane Technique!"
"Wind Release…"
A barrage of Wind Release techniques swept through the area, slicing trees in half. The mist surrounding them instantly cleared. But their relief was short-lived as they saw figures emerging from the trees.
"Rōshi-sama, there are more than three," a ninja shouted. "It's the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki… how are they here?"
His words trailed off as the ninjas saw the final figure, their eyes widening in disbelief.
"It's… it's Uchiha Kai, the Blood Asura of Konoha! What is he doing here?"
The Iwagakure ninjas paled. Kai's defeat of Iwagakure at the Kannabi Bridge was legendary throughout the shinobi world.
Seeing ninjas from different villages gathered here was unsettling.
"Rōshi-sama, should we retreat?" a ninja asked nervously.
"Hmph, I don't know why these ninjas are here, but you seem to be the leader of this group," Rōshi said, his gaze fixed on Kai. "We're here for Deidara. Hand him over, and we leave."
"My leader?" Kai touched his nose, feeling the gazes on him. He was the center of attention, even in this tense standoff.
He didn't know why the Iwagakure ninjas were here, but the man before him, with purple markings on his nose, was clearly Rōshi, the Four-Tails jinchuriki.
He'd been planning to capture a tailed beast, and here was one delivered to him. This showed how much Iwagakure valued Deidara.
However, Kai lacked the sealing jutsu to properly contain a tailed beast.
"Can't we just… coexist peacefully?" Kai asked Rōshi.
The Iwagakure ninjas' eyes lit up.
Rōshi scoffed. "A rabble! As the Four-Tails jinchuriki of Iwagakure, I, Rōshi, will eliminate you traitors with my Lava Release!"
"You can leave... if you defeat me. Otherwise, become another corpse under my molten lava!"
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