Chapter 216: Hoshigaki Kisame Vs Kazahana Fubuki
Land of Swamps, Bonsō Castle.
In the prosperous Lord’s Mansion, the air was filled with the smell of alcohol, cosmetics, and a nauseating aura of decadence.
Outside was a miserable scene of people starving and freezing, with corpses littering the streets, yet inside the mansion, the furnaces burned with incense, and song and dance continued in revelry.
Ono Takuto, the Daimyo of the Land of Swamps, puffed out his fat belly, his face shiny with oil, already drunk with hazy eyes.
He had two scantily clad geisha in his left and right arms, his rough hands wandering indecently over their bodies, eliciting coquettish protests from the geisha.
Sitting opposite him was the Castle Lord of Bonsō Castle, a similarly pot-bellied, lecherous middle-aged noble.
Around them at other seats sat several nobles brought by Ono Takuto or local nobles from Bonsō Castle, laughing and indulging in the banquet’s wine and women, turning a deaf ear to the frozen corpses outside the Lord’s Mansion and the constant outbreaks of civilian uprisings.
“Burp… Castle Lord of Bonsō, you say… burp… that Miroku Miko, after being under house arrest for so many days, should have come around by now?” Ono Takuto belched wine, spraying thick alcohol breath, his tone frivolous.
“Pretending to be so high and holy all day…”
The Castle Lord of Bonsō chuckled hey hey, revealing a mouth full of yellow teeth, leaning in closer, his voice even lower, laced with flattery and lewdness: “Your Excellency the Daimyo is absolutely right! If you ask me, that Land of Stars is just a bunch of disgraceful rogue ninja, all bluff!”
“They haven’t dared to move against us for so long because they’re afraid we’ll hire ninja from the Five Great Nations to wipe them out if we get desperate!”
“As for the Miroku Miko… heh heh, Your Excellency, she’s a miko with enormous prestige in the western countries! This status, this demeanor… if Your Excellency could ‘bestow favor’ upon her and let her bear offspring, not only would they inherit the Land of Swamps in the future, but also the influence of the shrine… then, who would dare say anything about Your Excellency…”
His words were full of temptation and filthy hints, making Ono Takuto’s heart itch unbearably, his eyes blazing with lust, as if he could already see that wonderful scene, and he couldn’t help but laugh heartily, roughly kneading the geisha in his arms: “Well said! Well said! Hahaha! Once we deal with those Star Ninja scum, I shall…”
“Hmph… what a bunch… of disgusting scum.”
A voice cold with thick disdain and killing intent suddenly rang out without warning in the warm room.
“Who?!” Ono Takuto and the Castle Lord of Bonsō were both startled, sobering up halfway, looking up in terror all around.
The geisha also stopped their actions in fright, trembling.
The next second, the terror on the Castle Lord of Bonsō’s face was forever frozen.
A blurry dark shadow suddenly appeared behind him!
Blade light flashed!
So fast it was extreme, not even making a sound!
The Castle Lord of Bonsō’s head, like a rotten fruit easily plucked, smoothly separated from his neck, rolling and falling to the floor covered with exquisite carpet, his face still retaining that terrified expression.
From the headless neck stump, blood surged out like a fountain, splattering the food and wine on the table and the pale faces of the geisha nearby.
“Aaaahhhhh——!!!”
After a brief silence, came the geisha’s heart-wrenching, ear-piercing screams of terror!
Ono Takuto was completely terrified silly, his drunkenness instantly turning into cold sweat soaking his fancy clothes.
He watched wide-eyed as the dark shadow revealed its form: a man wearing the standard Star Ninja Anbu vest, with an abnormally tall and burly build.
He had a face as ferocious and terrifying as a shark, the corners of his mouth seemingly naturally curved in a bloodthirsty arc.
On his back was a huge weapon tightly wrapped in white bandages, and in his right hand, he gripped a short sword still dripping blood, gleaming coldly.
Kisame Hoshigaki’s small eyes held no emotion, only cold mission and extreme disgust for the scum before him.
He shook the blood droplets off the short sword, his gaze sweeping toward Ono Takuto slumped in his seat and the other few Land of Swamps nobles equally pale and shaking like chaff, as if looking at dead things.
