Kitazawa stared at Yagura Karatachi with a grave look.
It might have looked like he had the upper hand, but he didn't—Yagura was a perfect jinchūriki and still hadn't shown his true power. The real test was only beginning.
Yagura locked eyes on Kitazawa. Rage pushed him to stop holding back as the red tailed-beast cloak around him ballooned. A flood of chakra exploded outward and, centered on him, whipped the sea into a tsunami.
Even Kurenai and the others fighting in the distance were hit by the shock and had to pull back.
"What's going on?" Kurenai blurted.
"What terrifying chakra!" Hyuga Homon glanced at Yagura and felt his heart jolt. This chakra was so overpowering that the Byakugan wasn't even necessary to sense it.
"Hahaha! You're all dead!" a Kirigakure jōnin across from them suddenly shouted, as if remembering something. "That's full tailed-beast mode!"
"No way!" Cold sweat broke on Hyuga Homon's brow. "The Fourth Mizukage is actually a perfect jinchūriki?"
"What does 'perfect' mean? How is that different from a normal jinchūriki?" Kurenai asked—she wasn't a jōnin from a great clan, and her knowledge of jinchūriki was limited.
"A perfect jinchūriki can draw out a tailed beast's full power," Hyuga Huoshan said, a hint of despair in his voice. "In other words, we're about to face an actual tailed beast."
"What?" The color drained from their faces.
Boom—boom!
As the chakra surged to its limit, the red cloak underwent a total transformation. Chakra condensed into flesh; a colossal Three-Tails—Isobu—rose on the sea's surface. A hard turtle shell covered its body, bristling with thick, sharp spikes.
"Water Style: Great Water Mass Bullet!"
Isobu leveled its jaws at Kitazawa. Chakra condensed into a mountain-sized water sphere.
Kitazawa used the Leaf-Style Body Flicker without hesitation. With his current chakra, there was no resisting a full-mode Isobu's Great Water Mass Bullet.
The instant he vanished, the massive sphere slammed into the ocean. The surface erupted; a lattice of twisting vortices bloomed as walls of water radiated in all directions.
"Fall back!" The other Kiri jōnin abandoned Kurenai's group and bolted.
Partly to save their skins, partly because compared to Kitazawa, Kurenai and the others weren't worth as much. If Yagura captured Kitazawa, Tsunade would be stuck in a no-win situation. As for Kurenai's team—they could be spared for now.
"Go!" Kurenai's side had no way to keep fighting. They retreated to a safer distance and looked toward Yagura. Even from afar, Isobu's gigantic bulk was clear as day. The crushing pressure felt like a mountain on their chests.
"What do we do?" Hyuga Homon was frantic. He'd become a young jōnin with high expectations from the Hyuga, yet now he had nothing.
"We can only trust Kitazawa," Kurenai forced down the panic. She wanted to help, but knew she'd only be a distraction.
"Would my Rinkaichū help?" Aburame Torune asked after two seconds of silence.
"Tailed beasts are pure chakra—they don't fear poison. And I doubt those beetles would even pierce its defense," Hyuga Huoshan said, shaking his head.
Isobu's earth-shaking roar cut their discussion short. Annoyed that the Great Water Mass Bullet failed, Yagura grew even more irritable.
"Water Style: Isobu's Great Waterfall!"
Standing in the sea, Isobu slammed a forelimb down. Like an undersea volcano, a column of water blasted skyward, flipping into a reverse waterfall that raced for Kitazawa.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
A thick wall of water surged up before Kitazawa—only to be crushed in less than a second by the thunderous wave. Still, it bought him time.
"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"
A massive earthen wall formed—not vertical, but horizontal. Kitazawa leapt atop it and rode it like a surfboard as the breaker hurled him into the air.
Isobu opened its mouth again. A roaring torrent speared upward, a white dragon—no, a beam—lancing into the sky.
"Composite Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"
Balancing on the earthen "board," Kitazawa flashed through seals. A water dragon laced with lightning slammed into the torrent. With a detonation, spray burst like rain. After a brief deadlock, the torrent kept driving toward him.
