"Hiss—that looks painful."
Naruto watched the battle on the training ground with a pained expression.
Even Sasuke, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.
Neji's month-long special training was too painful. It wasn't really training, it was more like a one-sided beating.
Initially, only Naruto and Sasuke experienced it once or twice before they couldn't endure it anymore and started their own sparring matches. But Neji had been at it for almost a month, coming out bruised and battered almost every day.
Even Hinata and Ino's Medical Ninjutsu had improved as a result.
"But, I have to say, Neji's strength has improved significantly."
Shikamaru, who was nearby, held a different opinion, as Neji's progress over the past month was substantial.
Hearing this, Sasuke and Naruto were momentarily stunned, then exchanged glances.
Should they let Shinji-sensei train them like that too?
Bang!
A sound echoed, and Neji's figure was sent flying like a cannonball.
"Gulp—"
Naruto swallowed hard, then shook his head. How could he have such a dangerous thought?
"Alright, that's enough." After sending Neji flying, Shinji stopped and said.
"This month's intensive training is a pass. You can rest tomorrow."
"Yes, sensei." Neji got up and nodded. He was covered in dirt and injuries.
For the past month, to maximize combat effectiveness, Shinji had suppressed half of his strength and unilaterally beat Neji. This was to strengthen his combat skills.
After all, it was wartime, and ninjas from enemy nations might be encountered during missions.
Hinata and Ino quickly stepped forward to begin healing Neji.
"Naruto, you guys will mostly be in the training ground from now on. Remember not to train at home, okay?"
Shinji repeated the precautions to Naruto and the others.
After all, there was still no news of Black Zetsu, that old sly fox.
Even the Akatsuki, which had sent Kakuzu and Kisame, seemed to have vanished.
However, thinking of Kisame, Shinji couldn't help but curl his lips. Samehada had been sealed in a location within Konoha. But that fellow was quite patient. Using the last bit of Chakra from samehada, he still refused to come out. However, before leaving the village, he would have to deal with it.
—
Deep beneath Konoha's Intelligence Department, Shinji arrived with light footsteps.
Inoichi, hearing the sound, turned around. Seeing it was Shinji, he smiled and said, "Yo, Shinji, what brings you here today?"
"I'm about to leave the village, Inoichi-senpai. How is it?" Shinji asked, looking at samehada, which was restrained by a Fuinjutsu on a stone platform.
"Still the same. If you hadn't kept telling me for sure, I would have given up." Inoichi shook his head.
Such a thing was hard to believe. Which ninja could hide inside a weapon for over a month without eating or drinking?
Shinji rubbed his brow upon hearing this. The intelligence division hadn't stopped trying to provoke samehada lately. But Kisame was very patient, acting as if if they couldn't sense him.
"How about I give it a try?" Shinji hesitated for a moment before speaking.
He had handed it over to the intelligence department earlier, hoping to extract valuable information from samehada. After all, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were quite famous.
Although their individual strengths were not weak, apart from the Kubikiribocho, the other six swords each had their unique merits.
Inoichi nodded. "That's fine. All the necessary research has been done, so it's better to deal with it."
Although it was a bit regrettable, if the person inside were to escape unnoticed, it would not be good for Konoha.
Shinji nodded, then waved his hand, and about ten Anbu immediately stepped forward to surround the area.
With the preparations complete, he didn't hesitate and stepped up to the stone platform. He then formed several hand seals, and black threads spread out, moving towards samehada.
Inoichi, seeing this, was stunned for a moment, but then shook his head. This was not the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Jutsu.
As the black threads gradually penetrated, samehada seemed truly dead, not moving at all. If Shinji's perception wasn't different from ordinary perception, he might have been fooled.
Shinji looked at the motionless samehada and spoke, "What's wrong, Kisame? You've been hiding for a month, aren't you coming out yet?"
"Fine, if you're not coming out, then I'll just crush it directly. After all, it no longer has any research value."
Seeing that there was still no movement, Shinji's eyes turned cold.
The black threads suddenly accelerated, tightly binding samehada. Under this immense force, it seemed as if it would crack apart any second.
Whoosh—
Just then, a white shadow dodged the black threads and shot towards the underground exit.
"Get him!" Inoichi looked displeased.
He genuinely hadn't expected that someone could actually hide inside a weapon for nearly a month.
Before Inoichi's words finished, the surrounding Anbu pulled out scrolls. A Fuinjutsu formula instantly unfolded, forming a circular barrier.
Bang!
The shadow that burst out of samehada crashed into the Fuinjutsu formula but couldn't get out.
Plop—
Kisame's figure dropped. He was completely naked and looked cautiously at Shinji, who stood before him.
"So, you knew from the beginning?"
Kisame found it hard to believe, as his method was absolutely undetectable.
Shinji said indifferently, "Actually, if you could have suppressed your malice, you might really have been able to avoid detection."
In truth, it wasn't for that reason, but because of his unique perception. Even without activating Sage Mode, some of his abilities could still be used, though the range wouldn't be too wide.
Kisame's expression froze upon hearing this.
Malice?
He was defeated by this?
"Heh, it doesn't matter. This Fuinjutsu can't be entered or exited, which means my opponent is temporarily just you."
Kisame bared his teeth, his eyes full of cold light as he looked at Shinji.
Shinji: "..."
You might want to think about how you got caught here?
Who gave you this confidence? Madara?
Ignoring him, Shinji had no interest in fighting Kisame again. Besides, the information about the Akatsuki should be known to the village.
"It's time for you to sleep."
Before his words finished, Kisame, who was about to attack Shinji, trembled and looked at Shinji as if he couldn't believe it.
The next moment, his head drooped limply.
"Knowing you were inside, how could I only want to find your location?"
Shinji raised his hand, and several black threads pulled Kisame's body towards him.