At the same time, with a few soft swishes, three ninja also wearing Star Ninja Anbu attire and animal masks appeared like ghosts in various corners of the room, completely sealing off all exits.
The cold killing intent and elite aura emanating from them far surpassed the wandering ninja and samurai hired by Ono Takuto.
Ono Takuto was so scared he was incoherent, a large wet patch quickly forming in his crotch, emitting a foul stench.
Kisame Hoshigaki frowned tightly at the continuous screams from the geisha nearby, appearing extremely impatient.
He glanced at the geisha cowering in terror, huddled together, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
The hand gripping the short sword twitched slightly, but he ultimately held back.
He remembered Lord Shura’s special instructions before leaving the Star Capital: “Kisame, this mission has clear targets. Eliminate the chief evil and intimidate the petty villains. Try not to involve innocent commoners. We are different from them.”
“Tch, troublesome.” Kisame muttered lowly, but still waved his hand, signaling to one Anbu Ninja, “Get them out, they’re too noisy.”
That Anbu Ninja nodded, quickly stepping forward, and said to the terrified geisha in a calm but firm tone: “If you don’t want to die, leave immediately and forget everything you saw today.”
The geisha, as if granted amnesty, scrambled and cried as they fled the bloody banquet hall.
Soon, Ono Takuto and several main nobles were roughly dragged up by the Anbu Ninja and shackled.
Kisame Hoshigaki picked up the limp Ono Takuto like a chick, and the group walked out of the decadent and bloody great hall of the Lord’s Mansion.
Just as they exited the hall door, the icy air outside mixed with a thick blood scent hit them!
Ono Takuto looked on in horror: the plaza in front of the Lord’s Mansion was littered with corpses scattered everywhere!
All of them his brought elite soldiers, hired wandering samurai, and the few wandering ninja he had paid a fortune to hire!
Blood had dyed the plaza’s blue stone slabs red, condensing into dark red ice in the cold air.
Some Star Ninja Anbu were expressionlessly checking the corpses, occasionally finishing off those not yet dead with a knife.
The battle had clearly ended extremely quickly, a one-sided slaughter!
The military force Ono Takuto relied on was utterly helpless against true ninja!
“No… impossible… all… all killed?!” Ono Takuto completely broke down, muttering to himself.
At this moment, steady footsteps approached.
Miroku Miko slowly walked over, surrounded by a crowd of Land of Demons priests and miko.
Her face was calm, but her purple eyes held a bit more coldness and resolve than before.
She glanced at the miserable scene on the plaza, her brows furrowing imperceptibly, but said nothing more.
As she passed by Kisame Hoshigaki, an Anbu Ninja quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words in her ear, clearly recounting the filthy conversation between Ono Takuto and the Bonsō Castle Lord that they had heard inside the hall.
Miroku’s body paused slightly, frost instantly covering her face, a flash of uncontainable rage and deep disgust in her eyes.
Her previous moral qualms about the Land of Stars annexing other countries had now completely dissipated.
These nobles wearing human skin simply did not deserve to rule this land!
She walked up to the limp Ono Takuto, her voice ice-cold like the north wind in winter: “Ono Takuto, you nobles exploit and tyrannize, treat the people like grass, remain drunk and dreaming amid famine, and even… harbor ill intentions, blaspheming the divine! You have long lost the most basic ‘foundation of the nation’ for a ruler!”
“The Land of Stars will uphold heaven’s mandate to thoroughly cleanse you vermin and restore clarity to this land!”
Ono Takuto seemed stimulated by these words, suddenly lifting his head, his face mixed with fear and mad rage, roaring hoarsely: “Bitch! You miko colluding with rogue ninja! What do you know?! Without us nobles! Without the Daimyo! What are those commoners?!”
“They don’t even own land! The houses they live in are gifts from the nobles! We granted them everything! Our rule over them is rightful by heaven! This is rebellion! Defiance! I… I will definitely spend money to hire major ninja villages! Hire Konohagakure to suppress the rebellion! Kill all you rogue ninja and commoners!!”
His words were mad and venomous, even now with his life in others’ hands, full of class arrogance and madness.
Kisame Hoshigaki grew impatient listening, a cruel smile on his shark face as he looked to Miroku: “Miko, done with the nagging? Can I chop off this noisy head? It’ll be quick.”
He shook the short sword in his hand.
