After entering the Kamui Space once more, Wen Lan replaced more than half of the giant shuriken and explosive tags stored inside.
Just thinking about what Obito would look like when he tried to use them made Wen Lan eager to laugh.
Early the next morning, Wen Lan dressed neatly and arrived in front of the Hokage Tower. The morning light had just begun to rise, and a cool bre eze brushed through his hair.
When he entered the Hokage's office, he saw Morino Ibiki, dressed in a black trench coat with two scars across his face.
Namikaze Minato sat behind the desk, while Nara Shikaku stood to the side, glaring at Wen Lan with deep resentment.
It was obvious—yesterday had completely exhausted him.
Wen Lan coughed lightly and stood at the doorway, pretending to be calm.
"Sorry I'm late."
Minato looked up and said solemnly,
"For this handover mission, the Hokage Aide's orders take absolute priority.
Ibiki, that includes you as well.
I only have one requirement—you must all return safely."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Soon after, Wen Lan, Morino Ibiki, and ten ANBU members quickly departed from Konoha.
The morning fog had yet to disperse as the squad sped through the forest.
After several days of nonstop travel, they finally reached the outskirts of Kirigakure.
Mist rolled across the surface of the lake, ripples spreading outward—the far shore held Kirigakure's forward outpost.
Trying to cross by boat was obviously impossible.
Wen Lan activated his Sharingan, scanned the surroundings, and said softly,
"No enemies nearby. Enter the water—dive across."
No one objected. The squad submerged instantly.
The seawater was biting cold. Holding their breath, they moved like fish beneath the dark surface.
After reaching the opposite shore, Wen Lan raised a hand, signaling them to halt.
Cold, damp wind mixed with thick fog, severely limiting visibility. His Sharingan caught several faint chakra silhouettes moving in the darkness.
Kirigakure patrols—three-man teams, spaced fifty meters apart, moving in triangular formations.
Carefully, Wen Lan led the group around the patrol routes, hugging the shadows of the rocks. At last, they slipped through the defensive net.
Once they reached a safe zone, Ibiki quietly opened a scroll and whispered,
"Aide-sama, according to the route provided by Kisame's superior, Fuguki Suikazan, it'll take us about an hour at full speed to reach their mandatory transit point."
"Lead the way. We must arrive before that squad does."
"Yes."
Ibiki immediately guided the team forward, weaving through rock walls and heavy mist.
An hour later, they reached the designated location.
It was a dense forest. The group perched high in the treetops, overlooking the ground below.
Soon, seven chakra signatures appeared in Wen Lan's vision.
One of them was overwhelmingly powerful—its chakra surpassed 99% of all shinobi in the world.
Wen Lan knew instantly.
Kisame Hoshigaki.
In canon, Kisame relied heavily on Samehada, but his own chakra reserves were absurd—comparable to the Uzumaki clan's infamous "chakra monsters."
According to the databooks, his chakra stat was a 10, the highest possible.
"Prepare for combat," Wen Lan said in a low voice.
The ANBU instantly dispersed into their ambush positions, melting into the shadows.
"Kisame-san, can we talk about what you mentioned earlier after the mission's done?"
A brown-haired kunoichi walked beside Kisame and asked softly.
"Maybe… we could eat together?"
Kisame froze slightly.
He recalled her earlier suggestion about eating together. He didn't answer—neither agreeing nor refusing.
But in her eyes, that silence was an answer.
Her face lit up with a bright, hopeful smile.
Kisame wore Kirigakure combat armor, a massive blade strapped to his back.
Suddenly—
A kunai tore through the mist and landed in the center of the group. An explosive tag attached to it ignited instantly.
"Get back!" Kisame roared, retreating at once.
The others reacted immediately.
BOOM!
The explosive detonated, a deafening blast sending shockwaves and smoke flying. Trees snapped, and the ground was blasted into a crater.
In the next instant, a rain of kunai and shuriken poured down from all directions.
The Kirigakure ninja retreated rapidly, narrowly avoiding the first wave.
The seven regrouped, standing together, eyes fixed forward.
Ibiki emerged with the ANBU, his voice cold and steady:
"Surrender. This area is completely surrounded. You have no chance."
Kisame gripped the hilt of the blade on his back. The sword slid out slightly, reflecting a sharp glint of light.
"I know you. Konoha ANBU… Interrogation and Torture Division.
You want a fight?"
Ibiki said nothing.
Behind him, the ANBU drew their blades and charged.
The battlefield exploded into chaos—no ninjutsu, only raw clashes of steel.
Blades collided again and again, sparks flying. Every strike carried lethal intent.
Suddenly, Kisame knocked two ANBU back and leapt into the air, hurling several kunai downward—each with an explosive tag attached.
The explosions erupted instantly, fire roaring skyward, smoke billowing as the ground shattered into multiple craters.
"Now—run!" Kisame growled.
Using the smoke as cover, he led the remaining teammates in a rapid breakout.
"Pursue!" Ibiki ordered coldly.
The ANBU plunged into the smoke, moving like specters among broken trees and shattered earth.
Wen Lan remained standing quietly atop a high tree branch, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the woman beside Kisame.
He remembered her.
In the original timeline, she would die by Kisame's own hand.
And yet—even at the moment of death, she never blamed him.
The trust in her eyes never wavered, as if the blade piercing her chest had not come from Kisame himself.
Kisame lived his life switching endlessly between killing and protecting, guarding what little bond remained within endless slaughter.
His sword was soaked in blood, yet his heart bore an unbearable contradiction.
In the end, he personally killed his superior—Fuguki Suikazan.
He accepted this false world.
Accepted Obito's recruitment.
Among Akatsuki, everyone had a motive—
Some wanted peace,
some preached ideology,
some pursued art,
some chased money.
But only Kisame was truly loyal.
Or rather—
He was the only one who truly believed Obito.
He would rather believe in the illusory Eye of the Moon Plan than face the shattered reality before him.
His figure faded into the smoke, like a trapped shark struggling between loyalty and disillusionment.
Maybe…
If that woman lives, earning Kisame's trust will be much easier.
Wen Lan's Sharingan glowed faintly in the darkness.
He didn't need to control Kisame.
Kisame was the kind of man who, once he trusted you completely, would give his life to protect you.
Trying to control him would only cheapen his value.
It was a pity, though—
This shinobi with near-infinite chakra, practically zero cooldowns, and the ability to drain others dry…
Ended up facing Might Guy, whose every punch was real damage, no discounts.
It could only be said—
Itachi slaughtered his clan.
Kisame slaughtered his comrades.
Both bore weights beyond imagination.
No wonder they became partners.
—------------------------------
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