"Is that so? Since when did Konoha have this kind of kekkei genkai?"
Gengetsu rubbed the mustache on his chin, clearly intrigued.
"Who knows."
Kiyosuke narrowed his eyes. The moment he noticed Gengetsu's body moving uncontrollably again, darting toward him, he immediately followed suit. Their movements were lightning fast as the two clashed once more.
Bang!
Their fist and leg collided midair with a sharp crack.
"Not bad, you've got some strength in you!"
Gengetsu chuckled as he glanced down at the cracks forming along his leg.
Even though he felt no pain in his Edo Tensei state, he could still sense his opponent's power—and that sensation stirred a fiery excitement within him.
"Kid, you're interesting. You're the one who killed Jōki, right?"
"Who's that?"
"The Third Mizukage! Seriously, you didn't even bother to remember his name?"
"I only need to know he was the Third Mizukage."
"Fair point," Gengetsu admitted with a nod. Then he asked, "You've got skill, kid. So—what's the situation in Kirigakure these days?"
As he spoke, he attacked again, exchanging blows with Kiyosuke while continuing the conversation.
"Kirigakure's being rebuilt," Kiyosuke replied between strikes. "The Fourth Mizukage's reign was too bloody. The clans—Yuki, Kaguya, and your Hozuki clan—only have a few members left. I heard you adopted a child from the Yuki clan. As for your own clan, the last descendant's a sword prodigy who doesn't want to return to the village. Right now, Kirigakure's under the rule of the Fifth Mizukage—a member of the Terumī clan. The village is starting to open up to the world, no longer staying so isolated."
Gengetsu fell silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"So that's how it is... only one child left from my clan, huh? Seems like those old isolationist policies don't fit the times anymore. The world keeps changing—nothing lasts forever."
He had already died, and the village's future was beyond his reach. Seeing it thriving again was enough.
Then something struck him.
"Wait—how do you know all that?"
He squinted suspiciously. It was one thing to know general history, but this kid seemed way too well informed.
"Oh, Kirigakure's established diplomatic relations with us in Konoha," Kiyosuke said, dodging a Water Gun Technique and immediately countering with a stream of flames. "The Fifth Mizukage and I get along pretty well."
"Hahaha! Is that so? That's great, that's great!"
Gengetsu burst out laughing, his fighting spirit surging. His attacks suddenly became sharper, more aggressive.
In pure taijutsu, they were evenly matched.
Another clash sent them both sliding backward.
"So this is the power of the Second Mizukage, huh?" Kiyosuke said as he steadied himself. "No wonder anyone who becomes a Kage is never weak."
The Second Kage of each Great Village had all risen to power during times of crisis. After the First Hokage's death, the fragile peace shattered, plunging the world into chaos.
The Second Hokage repelled the first wave of invaders, and soon after, the original Five Kage began to fall one by one. Their successors—like Gengetsu and the others—rose to power, and the First Great Ninja War began.
Those days had been nothing but blood and confusion.
Gengetsu and the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, had fought each other to mutual destruction—despite their countries being separated by Fire Country, Wave Country, and an entire sea.
For some reason, even though the other villages were fighting among themselves, Gengetsu had insisted on fighting Mū personally. The result: both of them perished.
The first Five Kage Summit had also been held because of that battle.
Mū, badly injured by Gengetsu's Steam Explosion Technique, survived only to become a bandaged, mummy-like figure.
"Hmph! Don't underestimate us old relics," Gengetsu said proudly, patting his chest.
"Your Second Hokage wasn't some pushover either, but among the Second Kage, I was the strongest!"
"I personally think the Second Hokage-sama was stronger," Kiyosuke said with a smirk. "He had a ton of forbidden techniques. He was even revived once through Edo Tensei. I still can't figure out how the Gold and Silver Brothers managed to kill him."
Aside from Water Release, Tobirama specialized in forbidden jutsu. With his Flying Thunder God Technique, he could teleport instantly.
With that speed, he should've easily escaped Kumogakure and returned to Konoha. How could those two have possibly caught him?
Well… probably just plot convenience.
"What? He was revived too?!" Gengetsu burst out laughing. "Hahaha! I always knew Senju Tobirama had a dark heart. Edo Tensei is one filthy jutsu—never thought the creator himself would end up as a tool for it someday!"
"Well, that makes me feel better," he said with a grin. "Come on, kid! Show me what you've got! Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A massive dragon made entirely of water roared into existence, far larger than any ordinary Water Dragon Bullet. It surged toward Kiyosuke with a deafening cry.
"Great Fire Burst!!"
A giant flame erupted from Kiyosuke's mouth, colliding head-on with the water dragon.
Boom!
Steam exploded outward, filling the area. Within the thick mist, two figures darted toward each other again, their clash echoing through the haze.
Gengetsu glided across the ground effortlessly, his body secreting a thin layer of oil that let him slip and slide like an ice skater.
Kiyosuke suddenly stomped on one of Gengetsu's previous tracks.
Fwoosh!
Flames ignited the oil instantly, racing along the trail toward Gengetsu.
"So you figured it out that quickly? You're sharper than I thought, kid."
Gengetsu grinned, cutting off the oil secretion so the flames would stop following him.
"Not bad, huh?"
Kiyosuke crouched on a rock, watching him carefully.
"Sealing you might be a pain though. I'm not exactly skilled in fūinjutsu—and I don't have any sealing tags on me either."
"Konoha inherited Uzushiogakure's legacy, didn't it? How come you don't know sealing techniques?" Gengetsu asked.
"What does Konoha inheriting it have to do with me?" Kiyosuke shot back.
"As a shinobi, shouldn't you at least learn something reliable like sealing?"
"I don't need it. Whenever I meet an enemy, I just burn them to ash. Why bother with fancy stuff?" Kiyosuke huffed.
Gengetsu was momentarily speechless.
"Then that's troublesome," he finally said. "Even killing the summoner won't undo Edo Tensei. It only ends if the summoner releases it himself."
And Kabuto definitely wasn't planning to release it.
"No chance of that. He summoned you specifically to deal with me. I'll just lure you toward Kirigakure and have their people seal you instead."
"Guess that's the only way then."
Gengetsu had no choice but to agree.
The two resumed their battle once more.
Gengetsu's body was being controlled—he had no true autonomy. The fact that he could still talk at all was only thanks to Kabuto's special modifications. Otherwise, he'd just be a mindless puppet obeying orders.
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