At the same time, on the other side.
As the group of people got closer and closer to the stronghold, Sasuke's expression became more solemn and complicated.
His eyes were always locked on the depths of the dense forest ahead, as if he could see the abandoned Uchiha stronghold through the shadows of the trees.
And as the distance continued to get closer, the scene of that day and what Ning Xue had said appeared in his mind again.
Only Suigetsu still drank water leisurely from the kettle and made some remarks from time to time.
"Speaking of which, can we really find it all at once?"
Sasuke has no answer.
Karin spoke.
"Even if you can't find it, you can still rule out a location."
She pushed up her glasses, but her eyes were always glued to the profile of Sasuke, with a hint of unnoticeable worry in her voice.
Ning Xue walked beside Suigetsu, holding a map in his hand to compare the location, and added in a calm tone.
"And Land of Fire doesn't have many strongholds. It's only a matter of time before we find it."
At this moment, Karin's footsteps suddenly stopped.
Her brows frowned suddenly, and her red eyes suddenly widened.
"Sasuke!"
There was a hint of urgency in her voice.
"There is a powerful Chakra approaching! It is very fast!"
The moment the voice fell, the speed of Sasuke's feet suddenly accelerated, rushing to the front like a black lightning.
Several others followed closely behind, shuttling through the dense forest at high speed.
Passing through the last thick bush, the view suddenly widened.
Ahead is a deserted open space, and at the end of the open space stands a dilapidated Uchiha stronghold.
That is Uchiha Clan's last abandoned secret stronghold within the territory of Land of Fire.
In front of the stronghold, on a lone telephone pole, a figure was squatting there quietly.
With gray-blue skin and a face like a shark, he was carrying a huge sword covered with bandages. Akatsuki's red cloud robe fluttered slightly in the wind.
Kisame Hoshigaki.
Seeing this, everyone immediately stopped not far away and looked at the figure with alert expressions.
Kisame stood up slowly, straightened his body, and scanned the people below one by one.
He did not take action immediately, his voice was low and calm, even with a hint of politeness.
"Sorry, from here on, please Sasuke go alone."
He paused and his eyes fell on Sasuke.
"This is Itachi's order."
"So, can others wait here?"
Karin was the first to disagree.
She took a step forward, with obvious urgency in her voice.
"No, Sasuke! It's too dangerous for you to go there alone!"
Sasuke said nothing.
He just turned his head slightly, raised his hand, and interrupted Karin's words.
"No problem."
His voice was calm, but with an unquestionable certainty.
"I formed the team just to prevent anyone from disturbing me."
Having said this, he paused slightly.
"Since he asked me to go alone, it is just as I wish."
"But--!"
Karin was about to say something more, but Sasuke had already jumped up and passed by her.
His figure was like an arrow, passing over the telegraph pole beside Kisame, and without hesitation swept towards the dilapidated stronghold behind.
"I'll leave the matters here to you."
The sound came from the wind and was quickly swallowed up by the wind.
Kisame watched the figure go away without stopping him.
He turned his head slightly, glanced at Sasuke's back, and then returned his gaze to the people standing below.
"I have no intention of fighting."
His voice was still calm, but it carried a weight that could not be ignored.
"If you insist on going there, I won't allow it."
Suigetsu stood at the front and did not react immediately when he heard this sentence.
His eyes passed over Kisame himself and landed on the huge long knife covered with bandages behind him.
Samehada.
Suigetsu's eyes lit up slightly, as if he had seen some long-lost treasure.
"Is this Samehada?"
There was a hint of uncontrollable excitement in his voice, and he even breathed a little faster.
Kisame was stunned for a moment when he heard this and looked down at him.
Suigetsu grinned, stretched out his hand, and pointed at Kubikiribōchō behind him.
"Have you forgotten? I am the younger brother of Hozuki Mangetsu, Hozuki Suigetsu."
Kisame looked at the face that was somewhat similar to the one in his memory, was silent for a moment, and then suddenly realized.
"It turns out to be Suigetsu."
There was a hint of nostalgia in his tone.
"You have grown up."
Suigetsu heard this and had no intention of continuing to talk about old times.
He slowly reached his hand behind his back, grasped the handle of Kubikiribōchō, and slowly pulled out the blade from his back, drawing a cold arc in the air.
"Just waiting here for Sasuke is too boring."
There was a hint of provocation in his voice, and the corners of his mouth grinned in an exaggerated arc.
"How about you play with us and kill some time? Senior Kisame."
Kisame looked at his eager expression and did not respond immediately.
He still didn't pull out Samehada behind him, but looked at Suigetsu calmly, with a hint of emotion in his tone.
"You are different from your brother, you are really naughty."
As he finished speaking, his eyes moved slowly, past Suigetsu, and landed on the masked figure standing at the back of the team.
"But..." Kisame's voice deepened slightly.
"I'm not interested in lecturing a naughty boy like you."
He paused and his eyes stayed on Ning Xue for a moment.
"I am... quite interested in this gentleman wearing a mask."
Hearing this, Ning Xue raised his head and looked at Kisame calmly through his mask.
He didn't answer or make any other movements, he just stood there quietly, his expression under the mask unreal.
When Suigetsu heard this, the Kubikiribōchō in his hand paused slightly, and then started shouting dissatisfied.
"Hey, Kisame senior, are you looking down on me? I am challenging you very seriously!"
Kisame didn't look at him, his eyes still fell on Ning Xue.
"Suigetsu, you are still too young. The person behind you is much more interesting than you."
Suigetsu twitched the corner of his mouth, turned his head and glanced at Ning Xue, then turned back and muttered.
"Hmph, what's the point of that ice face?"
Ning Xue ignored his mumbling.
He just raised his head slightly and looked at the figure on the telephone pole, his voice was calm.
"Kisame... I've admired you for a long time."
There was no emotion in his tone, neither provocation nor concession.
Kisame tilted his head slightly, looking at Ning Xue with his small and sharp eyes, as if assessing something.
"Your Chakra... is very special."
There was a hint of thoughtfulness in his voice.
"It seems that your ability to delay that guy Deidara's bomb depends on the special Chakra in your body."
After speaking, he laughed softly, his voice low and hoarse.
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore."
He jumped off the telephone pole and landed on the ground, his movements relatively casual.
"Since Sasuke has passed, it's okay for us to chat here."
He paused and glanced at the people in front of him.
"However, if you want to take action here, I won't be polite."
Suigetsu Hearing this, the hand holding the knife tightened a little more, and the shark's teeth flashed white in the sun.
"Then give it a try, Kisame-senpai."
Karin stood at the back with an ugly face.
Her eyes kept looking deep into the stronghold, as if she was worried about the situation over there at Sasuke, but her way was blocked by Kisame.
Jugo stood silently on the edge, his eyes locked on every inch of Kisame's movements, ready to take action at any time.
Ning Xue still stood in the same place, looking at Kisame calmly.
The wind passed through the center of the open space, lifting a few fallen leaves and slowly falling between the two sides, and the atmosphere was on the verge of breaking out.
"Looks like you still want to have a fight?"