Kisame and Itachi Uchiha

Kisame and Itachi Uchiha

On a stretch of Gobi desert in the Land of Wind, roughly several thousand miles away from Sunagakure.

At this moment, a woman and a youth were walking on foot.

"Tell me, Konan, where exactly is the Akatsuki base?"

These two were Chen Xiaoxi and Konan of the Akatsuki, who had previously been at Sunagakure.

"The Land of Rain, Amegakure!"

Konan stated without reservation.

"Oh, Amegakure. That's still quite a long way to go."

Chen Xiaoxi naturally knew where the Akatsuki base was, but it was better to feign ignorance for now. Joining the Akatsuki was, firstly, to become even stronger, and secondly, to continue his missions and earn rewards.

"Konan, it seems we've run into some acquaintances."

Just then, he saw two figures approaching from the distance.

The two were wearing very distinct clothing: a black base embroidered with red cloud patterns—the signature robes of the Akatsuki.

As the pair drew closer, it became clear that one was Itachi Uchiha, and the other was his partner, Kisame.

"To think we'd run into acquaintances out here?"

Kisame was also bewildered.

The two of them had been out on a mission and were just passing through; he hadn't expected to encounter a living soul in such a godforsaken place.

"Konan, Itachi Uchiha!"

Konan hadn't expected to run into these two here either.

"Konan, Kisame, let's keep moving."

Itachi Uchiha called out as if to greet them, then spoke to Kisame.

Kisame nodded, preparing to leave, when he suddenly caught sight of the black blade on Chen Xiaoxi's back. His eyes lit up instantly. "Wait a second, Itachi. Don't be in such a hurry to leave."

"What is it?"

Itachi Uchiha sounded somewhat impatient.

"That weapon of his... it doesn't look ordinary. I want it."

Kisame licked his lips in excitement.

Known as the "Monster of the Hidden Mist," the wielder of the great sword Samehada, he was not only interested in devouring chakra but was also well-versed in all kinds of ninja blades.

Chen Xiaoxi's sword clearly wasn't an ordinary weapon, which immediately piqued Kisame's curiosity and desire to take a look.

"It is indeed not an ordinary ninja blade, but don't you already have a weapon? Forget it, don't go looking for trouble."

Itachi Uchiha glanced at the black blade and frowned.

"Kisame, Chen Xiaoxi is a member of the Akatsuki now. Don't you dare mess around."

Konan felt a headache coming on. It seemed this blade really was something special if it could draw the attention of two Kage-level shinobi.

"No, I must have that weapon."

"Hey, brat, let me see your sword."

Ignoring Konan's warning, Kisame walked over to Chen Xiaoxi and reached out his hand directly.

"Are you sick in the head?"

Chen Xiaoxi cursed.

Demanding someone else's weapon right off the bat—didn't he know how important a weapon was to a swordsman? Who would ever agree to that?

"I'm just taking a look. Give it here."

Kisame's tone carried a hint of a command.

"Get lost."

Chen Xiaoxi retorted.

He didn't have a particularly good temper, and since the other party was being rude, he wasn't about to indulge him. Who made the rule that he had to defer to these original characters?

"If you won't give it to me, then I'll just have to take it by force."

Kisame slowly drew Samehada, his eyes erupting with killing intent.

"Take it? Go ahead and try."

Chen Xiaoxi's body surged with a powerful aura—it was the Reiatsu of a Soul Reaper. After killing Sasori of the Red Sand, Chen Xiaoxi understood his own strength deeply; he was no longer someone to be trifled with.

"You're asking for a beating!"

Kisame gripped his blade and charged forward, slashing down toward Chen Xiaoxi's head.

If this strike landed, Samehada's formidable cutting power would surely tear Chen Xiaoxi into a pulp, killing him on the spot.

Kisame was a bloodthirsty man by nature; no one who joined the Akatsuki would ever show mercy to a stranger.

Even though this stranger was a new recruit to the Akatsuki, the organization did not accept just any Tom, Dick, or Harry.

"Hmph."

Chen Xiaoxi let out a cold snort, his arm coated in Armament Haki as he reached out to grab the blade.

He caught the edge of Samehada with precision, the collision between the blade and his palm ringing out with the clear chime of clashing metal.

"Nani?"

This sight left Kisame stunned.

Catching a ninja sword strike with a bare palm—this was the first time he had ever seen a scene that belonged only in dreams.

"The force of your strike is completely insufficient, and your mastery of the blade lacks precision. Your proficiency is truly pathetic."

Chen Xiaoxi shook his head in disappointment, then squeezed with sudden force: "Shatter!"

Crack.

Dense cracks immediately spread across Samehada, and as they widened, the blade shattered into a pile of fragments.

Chen Xiaoxi had actually crushed the ninja sword with his bare hand!

"My blade!"

Kisame stared at the shards on the ground, shocked and furious.

Samehada could absorb chakra and regenerate, so its destruction wasn't permanent, but Kisame still felt a sharp pang of heartache.

"You bastard, how dare you break my blade."

Kisame glared at Chen Xiaoxi, ready to fight for his life.

"Forget it. You are no match for me. I don't even need to draw my sword to deal with you, and I have no interest in fighting you."

Chen Xiaoxi sighed.

Kisame's strength was indeed formidable; at full power, he was only slightly inferior to Might Guy in his Seventh Gate state.

However, such combat power was nowhere near enough to challenge Chen Xiaoxi. Kisame wouldn't even be able to withstand a single strike from him.

Moreover, they were in the desert, where Kisame could not utilize the full potential of his Water Style. Chen Xiaoxi didn't want to bully someone who couldn't use their full strength; it went against his bushido spirit.

"Don't look down on me! You brat!"

Kisame rolled up his sleeves, preparing to step forward.

"Kisame, stop."

Itachi Uchiha, standing to the side, called out.

"What is it, Itachi-san? Did those Sharingan of yours see something again?"

Kisame turned his head to look.

"The boy is right. You are no match for him. Do not stir up trouble."

Itachi Uchiha said calmly.

His Sharingan, which he kept active year-round, had just observed Chen Xiaoxi's movements. This was definitely not an opponent Kisame could handle.

"This... fine."

Kisame hesitated for a moment before obediently retreating to Itachi Uchiha's side.

Though he was unconvinced, he trusted Itachi Uchiha's judgment, as Itachi's assessments had never been wrong.

"I'm quite interested in you. How about we have a spar?"

Chen Xiaoxi looked at Itachi Uchiha with keen interest.

"No need. I do not wish to fight without cause; we have no grudge between us."

Itachi Uchiha shook his head calmly.

He was currently suffering from an illness, and his eyesight was deteriorating; he did not want to waste his life force unless absolutely necessary.

"Tch, how boring."

Chen Xiaoxi shrugged.

"Young man, which ninja village do you hail from?"

Itachi Uchiha asked.

"He is someone I recruited in Sunagakure. I was originally ordered to recruit Sasori of the Red Sand, who killed the Third Kazekage, but by the time I arrived, Sasori was already dead—killed instantly by him. So, I recruited him instead."

Konan looked at Itachi Uchiha and explained.

"Kisame, let's go."

Itachi Uchiha said nothing more and spoke to Kisame.