The sound of the Three-Tails' attack cutting through the air was like thunder itself given physical form. The massive appendages moved with a speed that defied their enormous size, each tail carrying enough kinetic energy to level a small mountain. The displacement of air created by their movement generated powerful wind currents that churned the sea surface into chaotic waves.
BANG!
Kisame had barely enough time to raise Samehada in a defensive position before the first tail struck. The impact was tremendous—not just the physical force of the blow, but the raw chakra that infused every molecule of the tailed beast's body. Even through Samehada's chakra-absorbing properties, the sheer overwhelming power of the attack was enough to send shockwaves through his entire skeleton.
CRACK!
The second tail followed immediately, striking with pinpoint precision at the exact moment when Kisame was most vulnerable. The compound force of the dual impact transformed him into a living projectile, his body launched through the air like a cannonball fired from some impossibly powerful siege weapon.
Kisame's trajectory carried him across the churning waters, his form skipping across the surface like a stone thrown by a giant. Each impact with the sea sent up massive sprays of water, his body carving a path of destruction that stretched for dozens of meters before he finally managed to regain enough control to arrest his momentum.
When he finally came to a stop, floating on the surface through sheer force of will and chakra control, the evidence of the Three-Tails' power was written across his body in painful detail. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, mixing with the salt spray that covered his face. His breathing was labored, each inhalation a reminder of ribs that had been stressed to their breaking point.
Even Samehada, his legendary weapon, had been affected by the tremendous assault. The blade emitted a low, keening sound that spoke of genuine distress—a noise that Kisame had never heard from his partner in all their years together.
Despite the punishment his body had endured, Kisame felt no fear. If anything, the display of raw power had only served to heighten his excitement. This was the kind of opponent he lived for—a creature whose strength could genuinely threaten his life, whose power demanded every ounce of his skill and cunning to overcome.
No matter how enhanced his physical capabilities were, Kisame remained fundamentally human. If Samehada hadn't absorbed a significant portion of the Three-Tails' chakra during the impact, converting that energy into a protective barrier that had cushioned the worst of the blow, the attack would have been sufficient to inflict serious, possibly fatal injuries.
He rose to his feet with the fluid grace of a predator, his movements betraying none of the pain he undoubtedly felt. In his hands, Samehada had swollen to nearly twice its normal size, the weapon's scaled surface bulging with absorbed chakra. The blade was practically vibrating with satisfaction, having gorged itself on the tailed beast's energy.
"Intelligent," Kisame murmured, his shark-like features twisting into an appreciative grin. "This three-tailed beast is quite clever."
The observation was tactical rather than casual. Although the Three-Tails' resurrection hadn't escaped detection by the Akatsuki's intelligence network, the creature had demonstrated remarkable strategic thinking by choosing to manifest at sea. In this aquatic environment, it possessed every possible advantage—unlimited chakra reserves from its natural element, perfect mobility, and the ability to use the ocean itself as a weapon.
SPLASH!
As if responding to his analysis, the Three-Tails demonstrated the truth of his assessment. The massive creature's front paws slammed into the sea surface with devastating force, generating waves that made the earlier attacks seem like gentle ripples. The water rose in towering walls that blocked out the sun, creating a moving mountain range of liquid that bore down on Kisame's position with inexorable force.
"Interesting!" Kisame's grin widened, revealing rows of shark-like teeth that gleamed in the shadow of the approaching tsunami.
Rather than retreat or attempt to dodge the massive attack, he made a decision that would have seemed suicidal to any observer. He first secured Samehada to his back, the weapon's weight familiar and comforting despite its enlarged state. Then his hands began to move through a complex sequence of seals, each gesture flowing into the next with practiced precision.
"Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
The technique was one of Kisame's signature moves, a jutsu that had earned him fame and fear throughout the ninja world. But executing it under these conditions, with a tidal wave bearing down on him and a tailed beast as his target, elevated it from mere ninjutsu to something approaching art.
The sea around Kisame's position immediately responded to his call. The water didn't just move—it boiled with chakra-infused energy, currents spinning and converging as they were shaped by his will. The liquid mass began to take on a distinctive form, elongating and developing fins, a tail, and rows of razor-sharp teeth.
In moments, a shark construct of impossible size had emerged from the ocean itself. The creature was composed entirely of water, but its form was so perfectly detailed that it seemed more real than many living things. Every scale, every fin, every predatory curve had been crafted with the kind of attention to detail that spoke of true mastery.
