Chapter 120: A Great Harvest—The Mermaid's Skin and the Flame Fan

Highly skilled hunters often appear in the guise of prey.

How could Kisame, who possesses the Mind Reading Technique of Enlightenment, ever be taken by surprise?

Though seemingly the hunted, he was in truth a hunter meticulously disguised as prey. And Uchiha Madara was the real quarry.

At this moment, Madara had fallen into a trap carefully laid by Kisame long ago.

“Heh heh.”

After evading Madara’s insertion technique, Kisame turned around and flashed an innocent smile at his stunned opponent.

At the same time, he raised the Samehada in his hand and viciously slashed toward Uchiha Madara.

*Pfft!*

Madara’s entire right arm was caught in the huge maw of Samehada, and with a powerful tug from Kisame, it was torn off on the spot.

The Flaming Fan was clenched in Madara’s severed hand.

Got it.

A glint of triumph flashed in Kisame’s eyes as he quickly grasped the Flaming Fan and vanished in an instant.

The next moment—

*Boom.*

Furious, Uchiha Madara unleashed a tremendous surge of chakra from within, breaking free from the bindings of the earth spider’s stitches. His severed right arm regrew swiftly under the restorative power of Wood Release cells.

*Whoosh.*

Madara darted forward like lightning, intent on reclaiming the Flaming Fan from Kisame’s grasp.

Suddenly—

From the forest floor, tree trunks, and grass emerged numerous black characters meaning “explosion,” glowing with dark light as a series of detonations erupted.

*Rumble.*

Madara’s figure was swiftly engulfed by the relentless blaze and explosions.

Clearly, this was another trap set by Kisame using Explosion Release.

Throughout this battle, Kisame had feigned weakness to lure Madara into underestimating him, baiting him into the trap’s range. Then, he struck suddenly, severing Madara’s arm in one move and seizing the Flaming Fan.

Madara’s clone derived at least half its combat power from the Flaming Fan. Without it, his strength was reduced to that of an elite jonin—no longer a threat to Kisame.

Yet Kisame remained cautious, as always.

He patted his chest and swiftly sealed the Flaming Fan into the Box of Ultimate Bliss, leaving no chance for Madara to retrieve it.

Moments later,

The fiery explosions and thick smoke dissipated, revealing the utterly devastated forest—and Uchiha Madara, struggling to remain standing.

His body was battered and scarred, and even the potent regenerative abilities of Wood Release cells had their limits.

“Never thought I’d be ambushed like this... could it be that after hiding underground for decades, my once-proud battle instincts have deteriorated so much?”

Madara muttered to himself, sighing bitterly, his Sharingan eyes fixed unwaveringly on Kisame.

He had indeed been overconfident, but he had to admit that this shark-faced man was a formidable foe.

Now that the Flaming Fan was stolen and immediately hidden, it was clear Kisame’s sole objective had been to seize it.

“Hmph.”

Madara snorted coldly. Though he knew the battle was likely lost, he would never retreat in disgrace.

He resolved to abandon this clone and fight Kisame to the death.

Swiftly forming hand seals, he gathered the remaining chakra behind his throat and opened his mouth to unleash—

*A roaring torrent.*

A massive wave of flame poured forth like seawater, forcing Kisame into a corner.

This technique, known as “Great Fire Annihilation,” was one of Uchiha Madara’s signature fire-style jutsus. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, it took over twenty Kirigakure shinobi simultaneously forming a water barrier to hold it back.

Yet Kisame showed no fear. Instead, he exhaled with relief.

He had expected Madara to reveal some trump card, but it seemed the Uchiha was truly at his last gasp, resorting only to this fire technique.

Kisame thrust Samehada into the ground, quickly formed hand seals, and spat forward—

*A massive water sphere.*

It cascaded forward, transforming into a roaring waterfall that visibly overwhelmed Madara’s Great Fire Annihilation.

Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique.

The collision of these two jutsus was decisive.

