107. Reunion

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Kisame stared intently at Neji. That speed just now was absurd. If he hadn't raised [Samehada] in time, the damage would've been critical.

This brat... no joke.

He needed space. Fast.

Kisame released [Samehada], hands flashing into a rapid string of hand signs. His movements blurred like illusions.

Neji's ears twitched. He stepped forward, vanishing in a blur.

"Hand signs in the middle of a fight?" Neji scoffed. "You're too honest."

CRACK!

Neji's fist blasted through Kisame's chest except…

It burst into water.

"A clone?"

Kisame's voice came from behind. "Water Release: Water Prison!"

The liquid from the clone sloshed together, rising like a living tide. Tendrils lashed out and encased Neji like a fluid sarcophagus.

Inside the watery sphere, Neji didn't panic.

"Trying to trap me with a trick like this?"

He opened his palm, then clenched it tight.

"[Shock Pulse]."

BOOM!

A rippling shockwave detonated from his body. The [Water Prison] exploded into a steaming mist.

But Kisame had already repositioned.

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

From his gaping maw, an impossible torrent of water burst forth. Within moments, the deforested battlefield was submerged under a newly formed lake.

Neji leaped into the air, frowning. Classic terrain manipulation. Kisame knew how to play to his strengths.

"Water Release: Water Shark Bomb!"

A massive shark-shaped missile surged upward from the water, aimed directly at Neji.

[Tempest Kick]!

Chakra surged through his leg, pulling in wind like a vacuum.

WHOOSH!

Neji's kick unleashed a blade of air so sharp it cleaved the shark in two and kept going.

Kisame readied [Samehada], but the blade wasn't chakra it was raw air pressure.

[Samehada] shrieked in resistance.

Kisame's instincts screamed. He sidestepped just in time.

BOOM!

The blast split the lake and scarred the earth beneath.

He wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, eyes narrowing.

"That wasn't chakra… How the hell did you do that?"

It didn't make sense.

Neji wasn't using chakra. He wasn't using jutsu. And yet, he was winning.

The shark-faced swordsman glanced at Neji's movements.

He was relying entirely on taijutsu.

Almost as if… he knew Samehada could absorb chakra.

That awareness put Kisame on edge.

---

Back at the inn.

Knock, knock, knock!

Naruto groaned. "Ugh… I just started meditating."

He got up, muttering, "Where'd Neji run off to anyway?"

The door creaked open.

A figure loomed over him red eyes spinning with three tomoe.

Naruto froze.

"Sa—Sasuke?"

No.

Something was off.

Those weren't his eyes.

The man stepped into the room, voice flat.

"Come with me, Naruto."

"Wait, who are you?! What's your connection to Sasuke?!"

The man's expression turned icy.

"You don't need to know. All you need to understand is this: the Nine-Tails sealed inside you have already decided your fate."

Naruto's blood ran cold. He knows… about the Nine-Tails?!

"Let's go," the man ordered.

Naruto felt it oppressive, suffocating pressure. His body refused to move freely. Whoever this was… he was on a different level.

Slowly, stiffly, Naruto stepped outside the room.

---

Moments earlier…

Sasuko had been searching for Kakashi when the rumors reached her Itachi was in the area.

Worse: his target was Naruto.

It made her stomach churn.

And then she heard something else.

Neji was with Naruto.

She'd been meaning to talk to him…

But now?

Now it felt like everyone was moving without her.

She swept through several inns, searching, and finally, finally she found them.

---

Now.

Naruto stepped into the hallway.

At the far end of the corridor, she stood.

Sasuke.

Long hair framed a cold, beautiful face. Crimson eyes spun with two tomoe. Her stance—tense, furious.

Itachi didn't even turn.

"…Sasuke."

His voice carried down the hall, low and sharp.

"It's been a while. I lost a brother, and gained a sister instead."

"You're still weak. Still unable to protect yourself."

"Turned into a woman, and still pathetic."

Sasuko's fists clenched.

Weak?

He had no idea what she'd sacrificed.

No idea what becoming like this had cost her.

All she'd ever wanted all she lived for was one thing.

Revenge.

"…Uchiha Itachi…"

Her bangs shadowed her face.

"I'm going to kill you."

Naruto's jaw dropped.

Wait—that's… Sasuke's brother?!

Memories of their mission in the Land of Waves flashed back to Sasuke bleeding, broken, swearing to live only to kill his brother.

Naruto's heart sank.

What kind of monster would turn a sibling into… this?

ZZZZZT!

A thousand birds screeched.

Lightning danced around Sasuko's hand.

[Chidori].

Her red eyes locked onto Itachi.

"I hated you. I lived because I hated you!"

The crackling jutsu grew louder. Her fingers bled from the strain, but she didn't care.

All that mattered… was killing him.

She screamed.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Sasuko lunged.

Itachi merely raised a hand.

CLACK.

He caught her wrist.

Effortless.

This [Chidori] was nothing to him.

His gaze flicked down to her trembling arm.

Thinner now.

Her body had changed.

But her hatred?

Still beautiful.

His Sharingan twitched.

Then—boom.

A wave of unsettling chakra rippled through the hall.

His eyes darted toward Naruto.

The boy was trying struggling to tap into the Nine-Tails.

Itachi's voice dropped.

"Look into my eyes."

Naruto's gaze met his and froze.

Caught in genjutsu.

But then—

FLASH!

A hand landed on Naruto's back.

Genjutsu snapped.

Itachi's expression darkened.

Trouble.

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