Chapter 30
Naruto had once been nothing more than a kid when Kisame first saw him—just a brat who happened to be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Back then, during his mission with Itachi, Kisame barely spared him a second thought.
But time had a funny way of changing things.
In just a few short years, that same kid had grown terrifyingly fast. He'd killed Kakuzu with a single blow—not once, but twice—and had even managed to take down Pain, Akatsuki's public face and their most fearsome warrior at the time. Now, even Obito had started to see Naruto as a serious threat, and was scrambling to react with contingency plans.
Kisame's tone dropped low, almost grim. "You're someone Akatsuki planned to capture eventually. And now, you've taken the eyes Obito was aiming for. You and I… we're enemies, plain and simple. I don't see a single reason why you'd try to save me."
Naruto's voice was calm. "Sometimes, the reason comes after the decision."
Kisame narrowed his eyes. "That's a nice line. But whatever you're planning… don't expect me to play along."
A small smile formed beneath Naruto's mask. "I get that. That's why I respect you."
On the ground, both Raikage and Killer Bee were still groaning in pain, not yet able to move. Their combined attack—delivered with monstrous speed and raw power—would've killed most shinobi outright. The fact that they were still breathing spoke volumes about their durability.
Darui and the rest of the Yunyin ninja hurried over.
Darui scowled as he helped his comrades. "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, you again? Weren't you satisfied after crashing the Five Kage Summit? You fed my boss intel, and he gave you a chance to walk away. But here you are again, causing trouble. Why?"
Naruto glanced over at Killer Bee, then back at Darui. "He got what he wanted—he saved his brother. Now I'm saving the one I want."
Darui's expression hardened. "The one you want to save is that Akatsuki bastard? Kisame doesn't even want your help. So what's your real goal?"
Naruto shrugged. "Not everything needs an explanation."
Darui clenched his fists. "Then let's settle this the shinobi way!"
He made a quick set of seals.
"—Storm Release: Laser Circus!"
Water vapor surged from his palms, merging with his chakra. In a flash, countless laser-like beams of light shot toward Naruto, each one humming with dangerous precision.
Naruto calmly raised one hand, a faint glow building around it. A translucent barrier flared to life—then shimmered as his left eye pulsed with power.
"—Preta Path."
Each beam of light slammed into the barrier, only to dissolve harmlessly, absorbed into nothingness.
Lowering his hand, Naruto said coldly, "I'm not here to fight."
Darui gritted his teeth. "Tch… what a ridiculous eye."
Without a word, Naruto reached up to his mask—the one with a single hole for his left eye—and slowly pulled it off.
Facing Kisame, he spoke clearly. "I know you won't abandon your beliefs. I'm not asking you to. So… forgive me."
His right eye opened—revealing a new Mangekyou Sharingan, four-cornered and burning crimson.
A subtle pulse of chakra flickered out.
"—Kotoamatsukami."
There was no drama, no flash of light. Just silence.
The change was seamless—imperceptible. Kisame blinked, blinked again… then slowly extended his arm, fingers pushing through the dirt.
Naruto stepped forward, smiling as he reached out to help him up.
"Please take care of me, Kisame."
Brushing off the soil from his cloak, Kisame straightened up. "Of course. It's an honor."
Darui's eyes went wide. "What…? No way! That can't be right! Kisame was just ready to die rather than surrender. You expect me to believe he suddenly flipped sides?"
Naruto gave no answer.
The light faded from his Sharingan as the tomoe receded back to their original form. He slipped the mask over his face again.
Then he lifted his left hand behind Darui, casually pointing it toward Killer Bee.
"—Banshō Ten'in."
The sharkskin sword—Samehada—was yanked from Killer Bee's back and flew straight into Naruto's grip.
As soon as it touched his palm, the blade lashed out violently, sharp spines piercing his hand and drawing blood. Naruto didn't even flinch.
The sword immediately began draining his chakra, the hungry hilt pulsing with greed. But a moment later, that draining reversed direction.
Naruto activated Preta Path again.
Chakra surged from the blade back into Naruto, and Samehada started to shrivel, shrinking as its power was overpowered.
It thrashed once… then gave up.
The bloated blade shrank to a docile size and drooped like a whipped dog.
Naruto tossed it at Kisame's feet.
"Here. It's yours."
Kisame leaned down, gently cradling the sword in one arm. "Another betrayer, huh? Guess we're stuck together now, Samehada."
The man who once served Akatsuki loyally was now fully under Naruto's control.
This was the true power of Kotoamatsukami.
Naruto quickly wrapped his bleeding hand in bandages, then knelt down and pressed a kunai into the earth, a sealing tag attached.
With his other arm draped casually over Kisame's shoulder, he looked at the stunned Yunyin ninja.
"Well then… goodbye."
In a flash of light, they vanished.
"—Flying Thunder God Jutsu."
BOOM!
The tag detonated behind them, obliterating all traces of blood or evidence.
In the distance, a small snake peered through the grass, tongue flicking.
"Heh. Not even a drop left behind," it hissed. "He's not the reckless fool from before… no wonder even Lord Orochimaru had to take him seriously."
Back at the battlefield…
"Ugh…"
Raikage stirred.
"Where's that shark bastard!?"
Killer Bee groaned. "Where's my Goodkid!?"
Darui sighed. "They're gone. Naruto took him."
Raikage exploded with fury. "That damn Uzumaki again! If I ever get my hands on him—his head's mine!!"
Killer Bee looked down sadly at his now-missing sword.
"…Yo, yo, my Goodkid left, I'm all alone, this brotherhood pain hits deep in my bones…"
"Bi…"
"Bro…"
CHOP!
Raikage slammed a palm down on Bee's head.
"Idiot, stop singing!!!"
"Awoooooooooo!!! My brain's exploding—!"
The rest of Yunyin could only sigh and exchange helpless looks.
Elsewhere…
Naruto reappeared in a quiet forest clearing where Konan and Orochimaru were already waiting.
Kisame smiled. "Konan. Orochimaru. Never thought I'd be working alongside you."
Orochimaru gave a sly smirk. "Neither did I. Say, can I borrow your Samehada for a little research?"
Konan ignored the banter. "Our mission's done. Shall we head back to the Hidden Rain?"
But Naruto looked off into the horizon, where the fading sun bathed the sky in red and gold. It reminded him of his old training grounds—of a place he used to visit after every session.
Now… he might never go back.
"…Not yet," he murmured. "There's somewhere I still need to go."
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