Samehada seemed thrilled, its scales constantly bristling up, giving it a fierce and terrifying appearance.
At the head, a slit had opened, revealing countless sharp teeth and a bright red tongue inside.
"Looks good!"
Saitama dodged Kisame's attack, watching his slightly altered demeanor and spiritual energy before uttering those words.
"Hehehe!"
Kisame grinned, his face cold and emotionless.
Thwump!
He dashed across the water and struck first.
Rather than waiting to defend, he chose to seize control of the fight—even if in the end, the outcome might not change much.
Tsk! Saitama smirked, raised his hand, and shot forward with full force to meet Kisame head-on.
Boom!
His Chakra Blade smashed into Samehada. Instantly, the waters around them surged violently, sending flying droplets rippling outward in circles.
From the first impact, neither held back, launching into a series of relentless collisions.
Above the surface, droplets danced endlessly while waves kept spreading wide.
Saitama narrowed his eyes—the Tomoe swirling rapidly in his Sharingan.
Quickly identifying an opening in Kisame's defense, he intensified his assault.
First, his right hand swept forward swiftly, cutting off Kisame's movement. Then his left arm shot out, forming a fist that slammed toward Samehada guarding Kisame's front.
Boom!
The water exploded outward. Kisame kept his calm expression, but his body was sent flying backward from the impact.
Saitama didn't stop. He pushed off the water's surface and chased after Kisame's retreating form, striking again.
One kick!
It hit directly under Kisame's jaw. His Samehada blocked late—only barely swinging into position beside his face after Saitama had finished the kick.
Kisame soared skyward from the blow.
Tsk!
A depression formed on the water's surface—a waterless zone several meters wide—then Saitama leapt upward, moving even faster than Kisame, positioning himself above him.
"Damn it! His speed is incredible!"
Looking at the white lightning crackling around Saitama and the faint transparent chakra membrane surrounding him, Kisame felt helpless inside.
Boom! Kisame tried twisting mid-air, but just as his body shifted slightly, a leg filled with crushing gravity slammed into his abdomen.
That limb belonged to Saitama—powerful, heavy, pulsing with electric sparks!
Whoosh!
Faster than falling itself, Kisame hurtled downward, his airborne body curling like a U.
Crash!
The calm surface erupted, sending towering sprays of water dozens of feet high. Kisame immediately sank beneath the surface, vanishing from Saitama's sight.
Slap!
Landing lightly, Saitama pressed one hand onto the water's surface. Frowning, he peered below—Kisame's disappearance causing a brief flicker of unease.
Zzzt!
Electricity gathered within his palm and spread outward into the water!
[Lightning Release: Electrification Technique!]
With a deep voice, Saitama released his jutsu. The lightning in his hand surged powerfully while the surrounding water began bubbling and boiling, emitting steam nonstop.
He intended to use Ninjutsu to force Kisame, hiding underwater, out into the open with Lightning Release: Electrification Technique!
THUD! THUD! THUD!
In a forest behind the coastline of River Country, countless paper fragments continuously converged, quickly forming a humanoid figure.
The shape soon became perfect—finally taking the form of Konan.
As soon as she took shape, Konan could feel wild chakra surging ahead of her.
She recognized it instantly—the chakra of the Tailed Beasts.
And the other chakra signature belonged to Saitama Uchiha.
Ever since leaving the village, she had been following Saitama from a distance.
There were two reasons—one, she couldn't keep up; two, she wanted to watch his battles and gather intel.
Viewing Saitama as a potential rival, Konan was indeed serious about this matter.
Perching on a tree branch, Konan fixed her gaze forward, then transformed her body into a flurry of paper sheets, vanishing into the air.
The commotion from the battle over there was significant—she felt it necessary to hurry over and check things out.
Due to her disadvantage in speed, she was nearly half an hour behind Saitama.
As she drew closer, the sounds of battle were gradually fading, and the chakra of the Tailed Beast seemed to be decreasing.
"Has Saitama Uchiha really become this powerful already?"
Konan felt slightly astonished in her heart.
Although Saitama had done so much recently throughout the Shinobi World, she still hadn't formed a clear understanding of his actual strength.
During their first encounter, he had held his own against Nagato, then single-handedly captured Roshi, defeated Rasa, and killed The Third...
Thud!
Konan halted her steps atop the tall treetop, no longer advancing forward.
From here, she could already see the situation of the battlefield.
At this moment, the Jinchuriki of the Six-Tails seemed to have already been subdued by Saitama, stripped completely of any ability to counterattack!
Konan narrowed her eyes slightly, though her expression remained cold.
The stronger Saitama appeared, the more dangerous he became in her eyes!
Even though Nagato always had confidence in himself, she never stopped being wary of someone who had willingly joined Akatsuki!
And then there was Zetsu—a strange anomaly with a dual nature!
