Iron Head Technique

"Uh... just help yourself, no need to be polite with me, brother." The man from the Wild Bait clan let out a drunken hiccup, mumbling in a daze. Before he finished speaking, his head lolled to the side and he collapsed onto the table, falling into a dead sleep.

As expected of the sedative concocted by Shizune—truly effective.

Kisame watched for a moment, making sure the man wouldn't be waking anytime soon, then finally stepped forward. He picked up the Dull Blade: Helmet Splitter from the floor.

This ninja blade had a massive iron hammer on one end, and an axe attached to the other by a rope. Its attack method was to chop with the axe first, then slam the hammer onto the back of the blade to add force. It was said to be able to break through any defense.

"So this blade must have some attribute like 'strength' or 'armor-breaking'," Kisame mused inwardly. Without hesitation, he activated his cheat and began to absorb it.

A low hum resonated. The blade of the Dull Blade: Helmet Splitter trembled violently before transforming into a stream of light and merging into Kisame's body, ultimately settling in his... skull.

His cranial bones, after absorbing the blade's power, rapidly became incredibly tough. His forehead, crown, and the back of his head received the greatest reinforcement.

A human brain is fragile, and the skull cannot be trained like other parts of the body with layers of muscle. For any ninja, a direct blow to the head could be fatal on the spot, and even if they survived, various aftereffects would linger—dementia, concussion, and worse.

This was fundamentally different from another vulnerable part of the body—the lower region. In Kisame's view, while the lower region was fragile, it was not fatal. A man, even if injured and rendered a eunuch, would only suffer temporary pain. In the long run, it might even come with certain advantages. Reduced male hormone secretion would lessen damage to the immune system, potentially leading to a longer life.

For Kisame, the arrival of the Dull Blade: Helmet Splitter was a godsend, compensating for the most vulnerable and most in need of protection part of his current body.

He raised his hand, rapping his knuckles firmly against his forehead.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

A crisp metallic sound rang out, as if his skull were forged from steel.

Now, not only was his head "impregnable," but it also inherited the Dull Blade's armor-breaking property, allowing him to deliver crushing attacks with a headbutt.

To put it simply, he now possessed the Iron Head technique.

After absorbing the Dull Blade: Helmet Splitter, Kisame felt refreshed. He looked down at the still-unconscious Totsuka Wild Bait. What would happen when this man woke to find his blade missing?

Kisame had already prepared for this. He took out a storage scroll, spread it open, and performed the summoning jutsu. With a puff of smoke, a counterfeit Dull Blade: Helmet Splitter appeared.

This, of course, was the handiwork of Mangetsu Hozuki, who had secretly slipped Kisame the scroll before his departure, vowing it was identical to the original—even its owner couldn't tell the difference.

Kisame placed the fake blade back on the floor. If Totsuka Wild Bait didn't notice, so be it. And even if he did, what of it? The real blade was now part of Kisame's skull.

At worst, if things turned sour, they could simply fight it out.

After all, Kisame was no longer who he used to be. His strength and position within Kirigakure had both risen greatly; there was no need to be so cautious anymore.

With this in mind, Kisame placed a hand on Totsuka Wild Bait's shoulder and shook him awake. "Brother, wake up. The shop's about to close—we should get going."

"Ugh... the shochu here really packs a punch," Totsuka Wild Bait muttered, rubbing his forehead in a daze.

He then grabbed the Dull Blade with one hand and slung the other arm over Kisame's shoulder as Kisame supported him out.

On the street, a cold wind swept by, clearing the fog of drink a little. It was already late, and only a few scattered passersby remained.

Kisame glanced at the drunken Totsuka Wild Bait, planning to get him back to the inn first, then find a place to test out his newly gained power.

They had barely walked a few steps when—

"Urgh—" Totsuka Wild Bait suddenly stopped, clutching a trash bin at the roadside as he vomited, retching for a long time before he was done.

Kisame had no choice but to wait.

During this time, the neighboring izakaya also closed, and a group of people stumbled out, reeking of alcohol.

Kisame's pupils narrowed.

For the group approaching them was none other than the legendary Three Sannin of the Leaf.

Orochimaru looked slightly tipsy, apparently not having drunk much. Jiraiya was dead drunk, barely able to walk, rivaling Totsuka Wild Bait in his stupor. Tsunade's state fell somewhere between the two—half drunk, half sober—being carefully supported by her apprentice, Shizune.

"Brother, it's cold out here. Let's hurry back to the inn," Kisame whispered to Totsuka Wild Bait, hoisting him up and inconspicuously edging along the curb to pass by the Sannin.

"Lady Tsunade, watch your step, there's a puddle ahead," Shizune said as she supported Tsunade, eyes on the ground. Looking up, she was surprised to see Kisame passing by and couldn't help but stare in shock. She hadn't expected to run into him here, in the middle of the night.

Orochimaru noticed Kisame even earlier than Shizune. His golden, serpentine eyes flashed with a strange light as he fixed his gaze on Kisame, then curled his lips in a faint smile.

Kisame acted as if he hadn't noticed, keeping his eyes forward as he guided Totsuka Wild Bait away.

"Wait, stop right there!"

A crisp voice rang out behind him.

Tsunade.

Half-drunk, she had caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye, and suddenly remembered—wasn't that the brat from the Mist who'd made her lose her bet?

"Shizune, isn't that the guy who swindled you out of so much?" Tsunade pointed angrily at Kisame's back and demanded of her apprentice.

Earlier that evening at the izakaya, Tsunade had asked Shizune about her forfeiture in the Chunin Exams, and learned that Kisame had taken her toxicology notes, poison bottles, and hidden weapon devices.

Shizune hurried to clarify in a low voice, "Lady Tsunade, that's not it. Kisame and I traded fairly."

Without Kisame's help, her chances of passing the second exam would have been slim, let alone being promoted to Chunin.

"Fair, my foot! He took advantage of you! I'm your teacher and I will get justice for you," Tsunade snapped, annoyed by Shizune's meekness. Without another word, she rolled up her sleeves and, reeking of alcohol, marched towards Kisame.

"Whoa!" Behind her, Jiraiya rushed to the roadside, clutching a lamppost as he vomited repeatedly, completely oblivious to what was happening. Tonight, after pouring his heart out to Tsunade and being rejected once again, he'd drowned his sorrows in drink and was now thoroughly incapacitated.

Orochimaru, though not drunk, made no move to restrain Tsunade. Instead, he stood watching, arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips, as if enjoying the show.

The situation... was anything but promising.