Ono Takuto was scared out of his wits, struggling and screaming madly: “No! Don’t! Spare me! Miko spare me!”
Miroku coldly glanced at Ono Takuto, shook her head, her tone returning to calm: “His crimes, his evils, should not be privately executed by us. He will be publicly tried, his final fate decided by the millions of people in the Land of Swamps persecuted by him, whom he regarded
Kisame Hoshigaki pouted somewhat disappointedly, but still sheathed his short sword: “Tch, what a hassle.”
He absolutely obeys Lord Shura’s commands, so since the miko said so, he naturally won’t make a move.
Subsequently, Kisame Hoshigaki arranged for a squad of Anbu Ninja to stay behind, assist the Miroku Miko in continuing to provide disaster relief to the commoners within the Land of Swamps, maintain basic order, and wait for the subsequent ninja troops and administrative officials dispatched by the Land of Stars to arrive and take full control.
Having lost the Daimyo and core nobles, with the army also routed, the Land of Swamps has become like scattered sand, with no decent resistance forces left.
Providing disaster relief and saving the people, clearing out the remnants of the daimyo and nobles’ forces, organizing the administration, population, and other matters in the Land of Swamps, the Land of Stars will be busy this winter.
Kisame Hoshigaki no longer delayed, briefly bid farewell to Miroku, then took the other three Anbu subordinates with him, flashed away, rapidly left Bonsō Castle, and sped toward the main battlefield of the Land of Shadows.
Land of Shadows Border, Star Ninja Agricultural Cooperation and Development Association outpost.
The scene here was already completely different from a few days ago.
The original calm standoff has been completely shattered, replaced by a fierce and brutal ninja war!
The howling wind and snow, the radiance of chakra, and the explosive sounds of various ninjutsu echoed through heaven and earth!
Nearly eighty Snow Ninja wearing ice-blue Chakra Armor launched a fierce attack on the Hoshigakure Outpost under the cover of the wind and snow!
The light of Ice Release Ninjutsu flickered continuously, as massive Ice Spikes, sharp Ice Senbon, and cold blizzards smashed toward the defensive structures built by Star Ninja with Earth Style, like a storm of raging wind and rain.
However, the Star Ninja’s defense was impregnable, and their counterattack was exceedingly sharp!
Uchiha Hikari quietly stood on the earthen wall in the center of the outpost.
The cold wind blew across her black long hair and the hem of her deep blue clan robes. She crossed her arms over her chest, her cold face expressionless, with only her scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotating as she coldly overlooked the entire battlefield.
In her eyes, the Snow Ninjas’ movements, chakra flows, and even their next intentions were crystal clear.
She did not act directly, but like the most skilled chess player, she occasionally provided guidance to the Star Ninja in the battle below through the Chakra Network of the engraving.
“Gōta, three o’clock direction, Ice Spike cluster, raise Earth Array Wall height by two meters.”
“White, that Snow Ninja Jonin on the right wing is feinting an attack, targeting the rear medical point, Ice Mirror refraction disrupting his vision.”
“Kimimaro, the combined technique of those five Chunin straight ahead has a 0.7-second gap. Use Ten Finger Bullet to interrupt it.”
“Yukimi, use Smoke Transformation to circle behind and disrupt that guy trying to form a large-scale ninjutsu.”
“Hotaru, prepare Peacock Myōhō, cover and strike their rear assembly point.”
Under her precise command, fewer than twenty Star Ninja including Gōta, Hotaru, Kimimaro, Shiro, and Yukimi acted like a precise and efficient killing machine, firmly blocking the offensive of more than eighty Snow Ninja, and even continuously counterattacking to inflict casualties!
Kimimaro shuttled through the battlefield like a ghost, the Corpse Bone Pulse sometimes turning into the sturdiest shield, sometimes into the sharpest spear. Wherever he passed, Snow Ninja were either killed or injured, and with the Byakugan’s insight, there was almost no enemy that could withstand even one exchange.
Yukimi’s Ice Release is elegant yet deadly. Ice Crystal Magical Mirror is everywhere, senbon pouring like mercury, often interrupting the enemy’s coordination or saving companions at the most critical moments.
Yukimi’s Smoke Transformation ability is elusive and unpredictable, harassing, ambushing, rescuing, with unparalleled flexibility.
