Zira!
Behind Kisame Hoshigaki, that unusual giant weapon revealed a glimpse of its ferocious nature.
A section of the white bandages covering his back slipped aside, revealing densely packed metallic scales underneath.
"Saitama Uchiha... seems like you'll be an interesting opponent. This mission is definitely turning out to be amusing!"
Kisame revealed his sharp teeth in a grin while his right hand slowly moved from his shoulder to the handle of his weapon on his back.
His eyes were small, but at this moment appeared piercingly sharp. Even the gill-like marks on his face seemed to undulate with tension.
Dressed in dark, standard shinobi attire, he exuded an aura of grimness.
"You're known as the Tailed Beast without a tail... just how much of a challenge can you bring me?"
Saitama observed Kisame preparing for battle, anticipation creeping onto his face. His robe flared as a rising surge of energy stirred around him.
He was genuinely delighted by this opponent. Kisame's strength ranked formidable across the entire shinobi world. Were it not for encountering some [Six Paths]-level powerhouses, he wouldn't have ended up as nothing more than scenery in the original story.
Da!
Saitama stretched his right leg backward, assuming a fighting stance.
He could tell Kisame couldn't wait to fight him—and the feeling was mutual.
"Be careful!"
Mangetsu Hozuki held Saitama in the highest regard. In his eyes, Saitama had already reached the level of a shinobi like Yagura.
That's why he kept warning his partner next to him.
As for why he wasn't joining in himself—first, because the opposing side also consisted of two people, leaving no chance for them to gang up; secondly, Kisame hated having others interfere during his fights.
"That one inside must be the jinchuriki then. Handle it yourself!"
Spotting the wooden cocoon under the other individual's seat, Kisame tossed those words aside before leaping into the air and diving toward Saitama standing in the pit below.
In the instant he pushed off the ground, his right hand grasped Samehada from his back and raised it high.
Samehada had multiple uses, but "crushing" and "slicing" were Kisame's favorite methods.
Crushing focused on power; slicing emphasized speed.
Starting from above like this, it only felt natural to begin with a crushing strike!
Saitama kept close watch on Kisame's movements. The moment Kisame acted, Saitama captured it immediately and instantly predicted his attack trajectory.
Familiar with the storyline and having previously battled the previous Samehada wielder, Saitama naturally understood certain characteristics of Samehada.
Chakra absorption!
Though uncertain whether Samehada could withstand his current Sage Chakra, Saitama chose a safer method regardless.
Swoosh!
He drew the sword hanging at his waist—an item unused for quite some time.
Ever since mastering both the morphological and nature transformations of Lightning Release, he rarely relied directly on physical weapons anymore.
[Morphological Transformation] allowed him to mold chakra into any weapon shape he needed—fast.
But now, facing Kisame Hoshigaki—especially with Samehada—he'd appear foolish continuing to use chakra-formed weapons.
[Clang!]
Kisame leapt high into the air, gripping Samehada with one hand and slamming downward straight toward Saitama.
This was a clean, decisive strike—delivered with full force and no hesitation!
Samehada clashed against Saitama's blade, producing a sharp, crisp sound.
"Huh?"
Saitama's strength caught Kisame off guard. His fully powered attack had been effortlessly blocked.
Seeing the brief look of surprise on Kisame's face, Saitama didn't flinch at all. A surge of powerful chakra instantly flared up along his sword, quickly transforming into crackling lightning.
He had already entered Sage Mode during his battle with Ephemeral, and he certainly hadn't exited it yet.
Unlike Naruto Uzumaki, whose Sage Mode only lasted for a short time, Saitama could essentially maintain it indefinitely—as long as he still possessed Sage Chakra. As long as Sage Chakra remained within him, he could continuously fuse natural energy—a core element of Sage Art—with regular chakra, converting it into Sage Chakra and sustaining his Sage Mode.
And in Sage Mode, Chidori Current appeared white—a state both pure and dangerous.
"Hehe…"
Seeing chakra manifest on Saitama's blade, Kisame wasn't worried. Inwardly, he smirked.
He loved opponents who specialized in materializing various types of chakra; Samehada absolutely enjoyed them! Fighting like this felt just like turning an enemy's own Sage Chakra against them!
That kind of sensation brought immense satisfaction!
"Hoh!"
But the next instant, Kisame's eyes narrowed in confusion.
Because Samehada made a strange sound, as if it had encountered its most disgusting meal.
Swish!
No time to think. Saitama tensed the muscles in his arm and pushed forward forcefully.