Kitazawa already knew the combo wouldn't stop it. The moment he launched the dragon, he'd left the earth wall.
"Water Style: Instant Water!"
He dove, merging with the currents to sprint away underwater. The torrent crashed down, boring through the sea and pulverizing the earthen wall.
"Annoying rat!" Yagura cursed as Kitazawa slipped away again. Anyone else would already be dead—especially at sea, Isobu's home turf. In the water, its jutsu were amplified; he even fancied his chances against the Nine-Tails. Just like how Shukaku dared brawl the Nine-Tails in the desert.
But the sea giveth and the sea taketh away. Kitazawa was also a water-style specialist—one of the very best. Out here, he had plenty of counters. There was another problem too: water jutsu aren't always lethal. The big ones trade power for area; lakes and seas of damage spread thin. Great against most ninja—but not focused enough.
If Yagura knew "Water Severing Wave," a piercing, concentrated jet, Kitazawa would have it rough—touch it and you die. Conversely, Kitazawa lacked that kind of cutting technique, so against a defense monster like Isobu he didn't have the punch—at least not in a normal state. Unless he used Senju Chakra Mode.
Fortunately, his goal was to stall.
While the two clashed, Kirigakure held a terse command meeting.
"It's been too long without word from Mizukage-sama—something unexpected must have happened," Ao said, face dark.
They had known about Yagura's ambush. With his power, it should've been easy. Reality was far off their expectations.
"We have to move now," Terumi Mei said. She despised Yagura's tyranny, but if he fell, the village could be devastated.
"No time to waste—move out!" Ao stood. Hoshigaki Kisame, Momochi Zabuza and the others said nothing and followed.
"Is that the Three-Tails?" Halfway there, Ao's Byakugan picked out Isobu in the distance.
"Has the Fourth already been forced into full tailed-beast mode?" Mei's heart shook. Kisame and Zabuza were shocked too. Full mode meant things weren't going well.
"Full speed!" Ao pushed harder.
The sea heaved without end. Kitazawa kept slipping past Yagura—no, Isobu's—attacks with Body Flicker and Instant Water. It looked like he was a lone leaf in a storm, but he was relatively safe, even getting shots in now and then. Isobu's hide was too tough; those counters barely mattered.
Yagura ran out of patience. If the fish won't be caught, then boil the ocean.
Isobu tilted its head back and opened wide. Endless chakra swirled and condensed into a black sphere. An indescribable menace rolled across the waves.
Kitazawa's face tightened. A Tailed Beast Bomb—enough to unmake the world. He clapped his hands.
"Water Style: Hydrification Technique!"
His body liquefied and merged with the sea—but that still wasn't safe. He shot downward as a ribbon of water.
Isobu fired.
Boom!
A sun rose on the ocean, turning night to day. Where the bomb touched, the sea simply ceased to exist. Anything in its path crumbled instantly. Water around the blast spiked into waves tens of meters high.
"Kitazawa!" Kurenai's heart lurched at the apocalyptic sight.
"We're pulling back!" Hyuga Homon stared, stunned.
"Kurenai-senpai, Kitazawa-sensei will be fine!" Uchiha Izumi grabbed her and ran. Even after retreating several kilometers, the surface still trembled underfoot.
"Good thing we'd already backed off," Homon exhaled.
"No wonder they say tailed beasts are beyond a shinobi's ability to defeat," another Konoha jōnin murmured. "You only understand when you see it."
"If the Three-Tails is like this, I can't imagine the Nine-Tails," Homon said.
Kurenai couldn't join in. She was sick with worry. So were Izumi and Torune.
"Kitazawa!" A familiar voice rang out. They turned. A figure streaked toward the blast zone.
"Tsunade-sama?" Kurenai blinked.
"Konoha reinforcements—we're safe!" Homon said, excited. His Byakugan picked out Shizune and Hiashi behind Tsunade.
"I'm going to find Kitazawa!" Kurenai vaulted after Tsunade.
"Wait!" Homon shouted. "It's still dangerous over there!" He moved to stop her, but it was too late.
