Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 216: Even More Impressive Than Itachi

The sharp clash of metal resonated continuously by the hot springs.

Wielding his ninja sword, Sasuke slashed and parried with the precision granted by his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, overwhelming Kisame, who had once left him in dire straits. Each strike aimed for Kisame's vital points with difficult-to-predict angles.

Barely evading another near-lethal strike, Kisame used Samehada to block the next attack. As he retreated to the edge of the hot spring, he felt the discontent from Samehada and grinned:

"I know you prefer slashing rather than blunt force, but sometimes you don't have a choice."

Kisame spoke while observing Sasuke, who had relentlessly pressed on without a break.

In just two short years, Sasuke had grown immensely.

The pressure Sasuke now exerted on him was even greater than Itachi's.

"Truly worthy of being brothers."

Kisame reflected as he quickly formed hand seals:

"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"

Sasuke, observing with his Sharingan, instantly copied the jutsu and countered:

"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"

Sharks formed from water clashed mid-air, each collision creating explosive impacts.

Sasuke's hand glowed with lightning, wrapping his water sharks in a sheath of electricity, which then tore through Kisame's water sharks and continued towards him.

Kisame, unable to dodge in time, turned into water and dispersed.

"A water clone."

Sasuke's gaze swept the area and then looked down.

Splash!

Water burst upward as the real Kisame emerged, swinging Samehada towards Sasuke.

Sasuke's body flickered with lightning, ready to sidestep.

However, Samehada suddenly expanded, its bandages bursting to reveal a grotesque fish-like creature with sharp scales, which bit down on Sasuke's Lightning Release chakra.

Instantly, the lightning surrounding Sasuke vanished, slowing his movements.

Kisame moved in to strike Sasuke's neck, but then—

Suddenly!

Samehada trembled.

Before Kisame could react, a surge of chakra from Samehada flowed into his body.

Crack! Crack!

The sound of breaking glass echoed.

Kisame realized the scenery around him had changed.

"I'm caught in a genjutsu? When did this happen?"

In a blink, Sasuke's figure disappeared.

Before he could react further, the chirping of a thousand birds filled his ears.

"Not good!"

Kisame's expression changed, but he was too slow to avoid it.

Sasuke's Chidori pierced through his chest.

Coughing up blood, Kisame, undeterred, swung Samehada.

Sasuke withdrew, having achieved his aim.

Samehada's handle extended over ten meters, slashing towards Sasuke.

Clang!

Sasuke deflected the attack with his sword but was pushed back a few steps.

Kisame quickly retracted Samehada, channeling its stored chakra into himself, healing his wounds rapidly.

"That was close."

Feeling his body return to peak condition, Kisame scanned Sasuke.

"Those eyes are even more formidable than Itachi's."

"One of the Seven Ninja Swords, Samehada, huh?"

On the other side, Sasuke noted Kisame's changes and glanced at Samehada.

He had seen the Decapitating Carving Knife, another of the Seven Ninja Swords, long ago.

By comparison, Samehada seemed far more valuable.

"A sentient sword, interesting."

As he assessed Samehada, he thought of the smith, Seimei, back in Lockfront Village.

Both were tools, likely with much in common.

After a brief pause, Sasuke refocused on Kisame.

With the power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, his strength had surpassed many.

Few in the ninja world could pose a significant threat to him now.

Kisame was not among those few.

Realizing the dire situation, Kisame decided to unleash his full power. He swiftly formed hand seals, pouring his immense chakra into the jutsu:

"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"

Kisame spewed a massive wave, flooding the area and creating a colossal water prison, trapping Sasuke inside.

Merging with Samehada, Kisame became a true fish-man, freely moving within the water prison.

Even so, Kisame made another hand seal:

"Water Release: Thousand Feeding Sharks!"

Thousands of water sharks formed and relentlessly attacked Sasuke from all directions.

Seeing this, Sasuke remained calm, touching his left eye.

As the sharks closed in, his left eye's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan activated.

"Amaterasu!"

Black flames, burning everything in their path, spread rapidly within the water prison, turning it into a blazing inferno.

"Trouble!"

Knowing the terror of Amaterasu from Itachi, Kisame was shocked to see Sasuke wielding the same technique. He had no choice but to flee to avoid being engulfed by the black flames.

Boom!

The massive water prison burst like a popped balloon, replaced by the spreading black fire.

With his strongest technique easily countered, Kisame resorted to other methods to continue the fight.

But all his moves, including Samehada's chakra absorption, were ineffective against Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Ten minutes later.

Samehada was knocked aside, and Kisame fell to the ground, defeated.

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