CRASH!
The giant shark collided with the Three-Tails' tsunami head-on, the impact generating a sound like the world itself being torn apart. For a moment, it seemed as though the massive wave would simply overwhelm the jutsu through sheer volume and force.
But the Great Shark Bullet Technique possessed a quality that made it uniquely suited for this confrontation. Rather than being destroyed by the opposing force, the water construct began to feed on it. The technique was designed to absorb an opponent's chakra and convert it into its own power, growing stronger with every moment of contact.
The tsunami wasn't composed of ordinary seawater—it was infused with the Three-Tails' chakra, making it a perfect source of nourishment for Kisame's jutsu. As the two forces continued to clash, a visible transformation began to take place. The waves gradually diminished in size and power, while the shark construct grew correspondingly larger and more aggressive.
The process was mesmerizing to watch. What had begun as a relatively modest water technique evolved into something truly monstrous, feeding on its opponent's strength until it dwarfed even the original tsunami. When the shark finally broke through the last of the waves, it had become a creature of legend—easily comparable in size to the Three-Tails itself.
The massive construct opened its jaws, revealing a mouth large enough to swallow small islands, and lunged directly at the tailed beast with predatory hunger.
ROOOOOAR!
The Three-Tails' cry as the shark latched onto its shell was unlike anything that had been heard in these waters for centuries. It was a sound of pain, yes, but also of genuine surprise. The creature had existed for millennia, had faced countless opponents and survived every encounter. This was perhaps the first time in its long existence that it had encountered a technique specifically designed to turn its own power against it.
The three massive tails that gave the beast its name began to thrash wildly, each appendage striking the water construct with enough force to shatter mountains. The impacts sent shockwaves through the surrounding water, creating secondary waves that raced toward distant shores. But despite the tremendous punishment it was receiving, the shark showed no signs of dispersing. If anything, each attack seemed to make it more solid, more real.
"As expected of a man known as the Tailless Beast," a voice observed from a nearby island.
Black Zetsu and White Zetsu had been watching the confrontation from their concealed position, and even their typically emotionless demeanor couldn't entirely hide their amazement at what they were witnessing. Throughout the history of the ninja world, there had been few individuals capable of engaging a tailed beast in direct combat on anything approaching equal terms.
The moniker "Tailless Beast" had been applied to Kisame not as mere hyperbole, but as a recognition of his unique position in the shinobi hierarchy. His chakra reserves were legendary, rivaling those of actual tailed beasts, and his combat capabilities had been proven in conflicts across multiple nations.
Most of the credit for his current success could certainly be attributed to Samehada's chakra-absorbing properties. The weapon had already consumed enormous amounts of the Three-Tails' power, weakening the creature while simultaneously strengthening its wielder. But even accounting for this advantage, Kisame's tactical brilliance and technical mastery were undeniable.
Among all the warriors who had wielded Samehada throughout history, none had demonstrated such perfect synergy with the weapon. Previous users had treated it as a tool, albeit a powerful one. Kisame had formed something approaching a partnership with the blade, understanding its needs and capabilities in ways that bordered on supernatural.
However, even the most perfectly executed strategy had its limitations. Simply weakening the Three-Tails through chakra absorption wouldn't be sufficient to achieve true victory. The creature's reserves were vast beyond normal comprehension, and its ability to regenerate lost energy by drawing from the surrounding environment meant that this approach could only delay the inevitable.
BANG!
After several minutes of sustained assault, the massive shark construct finally reached its limits. The continuous barrage from the Three-Tails' attacks had gradually overcome even its enhanced durability, and the jutsu collapsed in a spectacular explosion of water and chakra.
The Three-Tails' roars of rage echoed across the waters as it continued to hammer the sea surface with its tails. The creature's fury was palpable, a living force that seemed to charge the very air with hostile energy. It had finally encountered an opponent that posed a genuine threat, and its response was proportionally violent.
Buzz!
The sound that emerged from the Three-Tails as it opened its mouth was unlike anything it had produced before. This wasn't a roar of anger or pain—it was the distinctive resonance of chakra being compressed and shaped into its most destructive form.