He noticed that Samehada seemed to struggle somewhat with Sage Chakra—the absorption speed was painfully slow, practically negligible.
Clang!
With a quick counterattack, Saitama drove Samehada back onto Kisame, striking his chest and shoulder area.
"Damn it!"
Gritting his teeth, Kisame resisted the overwhelming force from Saitama and the creeping pale-white current now spreading across Samehada.
The rate at which Samehada absorbed Saitama's chakra couldn't even withstand the surging electricity. Thus, Kisame's arm began slowly going numb.
In an instant, Saitama had nullified his weapon advantage!
Whoosh!
Sidestepping swiftly, Kisame swung out his leg, driving a straight kick toward Saitama's body.
Boom!
Unfazed, Saitama saw everything—Kisame's every move was under the watchful gaze of his Sharingan.
At the very moment Kisame raised his leg, Saitama sprang upward, lifting his left leg simultaneously, bending it midair, and thrusting his knee forward instantly.
Their limbs met—Kisame's shin clashed against Saitama's knee joint. A shockwave rippled outward, sending both fighters flying apart.
Zzzt!
Planting Samehada against the ground, Kisame quickly stopped himself from sliding backward.
Saitama, however, calmly took just one step back and halted effortlessly.
The weapon of Sage Art in his hand surged with white electrical currents, soon completely enveloping the blade. At this moment, Saitama looked like a divine figure holding thunder itself.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Kisame started to feel uneasy. Saitama's power had become slightly troublesome.
Samehada failed to gain any advantage, leaving the situation temporarily at a stalemate.
And Mangetsu, too, had lost the optimism he felt at the start.
"That Saitama Uchiha really is strong!"
Mangetsu Hozuki stared at Saitama in battle, his eyebrows twitching constantly as his mind grew increasingly alert.
He glanced toward Sasori, who looked as if he were watching a show unfold, recalling Kisame's words from just moments ago.
His hand unconsciously reached for his own weapon. He lacked confidence fighting against Saitama directly, but if it was that puppet master over there—he believed he still had some chance of victory.
Moreover, he could tell Saitama didn't seem to be in great shape either; clearly, the previous fight had left him somewhat drained.
Thinking this, Mangetsu licked his lips with excitement, a predatory gleam flashing off his sharp teeth.
"Shall we begin?"
Sasori lifted his head and met Mangetsu's gaze filled with predator-like intent, revealing a sinister smile so chilling it sent chills down one's spine.
Yet he didn't make the first move. Even though he sensed the hostility coming specifically from Hozuki, he remained relaxed—placing one foot atop the wooden cocoon beneath him while letting both arms hang loosely by his sides.
Whoosh!
Saitama noticed how Mangetsu bypassed him entirely and dashed toward the seated Sasori.
He didn't try to stop him and let Mangetsu go after Sasori freely.
Although Mangetsu was indeed among the Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist and Sasori appeared weakened after his earlier battle, who was stronger? Who would win? No one could say for sure!
But Saitama chose to place faith in Sasori. If Sasori couldn't even handle someone like Mangetsu right now, then he wouldn't be worthy of becoming Saitama's ultimate companion when facing off against the future shinobi coalition forces.
"Your opponent is me! Don't go losing focus now!"
Kisame seized the opportunity, instantly appearing before Saitama and launching into a fierce slash from left to right.
With a fierce roar, Samehada slashed toward Saitama's waist.
If Saitama failed to dodge, Samehada would cleave him clean in two. Though Samehada appeared bulky without seeming particularly sharp,
when combined with the chakra Kisame infused into it and its incredible speed splitting the air itself, cutting through human flesh was well within reach!
"I haven't forgotten about you... it's just that you're not enough for me yet!"
Saitama raised his sword and stood firm, blocking Samehada's strike while stepping forward, his free hand reaching toward Kisame's right arm holding the blade.
Zzzzt!
A white current of Chidori surged forward, slashing toward Kisame's arm.
Kisame's face darkened, quickly shifting tactics mid-strike, switching his slash into a block while rapidly retreating to avoid Saitama's follow-up blow.
But Saitama anticipated the shift immediately. The moment Kisame changed direction, Saitama guided his own blade forward deliberately.
The electric current acted like a magnet, latching onto Samehada and halting Kisame's retreat momentarily.
Shock flashed across Kisame's face, quickly replaced by a glint of ruthless determination.
Realizing he couldn't evade anymore, he abandoned escape altogether, planting his heel firmly on the ground and surging faster straight toward Saitama.
Zzzzt!
Snap!