Shizune and Hiashi spotted them and dropped in.
"Homon, status?" Hiashi asked, relieved to see him alive. The Tailed Beast Bomb's aura had been terrifying even from afar.
"Kitazawa-sama's fighting Yagura, the Three-Tails' perfect jinchūriki, in full mode," Homon rattled off. "After that last bomb, we don't know Kitazawa-sama's condition."
"What?" Shizune felt as if struck by lightning. Could anyone survive that?
"Come—rescue him!" She didn't waste another second and sprinted harder.
"We're coming too," Hiashi said, brow knitting. If Kitazawa died, Hinata would be heartbroken—and the Hyuga's hard-won connection to Tsunade through Kitazawa would vanish.
"Kitazawa!" Tsunade was first to the center. The bomb had gouged an enormous pit in the ocean. Water poured back in but couldn't fill it yet. Isobu panted nearby; even for a tailed beast, a Tailed Beast Bomb was taxing—except for the Nine-Tails, whose absurd chakra let it fire them repeatedly.
"Kitazawa? He's dead. No one survives a Tailed Beast Bomb," Yagura said, recognizing Tsunade.
"He's not dead!" Tsunade's body stiffened, the denial bursting out.
"Tsunade, why lie to yourself?" Yagura's voice went cold. "No matter. I'll send you to him."
Tsunade's expression darkened. Power surged so violently that her hair lifted. She glared up at Isobu; killing intent poured off her in waves. The diamond on her brow thrummed and the seal patterns spread—Ninja Art: Creation Rebirth—Strength of a Hundred.
With a single step she was in Isobu's face.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Her stomp obliterated the spiked shell; the force drove through the carapace. Even a tailed beast couldn't shrug that off—its massive body buckled, plunging toward the depths. Water fanned outward in stacked waves.
Tsunade didn't let up. She cocked her fist and pounded the shell again. Sensing danger, Isobu whipped its head and spat a huge water sphere. Tsunade, face blazing with fury, twisted her right hand and punched the water ball apart.
Body Flicker—she closed in and smashed Isobu on the head. The beast screamed. Tough as it was, Tsunade's full-power blow tore flesh and sent blood spraying.
Tsunade froze, pupils dilating as a brutal, bloody memory flashed. She blanked for an instant—then that memory warped into the "dream" Kitazawa had woven for her during her hemophobia treatment. Rage surged back, burning away the phobia.
"Die!"
Her next punch left Isobu reeling.
"A-amazing, Tsunade-sama," Hiashi breathed, stunned. Tsunade, all-out, suppressing the Three-Tails?
Only Shizune felt a chill. Tsunade had already activated Creation Rebirth—she wouldn't do that unless her fury was absolute. Did that mean Kitazawa was really…? No—he's not that easy to kill!
"Kitazawa!" Kurenai scanned frantically, worry and fear written on her face.
"Hiashi-sama, please—find him," Shizune said.
"Hyuga—open your Byakugan and search for Kitazawa!" Hiashi ordered without hesitation. He'd brought a lot of Hyuga—they could finally contribute.
"Kirigakure reinforcements are here too—I see Ao, Kisame, and Terumi Mei," Hiashi warned.
"Trouble. With Isobu on their side, we might not match them," Shizune said, watching Tsunade with concern. No one could talk her down now. Then she blinked—why hadn't Tsunade's hemophobia triggered? The realization jolted her, yet she couldn't enjoy it. If this was the price of the cure, Tsunade would never have agreed.
"Prepare to fight," Shizune said, steadying herself.
Not far away, the Kiri force stopped in their tracks, stunned by Tsunade's brawl with the Three-Tails.
"Even a Tailed Beast Bomb didn't finish her?" Mei narrowed her eyes. She had thought Tsunade was Yagura's opponent—and that the bomb was meant for her. Yet Tsunade lived and was even pressing an advantage.
"Ao-sama!" The Kiri shinobi who had fought Kurenai ran over to them.
"Report," Ao said to the middle-aged jonin.
"It was Kitazawa!" The man quickly summarized the fight.