Particles of energy began to coalesce in front of the creature's maw, each mote of light representing power sufficient to level city blocks. The colors shifted and swirled as different types of chakra were combined and concentrated, creating a sphere that seemed to contain the very essence of destruction.
"Haha, it still has this kind of power left. This is not good," Kisame observed with a mixture of admiration and concern.
His earlier assessment had been overly optimistic. Despite having its chakra absorbed by both Samehada and the Great Shark Bullet Technique to such a significant degree, the Three-Tails was still capable of forming a Tailed Beast Ball. The implications were staggering—if this represented only a fraction of the creature's total power, then its true capabilities were beyond anything he had anticipated.
The Tailed Beast Ball was considered the ultimate technique of the tailed beasts, a manifestation of their power that had laid waste to entire armies and reshaped landscapes. Even a partially formed version would be sufficient to vaporize everything within a considerable radius, and this one was being crafted with the full attention and fury of an enraged beast.
Rather than panic, however, Kisame found himself looking toward the island where he knew Zetsu was observing the battle. His expression was meaningful, carrying a clear message that the situation had escalated beyond his ability to handle alone.
"I can't even handle this situation, so can this guy really do anything?" The thought carried genuine skepticism.
The masked man who led the Akatsuki had assured him that if the Three-Tails capture mission encountered insurmountable difficulties, Zetsu would provide the necessary assistance. But throughout Kisame's time with the organization, the plant-like being had been restricted to intelligence gathering and reconnaissance. What could someone whose primary role was information collection possibly do against a technique that even he, with all his combat experience, couldn't hope to defend against?
Sensing Kisame's searching gaze, Black Zetsu's hoarse voice carried across the water with unnatural clarity: "Looks like we need to take action."
"Oh," White Zetsu added with what might have been enthusiasm, though it was difficult to tell with his flat emotional register.
The massive pitcher plant that had been concealing Zetsu's form suddenly spread open like a blooming flower, revealing the distinctive half-black, half-white body that marked him as one of the most unique beings in the ninja world. Without hesitation, he launched himself toward the battle, his hands already moving through a complex sequence of seals.
As the hand signs progressed, something extraordinary began to happen. Thick, gnarled tree branches erupted from Zetsu's back, growing with impossible speed and reaching toward the Three-Tails with obvious intent. The wood was unlike anything found in nature—it pulsed with chakra and seemed to possess a will of its own.
"This is Wood Release?!" Kisame's shock was evident in his voice.
The implications of what he was witnessing were staggering. Wood Release was legendary even among the most advanced ninjutsu, a kekkei genkai that had been uniquely possessed by Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage of Konohagakure. The technique was not only incredibly powerful in its own right, but it possessed the specific property of being able to suppress and control tailed beast chakra.
Who exactly was Zetsu? How could someone of apparently secondary importance within the Akatsuki possess access to techniques that had been thought lost with the death of the God of Shinobi?
The wooden branches moved with startling speed and precision, wrapping around the Three-Tails' neck and head just as the creature was putting the finishing touches on its Tailed Beast Ball. The timing was perfect—the beast was so focused on its devastating attack that it couldn't mount an effective defense against this unexpected assault.
When the Wood Release technique had completely encircled the Three-Tails' upper body, Zetsu suddenly exerted tremendous force.
BANG!
All the branches moved in perfect synchronization, their combined strength sufficient to physically lift the massive creature's body clear of the water. For a moment, the Three-Tails hung suspended above the sea, its enormous bulk held aloft by nothing but the supernatural strength of the wooden constructs.
Then, with devastating effect, the branches slammed the tailed beast back down into the ocean.
The impact was cataclysmic. Water exploded outward in all directions, creating waves that would be felt on distant shores for hours to come. More importantly, the shock of the impact disrupted the Three-Tails' concentration at the critical moment, causing the nearly completed Tailed Beast Ball to destabilize and dissipate harmlessly.
"Wood Release: Insertion Technique!"
Zetsu wasn't finished. Dozens of massive wooden spikes erupted from his position, each one honed to a razor-sharp point and infused with chakra that made them harder than steel. The Three-Tails, despite its size and defensive capabilities, presented too large a target to miss.
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
The wooden spears found their marks, piercing the creature's shell and embedding themselves deep within its flesh. But this was only the beginning of the technique's effect. Once lodged in their target, the spikes began to grow rapidly, extending roots and branches that spread throughout the Three-Tails' body like some parasitic organism.
