Kakuzu had no idea what caused Hoshigaki Kisame to attack him, but he was undoubtedly furious at being betrayed by his teammate.
Although trapped in the Water Prison, Kakuzu's green eyes fixed on Hoshigaki Kisame. This level of Water Prison wouldn't hold him for long; he could break free with a little time.
But clearly, this group wouldn't give him that chance.
"Hurry! I can't hold him for much longer."
Kakuzu, inside the water sphere, was already struggling. Hoshigaki Kisame strained to keep the sphere stable, but fortunately, Kakuzu hadn't yet transformed into his Earth Grudge Fear mode, or the Water Prison Jutsu truly wouldn't have held him.
Terumi Mei and the others were prepared. They knew Kakuzu's information, and with his five hearts, his combat power was frighteningly high.
But it wasn't without a solution. Yakura took a bottle of red potion from her ninja pouch. She had bought this experimental product at a high price from Orochimaru, capable of inducing a comatose, near-death state with potent effects.
Kakuzu, still struggling within the water sphere, suddenly felt the world change. Red filled his vision, followed by intense dizziness in his mind, making it difficult to breathe.
Damn you, Kisame, I'll kill you!
Kakuzu shot Kisame a final glare before closing his eyes and falling into a state of suspended animation.
"Whew, glad nothing went wrong."
Hoshigaki Kisame breathed a sigh of relief and released the Water Prison Jutsu.
"The effects only last for a day, we need to hurry."
Yakura was also relieved that the potion worked on Kakuzu, considering Kakuzu's entire body had been modified and was no longer within the realm of ordinary humans.
But thankfully, his brain should still be human, and this neurological drug had taken effect. Orochimaru's products were always top-notch!
"First, let's head to the nearest bounty broker within the Land of Fire. We need to be fast!"
Hoshigaki Kisame slung Kakuzu over his shoulder. As they were about to leave, two shadowy figures shot out from the trees, landing in front of them and blocking their path.
"Konoha ANBU. Please halt."
Hoshigaki Kisame ignored the white-haired figure wearing a mask and looked intently at the shorter man beside him, his eyelids twitching slightly.
He had a premonition that he knew this person well!
"You..."
"I'll tell you!"
Hoshigaki Kisame interrupted Kakashi before he could speak. "The person you're looking for is in that cave, but he seemed to have escaped in the chaos a while ago. You should still be able to catch him if you go now."
Seeing Kisame's "candor," Kakashi almost wondered if it was a misunderstanding, just like two years ago, but Naruto and the others' safety was still uncertain.
As ANBU, he couldn't let these people go, but it was unreliable to stop all of them with just himself and Itachi.
Kakashi quickly made a decision: Itachi would first go confirm Naruto and the others' safety, while he would stall here.
"Itachi, you go first..."
"I'll stay. Captain, you should go."
"Uh..."
Kakashi choked, but seeing Itachi's unmoving figure, and then looking at Hoshigaki Kisame and the others, he sighed and turned to head in the direction Naruto and the others had left.
Why does he always have to encounter these kinds of situations!
It's so difficult to be caught in the middle!
After Kakashi left, Itachi removed his cat-faced mask and said to the group, "It's been a long time."
It really was him!
Hoshigaki Kisame felt speechless but still managed a smile. "It has indeed been a long time, old partner!"
Terumi Mei and Yakura had also met Itachi, but they weren't very familiar with him. All they wanted now was to get their money quickly and fulfill their dreams!
"We can catch up later. If we don't leave now, it'll be dark!" Yakura clenched her fists. This was the day that would determine whether she could achieve revenge.
"You can go, but he has to stay and explain things to me."
Itachi gestured for Hoshigaki Kisame to explain why Sasuke was involved again, and why it was Hoshigaki Kisame.
Looking at Itachi's domineering CEO demeanor, Hoshigaki Kisame broke out in a cold sweat. "I, I just wanted to make some money."
Itachi's expression remained blank, but the words "do not believe" were etched on his face.
Would Hoshigaki Kisame, a renowned S-rank rogue ninja and a core member of the Akatsuki, codenamed "South Star," be short of money?
Don't be ridiculous!
"I really am doing it for the money!"
Hoshigaki Kisame wished he could show Itachi his empty wallet. He was truly poor!
Just as Itachi was about to say something, the sound of breaking air interrupted their conversation. Itachi put his mask back on and looked at the dozens of ninjas who had suddenly appeared with an unreadable expression.
No forehead protectors. Were they sent by Danzo?
"Kill!"
The leading ninja's eyes sharpened upon seeing Kakuzu on Hoshigaki Kisame's back. Without any preamble, he signaled his subordinates to charge at Kakuzu.
What the hell! With so many people here, why are they always picking on him? Do they really think Hoshigaki Kisame doesn't kill people?
"Do you really think I'm a pushover, someone anyone can push around?!"
Hoshigaki Kisame's face broke into a bloodthirsty smile. Carrying Kakuzu, he wielded Samehada with one hand, appearing to be in his element amidst the assault of unidentified ninjas.
*Squelch!*
Fresh lives were continuously reaped by Samehada, and the stolen chakra healed Hoshigaki Kisame, making him stronger as he fought.
"We can't delay any longer. This place has been discovered, and more people will only keep showing up."
Yakura also joined the battle, controlling fireballs. The longer they delayed, the more variables there would be, and she didn't want her plan to go awry.
While everyone was engaged in combat, Hozuki Suigetsu emerged from some unknown corner, tiptoed to pick up the sack Kakuzu had been carrying, then furtively looked around. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he quickly hoisted the sack and ran off.
Rich! Rich! I'm coming, Suigetsu, the great!
...
On the other side, Naruto was darting through the forest with Sasuke on his back, while Shikamaru and the others sat on the ground, gasping for breath. They were lost.
"Naruto, we need to find our way back quickly, or Sasuke will be in danger!"
Naruto's anxious voice echoed through the forest, but the sky had already darkened, making the forest pitch black. Finding their way back to the village would be difficult.
"Naruto, it looks like we'll have to spend the night here."
"But what about Sasuke..."
Shikamaru looked at Sasuke, who was breathing steadily and even looked better than them, and said helplessly, "I actually think Sasuke is the one in the best condition among us."
"Yeah, running this far has tired me out, and I don't even have any snacks to replenish my energy."
Choji collapsed on the ground, having walked more today than perhaps his entire life.
"Now that you mention it, I'm feeling hungry too," Kiba said, panting with his tongue sticking out, exhausted.
*Grumble grumble...*
The atmosphere fell silent for a minute.
Suddenly, Shikamaru asked, puzzled, "Are we missing someone?"
Everyone chorused, "Are we?"
In a gully covered with fallen leaves and weeds, Shimura Taifu lay there, on the verge of tears, with drag marks behind him.
If you guys got tired of carrying him, fine, drag him. But couldn't you at least not let go!
And you left one person behind, you know!