Kisame’s chakra far exceeded that of Madara’s clone, and water naturally counters fire. The torrent swallowed every flame without diminishing its force, sweeping Madara into the flood.

Riding the waves atop Samehada, Kisame seized the moment as Madara lost balance underwater and swung his blade with blinding speed.

*Slash.*

Madara’s clone was cleaved cleanly in two.

The water receded.

Kisame, bearing Samehada, approached the split figure of Madara, who astonishingly still clung to life despite his severed torso.

“Such immense chakra... and a powerful water-style technique. What’s your name...” Madara asked, lying on the ground, eyes burning as he stared at Kisame.

“Kisame Hoshigaki,” Kisame answered truthfully. Madara already knew his appearance, and with a simple inquiry to White Zetsu, he could have uncovered Kisame’s identity.

“Good. I remember you, Kisame Hoshigaki. Sooner or later, we shall meet again...” Madara smiled meaningfully, and then his Sharingan faded, pupils losing focus.

He was dead.

With Madara’s death, the body before Kisame revealed its true form: a clone created by White Zetsu.

Kisame kicked aside the Zetsu corpse blocking his path and carried Samehada over to the large figure of Fūtonki.

The fat man’s vitality was astonishing; despite the time elapsed, he still clung stubbornly to life.

“Save... me...” Fūtonki’s eyes rolled toward Kisame as he weakly pleaded.

“Master Fūtonki, how can you possibly survive like this? It’s better to give up early and spare yourself more suffering. Here, let me help you,” Kisame said, crouching beside him and bringing a stitching finger close to his throat.

“You... it’s you...” Fūtonki’s eyes widened as realization dawned.

“Yes, it’s me. Including Samehada, all seven swords of Kirigakure have fallen into my hands. I orchestrated this entire scheme,” Kisame confessed generously, allowing his former comrade to understand before departing.

This was Kisame’s last mercy.

Suddenly, Fūtonki gathered his remaining strength in a final surge, gripping Kisame’s arm fiercely.

“Don’t betray... the village. Become the Mizukage, revitalize Kirigakure...” He fixed Kisame with a piercing gaze, uttering these words before his head lolled and he passed away.

Kisame’s expression shifted.

He hadn’t expected that this cold-hearted “Kirigakure Danzo” would, in his final moments, still think of the village.

He bore no hatred for Kisame but entrusted the village’s future to him, hoping Kisame would become Mizukage.

*Whimper.*

Samehada, held in Kisame’s hand, emitted a mournful sound as it rested atop Fūtonki’s body, grieving deeply for its fallen master.

“Truly touching,” Kisame remarked, loosening his grip on Samehada and rising to his feet.

He headed toward the cave.

*Crack.*

Inside, Kisame concentrated chakra and shattered a glass container.

Hozuki Mangetsu, imprisoned and tortured for months, was finally freed.

“Kisame-sama... sobbing,” Mangetsu immediately clung to Kisame’s leg, crying harder than Samehada.

He had waited so long here, never imagining that Kisame Hoshigaki would be the one to rescue him.

Kisame grabbed Mangetsu by the back of his neck like a puppy, hoisting him up and walking outside.

“Kisame-sama, didn’t you go to Kirigakure? Why are you here?” Mangetsu asked cautiously, not daring to move.

“Surprised to see me? Your tone suggests you’re not exactly happy about my return,” Kisame said, glancing at the pale white slime in his hand.

“No way! Kisame-sama, when I saw you, I was so overjoyed...” Mangetsu hurriedly denied and fawned over Kisame.

Outside the cave—

“What happened here?” Mangetsu was shocked again upon seeing the field strewn with bodies.

“The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, is dead. Master Fūtonki is dead. And the Uchiha ninja who imprisoned me here is dead...” he murmured, mouth agape wide enough to fit a soccer ball.

Could all these deaths be the work of Kisame Hoshigaki?

Unlike others, Mangetsu had firsthand experience to recognize just how terrifying Kisame truly was.