Within moments, the massive creature was covered in a network of wooden growths that seemed to pulse with stolen life force. The branches didn't just restrain the beast—they actively drained its chakra, feeding on its power while simultaneously limiting its movement.
ROOOOOAR!
The Three-Tails' cry this time was one of genuine distress. For the first time since its resurrection, it found itself truly helpless, its legendary strength turned against it by an opponent who seemed to understand its weaknesses better than it understood them itself.
"That should do it," Zetsu announced with satisfaction. "Now it won't be able to use chakra for the time being."
The Insertion Technique was specifically designed to counter opponents with vast chakra reserves. The wooden constructs would continue to grow as long as they had energy to feed on, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that could theoretically drain even a tailed beast of its power.
Combined with the natural restraining properties of Wood Release and the previous weakening effects of Kisame's assault, the Three-Tails was now in an ideal state for capture and sealing.
As he spoke, Zetsu produced a scroll from somewhere within his strange anatomy, unrolling it to reveal intricate sealing formulas and storage matrices. This was clearly a ninja tool scroll of exceptional quality, designed to hold objects of significant power and importance.
Kisame dropped down beside Zetsu, his earlier injuries forgotten in the face of what he was witnessing. The techniques being employed were beyond anything he had expected, and he found himself reevaluating everything he thought he knew about his enigmatic companion.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Zetsu's hands moved through the activation sequence for the scroll, each seal causing different sections of the parchment to glow with contained energy. Smoke began to rise from the surface as the storage technique was released, revealing its precious contents.
When the smoke cleared, several objects of obviously legendary significance rested in Zetsu's grasp. In his left hand was a rope that seemed to be woven from pure golden light, its surface shimmering with power that made the air around it distort. His right hand held a weapon of bizarre and intricate design—a sword whose blade curved and twisted in patterns that hurt to look at directly.
Secured to his right arm was a gourd large enough to contain a small child, its surface decorated with symbols and markings that spoke of incredible age and power.
Kisame stared at these artifacts with growing recognition and awe. His extensive knowledge of ninja history and legend finally provided context for what he was seeing, and the realization sent a chill down his spine.
"Are these the ninja tools used by the legendary Sage of Six Paths?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Golden Rope, Seven-Star Sword, and Red Gourd?"
Zetsu's response was a simple nod, but the implications of that gesture were staggering. These weren't mere replicas or inspired imitations—they were the actual artifacts wielded by the mythical founder of modern ninjutsu, tools that had been thought lost to history for centuries.
The revelation raised even more questions about Zetsu's true identity and the scope of the Akatsuki's resources. How had the organization come to possess such legendary items? What other secrets were they hiding beneath their relatively modest public profile?
"We're currently unable to seal the Three-Tails into the Gedo Statue," Zetsu explained, his matter-of-fact tone contrasting sharply with the magnitude of what he was proposing. "So we'll have to use the treasures left by the Sage of Six Paths to preserve it temporarily."
The plan was both brilliant and audacious. Rather than attempting to transport a weakened but still dangerous tailed beast across vast distances, they would use artifacts of unimaginable power to contain it completely. Once secured within the Red Gourd, the Three-Tails would be as harmless as any other stored object, ready to be transported and processed at their leisure.
Kisame watched with fascination as Zetsu began to prepare the legendary tools for use. Each artifact seemed to resonate with the others, their combined presence creating harmonic frequencies that made the very air vibrate with potential energy.
The battle for the Three-Tails was entering its final phase, and the outcome would be decided not by raw strength or tactical brilliance, but by the application of techniques and tools that predated the entire modern ninja world. In a sense, it was fitting—the children of the Sage of Six Paths using his own weapons to capture one of his greatest creations.
The sea around them had grown calm again, as if the ocean itself was holding its breath in anticipation of what was to come. The Three-Tails lay motionless in its wooden prison, its legendary power temporarily contained but not destroyed. Soon, it would join its siblings in captivity, another step in a plan whose full scope remained hidden from all but a select few.
History was being made in these waters, though the world would not learn of it until much later. The capture of the Three-Tails would mark a turning point in the balance of power among the hidden villages, setting in motion events that would reshape the entire ninja world.
But for now, there was only the quiet efficiency of legendary tools being prepared for their intended purpose, and the satisfaction of a mission nearing its successful completion.
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