Hotaru’s Peacock Myōhō has tremendous power, and each dive of the purple Chakra dragon can clear a small area.
Gōta, relying on his seasoned experience and solid Earth Style, steadily reinforced the core of the defense.
Fukazake Nutou’s carefully prepared “kunai rapid-fire mechanism crossbow” position, driven by Chakra Armor-related technology, had not yet had a chance to unleash its power when it was instantly destroyed by a joint surprise attack from Kimimaro and Byakugan, with the Snow Ninja operating the crossbows suffering heavy casualties.
The battle between the ninjas had long since changed the terrain here, with earth walls collapsing and rising again, the ice plain torn apart, and flames intertwining with frost.
The Land of Shadows Army that was originally stationed around had long been scared out of their wits by this terrifying sight of the clash of extraordinary powers, abandoning their armor and helmets, fleeing in panic from this death zone, leaving only Snow Ninja and Star Ninja locked in a desperate fight to the death on the battlefield.
Pfft!
Another Snow Ninja Chunin was pierced through by bone spikes that Kimimaro suddenly thrust out from underground, screaming as he fell down.
Snow Ninja casualties have already exceeded one-third, while on the Star Ninja side, only three have minor injuries, one grazed by a stray arrow while covering the evacuation of refugees, which is almost negligible!
At that moment, four figures landed on the earthen wall of the Hoshigakure Outpost.
It was Kisame Hoshigaki who arrived just in time, along with his three Anbu subordinates.
Kisame Hoshigaki glanced at the intense battle situation below, a trace of bloodthirsty excitement appearing on his shark-like face.
He walked behind Uchiha Hikari, slightly bowed in salute, his voice hoarse: “Lord Hikari, the Land of Swamps mission is complete. Ono Takuto and the main nobles have been captured, and resistance forces eliminated.”
Uchiha Hikari didn’t even turn around. Her Sharingan continued to stare at the battlefield as she merely let out a faint “Mm.”
A moment later, she slightly turned her head and glanced at Kisame Hoshigaki with the corner of her eye, especially at the great sword Samehada wrapped in bandages on his back.
After Kisame Hoshigaki joined the organization, Menma bestowed the great sword Samehada upon Kisame Hoshigaki. This was the first time Uchiha Hikari had seen Menma gift a ninja sword to a member of the organization.
The other captured ninja sword, Kubikiribocho, still has no owner for the time being.
“Although you were personally recruited by Lord Shura, it is said that you defected because of assassinating the Daimyo of the Land of Water and the Mizukage of Kirigakure…” Uchiha Hikari’s tone carried a hint of scrutiny and arrogance.
“But I haven’t seen your strength with my own eyes yet.”
She raised her slender finger, pointing at the chaotic battlefield below, particularly at Fukazake Nutou behind the Snow Ninja, who wore the most ornate armor, had a face ashen with rage, and seemed about to lose control.
“Now, I’ll give you a chance to show yourself. Let me see if you have the qualification to bear Lord’s expectations.”
Kisame Hoshigaki was quite displeased with Uchiha Hikari’s condescending attitude, as if she were evaluating a subordinate.
He is loyal to Lord Shura, not this woman who looks young but talks big.
“Hmph…” He bared his mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and let out a low grunt of laughter: “Then please, Lord Hikari… watch closely.”
He raised his hand and grasped the hilt of the massive sword wrapped in bandages on his back.
Great Sword·Samehada!
The bandages instantly shattered and crumbled, revealing Samehada’s deep blue blade covered in barbs, slightly trembling!
“Hum…” Samehada seemed to also sense its master’s battle intent and the abundant chakra “food” below, emitting an excited low hum.
Although the new master Kisame Hoshigaki’s chakra amount is not as terrifying as Menma’s, it far exceeds that of ordinary ninja, vast and majestic like a Tails, able to easily control Samehada.
Kisame Hoshigaki leaped into the air, like a cannonball fired from its barrel, carrying a terrifying momentum as he smashed straight down toward the battlefield below!
Those three Anbu subordinates also immediately followed closely behind, like three sharp blades thrusting into the battlefield.
Kisame Hoshigaki’s joining instantly changed the situation on the local battlefield.
He didn’t need any fancy ninjutsu at all; just by swinging Samehada, which was like a door panel, every horizontal sweep could smash several Snow Ninja along with their armor into meat paste!
