"Teacher Guy, I succeeded!"
Looking at the lifeless body of Kisame, Rock Lee cheered, his eyes brimming with pride.
"Hmm~" Watching the flawless teamwork between TenTen and Lee, Guy nodded in satisfaction. "You truly are my most trusted students. I'm so proud of you!"
"Mr. Guy!"
"Lee Yo~!"
While Guy and Lee indulged in their emotional celebration, TenTen stood quietly, taking a deep breath as she gazed at Kisame's defeated form. The weight of the battle slowly lifted from her shoulders.
To face such a formidable foe required immense courage and perseverance. Without her unwavering resolve and rigorous training, she doubted she could have mustered the strength to unleash the "Dragon's Breath" technique that ultimately overcame Kisame's tidal waves.
It was a hard-earned victory, made possible only through continuous training and the unwavering support of her team.
Reflections on Growth
Rock Lee's development was particularly evident. Beyond training with Guy, he frequently sparred with Kirito.
While his training with Guy honed his techniques under familiar conditions, sparring with Kirito posed unique challenges. Kirito's fluid "Gentle Fist" style left no room for error, as a single misstep would lead to immediate defeat. These encounters forced Lee to sharpen his reaction speed, agility, and counterattack strategies, significantly boosting his confidence against Kisame's strength.
TenTen also made remarkable strides. Under Kirito's guidance, she focused on expanding her chakra reserves, essential for using large-scale techniques like "Dragon's Breath" and maintaining the "Elemental Gate."
Kirito had also encouraged her to rethink her reliance on ninja tools. "You're no longer just a weapons specialist," he had reminded her. "With techniques like the Thunder Blade and the Elemental Gate, you should use ninja tools to assist and create opportunities instead of relying on their quantity alone."
Following his advice, she redesigned her storage scrolls, integrating them with summoning techniques for rapid deployment. Though this required meticulous preparation and increased chakra expenditure, it perfectly complemented her fighting style.
For TenTen, crafting and fine-tuning these tools was a labor of love, and she gladly dedicated countless hours to mastering the intricate process.
The Reality of Victory
"Yeah!" TenTen and Lee high-fived, exhilarated by their success. They had defeated a member of the Akatsuki organization—someone capable of capturing tailed beasts—without relying on Guy or Kirito.
But as they approached Kisame's fallen body, Kirito suddenly frowned. Grabbing Kisame's foot, he pulled the body slightly and shook his head.
"What's wrong?" TenTen asked, her excitement giving way to concern.
"Look at this," Kirito said, motioning to Kisame's head.
Instead of the shark-like features that defined Kisame, the face revealed was that of an unrecognizable stranger.
"This… isn't him? A clone?" Lee exclaimed in disbelief.
Kirito nodded. "The opponent you fought was not the real Kisame. At best, this was a clone with a fraction of his actual power."
The revelation left Lee and TenTen stunned. The overwhelming strength and skill displayed during the battle had felt genuine, making it hard to believe they had only fought a copy.
Guy, now inspecting the body, frowned deeply. "I've never seen this person before," he admitted.
"Of course not!" TenTen huffed. "They probably just grabbed someone to use as a disposable decoy!"
Lee nodded. "The Akatsuki truly are ruthless—willing to sacrifice anyone just to delay us."
"Exactly," Kirito said. "Which is why we must move quickly. The Kazekage may already be in grave danger."
The Journey Resumes
As if on cue, Pakkun emerged from the shadows.
"Pakkun! Where were you? I thought something happened to you!" TenTen exclaimed.
"I stayed back to observe. With a battle of that scale, I would've been a liability," Pakkun admitted, wagging his tail. "As expected of Team Three. You didn't even need Guy to step in."
Though the battle had been fierce, it lasted no more than five minutes. Pakkun, who had just found a vantage point to watch, was amazed at how swiftly they had achieved victory.
With Kisame's substitute sealed into a scroll for further analysis, Team Three quickly regrouped and continued their pursuit of the Akatsuki.
Akatsuki's Headquarters
Far away, in a cavern where the Akatsuki extracted the tailed beasts' chakra, Uchiha Itachi opened his eyes, his form projected through the "Magic Lantern Body Technique."
"It seems Itachi has finished his task," Kisame noted, his real self appearing unscathed.
"What's wrong?" Itachi asked, sensing tension.
"Kisame failed to delay his team," Sasori growled, displeasure evident in his tone. "And he wasted one of my most valuable subordinates."
"I admit I underestimated them," Kisame said, smirking. "But their strength is no joke. Especially that boy with the white eyes—be careful if you face him."
"Itachi, what's the status on your side?" asked Pain, the leader.
"Hataka Kakashi, Haruno Sakura, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—Uzumaki Naruto—and Chiyo, the elder from the Sand Village," Itachi reported.
"And the team that Kisame encountered?" Pain turned to Zetsu.
"My clones were destroyed as soon as they approached. Even in Konoha, my other avatars have been disappearing mysteriously. It's likely the work of that white-eyed boy."
"That confirms it," Kisame chuckled. "He's the one. The others don't have the ability to detect or eliminate Zetsu like that."
Pain's gaze shifted to Sasori and Deidara. "The chakra extraction for the One-Tail is nearly complete. If the 'Mirror Raider Technique' fails to stop them, you two will intercept their team. Consider it an opportunity for revenge."
"And to avenge my fallen subordinate!" Sasori muttered darkly.
"Hahaha! Revenge sounds fun!" Hidan added, only for Sasori to glare at him in irritation.
(End of Chapter)
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