The Ultimate Mangekyo Genjutsu: Kotoamatsukami

"Summoned Beast died again?"

Deep within the Forest of Death, in a hidden corner, Kisame Hoshigaki jolted awake, his grayish-blue Shark Face filled with frustration and helplessness.

"Kazama Kaguya, it's only been two days, what trick are you playing now?"

Although he grumbled and complained, his movements didn't stop. Before his voice even faded, he had already disappeared with a Body Flicker Technique.

The powerful physical quality of an elite Jonin, combined with the terrifying mobility brought by the Body Flicker Technique, pushed his movement speed past 250 meters per second.

Kisame Hoshigaki moved through the forest like a phantom in the night, trees blurring past him. The gust of wind he kicked up only rustled after he had vanished.

In just 20 seconds, he had covered about five kilometers to reach the battlefield.

"This is it."

Kisame Hoshigaki appeared as if teleporting in front of the glass tank containing the Summoned Beast. As soon as he stabilized himself, he smelled a faint scent of blood.

"Injured?" He narrowed his eyes, scanning his surroundings vigilantly.

Then, before a giant tree not far away, a wriggling figure in black robes came into view.

It was a humanoid creature slumped on the ground, clad in a black robe and wearing a mask. But unlike a normal person, the figure was contorting strangely all over.

Beneath the pitch-black robe, a bulge would appear and quickly deflate, accompanied by crunching sounds, like countless bones grinding and breaking. It was as if the flesh and bones within the robe were fighting each other, eerie and terrifying.

"Kazama Kaguya?" Kisame Hoshigaki pulled out two kunai, asking tentatively.

He wasn't sure if the strange thing with the familiar aura was the target he was supposed to protect.

"G-Gaki-sensei..." A dry, hoarse voice rasped, grating and unpleasant.

The strange person in the robe struggled to remove the mask, revealing Kazama Kaguya's gaunt, blood-stained face.

His left eye was closed, blood still fresh. Beneath his skin, flesh writhed and pulsed as if countless snakes and insects were crawling, making one's scalp tingle.

"Take me away, far from Konoha," Kazama Kaguya urged, enduring the intense pain surging through his body and struggling to stand. "Quickly, the pursuers will be here soon."

"It's only been two days, how did you end up like this?" Kisame Hoshigaki asked, completely bewildered.

He looked at the seemingly collapsing Kazama Kaguya with disdain and was about to step forward to take him away. But after a few steps, killing intent erupted, and he threw a kunai towards a certain spot, simultaneously spitting out a large water ball as an attack.

"Who's there? Sneaking around, get out here."

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique."

Bang...

The large water ball flew into the forest, felling a large patch of trees.

A phantom dodged the attack and flickered away in the distance.

It was a young man, wearing a black high-necked short-sleeved shirt and black trousers, with brown armor on his right shoulder, white bandages wrapped around his legs, and a small katana on his back.

Most striking were his eyes above his large, bulbous nose: a pair of scarlet, three-tomoe Sharingan, radiating an ominous aura.

"Sharingan? And a three-tomoe at that?" Kisame Hoshigaki's expression turned grave.

Behind him, Kazama Kaguya's face changed upon seeing the scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan and the distinctive "bulbous nose." He exclaimed, "Uchiha Shisui? What's he doing here? This shouldn't be happening."

"Uchiha Shisui?" Kisame Hoshigaki's heart leaped, and he instinctively recalled the information he had previously obtained.

"The ultimate Genjutsu that can alter will, Kotoamatsukami?" He immediately averted his gaze, but a desire to test his strength surged within him. "If I could take his Mangekyo, wouldn't my mission be complete?"

In the distance, Uchiha Shisui calmly drew his small katana and pointed it at the two.

"Shark Face? You're the Kirigakure monster Kisame Hoshigaki, so the other one must be a Kirigakure spy. How did you infiltrate the Root Organization and gain Lord Danzo's trust?"

Clearly, Shisui, who firmly believed in the Will of Fire, had not yet witnessed Danzo's dirty tactics.

Kazama Kaguya had no interest in bickering with Shisui. Enduring the intense pain, he struggled to his feet and said, "Gaki-sensei, let's go. This is too close to Konoha. If we start fighting, we'll be surrounded."

"No need for you to tell me." Kisame Hoshigaki snorted coldly, his hands already forming hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Shark Bomb Technique."

In the blink of an eye, three-meter-long water sharks were spat from Kisame Hoshigaki's mouth, lunging at Shisui.

He seized the opportunity, grabbed Kazama Kaguya, and activated the Body Flicker Technique, vanishing from the spot.

Kazama Kaguya only felt a powerful pulling force, and then the scenery before his eyes stretched into a straight line, rapidly receding.

Amidst the whistling wind, Kisame Hoshigaki's voice could be heard: "Kazama Kaguya, your body is about to collapse. Has the Bloodline Disease flared up? How about I kill you now, to spare you the pain?"

"Gaki-sensei really knows how to joke, cough cough..."

Kazama Kaguya spat out a mouthful of clotted blood and some internal organs, clutching Gaki's arm tightly. He reminded him, "You took my information, and you have to protect me for three months. Now is the time for you to earn your keep."

"Information? Hmph, so it was a trap."

Kisame Hoshigaki grumbled in dissatisfaction but didn't mention giving up again, only fully activating the Body Flicker Technique to flee.

However, carrying a burden like Kazama Kaguya significantly reduced his speed.

Ninjas, with their high offense and speed but low defense, were well-suited for assassination and reconnaissance.

But saving someone? Honestly, ninjas weren't professionals at it. They were better at attacking defensively, killing their opponents before dealing with anything else.

Kazama Kaguya naturally understood this. He knew that without putting up a fight, the two of them wouldn't be able to leave safely.

Besides, the one chasing us is the Swift Shisui, famously fast.

"Cough, cough, cough..." After spitting out more decaying internal organs, Kazama Kaguya felt the intense pain in his body lessen considerably. He turned to Kisame Hoshigaki and instructed:

"Teacher Kisame, I need you to protect me with all your might for 15 minutes. During this time, no matter what changes happen to my body, don't pay attention to it. Just stop anyone who tries to kill me."

"15 minutes?" Kisame Hoshigaki felt a pang in his teeth and said unhappily, "Besides that Uchiha Shisui who we can't shake, are there also people from the Hyuga clan?"

"No Hyuga, but people from the Aburame Clan will come to hunt me down next. Their secret techniques shouldn't pose a threat to you. Our main danger is Uchiha Shisui."

Kazama Kaguya's tone was solemn as he continued, "The information I gave you before is true. Never make eye contact with Shisui. If he activates his Susanoo, don't confront it head-on. Just grab me and run."

"Are you saying I can't beat that red-eyed guy?" Kisame Hoshigaki asked indignantly.

"Although I don't want to inflate the enemy's strength, Teacher Kisame, your mission right now is to protect me." Kazama Kaguya hesitated, then reminded him tactfully.

Shaking the morale of the troops when facing a great enemy is a major taboo, but he was afraid Kisame would stubbornly charge in. If he fell for Genjutsu, Kaguya would be a lamb to the slaughter.

After thinking for a moment, Kazama Kaguya added, "If you really want to settle this and try to complete the Kirigakure mission, my suggestion is to wait 15 minutes. Perhaps I can offer you some assistance then."

"Hmph, enough nonsense. That red-eyed guy is catching up. Whether he's strong or not, we'll only know after we fight."

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Unleashed."