Chapter 85: A Brief Clash
As Baishi charged directly at Kisame Hoshigaki, the latter didn't hesitate for a moment. With a swift motion, Kisame drew a short sword from his back and slashed downward diagonally in a calculated strike.
The slash, though hasty, was precise and aimed perfectly at Baishi's trajectory. As Baishi closed the distance, the blade seemed to graze his face.
In the nick of time, Baishi channeled chakra into his body, employing Lightning Release to stimulate his leg muscles. His speed increased explosively, leaving behind a faint afterimage as he evaded the strike and reappeared on Kisame's left side.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
Executing a technique he had perfected, Baishi launched a sweeping kick aimed at Kisame's side, his leg slicing through the air with enough force to sting the ears.
Kisame, sensing the incoming force, quickly realized the kick wasn't one he could withstand directly. He planted his short sword into the ground and used it to pivot his body upward, flipping into the air to evade.
Baishi's kick passed harmlessly below him, the momentum carrying through the space between Kisame and the sword. Not missing a beat, Baishi twisted his waist and unleashed a follow-up kick with his other leg, targeting Kisame mid-air.
Kisame braced himself, raising his left arm defensively. His muscles bulged as he prepared to take the hit head-on. Though the force of Baishi's kick sent him flying backward, Kisame managed to mitigate most of the damage, thanks to his exceptional physical resilience.
As he was propelled through the air, Kisame hooked his foot around the hilt of his short sword, yanking it free from the ground.
The battle that followed was relentless. Baishi's superior speed and strength placed Kisame under constant pressure. However, Kisame relied on his extensive combat experience, deft swordsmanship, and unusual physical strength to fend off Baishi's attacks.
Yet, no matter how skilled the opponent, prolonged defense inevitably leads to errors.
When Kisame attempted another downward slash toward Baishi's chest, Baishi's sharp gaze locked onto a critical opening. Seizing the moment, Baishi concentrated his focus, and time seemed to slow around him.
As Kisame's blade neared, Baishi leaned back slightly to avoid the strike. At the same time, he raised his right palm, and a sharp wooden spike emerged, aiming directly at Kisame's chest.
It was a gamble. If neither of them relented, Baishi would likely suffer an injury, but Kisame would almost certainly be impaled. Once the spike pierced him, Baishi's follow-up Wood Release: Insertion Technique would ensure a fatal outcome.
Kisame must have sensed the imminent danger. Without hesitation, he released his sword and shifted to the side, narrowly evading the wooden spike.
Baishi's eyes flickered with disappointment. A moment's hesitation or a slight misstep from Kisame would have ended the battle there and then.
"At least I gained something," Baishi thought, his eyes briefly darting to the short sword now lying on the ground.
Without giving Kisame a chance to recover, Baishi pressed the offensive, engaging him in close-quarters combat.
Kisame, now armed only with a kunai, found himself at a disadvantage as the proximity allowed Baishi's superior speed and power to shine. It didn't take long for Baishi to find another opening. He delivered a powerful punch to Kisame's chest, sending him hurtling backward.
Blood sprayed from Kisame's mouth as his mask flew off, revealing his face. Yet, despite the pain and apparent injury, Kisame's focus remained sharp. He noticed Baishi's next attack and made a surprising choice.
Rather than defending or countering, Kisame allowed Baishi's follow-up punch to land, using the force to propel himself further away.
Capitalizing on the distance, Kisame formed hand seals with remarkable speed and unleashed Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
A torrent of water erupted from his mouth, rapidly engulfing the battlefield. Within seconds, a massive spherical water dome surrounded them, spanning hundreds of meters.
Kisame didn't stop there. Ignoring the searing pain in his chest, he summoned his chakra reserves and performed Thousand Feeding Sharks, conjuring a horde of shark-shaped constructs to attack Baishi.
"Go!" Kisame commanded, sending the sharks swarming toward Baishi.
As Baishi dealt with the onslaught, Kisame executed another jutsu—Water Clone Technique—splitting himself into four identical copies. The clones surrounded him, and in unison, they each performed Water Shark Bullet Technique. Encased in chakra-formed sharks, the clones shot upward, breaching the water dome and escaping into the open air.
Amid the chaos, Baishi realized Kisame's true intention.
"He's running?" Baishi muttered, momentarily stunned.
Kisame had sacrificed much to create this opportunity. Recognizing his disadvantage in both close combat and ranged tactics, Kisame prioritized retreating with the critical intel he had gathered.
Without Kisame maintaining the water dome, it soon dissipated, along with the sharks. As the battlefield returned to normal, Baishi spotted Kisame's silhouette in the distance.
Baishi raised his hands, prepared to create wood clones to pursue the fleeing opponent. However, he suddenly froze, his senses catching something off. Turning toward the forest, he called out, "No need to hide. Come out."
A slow, deliberate clapping sound broke the silence, followed by a raspy voice.
"Hehehe… that was truly entertaining!"
Hearing the familiar tone, Baishi's eyes narrowed, and he smiled faintly.
Fixing his gaze on the source of the sound, Baishi addressed the figure. "Orochimaru-sama… What brings you here? Surely, Konoha isn't so boring as to drive you all the way to my little island?"
Emerging from the shadows was none other than Orochimaru.
(End of Chapter)
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