Chapter 97: A Simple Skirmish

"Bakayarou, konoyarou, how dare you trespass into Kumogakure? State your name!"

The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer B rapped bizarrely, pointing both hands at Shishou.

Watching Killer B's antics, Shishou's mouth twitched. This guy's rap skills probably hadn't improved much in the past two and a half years...

Terrible!

"Bakayarou, konoyarou, you're no fun!"

Seeing that Shishou didn't respond, Killer B stopped messing around. He threw seven swords into the air, spun around, caught them, and charged at Shishou.

Raiton: Lariat!

Facing a perfect Jinchuriki, Shishou didn't dare be careless. He activated his Sharingan under his false eyes, tracking Killer B's movements, dodging what he could, and parrying the rest with his Kusanagi Sword.

Taijutsu wasn't his forte.

Then, purple-black spots appeared on Shishou's body, forming a swarm of bugs that attacked Killer B.

"B, be careful!"

"These bugs seem to be poisonous!"

Seeing the strange technique, the Eight-Tails inside Killer B quickly warned him.

"Huh?"

Heeding the warning, Killer B leaped back swiftly, waving his right hand to throw three swords at Shishou, halting his attack.

However, a Phosphorus Bad Bug had already latched onto Killer B's Tailed Beast Cloak.

Seeing the infected cloak, the Eight-Tails quickly detached a tentacle, letting it fall to the ground.

A second later, Killer B's form morphed into an octopus tentacle. His true body emerged nearby, leaping away.

This was the Eight-Tails' special ability, the Octopus Tentacle Substitution.

All this happened in a flash, just as Shishou deflected the three swords Killer B had thrown.

"B, be careful!"

"This guy is tricky!"

The Eight-Tails mourned the loss of a tentacle, urging Killer B to be cautious.

A single tentacle took several days to regenerate.

"I know, Hachibi."

Killer B set aside his playful demeanor, focusing seriously.

"Indeed, a perfect Jinchuriki is different."

Admiring the tentacle, Shishou praised, retracting the bugs and the infected tentacle.

It was the first time anyone had survived his Phosphorus Bad Bugs.

"B, close combat is not working. Let's use Ninjutsu!"

The Eight-Tails suggested from within.

"I got it!"

Killer B performed hand signs, placing his hands on the giant turtle's head.

Raiton: Spider Web!

Lightning spread out like a spider web from Killer B's feet towards Shishou. Frowning, Shishou leaped into the air. His hidden Phosphorus Bad Bugs, acting as his Flying Thunder God markers, were mostly destroyed by the area attack.

Using bugs for markers was stealthy but susceptible to elemental destruction. It was a trade-off.

"Heh."

Killer B grinned, quickly transforming into his Tailed Beast form, black energy gathering in his mouth.

Eight-Tails: Mini Tailed Beast Bomb!

Boom!

A two-meter-wide beam erupted, engulfing Shishou mid-air. Even Pakura, observing from above, was startled, quickly ascending with her ink hawk to avoid the blast.

"Tsk!"

"Tough to deal with!"

When the beam dissipated, the sky was empty, but Killer B wasn't happy.

The Mini Tailed Beast Bomb was quick to form but had lower attack power and range compared to the regular Tailed Beast Bomb. It couldn't completely annihilate the target.

With no one in the air, the enemy had escaped.

Killer B glanced at Pakura's ink hawk in the sky, where Shishou now stood.

"B."

A blue flash appeared beside Killer B—it was the Fourth Raikage. He had already learned from Yugito that Shishou was a Flying Thunder God user, with a terrifying poison.

Seeing Killer B unharmed, the Fourth Raikage relaxed.

Flying Thunder God combined with unknown, deadly poison—this guy was more troublesome than the Fourth Hokage!

Watching Shishou in the sky, the Fourth Raikage contemplated.

"Brother, this guy is strong. His flying bugs are very poisonous. Be careful."

Killer B, for once, spoke seriously, warning his brother.

"I understand."

The Fourth Raikage nodded, keeping a vigilant eye on Shishou. He was unsure of Shishou's motives and hesitated to start a fight.

Although Yugito and the other Kumogakure ninjas were defeated, they weren't severely harmed. This didn't align with the Akatsuki's objective of capturing Tailed Beasts, making the Raikage doubt if Shishou was truly part of Akatsuki.

Of course, the Raikage wasn't aware of the severe psychological trauma Yugito suffered.

"Let's go."

Seeing the Raikage arrive, Shishou shook his head, knowing he wouldn't gain anything more from the Eight-Tails today.

The Fourth Raikage's speed and Lightning Release Armor made him a tough opponent. Shishou's bugs couldn't harm him.

Without revealing his trump cards like Susanoo, Wood Release, Sage Mode, and Dream Demon, he wasn't confident in winning.

He had gained much today and saw no need to continue the fight.

"Alright."

Pakura nodded, guiding the ink hawk higher, then flying towards the Land of Fire.

Hidden in the shadows of the island's trees, Yugito silently watched Shishou leave, saying nothing.

"Humph…"

Seeing Shishou glance her way, Yugito realized he had noticed her.

Cursing silently, she vowed to become a perfect Jinchuriki and seek revenge on Shishou.

Proud as she was, she wouldn't accept defeat easily.

As the ink hawk ascended into the clouds, Shishou grabbed Pakura, using the Flying Thunder God technique.

After several long-distance jumps, they returned to the mansion in Hoshigakure.

"Good work today."

With those words, Shishou disappeared.

Pakura stretched, preparing to find Anko for some sparring.

Recently, under Shishou's guidance, Anko had learned to use her cursed seal, rapidly improving her strength. She could now spar with Pakura on equal footing, although she hadn't won a match yet. She had reached Jonin level.

Konoha.

Shishou appeared in his basement.

Taking out the Eight-Tails' tentacle from his storage scroll, he examined it and placed it on a nearby table.

Then, he extracted some Phosphorus Bad Bugs from his space, absorbing them into his body, leaving only those necessary for evolution.

Finished, he turned his attention to the bugs in his space.

"Phosphorus Bad Bugs, epic species, evolved six times, ready for evolution."

Shishou smiled, anticipating the next step in his plan.