Chapter 389: Kisame Flees, Cursed Kimimaro!

Kisame, Kimimaro, and Mariko were trapped inside the massive water sphere. Outside, Kakashi, engaged in battle, couldn't help but worry when he saw the scene unfold.

"This level of ninjutsu consumes an enormous amount of chakra. Even for Kisame, he shouldn't have much left."

"It's a last resort."

"The enemy is strong enough to force Kisame to use this technique!"

Outside the water sphere, Kakashi's expression was grave. Though he couldn't see what was happening inside, based on his knowledge of Kisame, he could tell that the battle was nearing its conclusion. If the opponent couldn't break free from this technique, Kisame would undoubtedly emerge victorious.

But if the opponent had the ability to counter it...

Thinking of this, Kakashi turned to the others and said, "Sasuke, Karin, Naruto, take Mr. Tazuna and leave immediately."

"We can't predict how this battle will unfold. If you're caught in the aftermath, the consequences will be disastrous."

He gestured for them to leave, but the three didn't move.

"Sensei... are we really powerless here?" Sasuke stared at the massive water sphere, his voice low, his eyes filled with deep resentment. The feeling of helplessness lingered in his heart.

"For young ninjas like you, the best teamwork is staying out of the way of jonin-level battles," Kakashi replied firmly.

Silence followed. Naruto clenched his fists tightly, then slowly released them, accepting reality. "Sasuke, Karin, let's go."

However, just as they were about to leave, a shocking change occurred inside the water sphere. At its center, a white mass expanded rapidly. In an instant, countless bone spurs pierced through the sphere, even embedding themselves into the ground.

The water sphere now resembled a giant sea urchin.

"Dance of the Seedling Fern!"

At the core of the sphere, Kimimaro had finally unleashed his ultimate technique in response to Kisame's assault. Countless bone spurs erupted from his body, and his figure vanished into the skeletal forest.

"What... is this?!"

Kisame, now fully transformed into a shark-like form, moved effortlessly in the water. When the bone spurs shot out, he dodged swiftly using his superior aquatic mobility. However, as the bone forest expanded, his movement became increasingly restricted.

What unsettled him the most was that he had completely lost track of Kimimaro. His opponent had vanished.

"Hah... hah..."

Suddenly, ripples appeared in the water. A figure emerged atop a massive bone spur—it was Kimimaro. His right arm was entirely encased in bone, forming a lance, which he thrust toward Kisame.

The attack created turbulence in the water, which Kisame, in his aquatic form, sensed immediately. He swiftly evaded. Kimimaro, unfazed, once again disappeared into the bone spurs.

"The resistance from attacking underwater is too great, and this form allows the enemy to move freely in water."

"I need to wait for another opening!"

Kimimaro remained hidden among the bones, observing Kisame carefully.

Meanwhile, Kisame frowned as he assessed the situation. He had planned to drag his opponent into a favorable battlefield—underwater—but instead of drowning him, he found himself at a disadvantage.

"That bloodline ability allows him to move freely among these bones."

"And with my techniques, I can't destroy all these spurs at once."

"Not only have I lost track of him, but I also have to deal with surprise attacks... This is a complete disadvantage!"

Kisame was no fool—he was a ninja with keen intellect. When faced with a difficult situation, he immediately began strategizing.

He had fought the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and forced Might Guy to open the Seventh Gate, yet now, he found himself struggling against a teenager.

If Raiden knew about this fight, he would be astonished.

"Blub!"

Bubbles rose as Kimimaro appeared once more, lunging at Kisame with his bone spear.

But this time, Kisame had anticipated it. He quickly formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

The moment he completed the jutsu, powerful currents surged around Kimimaro, increasing the water pressure several times over in an attempt to trap him.

Kimimaro, feeling the crushing force, immediately activated his Kekkei Genkai. His bones emerged from his skin, forming an armor that easily withstood the water pressure. Then, with a swift movement, he escaped the water prison and disappeared into the bone spurs once again.

"As expected... I failed."

Kisame sighed in disappointment but quickly recomposed himself. He had a feeling that this enemy could escape, but he had tested it anyway. Now, he knew it wouldn't work.

"That girl I pulled into the sphere earlier... is she hiding?"

Realizing this, Kisame activated his sensory ability, attempting to locate her. But he found nothing.

The plan to take a hostage had failed before it could even begin.

"If this continues, it'll be endless."

"I should retreat while I still have a decent amount of chakra."

No matter how Kisame analyzed it, he couldn't find an effective way to kill Kimimaro. The boy's chakra reserves seemed limitless—his large-scale techniques hadn't weakened, and his relentless attacks were as sharp as ever.

Kimimaro's speed and precision made it impossible for Kisame to counterattack, and there were no signs of his chakra depleting. Even Kisame, known for his patience, was beginning to feel irritated.

Once the thought of retreating surfaced, there was no suppressing it.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Without hesitation, Kisame bit his finger and quickly performed hand seals. Five sharks suddenly materialized in the water.

