Chapter 52: The Seeds of a New Village
Looking at Kisame's increasingly confused expression as he spoke, Uchiha Naoki's smile widened, like a strange sorcerer luring 'children,' his voice hypnotic. "If that's the case, then let me free you from this false pain! Let me give you the most authentic perception! Come to the new sanctuary I will build, a place called the 'Village of Light and Shadow'!"
"All this time, you've been fighting for the village, even having to kill your own comrades. But from now on, fight for yourself. Fight as my companion. Perceive the real world and protect what is truly beautiful!"
Hearing this, Kisame Hoshigaki narrowed his eyes. "Village of Light and Shadow? It seems I've never heard of such a force."
Uchiha Naoki smiled. "Of course not. This is the ninja village I will establish soon. That's why you've never heard of it."
This made Kisame snort again. "Establish a ninja village? What a grand ambition. Whether you can succeed or not is one thing. But you seem to know me very well and trust me deeply. Yet, I don't even know who you are. Isn't it a bit insincere to invite me to join like this?"
Hearing Kisame's words, Uchiha Naoki laughed. "My name is Uchiha Naoki! Kisame, will you be my partner?"
This answer clearly surprised Kisame. He grinned, sheathing his longsword. "A person like you... It seems I will witness a great upheaval in the shinobi world. I am honored to be your partner, Lord Naoki."
His words implied he strongly believed Uchiha Naoki would successfully establish the village and help him find himself. Uchiha Naoki was naturally delighted.
After calming down slightly, he said, "I'm going to recruit another companion. The village is in chaos now, a good time to leave Kirigakure. Later, I'll need you to wait in the Land of Fields. Once I've settled my immediate affairs, I'll meet you there and bring you a suitable weapon."
"Use this Thunder Saber for now. It should enhance your strength somewhat." As he spoke, the Kiba blade, the Lightning Saber, appeared in his hand, which he offered to Kisame Hoshigaki.
"It's rumored this Lightning Saber disappeared. The village investigated for a long time but found no clues. I never expected it to be in your hands, Lord Naoki." Kisame took it without refusal, speaking as if accepting fate. "It seems my meeting you, Lord Naoki, was truly arranged by destiny."
Hearing this, Uchiha Naoki smiled. "Naturally, fate brought us together here." With that, he completely vanished into the darkness.
He had an impression of Kimimaro's location—in a certain prison within the village.
Of course, bewitching... ahem, recruiting a ten-year-old child who had lost his direction in life was much easier than recruiting Kisame Hoshigaki.
"Life is meaningless..." Patting Kimimaro's head, Uchiha Naoki was like an elder brother. "But you know, as long as you're alive, you can find interesting things. Just like you found that tenacious flower, and I found tenacious you."
"Under fate's arrangement, good things come as expected." After these words, Kimimaro instantly regarded Uchiha Naoki as the sun of his life, vowing to live for him from then on.
After arranging Kimimaro's retreat, the shadow clone's mission was complete.
Back at the Beach...
"Lava Style: Molten Monstrosity!"
Dark yellow acid condensed into billowing, furious waves, crashing through the air toward Uchiha Naoki.
"Too slow!"
Uchiha Naoki's body transformed into lava, boiling and swelling, then swung out into a massive, fiery fist capable of blotting out the sky. With a piercing shriek, it collided with the seemingly unstoppable acidic wave.
Sizzle!
Being a liquid, it reacted violently with the scorching attack. But the intensely steaming, hot mist forced Uchiha Naoki to retreat quickly. The acid mist also possessed strong corrosive properties.
"Lava Style: Molten Monstrosity!"
Seeing Uchiha Naoki retreat, Terumi Mei gave him no chance to breathe, unleashing another surge of acid.
"You, who've just battled the Fourth, how much strength do you have left?" Terumi Mei's lips curled slightly. Though she was also panting, she pressed on relentlessly. "Boil Release: Skilling Mist!"
Her tone suggested she looked down on Uchiha Naoki, but her actions were exceedingly cautious. It could only be said the attitude of Kirigakure ninja toward enemies was indeed consistent.
Terumi Mei flashed behind Uchiha Naoki, who had just dodged the acid attack, and opened her mouth, spewing a mist even more corrosive and scorching.
"Armament!"
Uchiha Naoki's scalp tingled. He immediately sheathed his body in Armament Haki, retreating while forming hand seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Its power wasn't immense, but it was enough to halt Terumi Mei's pursuit. To Uchiha Naoki's surprise, even with his intermediate-level Armament Haki, he felt a burning pain against this mist. His Armament Haki was actually being corroded.
"As expected of a Kekkei Genkai that can melt Susano'o in the original story. It really has its merits!"
After retreating a sufficient distance, the chakra returned from the dispersed shadow clone finally arrived. His previously weakened state was instantly dispelled.
"Lava Burst Shot!"
With Observation Haki activated, locking onto Terumi Mei who had just landed, scorching lava shot forth immediately.
Hiss!
Terumi Mei felt her entire body tense. Facing lava capable of annihilating her instantly, she quickly used a Water Clone to deal with it, simultaneously retreating at extreme speed. From previous battles, she had already experienced Uchiha Naoki's powerful predictive abilities.
"What's going on? Why has his aura suddenly increased so much?!" Terumi Mei looked at the revitalized Uchiha Naoki, a very bad feeling rising in her heart.
Uchiha Naoki, weakened just moments ago, was already troublesome enough. One of her biggest trump cards, the Hidden Mist Jutsu—something even the Sharingan struggled to see through—was useless against him. Going all out, relying on her dual Water and Fire natures, she had only managed a stalemate. But now, Uchiha Naoki's state had soared, while hers had declined. The final outcome was predictable.
She bit her lip tightly. "Could it be we can only watch as this bastard and his accomplices take the Fourth away?" If news spread, what would become of Kirigakure's reputation?
"No! Even at great cost, we must keep at least a few of them here!" Terumi Mei's eyes sharpened. She quickly retreated into the ranks of the Kirigakure Jonin. "Everyone, attack together!"
Since she couldn't defeat Uchiha Naoki alone, she had to unite with the others.
"Yes!"
The ninja had long been eager to join the fray. Having waited for Terumi Mei's order, even if itching to fight, they could only watch. Now that the order was given, they naturally surged forward.