All she knew about Zetsu was that he possessed Wood Release, but beyond that, she knew absolutely nothing else!
Within the entire Akatsuki Organization, only Saitama and Zetsu were individuals whose true depths she could not perceive. That's why all along, she had constantly advised Nagato to be careful.
Seeing how Saitama had restrained the Jinchuriki, Konan chose not to reveal herself yet—for she knew that the purpose of coming out this time wasn't merely about capturing a mere Six-Tails Jinchuriki.
...
"Kage's Aide Terumi Mei, I think you should come take a look at this!"
Raiga Kurosuki's expression changed slightly, signaling toward Terumi Mei.
Ameyuri Ringo stood beside him expressionlessly without uttering a word.
"What happened?"
Terumi Mei swiftly jumped down from the ship's railing.
This was the location mentioned in Ao's intelligence report, yet upon arriving here, they didn't spot Ao anywhere.
"This is...!"
Frowning in confusion, she ordered Ameyuri Ringo and the others to disembark and check the situation.
They stepped off the boat and circled around several boulders. Terumi Mei now understood exactly why Raiga Kurosuki had called her over.
Ao had already lost his breath, lying in a pool of blood, and the Byakugan that the village had gone to great lengths to obtain was gone from his eye sockets.
Having his eyes gouged out made Ao look particularly gruesome; after all, having a bloody hole on one's face would never be a pleasant sight!
"And this one..."
Terumi Mei noticed several white cocoon-like things.
She frowned, a flash of anger crossing her fair face, as chakra surged violently around her.
Ao was a rare elite ninja in Kirigakure, someone the Mizukage trusted completely. Yet now he'd actually died here like this!
Terumi Mei could never forgive whoever had killed Ao.
"Let's go! Hurry up and get Ao and the others!"
Terumi Mei leapt onto a rock and shouted for the ninja on the boat to retrieve Ao's body along with the other fallen comrades'. She herself led two other members of the Seven Swordsmen toward the distant battlefield!
She'd sensed the battle from the start, but first came here looking for Ao to gather more intel.
But she hadn't expected...
Rushing forward with fury burning in her heart, the air around her grew visibly hotter.
Zzzt! Arcs of electricity erupted across the lake's surface, rapidly spreading until the entire artificial lake pulsed with current.
What puzzled Saitama though was that Kisame still hadn't surfaced.
Gurgle!
A bubble rose from just below him, instantly setting Saitama on edge.
Boom!
From underwater, a terrifying weapon burst forth, instantly shattering the calm water surface. A mouth full of sharp teeth snapped toward Saitama.
[Samehada – Chakra Absorption!]
Underwater, Kisame's unforgettable voice rang out.
Roar! Samehada lunged before Saitama, its maw gaping wide open, surrounded by a swirling haze of chakra.
"Crap, I got careless!"
Saitama's expression changed. As soon as something shifted beneath him, he leapt backward rapidly.
Unfortunately, Kisame's attack had been too sudden, emerging right from directly under him, making it impossible for Saitama to completely escape Samehada's range of attack.
Tearing sound!
Samehada opened its mouth wide, as if biting into solid muscle, grabbing hold of the layer of Sage Chakra condensed around Saitama's body.
"Huh?"
Frowning, Saitama felt a powerful suction force pulling from Samehada's maw.
Up until now, Samehada had absorbed the Sage Chakra at a slow pace, but now it began draining it from Saitama's body in an instant.
Boom!
Caught off guard, Saitama pushed forward with another burst of speed, retreating further backward with a stomp of his foot.
Swish!
Kisame soared out of the water wielding Samehada, landing steadily on the lake's surface.
Right now, wisps of scalding steam were rising from Kisame's body, even his standard ninja uniform reduced to tattered rags.
All of this was due to Saitama's previous Lightning Release techniques.
Crouched low on the water's surface, he lifted Samehada high above his head. Samehada's jaw hung wide open while its entire body was covered in a hazy white chakra, looking rather eerie.
Saitama knew that this white-colored chakra enveloping Samehada was none other than the Sage Chakra recently ripped away from him.
At this moment, a wave of emptiness surged through his body. He hadn't expected Samehada to instantly devour so much Sage Chakra—it had seemed helpless against Sage Chakra earlier during the fight!
"No wonder he's part of the Akatsuki Organization! His chakra reserves are enormous—almost comparable to the Tailed Beasts!"
Kisame narrowed his eyes, locking gazes with Saitama.
He smirked slightly, clearly pleased with what he had just done.
In an instant, he'd activated his Ninjutsu, devouring most of his opponent's chakra!
"Hmph!" Saitama let out a cold snort, unfazed by the change, though he felt a bit annoyed at his own carelessness.
As for the chakra he'd lost...
The three Tomoe within his eyes continuously rotated and then converged, forming Saitama's unique Mangekyou.
[Mangekyou – Activate!]
