Three-Tails Rampage!

A silvery-white blade cleaved through the thick darkness of the office, slashing straight down towards Obito's head.

Before the blade even arrived, a chilling aura pressed down on Obito's pale face.

However, just as the blade was about to touch Obito, a broadsword wrapped entirely in bandages suddenly emerged from the side, narrowly blocking the trajectory of the falling Firebirth.

"Clang--!!"

The moment the blades clashed with the broadsword, blinding sparks exploded between the two!

He glanced at the tall man who was barely managing to withstand his fatal blow with all his might, his eyes showing no surprise whatsoever.

"So you finally couldn't resist and made your move, Kisame?"

Kisame's small yet fierce shark eyes shone brightly in the Martian light.

He forced a bitter smile, managing to pull at the corners of his mouth.

"Is it really necessary to go this far, Your Excellency?"

"... Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"

Kou slowly shifted his gaze from Kisame to the spot where Firebirth and Samehada clashed, and suddenly tightened his grip on the sword.

Kisame's pupils contracted as a terrifying force suddenly surged through Samehada's broad blade.

He was forced back several steps by that force, his shoes leaving two deep marks on the cold floor.

But he remained firmly in front of Obito, watching Koto with apprehension, his grip on Samehada tightening unconsciously.

"Now that things have come to this, what's the point of you doing this?"

Kouchi held the Firebirth askew at his side, looked at Kisame who stubbornly stood in front of Obito, pointed to Obito behind him who lay in a pool of blood, his breath so weak he seemed about to die at any moment, and Obito in a calm tone:

"Let's face reality. Even if I don't deliver the final blow, he'll die soon enough."

Everything you're doing now is in vain.

"Step back, Kisame, I... don't want to kill you."

He paused for a moment, then slowly added meaningfully:

"Mist Village still needs you."

Upon hearing Koko's words of advice, Kisame paused for a barely perceptible moment.

"Mist Village... is that it?"

He remained silent for a long while before speaking in his rough, hoarse voice, almost in a murmur:

"The person standing before me now, speaking these words to me, is none other than the Mizukage's Mizukage Aide single-handedly pulled Mist Village out of the Blood Mist —Lord Shiina Sora."

Or is it Lord Kou, who served alongside me for many years, beside Lord Madara?

"... Both, I suppose."

Looking down at the office, now riddled with holes, he sighed softly, a complex, almost wistful light appearing in his eyes:

"So many years have passed, and truth and falsehood have become intertwined... Most of the time, I can no longer distinguish between them, and I'm too tired to even try."

"But one thing has never changed, no matter who you are."

As he spoke, he gently placed his hand on his left chest, feeling the heart beating amidst countless lies and schemes, and said earnestly:

"Here, there's no room for pretense."

He raised his eyes and stared directly at Kisame:

"I have seen all the feelings you have for the current Mist Village."

You don't need to abandon the beautiful things you already have in reality that are truly worth protecting, just for a vague and unrealistic dream.

This world is indeed full of falsehoods, but it is never lacking in truth.

As he spoke, Kisame:

"Kisame, I won't tell you what's right or wrong. The only thing I want you to know is one sentence."

You deserve a real, good future!

Hearing Koko's heartfelt words, Kisame remained silent for a very long time.

Outside the office, the Mist Village wind blew in through the broken window, causing his short hair to sway slightly.

After a long while, Kisame gave a laugh that was almost a sigh.

"You are as gentle as ever... Lord Kou."

He raised the Samehada in his hand again, aiming it steadily at Kotobukuri, his tone low and calm, almost resolute:

"But I'm sorry to disappoint you."

Behind him, Obito was watching them silently with his dim eyes.

Kisame didn't turn around, but he could feel the gaze that had almost lost all life, and slowly spoke:

"The one who first pulled me out of that hell and gave me my first 'real' feeling was Lord Madara."

I am truly moved by everything you just said.

I also deeply admire you for transforming the once Village of the Bloody Mist into what it is today.

I genuinely like Mist Village now, and I like the people who are truly alive.

"But my decision will never change."

Having said this, he gently exhaled a breath of stale air, calmly facing the silent, dark figure before him, as if stating something utterly natural:

"Because I am a ninja."

Looking into Kisame's resolute eyes, he immediately fell silent.

He simply raised the Firebirth in his hand again, pointing the tip of the blade at the man who had completely bound his fate to Obito's.

Flames erupted from the blade, casting a brilliant red glow in the dimly lit office.

I truly identify with Kisame from the bottom of my heart.

Even in moments unknown to others, there was a genuine hope that this true ninja could have a completely different life in the new Mist Village.

But if Kisame insists on standing in front of him, then Kou will show no mercy whatsoever.

All he could do was give this true ninja the most dignified ending.

The air in the Mizukage's Office was once again filled with a chilling killing intent.

Kisame gazed into Kotobuki's eyes, which no longer held any hesitation, and a similar resolve surged within them.

He grinned, revealing a set of teeth as sharp as shark teeth.

The smile was menacing, but Kou's expression was full of admiration.

However, just as Kou was about to swing his sword, he seemed to suddenly sense something, his pupils contracted sharply, and his sword-swinging motion abruptly stopped in mid-air.

At the same time, Kisame seemed to sense something and turned around almost simultaneously with Koko, casting his gaze on Obito, who was almost indistinguishable from a dead man behind him.

Obito's eyes, which had been fixed on them since the beginning, were now completely unfocused.

The last faint breath between his lips also stopped at that moment.

Uchiha Obito -- is dead.

"Lord Madara!!"

Kisame called out instinctively, frozen in place, a complex emotion welling up in his eyes that he himself couldn't quite explain.

Kou took a deep look at Obito, who had completely lost his life, his breathing became slightly disordered, and after a long silence, he silently returned the Firebirth to its sheath.

As the flames died down, the office returned to deathly darkness.

"It's all over."

He bowed his head and spoke in a calm tone devoid of any emotion:

"Leave this place, Kisame."

Here, there is nothing left for you to protect.

Before he could finish speaking, he seemed to realize something and abruptly turned his head to look at Karatachi Yagura, who was still slumped in the corner of the office.

At this moment, Yagura's body was expanding violently at an almost insane speed.

On that once youthful yet stiff face, veins bulged, and the muscles beneath the skin were being stretched and reshaped from the inside by a terrifying force!

He let out a series of inhuman, shrill, and frantic roars, like a ferocious beast finally breaking free of its shackles and howling at the sky.

"Ughhhh!!!"

As the deafening roar resounded, Yagura's enormous body, which had completely lost its human form, finally broke through the not-so-thin dome of the Mizukage Building.

In that instant, the bricks and wooden beams were crushed into dust, and the entire Mizukage Building, which symbolized the highest power in Mist Village, collapsed like a sandcastle, starting from the top floor!

Huge plumes of smoke and shattered building debris poured out in all directions, enveloping the square below in a cloud of dust that blotted out the sun!

The piercing and urgent alarm sounded simultaneously from all directions of Kirigakure, shattering the village's original tranquility.

Countless panicked shouts, along with the commands and shouts of the ninjas, erupted simultaneously from the streets and alleys.

One after another, figures sped towards the Mizukage Building from all parts of Kirigakure!

On the ruins of the now-destroyed Mizukage Building, a colossal beast, its body entirely dark gray, covered in heavy armor, and with three enormous tails that blot out the sky, stands majestically atop the Mist Village Mizukage Building!

The Three-Tails Isobu —has appeared in the world!!