"Impossible!" Zabuza scowled. "Kitazawa can't be that strong." He was proud, but he knew he wasn't at Mizukage level—yet Kitazawa was going toe-to-toe with Yagura.
"Water style," Kisame muttered, thinking it through.
"Ninjutsu on par with Mizukage-sama's?" Mei caught on quickly.
"Kitazawa must have died to the Tailed Beast Bomb. Priority is rescuing Mizukage-sama," Ao said darkly. They hurried on and soon reached the center.
"Tsunade looks even more terrifying than the legends," Mei admitted, scalp prickling. She wasn't cowed, though—she intended to become Mizukage; she had to be ready for anyone.
"You and Zabuza, stop the Konoha," Ao told her. "Kisame, the rest with me to save the Miz—wait!"
His pupils shook. He was seeing something that shouldn't be possible.
"What is it?" Mei asked. Kisame and the others frowned.
With a splash, a figure burst from the sea.
"Kitazawa?" Mei's eyes widened. She didn't need Ao to say it—the Byakugan had already told him the same thing.
"How is he alive—and without a scratch?" Zabuza looked like he'd seen a ghost. Who survives that?
"Kitazawa!" Hiashi and the Konoha spotted him too. Kurenai's knees nearly buckled; relief lit her face.
Tsunade heard the shout, turned, and saw Kitazawa. An indescribable emotion washed over her. She eased back half a step, her whole body loosening.
Kitazawa took in the scene and understood. He'd stayed underwater too long; they thought he'd died. Hard to blame them—against a Tailed Beast Bomb, even Hydrification wouldn't save him unless he dove deep.
The moment Tsunade paused, Isobu seized the opening. Chakra tugged the sea into a downpour that crashed over Tsunade. She flickered away and reappeared at Kitazawa's side.
Meanwhile, Mei and Zabuza rushed Shizune's group. Ao tried to push through to Yagura, but Hiashi blocked his path. Ao's face darkened—he knew exactly why Hiashi was there. Only Kisame slipped past, reaching Isobu's flank. Staring at Tsunade and Kitazawa, he felt unprecedented pressure—but with Yagura present, he wasn't alone.
Zabuza's gaze slid to Shizune. Judging by the Konoha's reactions, her status wasn't ordinary. An Anbu stepped out behind her.
"Who are you?" Zabuza sneered at the mask. "I don't kill nobodies."
"Uchiha Itachi," came the calm reply. He'd been ready to fight Yagura, but with Tsunade and Kitazawa here, he changed plans and awaited orders.
"Uchiha Itachi?" Zabuza grinned. "Heard of you. Good—you'll do."
Mei had no time for chatter; Kurenai, Kabuto, and Uchiha Izumi hemmed her in and the melee exploded.
"Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said with a smile, "how about we fight side by side?"
He could've told Ao that Yagura was under Obito's control—but he held grudges. He'd just been chased ragged by Isobu. Now that Tsunade's team had arrived, they might as well give Kiri a bloody nose. More importantly, he'd just gotten an unexpected system reward that filled him with confidence.
[Current Mission: Cure Tsunade's Hemophobia.]
[Reward: Yamato-style Wood Release.]
[Mission Completed. Reward Granted.]
It was sudden, but welcome. With no hemophobia, one of the Legendary Sannin—Tsunade—was truly back. She could even trade blows with a jinchūriki. The only pity: the reward granted the bloodline, not the techniques.
He'd have to learn wood jutsu himself. Maybe that was for the best—otherwise, how would he explain it? If they mistook it for transplanted Hashirama cells, he'd be in deep trouble.
Hiruzen was still hunting a masked man with Wood Release and a Sharingan—criteria Kitazawa inconveniently met.
"Worry me like that again and you'll…" Tsunade shot him a glare, still rattled for the first time in nearly twenty years. She cut herself off—"you'll die miserably" wasn't something to say right now.
"Don't worry—there won't be a next time," Kitazawa coughed lightly. He'd seen her fury; it was terrifying—and moving.
