"It's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"
Before Itachi could even speak, Kisame's eyes widened in disbelief. The sheer pressure radiating from Menma filled him with terror.
This sense of danger was far greater than what he felt around the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, the supposed perfect Jinchuriki! When he had faced Yagura in Kirigakure, he never felt this desperate urge to run.
However, this was just a feeling of crisis. In a real fight, Kisame felt he wouldn't necessarily lose. He had killed his former superior, Fuguki Suikazan, who exuded immense pressure just by standing there, with a few short blows.
Unless this Nine-Tails Jinchuriki possessed Mangekyou Sharingan genjutsu like Itachi, this "magic-resistant" warrior would have to accept defeat.
Thinking this, Kisame stopped fighting Haku. He turned and raised Samehada horizontally, aiming it at Menma.
"Itachi-san, you can continue training your younger brother. I'll handle capturing the Nine-Tails. I'm best at exhausting people to the point where they can't resist..."
Possessing Samehada, which absorbed chakra, Kisame was practically the nemesis of Jinchuriki! The sword in his hand was practically leaping out, eager to feast. He certainly couldn't let go of this rare opportunity.
Not far away, Sasuke Uchiha, still being choked by Itachi, caught sight of Menma's arrival. He shouted with hatred and resentment, "Menma! You're not allowed to interfere! I'll kill him myself, tear him to pieces!"
As Sasuke shouted, Kisame swooped down. In the blink of an eye, he was behind Menma. His shark-like face contorted with ruthlessness as he raised Samehada and slashed down at Menma's chakra fox tail.
"Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome!"
Whoosh! Boom!
Ice crystals flew as the ice wall shattered and collapsed. Moments ago, Haku had been far away, but now he stood directly in front of Menma. He panted heavily, exhausted, his body covered in wounds. Even the Nine-Tails Chakra Cloak emanating from his body had been completely extinguished after being touched by Samehada again.
But the delicate face showed no fear; his gaze locked intently on Kisame.
"Your opponent is me now! If you want to fight anyone else, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
As a subordinate, his role was to stand at the forefront and share the burden for his master. Even injured and unable to fight, he had to use his body to hold off the enemy. This was the principle Zabuza Momochi had instilled in him, and the creed he had always upheld.
His attack blocked, Kisame's eyes flickered slightly, and a cruel smile crossed his face.
"I was just playing around with you a little. I didn't devour all your chakra to kill you. Since you're so ungrateful, then I'll just have to ask you to die!"
With his voice rising in pitch, Kisame once again completely unwrapped his bandages. Samehada, its spikes standing on end and its mouth wide open revealing sharp teeth, slashed toward Haku's snow-white neck.
But Haku, his chakra nearly exhausted, showed no fear. A bandaged figure flashed in his eyes, and he gripped the senbon in his hand.
"Zabuza-nii, you'll be proud of me..."
Clang!
The expected scene of Samehada slicing through the senbon and Haku's neck didn't happen. Instead, a golden-red fox tail extended, firmly blocking Samehada's gaping maw as it greedily devoured the chakra. Immediately afterward, another fox tail shot out, sending Haku flying and crashing to the side.
Then, Menma's cold, annoyed voice rang out.
"I don't have the habit of hiding behind others. Get out of the way. You're in my way."
This self-righteous act of rushing in to sacrifice himself, protecting a powerful teammate with a weak body, and then feeling self-satisfied... Menma felt utterly baffled and couldn't understand this kind of spirit at all.
"Shouldn't you stay on the sidelines, a cheerleader watching your powerful teammate crush the enemy?"
"What a ruthless and arrogant Jinchuriki~"
As Samehada continued to channel the powerful Nine-Tails chakra, Kisame was no longer afraid but utterly confident.
"That Ice Release brat clearly felt his chakra depletion, which is why he helped you defend. If I were you, I would have run away right then and there. But you were completely ungrateful, foolishly daring to directly touch my Samehada with your chakra."
Kisame looked at Samehada, which had nearly doubled in size, and a mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Hehehe... Your defeat is inevitable. Let me cut off your legs and take you back~"
With that, he exerted force in his arm again, intending to swing Samehada to chop at Menma's legs. But even with a mighty effort, he couldn't move Samehada in his hand!
"What's going on!?" A bad premonition arose.
Kisame turned his head in surprise, looking at Samehada. The fox tail, originally golden-red chakra, was now inexplicably crimson, almost black! At the same time, a terrifying, evil, desperate, and resentful aura emanated from it, as if some evil god had descended upon the world!
Samehada, which had been absorbing the fox tail's chakra, was trembling like a leaf, looking terrified and in pain!
Menma's emotionless, cold voice rang out again.
"I may not have much else, but I have a lot of chakra. Since you want to devour it, then I'll let you devour it all at once."
As he spoke, more of his inner emotions, combined with the Nine-Tails' chakra, corrupted the man and the sword. In an instant, Samehada, unable to withstand it, began to transfer large amounts of chakra toward Kisame.
Kisame's expression twisted, followed by a cacophony of whispered curses and chaotic screams filling his ears! Madness and frenzy completely corrupted and filled his mind!
"Aaaaaaah!!! Stop! Get out of my head! I'm going to kill you all!!!"
Watching Kisame, his eyes bloodshot, wildly attacking the air without any reason, the tip of the fox tail behind Menma flicked gently. The next second, Kisame was sent flying backward, blood gushing from his mouth and nose! A huge, bleeding hole appeared in his abdomen!
Taking advantage of the brief moment of clarity that came through the excruciating pain, Kisame immediately shouted toward Itachi Uchiha, who was not far away.
"Itachi-san, save me!"
On the other side... Itachi's eyes, adorned with three tomoe that spun in the shape of a triangular windmill, spoke to Sasuke Uchiha, who was staring blankly, word by word.
"My foolish and weak brother, your hatred is far from enough, and your tailed beast chakra is utterly useless! If you want to defeat me, then hate me even more, and unleash the ultimate power born from that hatred..."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Kisame's cries for help came from afar. Itachi's pupils darted around, and he immediately saw Kisame, severely injured and mentally unstable. The next moment, Sasuke collapsed weakly to the ground.
And Itachi appeared beside Kisame.
"Such terrifying negative emotions... Disperse!"
An invisible power of sight extended from Itachi's eyes. The darkness clinging to Kisame's spirit instantly dissipated by more than half! Without giving Kisame a moment to recover, Itachi grabbed Kisame, lifted him up, and quickly ran into the distance.
"Mission accomplished. We're withdrawing!"
Seeing this, Menma grinned silently.
"Did I say you could leave?"
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