Chapter 81: Samehada.

"Water Style – Exploding Water Colliding Wave!" "Water Style – Great Exploding Water Wave!" Mangetsu and Yagura moved in unison, both unleashing a massive surge of water that surged like a tsunami, flooding the battlefield and overwhelming the surrounding Konoha ninja. Being water-style users, they were at a disadvantage in a dry environment, so they first created one suitable for aquatic combat. This tactic, extravagant yet effective, was frequently used by Kisame Hoshigaki in the original series. Now that both Mangetsu and Yagura possessed tailed beast chakra sealed within them, they had more than enough energy to sustain this approach. After all, the tailed beast chakra within them could regenerate over time. "I'm suddenly having second thoughts," Kisame muttered helplessly. The sheer power of tailed beast chakra was overwhelming. "Kisame, Zenkichi Sama instructed me to give you this." Mangetsu retrieved a scroll and summoned Samehada, tossing the great sword to Kisame. "Samehada? Wouldn't this be more useful in the hands of Fuguki Suikazan?" Kisame hesitated for a moment, unsure. "Who knows?" "Zenkichi-Sama believes you're the most suitable wielder." "Maybe you lack confidence, but don't let him down." Mangetsu shook his head and replied firmly. "I get it." Kisame gripped Samehada, and his expression changed instantly. He could feel his chakra being rapidly drained. Samehada was devouring it. "This sword..." Kisame's eyes widened as his voice grew weak. Samehada was absorbing his chakra at an alarming rate, quickly reducing him to a dry husk. Unlike other ninja tools, Samehada was alive—and dangerous. If the wielder wasn't compatible, it would turn on them. Fortunately, Kisame was gifted. His chakra wasn't just vast—it was high in quality. After absorbing Kisame's chakra, Samehada recognized his strength and returned it, now refined and even more potent. "This sword is incredible!" Feeling the chakra flow back, enhanced and pure, a grin spread across Kisame's face. "You tamed it already?" "As expected of Lord Zenkichi. He has an eye for talent." Mangetsu looked at him in awe. "I'm gonna wreck them!" Kisame roared as he charged forward, swinging Samehada with confidence, cutting down Konoha's Anbu one after another. Kisame's talent had never been ordinary. He didn't earn the nickname "Tailless Tailed Beast" for nothing. His body was physically mutated, and his chakra reserves rivaled those of an Uzumaki. Combined with Samehada and Zenkichi's training in the Six Styles—his personal ninjutsu-based version—plus a library of Water Style jutsu, Kisame could now stand toe-to-toe with elite Jonin. "Let's move!" Terumi Mei shouted to Ao, her voice filled with fighting spirit. Crimson tailed beast chakra began to flow around her. Ninjas often had high offense but low defense. As Zenkichi's pseudo-jinchūriki, however, their weaknesses had been patched. The tailed beast cloak alone was enough to resist most A-rank ninjutsu. Mangetsu and the others activated their tailed beast cloaks as well, no longer fearing sneak attacks. They now functioned as warriors, assassins, mages, supports—and tanks, something rare among shinobi. "Six jinchūriki? Ridiculous!" "Shurikens won't work! Use ninjutsu to break through their defenses!" After failing to penetrate the cloaks with projectiles, the Konoha ANBU resorted to ninjutsu. "Ninjutsu? We've got that too!" Mangetsu sneered, forming seals. A massive water dragon surged from the water beneath him, striking the enemy. "Water Style – Water Dragon Bullet!" "Water Style – Great Waterfall Jutsu!" Yagura followed up with his own technique, sending a towering wave crashing down upon the Konoha ninja. --- Within the heart of Konoha Village, chaos unfolded. While Zenkichi's jinchūriki squad wreaked havoc inside, the ninja forces outside the village closed in rapidly. Among the Konoha forces, the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish had a sour expression. As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, he had just lost Samehada. Judging from how the blade vanished, it was clear it had been summoned via scroll from the village. Even though Master Yuan had warned him, he hadn't expected it to happen so suddenly. Still, knowing Zenkichi was the one behind it, he held back his rage—and instead unleashed it on the Konoha defenders. --- Inside Konoha Village... Zenkichi stood tall, watching Danzo Shimura and the others attempt to flee. He raised his golden energy blade and slashed down. A torrent of sword energy, as massive as a tsunami, roared forward. It caught Danzo and his allies almost instantly. Golden beams of condensed energy burst from Zenkichi's hands, cutting through the air like pressurized jets. Mitokado Homura couldn't dodge in time—he was sliced clean in two. Danzo's leg was severed, and he limped away in agony. Koharu Utatane was surprisingly nimble and escaped mostly unharmed. Burubi and Ebizo had long vanished. Zenkichi didn't worry. He already knew no one would get far. His Observation Haki blanketed all of Konoha, and with light-speed movement, no one could truly escape. Still, if they wanted to play hide-and-seek, he'd humor them. "I don't think they really intend to escape," Tsunade said coolly, watching their retreating figures. "They're probably rallying their remaining forces, trying to concentrate their strength against Zenkichi." "And with Konoha in chaos, someone needs to keep their men from falling apart." --- Y'all be stingy with Powerstones.... (⁠@⁠_⁠@⁠;⁠)