"You take Kisame. I'll handle the Fourth and the Three-Tails," Tsunade said, flexing her fist. "It's been a while since I stretched."
Since developing hemophobia, she'd hardly fought—and when she did, she held back to avoid blood. It was miserable. Now she could go all out—against Yagura, no less.
"Watch for the Tailed Beast Bomb," Kitazawa warned.
"Don't underestimate my Yin Seal," she said. "I'll teach you after the war." With that, she flashed toward Isobu. Kisame didn't move to intercept; he knew Kitazawa wouldn't let him pass.
"Didn't get to introduce myself last time," Kisame said evenly. "I'm Hoshigaki Kisame." He didn't expect to win, but fear wasn't his style. He didn't need to beat Kitazawa—just stall him.
Kitazawa started to reply—and three lines of text slid across his mind.
[Current Mission: Defeat Hoshigaki Kisame.]
[Reward: +½ bar to chakra capacity.]
[Accept?]
His eyebrow twitched. No quest last time they'd clashed with water style—now there was, and the reward was his favorite kind. Half a bar—worthy of the "Tailless Tailed Beast."
He glanced at Tsunade—Creation Rebirth had her slightly ahead, but Isobu's defense meant this wouldn't end quickly. He needed to wrap things up. The technique had nasty side effects over time, and Kiri had more shinobi on the field; a long fight would turn against them.
"You killed Fuguki Suikazan-sama—time to settle this," Kisame said, flashing through seals. Sea water rose and coiled into a towering dragon.
"Senju Chakra Mode!"
Kitazawa arched his back as a blaze of chakra roared out, heat rolling like a fallen sun. Three blazing dragons of fire devoured the water dragon and barreled at Kisame. Steam billowed. Kisame's pupils pinched—how was Kitazawa's "Great Fire Annihilation" this strong? Even against water style, he'd erased his Water Dragon Bullet?
He'd thought Kitazawa specialized in water and lightning; his fire wasn't lacking either.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
Using the momentary cover, Kisame vaulted skyward. The fire dragons vaporized the wall and hissed past.
"Water Style: Water Pillar Prison!"
He spat a half-man-sized orb that slammed down and burst into a deluge, hemming Kitazawa in from all sides.
"Uchiha-Style: Gale Sword!"
Kitazawa vanished, reappeared behind Kisame, and swung—his blade sheathed in searing flame. Kisame flinched and threw up a wall of water—only for the flaming edge to carve through. He dodged, but not quite fast enough; the blade scorched a black gouge across his shoulder. He grunted and sprang away, feeling the pressure mount. Fast seals, mastery of water, lightning, fire, genjutsu—and a ton of chakra. No weak points.
He glanced at the wound and flew through signs.
"Water Style: A Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
The sea seethed as sharks launched like arrows at Kitazawa.
"Composite Ninjutsu: Blazing Wild Wind Wave!"
Wind screamed. A condensed gale struck the sea, spawning a storm. Kitazawa added a fireball; it fused with the tempest and bloomed into a sea of flame. Sharks plunged in and ignited.
"Water Style: Water Pillar Prison!"
Kisame yanked down sheets of water, drenching the flames. Then his gut tightened—Kitazawa had vanished. Hands burst from the water beneath him and dragged him under. Water pressed in from every direction. Kisame reached for Kitazawa on instinct.
A shell of water snapped around Kitazawa—but he crumbled into mud, dissolving into the sea.
"Earth Substitution," Kisame realized, kicking for the surface.
A faint sound. Alarm bells. He snapped his head—nothing there—until four water needles were almost in his eyes. Blood unraveled in the water. He broke the surface, biting back a groan; two needles had buried in his right leg.
"What water technique is that?" he muttered, scanning.
"Water Style: Great Shark Bullet!"
A shadow flickered; he clapped through seals and hurled a massive shark-shaped warhead. Water geysered.
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
Birdsong shrieked. Kitazawa burst from the sea, right hand blazing with lightning, and cut for Kisame.
"Water Style: Water Prison Technique!"
At the last instant, Kisame cocooned himself in a water sphere—the prison could defend as well as restrain.
