The battle had shifted far from Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi.
As if by silent agreement, everyone left the field open for the two of them.
Within the mental world, Itachi and Izumi clashed in a storm of genjutsu.
"Izumi… why are you here?" Itachi asked, his voice calm, though his hands and movements never ceased.
Izumi's attacks came in a flurry—fists, kicks, even headbutts—driven not by technique but by raw hatred.
Itachi countered each blow with ease.
"Why?" Izumi spat. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here because of you. Surprised I'm still alive?"
Her voice was sharp, filled with scorn. Even here, in this world of illusion, she wanted to make Itachi feel the fury of a survivor.
"Izumi," Itachi said evenly, "you can't defeat me like this. I'm glad you survived… but what you're doing could throw the shinobi world into chaos."
"Don't you dare lecture me on righteousness!" Izumi snapped. "You couldn't even protect your clan—your friends! What right do you have to talk about justice?"
Her eyes blazed, words cutting through him like blades. "Tell me, Itachi—what have you really seen with those eyes of yours?"
Itachi's chest tightened. The truth of her words pierced deeper than any wound.
"You could never understand…" he muttered.
Outside, Kisame surged back into the fight, nearly overwhelming Yu—only for Zabuza, wary as ever, to intercept and drag Yu back from the edge of death.
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Kisame spewed forth another massive flood, expanding the battlefield into a churning sea. Yet the waters did not dissipate; he controlled them with chakra, forcing the tide to linger.
The sheer amount of chakra left Yu stunned.
So this is why they call him the Tailless Tailed Beast…
But Yu's eyes narrowed. "Don't underestimate the Uchiha, either. I'll lock him down with genjutsu. Find your opening."
Zabuza gave a curt nod. He knew Yu wasn't boasting—when serious, the boy's Three-Tomoe Sharingan already surpassed him.
"Be careful," Zabuza warned. "This is his territory. In water, Kisame's strength multiplies."
Despite the tension, Zabuza smirked faintly. Fighting back-to-back with someone… he had almost forgotten what that felt like. His grip tightened on the Kubikiribōchō.
The two stood ready, watching for their chance.
Beneath the water, Kisame lurked like a predator. Seeing them covering each other, he bared his jagged teeth in a grin.
"Zabuza… have you found someone you'd trust with your life?" he mocked. "Then show me the strength of that bond!"
"Water Release: Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
Dozens of sharks erupted from the flood, tearing toward the pair. But their movement revealed Kisame's hiding place.
The pressure from his jutsu was suffocating—so casual, yet so devastating.
Even so, Yu and Zabuza fought in tandem, cutting down each summoned beast until the water stilled.
"Not bad," Kisame said, stepping forward at last. "Zabuza… you've improved more than I expected."
He cast aside the remains of his Akatsuki cloak. His upper body was bare, muscles rippling, skin an unnatural shade. Gills slashed across his cheeks, his jagged teeth flashing in the dim light.
"I'll give you a proper fight. Face me head-on."
The waters around them began to recede, draining back into the forest. Small streams trickled across the ruined landscape, shattered trees littering the flooded ground.
Yu spat to the side, his tone sharp. "So… you're underestimating me."
"Yes," Zabuza said coldly, "but he's earned the right to."
Inwardly, Zabuza clenched his teeth.
If I survive this, I need to reach Kage-level quickly. Otherwise… I won't even be able to stand at Naruto's side when the time comes.
He had finally found a goal worth striving for—he wanted to witness how this world would change.
And only by confronting Kisame could Zabuza truly measure his own strength.
Kisame was no ordinary opponent. His mastery of Water Release, his monstrous reserves of chakra, and even his unique physiology made him a dangerous taijutsu fighter as well.
This man is a true talent, Zabuza thought, his mind already turning with new schemes.
"Kisame!" Zabuza suddenly shouted mid-battle. "With power like yours, why don't you join our organization?"
Kisame: "…"
Yu: "…"
We're in the middle of a fight, and this guy's trying to recruit him?
But Zabuza pressed on, his voice burning with conviction.
"I know you, Kisame. You despise the Hidden Mist, don't you? I've heard of what you've done—and I know, deep down, you still love your village.
That's why you should come with us. Our organization will end the shinobi era… end the era of the ninja villages. A new world will be born under our banner. Once the ninja world is united, there will be no more wars! Under our leader, we'll usher in peace!"
For once, Zabuza spoke from his heart. His words weren't just recruitment—they were his own desperate cry.
If not for the cruel necessities of survival, who would willingly kill?
The infamous massacre of his classmates had not been out of bloodlust. Zabuza had done it to shake the Mist, to challenge the bloody policies of the village, to demand reform. For a brief moment, his rebellion worked—the Hidden Mist's policies shifted. But under Obito's unseen hand, the village quickly returned to its cursed ways.
That was why Zabuza had later attempted to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage, and why he walked the path of a rogue shinobi.
Kisame threw his head back and laughed. "Hahaha! Not only are you stronger than I thought… you're also completely insane!"
And yet, there was a strange truth in Zabuza's madness. To unify the shinobi world meant to declare war not only on the Five Great Nations, but on the entire system of shinobi itself.
Zabuza, of course, didn't know Kisame's secret heart. If he had, he might have realized: You think our enemy is the world itself? Half the world already walks at our side.
His words sounded arrogant, even delusional. But deep down, they held a simple logic—the only way to achieve peace was through unification, no matter how impossible it seemed.
At that moment, Zabuza was a fanatic, carrying his beliefs like a blade he would gladly die for.
Yu watched the Demon of the Mist, surprised by the fire in his words. He, too, longed for peace—not just to end conflict, but to leave behind a legacy that would be remembered for generations.
To carve his name into history. To conquer the entire shinobi world.
Like many young Uchiha, Yu had once been captivated by Naruto's indomitable spirit.
To the Uchiha, only strength was worthy of reverence—and Naruto's strength had conquered even their pride.
Among the younger Uchiha, admiration for Naruto bordered on worship. They would often repeat one of his sayings like a mantra:
"Why should men not carry their blades and conquer the Five Great Nations?"
...
TN:
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