Chapter 29: Kisame’s Confidence
Deidara, Itachi, and Kisame led the group, followed by a squad of Root members and elite ANBU.
When it came to travel, Deidara had it easiest, flying atop his clay bird and conserving his energy.
"I heard the Fourth Kazekage uses Magnet Release, just like Sasori's puppet of the Third Kazekage," Kisame commented casually. With his near-infinite stamina and massive chakra reserves, long treks were no issue, so he easily struck up a conversation.
"They're a bit different," Deidara replied. "The Third Kazekage used Magnet Release with Iron Sand, while the Fourth's uses Gold Dust. In terms of raw power, Iron Sand is stronger. But Gold Dust? Way more valuable."
"Convenient, though. I heard the Fourth Kazekage regularly sells gold. That ability must be pretty handy," Kisame mused.
"If Kakuzu had that power, he'd probably die of happiness," Kisame added, smirking.
"In that case, Sasori-senpai should've turned the Fourth Kazekage into a human puppet and lent it to Kakuzu," Deidara quipped. "Then that old miser wouldn't have to roam the world hunting bounties anymore."
Their banter filled the air—well, mostly Deidara and Kisame's, as Itachi remained his usual quiet, enigmatic self.
"Speaking of the Kazekage," Kisame said, "if this alliance meeting's in the Land of Wind, my combat abilities are going to take a serious hit."
"That terrain's a nightmare for Water Release," he added, frowning slightly.
"True. The Land of Wind is almost entirely desert. Not much use for Water Release there," Deidara agreed.
"And whether it's Shukaku or Magnet Release, they're not that impressive outside their element. But within the Land of Wind, they can wield their power to absurd levels," Deidara added thoughtfully. Then, as if struck by inspiration, he suddenly turned to Kisame and Itachi. "I just had a bold idea."
Kisame grinned, a sharp, toothy smile like a shark catching the scent of blood.
"Let me guess—Sunagakure's probably thinking the same thing as us."
It made sense. Sunagakure likely chose the Land of Wind for the meeting not out of fear of Danzo but to exploit the home-field advantage. Perhaps they also intended to use this opportunity to stage an assassination.
"Things just got interesting," Deidara chuckled.
"Even so," Kisame said confidently, "even if they bring Shukaku along, the Fourth Kazekage and Shukaku together wouldn't stand a chance against Itachi-san." He shot a glance at Itachi, exuding unwavering faith in his teammate's strength.
"Don't worry," Itachi replied coolly, his tone flat yet firm.
The meeting was set in Maeda Village, a small settlement at the Land of Wind's border. Nestled around a rare oasis, the village was home to about a hundred households—hardly a bustling hub. But today, this unremarkable place became the stage for an encounter of great significance.
The Fourth Kazekage had already arrived with his elite guard, waiting patiently.
Despite being relatively young for a Kage, Rasa's strength wasn't particularly outstanding. After taking on the role of Kazekage, Sunagakure had opted for a low profile, relying on the gold he produced rather than war to sustain the village. However, a recent event had emboldened Rasa, filling him with newfound confidence. With this power in hand and a mere old man like Danzo as his opponent, he couldn't imagine losing.
If he succeeded in killing the Hokage, he could lead Sunagakure to invade Konohagakure and potentially seize the Land of Fire, perhaps even taking its place as the dominant Hidden Village.
"Kazekage-dono, I apologize for the wait!" said Danzo, disguised as Itachi.
"Not at all, Hokage-dono. Please, come in," Rasa replied with a polite smile. Though his mind swirled with murderous intent, he hid it well. After all, this was the same man who had once cheerfully plotted to assassinate Pakura.
The two leaders walked side by side into the village. Their respective entourages followed, maintaining a careful balance of vigilance and restraint. The protection of their leaders was paramount.
After some polite formalities, the conversation moved to the main topic.
"So, Kazekage-dono, what are your thoughts on this alliance meeting?" Danzo asked, raising a finger to point at Rasa.
It seemed like a casual gesture, but Rasa made the mistake of looking directly at it—and instantly, his mind fell into a haze.
Squelch!
Blood sprayed into the air. A kunai slashed across Rasa's chest, though he managed to break free from the genjutsu just in time to avoid a fatal blow.
Deidara watched from the side, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. Itachi's genjutsu was terrifyingly potent.
"I've gotta work on my genjutsu resistance," he muttered to himself.
"Hokage-dono! What is the meaning of this?!" Rasa demanded as he retreated, his guards closing ranks to protect him.
"Isn't it obvious?" Kisame said, dropping his disguise. With Samehada slung over his shoulder, he exuded bloodlust. "We're here to kill you."
"Well then," Rasa said, his expression hardening. "If the Hokage is this treacherous, I won't hold back." He raised a small green vial to his lips and drank it in one gulp.
Power surged through Rasa's body, his wounds rapidly closing. A twisted grin spread across his face.
"Danzo, to think you'd stoop to colluding with rogue ninja just to kill me. But no matter. Today, you'll all die here."
"Confidence is good," Kisame said, clapping his hands together, "but arrogance will get you killed. Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A massive wave of water surged forth, transforming the desert village into a vast, submerged sphere. The once-dry village now resembled mere pebbles at the bottom of a colossal lake.
"This... this is insane! Such a powerful Water Release, in a desert?!" the Sunagakure ninja exclaimed. Even the Three-Tails couldn't conjure such a feat in this barren land.
"And now, a little present." Kisame grinned. "Water Release: Thousand Feeding Sharks!" Swarms of chakra-infused sharks appeared, circling the Sunagakure forces and relentlessly tearing through their ranks.
"This is madness! We can't fight these monsters!" some of the Sunagakure shinobi panicked, while others remained calm and experienced.
"Hold steady! The sand will absorb the water. We just need to endure!" one shouted, though the ferocity of the sharks made mere survival a daunting task.
Seeing his forces suffer heavy losses, Rasa acted decisively.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Funeral!"
Streams of gold sand erupted around him, piercing through the sharks and restoring balance to the battlefield.
"Even in water, his Magnet Release is this strong," Kisame muttered, his brows furrowed. "Rasa's stronger than I thought."
"It's probably that potion he took," Deidara observed.
"Doesn't matter. While my Water Release is still active, the three of us can take him down," Kisame said, unwrapping Samehada. His tone indicated he was done holding back.
But Rasa only smirked. "You think I didn't prepare a trump card?"
From the distance, a loud, mocking voice echoed. "Finally! I'm free!"
The sands around the village began to swirl, gathering into the shape of a massive, lumbering beast with a round belly, stubby limbs, and a thick tail.
It was none other than Shukaku, the One-Tail.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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