Samehada even more greedily absorbed the Ice Release Chakra that the Snow Ninjas tried to use for counterattacks, making their attacks seem feeble and powerless.
Wherever he passed, it was simply like a humanoid tyrannosaurus, stirring up a storm of blood and carnage!
In the rear, Fukazake Nutou watched helplessly as his carefully trained Snow Ninja were slaughtered like chopping vegetables, his heart bleeding!
Especially that newly joined shark-faced monster, he’s ferociously unreasonable!
He knew he could not wait any longer!
“A bunch of trash! All of you, get out of my way!” Fukazake Nutou roared in rage, his entire body madly channeling chakra into the ornate Chakra Armor, the blue crystals on the armor erupting with blinding light!
He fiercely shoved aside the subordinate blocking his path and personally charged into the battlefield!
The target is aimed straight at that shark-faced guy who’s on a killing spree!
Fukazake Nutou wants to crush this guy with his own hands and restore morale!
Fukazake Nutou was like a heavy war chariot, carrying wind, snow, and powerful chakra fluctuation, charging toward Kisame Hoshigaki.
He leaped high into the air, clenching his right fist, with a massive ice crystal gauntlet covered in spikes instantly forming on his fist.
“Ice Release: Ice Spike Fist!” With the momentum to crush everything, it smashed fiercely toward Kisame Hoshigaki’s head!
“Come well!” Kisame Hoshigaki sensed the opponent’s chakra far surpassing that of an ordinary Snow Ninja, and instead of being startled, he was delighted, With a fervent fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.
He not only didn’t dodge, but instead fiercely stepped forward one step, his whole body muscles bulging, hands tightly gripping the huge hilt of Samehada, from bottom to top, a simple yet terrifyingly powerful upward slash, meeting Fukazake Nutou’s ice fist!
“Try this! Samehada——!”
The great sword Samehada’s blade covered in barbs, with a terrifying whistle tearing through the air, fiercely collided with that massive frost fist!
Boom——！！！！
A deafening roar accompanied by the shockwave from the chakra collision exploded fiercely!
The surrounding snowflakes were instantly cleared away, and the ground cracked and collapsed!
Crack… crack… boom!
In Fukazake Nutou’s incredulous gaze, his chakra armor fully activated, incomparably hard frost gauntlet, at the instant of contact with that bizarre great sword, surprisingly cracked all over like fragile glass, then exploded into countless ice crystals!
Not only that, an unimaginable terrifying colossal force was transmitted along the shattered ice fist!
Fukazake Nutou only felt sharp pain in his arm, his whole body like being hit head-on by a high-speed train, grunting muffledly, he was actually sent flying backward through the air by Kisame Hoshigaki’s plain yet heaven-shakingly powerful strike!
He rolled awkwardly on the snow for over ten meters before barely steadying himself. His gorgeous armor was covered in snow and mud, his right hand clenched into a fist trembled slightly, the arm guard even showed fine deformations, and the arm inside was already injured!
He looked up at the enemy who was still maintaining the chopping pose, with a ferocious grin on his shark-like face, and for the first time, horror and solemnity appeared in his eyes.
This guy… what kind of monster is he exactly?!
His power is actually this great?!
And that sword…
It actually opened its bloody maw like a living creature to suck his chakra!
Kisame Hoshigaki slowly lowered Samehada, dragging it on the snow, carving out a deep mark.
He twisted his neck, producing cracking sounds, looked at the unsightly-faced Nutou, grinned, revealing his stark white shark-like teeth:
“The daimyo of the Land of Snow? Is this all the strength you have? It’s not even enough to scratch me!”
On top of the earth wall, Uchiha Hikari watched Kisame Hoshigaki’s overwhelmingly hegemonic slash and Fukazake Nutou’s disheveled state below, and finally a glint of approval flashed in her scarlet Sharingan eyes.
“Power… not bad.” She murmured softly to herself, the corner of her mouth slightly curving into a cold arc: “So, next, how will you play this self-righteous ice worm to death, Kisame Hoshigaki?”
At the center of the battlefield, the showdown between Kisame Hoshigaki and Fukazake Nutou had just begun, destined that only one side could survive!
And the scales of victory were actually predetermined from the moment the battle erupted.
