Targeted by Gato's charred finger…
Kisame Hoshigaki felt a chill down his spine.
If that hit struck his head, he'd die!
"What kind of technique is this?"
Terrifying destructive power, lightning-fast speed, no need for hand signs—it was beyond Kisame's understanding.
He'd already been gravely wounded by this sudden attack.
Gato had no intention of explaining.
He just panted heavily.
A second attack came swiftly.
The laser-like beam shot with incredible speed. Kisame only had time to raise Samehada in defense.
Boom—!
With a deafening crash and a wail, Samehada was blasted away, scales falling from the impact side, blood faintly seeping out.
"What the hell is going on!?"
Kisame watched Gato, gasping but with his finger glowing again, every cell in his body screaming danger.
He'd die!
That attack's speed was inescapable!
A hit to the head would kill him instantly!
"Die!" Gato, his ruined face twisted in a savage grin, panted as if already seeing Kisame's death.
He cared about nothing else.
But in that instant…
Itachi Uchiha's attack arrived.
His right eye spun wildly, the three tomoe merging in a flash, forming a new pattern—his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Amaterasu!
Black flames erupted on Gato's outstretched arm.
"Aaah!"
Gato screamed in agony, as if enduring unbearable pain, frantically flailing his right hand to shake off the strange flames.
But it was futile.
Amaterasu, the highest-level fire ninjutsu, offered only one escape: severing the limb. Otherwise, it burned until nothing remained.
Unfortunately…
Gato's rationality was long gone. Writhing on the ground, he didn't even realize the nature of the flames.
"Spare me, please! Lord, save me! Save me!"
His pathetic wails, in his final moments, revealed his inherent cowardice.
"Looks like he's done for…"
Kisame panted heavily, waves of weakness washing over him.
That first hit had ravaged his organs.
Without his vast chakra reserves, such wounds would've been fatal.
Looking at the writhing Gato, Kisame's eyes held deep wariness.
"Mr. Itachi," he said, "can we keep him alive?"
"Too late," Itachi shook his head, blood trailing from his right eye.
His Amaterasu was incomplete, unlike Sasuke's in the original story, which could be extinguished or shaped. The flames on Gato burned faster than expected.
In that situation…
Keeping him alive wasn't an option.
The fight was over.
Shen Mo, watching Gato's weakening screams under Amaterasu's black flames, sighed in deep disappointment.
Dead to Amaterasu.
This ninjutsu, dubbed the "strongest physical attack," had over a dozen counters in the original story.
Even severing his arm in time could've saved him.
But Gato didn't realize this.
Honestly, Itachi and Kisame were formidable, but Gato's strength wasn't trivial.
Yet…
Throughout the fight, except for the surprising effect of Dodon Ray from a Level 3 can, his performance was like a child wielding a gun. His combat sense, mindset, and experience were sorely lacking.
Even his use of Dodon Ray was clumsy.
The first shot missed the head.
And he hesitated to use his ultimate move.
With his current ki, he could only use it three times, each draining him significantly until he'd lose mobility. Against two foes, he should've used it early.
A surprise Dodon Ray at close range could've taken out Kisame, greatly boosting his escape chances.
Plus, Gato's cans included Afterimage Fist, Mad Fist, and many combat moves and melee techniques.
None were utilized.
He didn't know when to use what.
In one word: noob.
"As expected," Shen Mo muttered. "These tycoons and daimyo may have money, but they're far from premium players. Not only can't they create new value with their power, their strength growth from the same cans pales compared to ninja."
Unless, like Shen Mo, they reached a brainless, cheat-level power spike—but that required more than money; it needed high-tier cans.
With sufficiently strong abilities or skills.
This was why Shen Mo prioritized temporary defensive power, saving for a game-breaking ability.
Gato had no such chance.
In the end…
He burned to ash, consumed by endless resentment and unwillingness.
The first member to die at a non-member's hands, without even a chance at the Fate Stage, ineligible for cheap revival.
As Shen Mo pondered how to handle such members…
Kisame, having bandaged his wounds, approached Gato's incinerated remains, searching for clues.
About Gato's power.
And the "Lord" he mentioned.
The thought that this near-fatal Gato, once a mere merchant, was granted such power sent chills through Kisame.
Such a formidable physique, terrifying techniques.
The entity behind this…
Was a massive threat to the organization.
Or perhaps, a massive opportunity.
In a way, despite his impulsiveness, Kisame was one of the few Akatsuki members truly devoted to the organization.
"Nothing's left," Itachi said nearby, sounding disappointed. "My Amaterasu burns everything to nothing."
In that moment, Amaterasu was the fastest way to save Kisame.
But…
As Gato's power grew more terrifying…
Itachi, ever the double agent, didn't want the Akatsuki gleaning anything from Gato's remains that could make them trickier.
"Mr. Itachi, look at this!"
Kisame seemed to find something.
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