"Supervibrato Lightning Release Swords!"
But Kitazawa's left hand speared a lance of lightning straight through the aqueous shield; in the daze that followed, his right hand accelerated and struck. Kisame crossed his forearms over his heart. Without Samehada, they were only flesh. Blood fountained; Chidori nearly took his arms off. Pain crushed his vision. He lashed out with a kick.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Kitazawa returned a kick of his own. In Senju Chakra Mode, he carried half a dose of Tsunade's Monster Strength. The blow sent Kisame tumbling, crashing into the water and staining it red.
Kitazawa was already there with a flicker, blade raised.
Kisame was an enemy of the Konoha in the Mist and in Akatsuki—and Obito had probably already sounded him out. Akatsuki recruited in many ways—Konan's "beat them first" method was common. Kisame was different: Obito recruited him personally, and he bought into the Eye of the Moon Plan. There was no reason to let him live.
"Four Sharks Rain!"
Half-conscious, Kisame slapped the surface. Four sharks burst up to bite Kitazawa.
"Uchiha-Style: Sword Jump Blaze!"
Kitazawa twisted, pouring fire chakra into his lightning blade. Flames raced down the edge. One swing—four heads hit the water. Kisame used the opening to hop back, gaining space—only for dizziness to wash over him.
"Leaf-Style: Willow."
An S-rank sword art that required no seals—the genjutsu snapped him still, a storm of blades filling his vision. He started to form signs, but a flame-wreathed ninjatō punched through his heart. He stared at Kitazawa, opened his mouth, and said nothing as darkness took him.
[Current Mission: Defeat Hoshigaki Kisame.]
[Reward: +½ bar to chakra capacity.]
[Mission Completed. Reward Granted.]
Right on time as always. With the extra half-bar, Kitazawa could keep Senju Chakra Mode up for another thirty seconds.
[Current Mission: Hold out until Tsunade and the others arrive.]
[Reward: Resistance to Mangekyō Sharingan.]
[Mission Completed. Reward Granted.]
His eyes flickered as knowledge poured in. As he'd guessed, the resistance negated Mangekyō genjutsu—ignoring illusions like that. Other ocular powers—Amaterasu, Kamui—still worked.
It also didn't stop Eternal Mangekyō or Rinnegan genjutsu. Even so, it was broken—in the best way. Especially with Shimura Danzō on the horizon. He'd been worried about Kotoamatsukami—silent mind-control was too warped. Danzō would most likely aim it at Tsunade, not him, but better safe than sorry.
Now, he didn't fear it; he just had to watch Tsunade. Any out-of-character move, and it meant the jutsu hit. He could ask the Hyuga for help—or, in an emergency, risk exposing his Byakugan.
He dismissed the prompts and flickered to Tsunade's side.
"You took down Kisame?" Tsunade asked, surprised. "Less than two minutes and a top-tier jōnin is out? No wonder you stalled Yagura—you're nearly at my level."
Kitazawa nodded. "Mm."
"You keep surprising me," she said, then grew serious. "Yagura's full mode is about to fail."
Isobu had endless chakra so long as it lived—but Yagura was human. Even a perfect jinchūriki had limits.
"Good." Kitazawa clenched his fist. "Let's knock him out of it."
"Together," Tsunade said, a rare, unrestrained smile touching her lips.
"Monster Strength!"
Kitazawa hammered Isobu's head. The beast yelped and lunged to bite him—
Tsunade appeared on his left and kicked. The shock numbed Isobu; its jaws wouldn't close, much less bite.
"Wind Release: Rasengan!"
Kitazawa seized the chance and drove a wind-enhanced Rasengan into its mouth. With wind added, the sphere became a mass of blades, shredding the oral cavity in an instant and spilling blood.
"Kitazawa!" Tsunade called, chakra flooding her fist so thickly it made the air hum. He understood at once.
"Monster Strength!"
He swung; Tsunade struck in the same instant. The twin blows detonated with irresistible force. Isobu's head burst like a ball of blood. With a keening wail, its body shrank in a blink—leaving Yagura exposed.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!