An immense portion of ocular power vanished from his eyes in an instant. Then Saitama straightened up, fixing Kisame with a sharp glare.
"Huh? That's..."
Kisame noticed the change in Saitama's eyes and felt a sudden tension in his chest, sensing something ominous approaching.
Before he could think further, he noticed Saitama's chakra—the very same devoured moments ago by Samehada—reappear around him, even denser than before!
"Samehada certainly holds more surprises than expected!"
Saitama said slowly while gradually placing his hand in front of his waist.
A dazzling bolt of lightning sparkled in his palm, emitting crackling sounds...
[Samehada – Flying Chain Slash!]
With a flick of Kisame's arm, Samehada—still swollen from absorbing chakra—shot forward. Its tail extended rapidly as its mouth opened wide again, snapping viciously toward the stationary Saitama.
Bang!
Lightning surged from Saitama's palm, extending outward like a spear piercing toward the soaring Samehada, yet Saitama himself remained rooted in place without moving.
Crack!
The lightning collided with Samehada. The creature made no attempt to dodge and actually tried to open its mouth to consume it.
The sensation of devouring Saitama's chakra was exhilarating, though the Sage Chakra was proving difficult to digest. Still, Samehada knew that as long as it drained all of its enemy's chakra, victory was assured for both itself and Kisame.
[Lightning Release – Lightning Cage!]
Whoosh!
The lightning that had clashed with Samehada suddenly exploded into countless tiny arcs scattered across the sky, enveloping Samehada entirely.
"Hisss!"
Samehada sensed danger immediately, attempting to retract quickly, but Saitama's lightning already blocked its escape route behind.
Zap! The current coursed swiftly along Samehada's weapon shaft—also its tail—and transmitted rapidly toward Kisame's hand.
Shwa!
Saitama vanished from his spot.
"What?!"
Kisame's back muscles tensed instantly, utterly unable to detect how Saitama disappeared!
[Lightning Release – Lightning Cutter!]
A voice rang out from behind him, instantly causing every hair on his body to stand upright.
Zzzt!
"Crap!"
Realizing turning around was now impossible, Kisame threw himself forward without hesitation, no longer caring about how Saitama appeared from behind.
"Hmph!"
Seeing Kisame's intention, Saitama turned his gaze to the strange black jutsu markings on Kisame's back.
That was Saitama's Flying Thunder God Jutsu Seal!
Kisame lunged forward, and Saitama followed like a shadow glued to his back.
Zzzzt!
Kisame's expression froze as his body remained mid-lunge, slightly hunched.
Saitama's right hand pierced through Kisame's right back, exiting directly from his chest.
"Phft!"
Kisame opened his mouth slightly and spat out a mouthful of blood.
His right hand gradually loosened its grip, and Samehada slipped from his fingers, sinking beneath the water surface.
Boom!
Taking advantage, Saitama swiftly swung his foot upward, kicking Kisame again and sending him crashing forward at high speed.
Swish!
Saitama vanished once more, reappearing repeatedly and landing strikes all over Kisame's body, leaving countless wounds in his wake!
"Huff!"
Another Lightning Release pierced Kisame's body before Saitama kicked him outward, exhaling deeply as he ceased his assault.
Plop! Plop!
Kisame continued tumbling uncontrollably. Both arms dangled lifelessly at his sides like broken ropes, swinging wildly as he rolled about.
During that attack sequence, Saitama had struck several critical points on Kisame's arms, rendering him unable to even clench his fists!
[Heh… heh…]
Lying on the water's surface, Kisame lifted his head to look toward Saitama, his face drained of color.
He didn't know what jutsu Saitama had used, but somehow he kept appearing behind him—faster than any Shifting Body Technique!
As if teleporting through space itself!
His eyes darkened as he used only his waist strength to prop himself up, slowly rising halfway onto one knee.
At this moment, however, he looked absolutely pitiful—his entire body riddled with multiple holes, both arms completely useless!
Drip! Drip!
Blood continuously flowed from his wounds, staining the water red. Yet not once did Kisame furrow his eyebrows.
Rip!
Samehada resurfaced from the water behind Kisame. It tore off a piece of cloth from his back, then carried it forward with its jaw, presenting it directly before his eyes.
[This is...]
Though Kisame didn't recognize the markings on the cloth, realization dawned instantly—it must've been these seals that allowed Saitama to flash behind him repeatedly like lightning.
Saitama made no attempt to stop Samehada. Instead, he slowly approached, his gaze flickering with cold-blooded intent.
Feeling Saitama draw near, Samehada emitted threatening hisses nonstop, attempting to deter him from advancing further.
The chakra healing jutsu couldn't be used again so soon—it was useless for reviving Kisame right now.
...
"What was that just now? Was it really Flying Thunder God?"
Konan stood atop a treetop, frowning. She hadn't realized when Saitama Uchiha had mastered this technique!
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