A heavy mist drifted in.
Whenever Kirigakure showed up, it was always shrouded in dense fog.
Kiyosuke and Kakashi held their breath, concealed in the trees. Through Kiyosuke's thermal sensing, he could feel the heat signatures steadily drawing closer.
He whispered,
"Kakashi, five people at one o'clock, six at eleven o'clock."
"Got it."
Kakashi nodded and gripped his kunai tightly.
"One... two…"
"Three!!!"
Kiyosuke burst forward. Kakashi followed right behind. Scorching flames lit up the fog, revealing the panicked faces of Kirigakure ninja—who didn't even have time to scream before being swallowed by fire.
On Kakashi's side, not even a cry escaped. With blinding speed, he slit their throats one after another, mercilessly ending their lives.
As the bodies hit the ground, Kiyosuke said,
"The main force is about to arrive. Konoha and Kirigakure are headed for a direct confrontation."
"Then let's hold our ground here."
"I think we need to protect ourselves first. That last group was just the vanguard. The real trouble is only just starting."
He spoke softly, watching clusters of heat signatures approaching.
"They're here already?"
All Kakashi could see was a thick wall of mist—terrible conditions for a Sharingan.
"They're here. Water Release up front. Jump!"
Both of them leapt into the trees just as a towering wave—over ten meters high—crashed through, violently shaking the trunks. Thankfully, the trees were thick and tall enough to withstand the force.
"They've arrived. And there's a lot of them."
This time, Kakashi could see the chakra signals within the mist—each glow representing a person. A rough count showed nearly a thousand.
"About the same numbers as Konoha."
"I see them. This is going to be trouble. Do you sense any particularly strong chakra?"
"Quite a few."
The air grew noticeably colder—it was clear the Yuki clan had arrived.
"Move!"
Kiyosuke shoved Kakashi out of the way just in time as dozens of ice senbon slammed into the spot they had just been standing.
"Well, well... the little Konoha brat shows his face again. I remember you—Asakawa Kiyosuke. I didn't expect you to walk into your own death!"
A Kirigakure shinobi stepped forward—appearing feminine, but in truth a man. He wasn't alone either. More Kirigakure ninja emerged from the mist, surrounding them with hostile expressions.
"You know him?" Kakashi asked.
If he hadn't already known this Yuki clan ninja was male, he might've assumed from the tone and expression that Kiyosuke was dealing with the fallout of some messy romantic affair.
"Do I know you?" Kiyosuke looked at him with genuine confusion. "I don't think we've ever met."
"You haven't—but you killed my uncle. You also slaughtered many of our elite shinobi and members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. I, Yuki Sora, will avenge them."
"Oh?"
Kiyosuke raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"So that's what this is about. But don't you think... you're overestimating yourself just a bit?"
With a sudden lunge—so fast it defied belief—Kiyosuke grabbed Sora by the throat.
"I wasn't afraid of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen," he said coldly. "What makes you think a nobody like you can do anything to me?"
Crack-crack-crack!
Suddenly, jagged ice climbed up Kiyosuke's arm, creeping toward his shoulder with biting cold.
But the next instant—whoosh—flames erupted around him, melting the frost and scorching Sora's throat. He let out a shriek of pain.
"Let him go!"
"Release him!"
"Everyone, rush him together! He's from Konoha—no need to fight him one-on-one!"
Kakashi sighed and charged forward, kicking one of the enemy shinobi away and following it with a kunai to the forehead.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Twin torrents of water clashed mid-air, startling the enemy. Kakashi rushed in, his Sharingan glowing.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
The target was instantly caught in the illusion and dropped like a stone.
Kiyosuke snapped Sora's neck and swung his arm—flames erupted into the air, splitting apart into several streams. Under his control, they curved mid-flight, setting the surrounding Kirigakure ninja ablaze.
He clapped his hands.
"They're here."
"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet!"
Kiyosuke and Kakashi dodged just in time as a squad of Kirigakure shinobi arrived. At the front stood none other than the current wielder of Samehada—Kisame Hoshigaki.
"Well, well—Asakawa-san. What a coincidence. We meet again."
Despite his shark-like features, Kisame was oddly polite, greeting them with a toothy smile. That smile, paired with his face, only made him more unsettling.
"Ah, what luck," Kiyosuke replied dryly. "Honestly, you're the last person I wanted to run into."
Kisame was far more dangerous than Fuguki Suikazan. If not for Kiyosuke, Fuguki would've been killed by Kisame—even while wielding Samehada. That alone spoke volumes about Kisame's strength.
"Another familiar face?"
"Of course. This guy's one of the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen. But really... aren't you the only one left?"
"That's true," Kisame replied with a grin. "Asakawa-san dealt a devastating blow to Kirigakure. Ironically, it's thanks to you that I got this position."
He raised Samehada, its wrappings bursting apart to reveal its grotesque body.
"Must be a pain to rewrap that thing every time."
"..." Kakashi.
"..." Kisame.
"..." The Kirigakure shinobi.
Is this really the time for such talk...?
Kakashi was starting to understand why Kiyosuke got along with Obito. Both of them were complete idiots.
Idiots attract other idiots, it seemed.
"You really are quite the character," Kisame chuckled. "It is a hassle, but I don't mind. After a battle, wrapping Samehada back up feels... relaxing."
Seriously, this is not the time!
"Kisame-sama, maybe now's not the time for this," one of the shinobi whispered nervously.
"You're right."
Kisame chuckled again, then suddenly darted forward, swinging Samehada. Kiyosuke dodged immediately.
"Kakashi! Don't let that sword touch you—it drains chakra!"
With Kakashi's already limited reserves—especially after getting the Sharingan—just a few hits and he'd be out of commission.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A fireball flew in from the side, but Kisame didn't flinch. A ninja behind him spat out a stream of water, extinguishing the flames. Kisame stood atop a branch, unfazed.
"Looks like Konoha really went all out this time. This won't be easy."
More Konoha shinobi emerged. Up on a branch stood Orochimaru, a cold smile on his face. He looked toward the newest arrival—the Third Mizukage, his face pale.
The great battle was about to begin.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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