"What exactly… exactly are you?"
Killer B stared seriously at the creature in front of him, the one with a tail that had just stolen his grilled fish, feeling completely bewildered.
Could this thing really be a product of the Land of Lightning?
Killer B called out to the Eight-Tails within him. "Do you recognize this?"
Even the well-traveled Eight-Tails, but had never read manga, didn't know what this was. "I don't know. Anyway, it's not a tailed beast."
"Then what is it?"
Seeing Killer B lost in thought, Uchiha Yujin apologized. "Sorry about that."
He scratched his head and wrapped the tail behind him around his waist. "I was too hungry."
"An enemy spy?" Killer B muttered to himself. "Oh, a spy stealing my fish. Well, fish live in rivers, so that's reasonable, reasonable!"
"That's not reasonable, and it doesn't even rhyme."
Hearing that felt like a vicious insult to Killer B. He widened his eyes. "Hey, you impudent brat! My rhymes are the best—super reasonable!"
"Are you playing some non-rhyming game? Feels like you took some anti-rhyme medicine."
"You! Ah! You!" Killer B was about to blow steam in anger when a sudden idea lit up his eyes.
"Anti-rhyme medicine!? Perfect finishing touch! Gotta write that down, gotta write it down!"
Watching Killer B actually take out a little notebook and start jotting things down, Uchiha Yujin couldn't help but recall the scene when Sasuke had formed Taka, coming to Cloud Village without knowing better to capture Killer B.
Killer B was exactly this kind of unpredictable.
But it had to be said—he had the right to be unpredictable.
Even Sasuke, with his Mangekyo activated, had been cut seven times by Killer B.
If not for Karin's healing, the Naruto world would have been done for on the spot.
Killer B finished writing his words down and looked back at Uchiha Yujin.
"Where did you come from, little monster? No manners, stealing my fish and even saying I have no medicine… Oh yeah, check it out!"
Finally fed up with Killer B's awkward rhymes, Uchiha Yujin spoke a sentence that left Killer B utterly speechless.
"I can write three pounds of crap rhymes like this in a single day."
"Ah!" Killer B first flopped onto the ground to process this, then took out his notebook again, licking the corner of his mouth.
"Such aggressive vocabulary! Gotta write that down! Gotta write it down!"
After finishing, Killer B looked up, just about to attack again, when Uchiha Yujin threw out a killing move.
"I'm just doing a freestyle, and you're losing your mind keeping up."
"W-what!" Killer B froze instantly, like a frostbitten eggplant. His notebook and pen fell into the river, and his legs went weak. "Y-you… you win."
By the river, waterfall after waterfall, big fish came swimming out, one after another. Before long, they had filled a small stream.
Uchiha Yujin took aim at the river surface and took a deep breath.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Under the blazing heat of the fireball, strong steam rose from the river in front of the waterfall.
The fireball, like a miniature sun, instantly cooked the fish in the river.
The fish meat tightened quickly from the heat, its surface turning a golden hue and releasing an irresistible aroma.
Killer B watched the scene, his eyes glimmering with excitement.
He quickly grabbed a roasted fish, sprinkled some seasoning from the Land of Lightning, and started eating in big bites.
The freshness of the fish and the smoky flavor made him exclaim, "Such big fish, such amazing fire!"
Uchiha Yujin, with a dark line of irritation at the corner of his mouth, rolled a roasted fish into his mouth and muttered, "Thanks to your Lightning Style."
While eating the roasted fish, Killer B started rapping: "Lightning fishing, fire roasting, we're professional chefs, born fishing partners!"
"Uh…"
"By the way, I haven't asked—why would a little Uchiha brat come to my turf? Doesn't make sense, doesn't follow logic~"
"This is a private training ground for me, VIP only. Don't think you can mess with me~yo!"
If he were facing any other ninja from another village, Uchiha Yujin wouldn't have told the truth.
But this was Killer B.
A completely unpredictable ninja.
"Have you heard of the Akatsuki?"
"Akatsuki?"
The two talked back and forth, and Killer B, looking at Uchiha Yujin's tail, came to a conclusion.
"So the two Akatsuki members you mentioned were treating you like a Jinchūriki? That's hilarious, but actually makes sense! There are beavers in the river, and gifts in the box!"
"Uh… something like that." Uchiha Yujin didn't bother explaining in detail. At least he was sure Killer B held no hostility toward him, which made things much easier.
Killer B pointed at the waterfall. "This is Valley of Clouds and Lightning, the territory of the Land of Lightning. Our encounter feels like a sudden twist of fate!"
"Uh… that rhymes pretty well."
"Huh!?" Killer B was excited. "Really? That line rhymes perfectly—'encounter,' 'fate'? Rhymes?!"
"You could even rhyme it with 'early pregnancy,'" Uchiha Yujin rubbed his face. "Alright, I have to go. Remember, warn the village. The Akatsuki is hunting the Tailed Beasts. Tell your Jinchuriki to be careful."
"Wait!"
"What is it?"
"Well…" Killer B hesitated, fidgeting. "Could you… battle me in a rap?"
It was rare for Killer B to meet someone who spoke his language. He wanted to showcase all the lyrics he had written over the years.
"I don't have time." Uchiha Yujin spread his wings, ready to fly, but then stopped.
"If I win… could you teach me a move or two?"
——————
At the damp entrance of the sewer, darkness and the stench of decay filled the air.
Suddenly!
A fireball tore through the darkness, racing forward and lighting up the corner!
When it landed, it didn't explode. Instead, it gradually calmed, transforming into a warm glow that softened the surrounding area.
A tempting smell of roasted meat wafted from the fire. The aroma was rich and mouthwatering, seeping through every crack of the sewer, awakening the hidden creatures in the shadows.
A rat, drawn by the smell, cautiously peeked its head out. Its tiny eyes sparkled with curiosity and caution as it studied the sudden light and its source.
In the glow of the fire, the figure of pirate Yujin became visible. He sat beside the fire, devouring freshly roasted Prison Guard Chicken Beast meat.
He ate with boldness and directness, as if relishing a grand feast.
Meat without seasoning—how could it possibly taste good?
Seeing the pitiful little mouse, the pirate Yujin paused, a spark of pity rising in his chest.
He tore off a piece of "phoenix-tail meat" from the prison guard beast beside him and tossed it toward the mouse.
"Eat, eat." Yujin's voice echoed through the sewer, tinged with compassion. "Life isn't easy for you in this sunless hell either. My situation is no different—we're both mice in the sewers."
The mouse hesitated at first, staring at the chicken rump just within reach. Hunger, however, overcame fear, and it finally rushed forward, devouring the meat with gusto.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps—da-da-da—approached!
Along with the steps came a strong, acrid scent of cigar smoke.
A tall man in a military coat appeared, holding a saber. He glanced at the grilled meat beside Yujin, a cruel smile forming on his lips.
"Killing a prison guard beast carries an extra penalty. Multiple crimes, multiple punishments."
With that, he moved—suddenly!
His speed was so fierce that Yujin immediately activated the second stage of the Cursed Seal of Heaven, along with Helts and the gene lock, unleashing full firepower!
Shiryu slashed toward Yujin, the cigar clenched in his mouth as he pronounced: "Sentence: death!"
****
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