Saitama's left hand slashed across Kisame's right forearm, sending blood spraying everywhere.
But Kisame's knee smashed into Saitama's leg. With a single blow, Saitama was sent flying.
Tch!
Saitama instantly steadied himself, slightly surprised by Kisame's bold decision-making.
Even in that situation, daring to respond with such a mutual-damage strategy—truly someone ruthless!
Plop! Clutching Samehada tightly, blood trickled down his wrist onto the white bandages of Samehada, then followed the fine scales along its surface before dropping onto the ground.
The slash Saitama had delivered moments ago not only used Lightning Release but also contained a hint of Wind Nature Transformation, which was why it dealt such terrifying damage.
Just from brief contact, a deep wound exposing bone had been carved into Kisame's arm.
Saitama couldn't see any sign of pain on Kisame's face, nor did Kisame emit a sound of agony.
Extremely cold-blooded! Ruthless toward enemies, equally ruthless toward himself!
This was Saitama's evaluation of Kisame.
Swish! Swish!
Kisame flicked Samehada through the air a few times before raising the weapon level at Saitama again, this time a glint of anticipation flashing across his face.
Thud! Unlike his previous reckless charge, Kisame now lifted his foot cautiously, never taking his eyes off Saitama, instead beginning to circle around him.
Whoosh! Samehada was slung onto his back in one swift motion as he leapt high, landing atop a protruding rock.
[Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique]
Leaning back, both hands tightly clasped in front of his chest, Kisame stared solemnly at Saitama.
Snap!
Ripples surged behind him before transforming into a massive shark-shaped water projectile aimed directly at Saitama's original position.
[Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique]!
But simultaneously with Kisame, a voice echoed from Saitama's side too—he had used exactly the same ninjutsu as Kisame.
Hmph!
A much larger version burst forth from behind Saitama, shooting forward like a cannonball.
"Sharingan..."
Kisame instantly understood what had happened as he caught sight of the three spinning Tomoe within Saitama's eyes.
Although each of his techniques required complex execution and immense chakra,
to the enemy before him, none of that mattered!
Boom!
The two identical techniques collided head-on, rapidly canceling each other out.
Yet clearly, the technique Saitama had copied was stronger than Kisame's own execution of it. It kept going, breaking through Kisame's technique and traveling a few feet farther before exploding into misty droplets that rained quietly down.
"The power of the Sharingan is truly dangerous."
Kisame gazed at Saitama, sighing inwardly.
But the next moment, he was shocked yet again. Just a moment ago, Saitama had still been in sight—but now, even he couldn't detect the slightest trace.
"Where did he go?"
Instantly yanking out Samehada, Kisame frantically scanned every direction, searching desperately for Saitama, but unfortunately, found no sign.
"Up above!" A sudden realization struck him. Immediately tightening his grip on Samehada with both hands, he swung it sharply upward.
Crack!
A dark shadow descended upon Kisame's head, and a blade wrapped in blinding white lightning clashed violently against Samehada.
At the moment their weapons collided, Saitama didn't let up. His body kept pressing downward as he tried to get closer to Kisame.
He prepared to grab Samehada with his left hand and used the momentum to kick Kisame in the chest.
WHOOSH!
Saitama's eyes narrowed. Realizing something, he quickly pulled his outstretched hand back and dodged sideways.
Samehada instantly expanded, its fine scales standing straight up like countless sharp barbs.
"Forgot Samehada has this trick too!"
Saitama thought inwardly, launching himself toward Kisame again the moment his feet touched the ground.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
He continuously attacked Kisame. Though Kisame managed to barely resist each time, he kept getting pushed backward, struck repeatedly by Saitama.
Though Saitama looked thin, every Taijutsu strike he made easily overpowered Kisame in both speed and strength.
"This guy..."
Kisame kept blocking, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead.
Saitama's relentless assault felt suffocating, extremely oppressive.
In terms of taijutsu, though he wasn't among the strongest, with Samehada's special traits he could usually maintain control against any opponent.
But now, he could only defend passively without even having room for complaint.
This made him feel especially frustrated yet helpless.
WHIRRR! As Saitama slashed his blade upward, he simultaneously launched a kick forward. His speed was blinding, closing the distance between them in an instant.
This kick came exactly from Kisame's blind spot, so he didn't make any defensive move at all.
WHAM!
A Lightning-wrapped foot crashed heavily into Kisame's abdomen, causing [Lightning Damage] to explode across his midsection.
The standard ninja uniform at his abdominal area immediately tore open a large hole, exposing the grayish-white muscle underneath.
"Waaah!"
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