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

A bulge appeared on the water sphere's surface before breaking apart with a loud crash, forming a smaller connected sphere—just like a gas bomb.

The newly formed sphere landed directly where Haku was.

As the five sharks swam toward their target, Kisame transformed into a shark himself, swiftly moving toward Haku.

"This guy...!"

"I won't let you succeed!"

Kimimaro, realizing Kisame's plan, manipulated his bones, sending sharp spines shooting toward the sharks. However, these weren't ordinary sharks—they moved with intelligence, weaving through the water, avoiding the attacks as they charged toward Haku.

In an instant, six sharks surrounded Haku. One of them opened its mouth and swallowed him whole.

The moment Haku was swallowed, the sharks burst into bubbles and disappeared, along with Kisame himself.

"Splash!"

With Kisame gone, the massive water spheres lost their structure and collapsed, flooding the forest.

Kimimaro emerged from a bone spur, taking a deep breath. His expression darkened.

"Lord Orochimaru's target... was taken!"

His frustration was evident. His expression twisted with anger.

At the base of a bone spur, a girl with multicolored hair staggered forward, exhausted.

"Hey, Kimimaro, I need a break!" she said weakly, leaning against the bone.

"Mariko, are you alright?"

"Sorry, the enemy was too strong. I had to use your strength."

"Let's return and report to Lord Orochimaru. You've done well."

Kimimaro looked at her apologetically, then lifted her gently before disappearing into the forest.

Not long after Kisame and Kimimaro left, Kakashi appeared on the battlefield, staring in silence at the magnificent sea-urchin-shaped bone spurs before him. He carefully memorized the scene, then quickly departed.

As the various parties withdrew, the forest gradually returned to calm.

Hundreds of meters from the battlefield, a corpse that had lain motionless suddenly opened its eyes.

"What... is going on!?"

Momochi Zabuza slowly sat up, looking around at the unfamiliar terrain, confusion etched on his face.

In his memory, he had been locked in fierce combat with Konoha's Kakashi. He recalled the pain in his neck before everything faded to black. Now, he was awake, but everything was different. Looking around, he suddenly shouted:

"Haku! Where are you?!"

His voice carried through the trees, but there was no response.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Zabuza frowned in frustration. He and Haku had always been together as rogue ninjas of the Mist. From the start, their cooperation had been seamless.

Haku's so-called mission to hunt him down had actually been a ploy to save him from Kakashi's grasp. The assassination attempt with senbon needles wasn't meant to kill him—it was a deception, a strategy to put him in a state of suspended animation and fool Kakashi. That way, Haku could ensure his safety.

But now, Zabuza was free, yet Haku was nowhere to be found.

He searched the surrounding woods for a long time, but there was no sign of Haku. Left with no other option, he set off in another direction. There was only one person he could think of who might know what happened—Kakashi.

On an autumn night, the full moon hung high, its silver glow filtering through the trees.

Uzumaki Raiden sat cross-legged by the waterfall, leaning against a tree trunk as he gazed up at the sky. The moonlight reflected off the lake, mirroring his silhouette on the water's surface.

Time had left no mark on Raiden's face.

At thirty-three years old, his complexion remained as youthful as a seventeen or eighteen-year-old's. If not for the overwhelming presence radiating from him, no one would believe that this seemingly young man was Konoha's Fourth Hokage—a figure of legend.

"Did he succeed?"

Raiden's quiet words drifted into the night as he looked toward the lake.

Splash!

A shark suddenly leaped from the water before swimming swiftly toward the shore, stopping a short distance from Raiden. Its movements were oddly graceful, almost resembling a dolphin's—if not for its fearsome, razor-sharp teeth.

The shark opened its mouth, spitting out a young boy.

Dressed in white, the boy lay unconscious, his brows furrowed tightly. It was Haku.

After delivering its cargo, the shark sank back into the lake.

Raiden stared at the unconscious boy for a long moment before nodding to himself.

"So, Haku is a boy."

There was no doubt—he had an Adam's apple.

"Huh...?"

Moments later, the boy groaned and slowly sat up, holding his head. His expression was filled with confusion as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

His gaze soon fell upon the red-haired man beneath the tree. Rising to his feet, he cautiously approached.

"Excuse me... where am I?"

"Did you bring me here?"

Haku's tone was polite and respectful, but as he spoke, he discreetly reached behind his back, pulling a kunai from his ninja pouch and gripping it tightly.

Kisame had been in such a rush to capture him that he hadn't taken away his weapons.

"This is Konoha."

"Calm down, young man."

Raiden spoke casually, as if unaware of Haku's subtle movement. But in the next instant, an overwhelming pressure surged from him.

In Haku's eyes, the man before him seemed to transform into an ancient beast. A terrifying presence bore down on him, freezing him in place.

His body began to tremble involuntarily. His legs weakened, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"You... Who the hell are you?!"

Haku's voice was filled with shock.

Under the moonlight, Uzumaki Raiden slowly rose to his feet. His long crimson hair swayed gently in the breeze.

"Uzumaki Raiden."

(End of the chapter)