At this thought, he trembled uncontrollably, his body melting into puddles of liquid that dripped from Kisame’s grip.

“What are you thinking?” Kisame peered down at Mangetsu, eyes narrowed.

“I... I think the Fourth Mizukage conspired with enemies and killed Master Fūtonki. Thankfully, Kisame-sama stepped in to save the day and thwart the Mizukage’s plot. Kisame-sama, please don’t kill me—I am loyal to you...” Mangetsu stammered, terrified, repeatedly raising his hands above his head and bowing deeply in desperate plea.

This time, he truly submitted to Kisame.

Not only because Kisame saved his life but because Kisame’s overwhelming power left him utterly hopeless.

Kisame sensed the genuine fear emanating from Mangetsu.

He ignored him for now, letting him continue his kowtowing, and turned back to Fūtonki’s corpse.

“The sentimental farewell is over.”

Kisame said as he grasped Samehada’s tail and lifted the monstrous fish up.

He intended to see if he could absorb it.

A thought struck him, and he activated the abilities of his cheat device, attempting to draw Samehada inside his body.

*Whimper.*

Samehada seemed to sense its fate and struggled desperately, its voice tinged with pleading.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m just teasing you. Sigh... Seeing you so pitiful, I’ll mercifully spare you,” Kisame suddenly stopped and sighed.

In truth, he hadn’t suddenly grown compassionate. He’d discovered that the cheat device could not absorb a living being.

But Samehada did not know this.

Believing Kisame had spared it, it rejoiced, licking Kisame’s hand eagerly in an effort to please him.

“From today on, I’m your new master,” Kisame said, patting Samehada’s head before slinging it across his back.

Samehada’s unique ability allowed it to absorb an enemy’s chakra upon striking. Even without swallowing it, Kisame could wield it as a weapon to great effect.

Moreover, although he hadn’t absorbed Samehada, becoming familiar with the sword’s use enabled Kisame to merge with it in a way that transformed him into his shark-man form.

In this light, not absorbing Samehada was the best option.

Only by preserving Samehada’s consciousness and form could the sword’s full power be unleashed.

Having tamed Samehada, Kisame returned to Mangetsu’s side.

“Stop kowtowing. I have orders for you,” he said.

At this, Mangetsu shot up eagerly, his face full of obsequious anticipation.

“Take the bodies of Mizukage Yagura and Master Fūtonki back to Kirigakure. You know how to explain this to the village, right?”

“Of course, I know!” Mangetsu nodded rapidly, agreeing.

Yet he couldn’t help but ask, “And what about you, Kisame-sama?”

“I’m going after the Three-Tails, Isobu,” Kisame replied, dropping the words before vanishing in a flash.

The drama was far from over.

...

Thousands of miles away, within the Land of Fire, a vast underground chamber concealed from the world—

*Swish.*

A one-eyed youth was engaged in rigorous rehabilitation exercises, assisted by the swirling White Zetsu, Afei, and the spiked White Zetsu.

This was none other than Uchiha Obito, who should have perished in the recent Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

Obito was incredibly lucky: after falling into a tunnel where Uchiha Madara had taken refuge, Madara saved him and implanted cells of the First Hokage inside him, turning misfortune into blessing.

Madara sat in a massive wooden chair.

His long white hair framed an aged, sagging face bowed in apparent slumber. Behind him, several white tubes connected to a colossal Outer Path Deity statue sustained his life.

In truth, Madara was not asleep but projecting his consciousness thousands of miles away, manipulating a clone.

Suddenly—

“!”

Madara jerked his head up, his once-cloudy eyes blazing with keen light, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

“Grandpa, are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?” Obito noticed the change and hurried over, concern and curiosity mingling in his voice.

“Kisame Hoshigaki...” Madara muttered, not answering Obito directly but repeating the name.

“Kisame... Hoshigaki?!” Obito suddenly shouted, eyes wide with shock.

“Do you know this person?” Madara frowned, looking toward Obito.

What Obito said next stunned Madara profoundly.