Next Water Shadow, It's You, Shark Face!

That single sentence, "You, that brat called Kisame Hoshigaki, come here," was like a stone cast into a stagnant pool, stirring up silent ripples.

Across the plaza, every Kirigakure ninja kneeling on the ground instinctively followed the direction of that finger.

Countless gazes, a mixture of terror, confusion, and jealousy, instantly converged on the shark-faced youth in the corner.

Kisame Hoshigaki's muscles tensed instantly, and his small, sharp eyes churned with turbulent waves.

Him?

After this man who called himself "God" had wiped out the Mizukage and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in a single move, he was actually singling him out?

Why?

He was merely a small fry in the Anbu Intelligence Division, a "cleaner" tasked specifically with disposing of comrades' corpses to prevent intelligence leaks.

Among those present, there were countless Jonin and elites who were far stronger and more prestigious than him.

"Kisame, you..."

A fellow Kirigakure ninja kneeling beside him trembled as he tried to say something, but the moment he met Kisame's fierce glare, he swallowed his words.

Under the complex gazes of the crowd, Kisame Hoshigaki remained silent and slowly stood up from the ground.

Ignoring the shocked and fearful reactions of his colleagues, he simply began to walk, step by step, through the kneeling crowd toward that terrifying forest spawned by Wood Release.

Every step felt as if he were treading upon the hearts of every Kirigakure ninja.

At this moment, an invisible chasm seemed to have been carved between him and his kneeling comrades.

The members of the Akatsuki also watched this scene with great interest.

"Oh? This brat has quite an astonishing amount of chakra." Kakuzu looked at Kisame, sizing him up with his unique stitched eyes. "He'd make a decent helper."

Sasori said nothing, merely thinking that the shark-faced youth's physique was quite unique; perhaps he could be modified into a fine human puppet.

Yahiko's fists clenched tighter. Watching the malevolence on Kisame's face, a sense of powerlessness rose within him.

This person who had been chosen clearly wasn't a good soul.

What exactly did that man intend to turn Kirigakure, and this world, into?

Only Nagato remained calm, his Rinnegan unruffled. He seemed to see something in Kisame that resembled himself—a craving for power after being betrayed by the world.

Finally, Kisame reached Lin Feng and stopped.

He did not kneel, but merely lowered his head slightly, looking at the man before him with eyes that mixed awe and scrutiny.

"Lord Madara, you summoned me?" His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing together.

Lin Feng did not answer his question, instead observing him with interest, as if admiring an intriguing tool.

"You have good eyes."

Lin Feng spoke, his tone flat. "Filled with killing intent, and also filled with... confusion."

"Are you suffering because you had to kill your comrades?"

Kisame's body jolted violently, and a terrifying brilliance erupted from his small eyes.

This was the deepest secret of his heart!

As a member of the Anbu Intelligence Division, his mission was to ensure that intelligence remained secure at all costs. For this, he had personally killed countless comrades who were surrounded by enemies and unable to escape.

Every time he swung his blade, it felt as though he were flaying his own soul.

He loathed this village that forced him to turn his blade against his own, and he loathed this hypocritical world.

"It seems I was right." Lin Feng chuckled softly.

He turned around and waved his hand.

The vines binding the Third Mizukage instantly loosened, dropping the ashen-faced man before Kisame.

The Third Mizukage collapsed to the ground, coughing wretchedly, his eyes filled with pleading and terror as he looked at Kisame.

"Kisame... you..."

"Kill him."

Lin Feng's indifferent voice rang out, cutting off the Third Mizukage.

The entire plaza fell into a silence so profound that a needle drop could be heard.

Everyone was stunned by this command, which was as simple as it was utterly cruel.

To have an Anbu operative kill the village's Kage?

This was simply... unheard-of madness!

The Third Mizukage's face turned deathly pale. He struggled to crawl backward, his voice trembling: "Kisame! I am the Mizukage! You cannot do this! This is treason!"

Kisame stood where he was, not moving.

His chest heaved violently, as if he were locked in a battle between heaven and hell.

"Treason?"

Lin Feng's scoff rang out once more, dripping with disdain.

"What right does a Kage who forces his subordinates to slaughter their own comrades to protect so-called 'intelligence' have to speak of betrayal?"

"A Mizukage who cannot protect his subordinates, a Kage who relies solely on violence to suppress the village."

"What you are protecting is nothing more than a system that has rotted to its very roots."

These words struck Kisame's heart like a thunderbolt.

That's right!

This man was right!

What was worth protecting about this village that forced him to kill his own comrades, this system that kept him living in pain and lies?

"Kisame! Don't listen to him!" the Third Mizukage screamed in terror. "If you kill me, you will be a traitor to Kirigakure! You will be hunted down by everyone!"

"A traitor?" Kisame laughed hoarsely, and for the first time, a truly ferocious smile appeared on his shark-like face.

He slowly raised his head to look at Lin Feng, the last trace of confusion in his small eyes replaced by fanaticism.

"My Lord, what happens after I kill him?"

"Kill him, and his position will be yours." Lin Feng's voice was filled with temptation. "From today on, you are the new Mizukage of Kirigakure."

"You shall unfold a new chapter for Kirigakure!"

Boom!

This sentence carried more impact than any jutsu before it.

Mizukage!

The supreme position in the village, promised so easily to an unknown Anbu kid?

The Kirigakure ninja kneeling on the ground went completely mad.

Jealousy, resentment, greed... all sorts of emotions sprouted wildly in their hearts.

Why? Why should this shark-faced brat be allowed to ascend to the heavens in a single step?

The Third Mizukage fell into total despair.

He knew that the moment the position of "Mizukage" was placed on the table as a bargaining chip, he was already a dead man.

"I understand."

Kisame took a deep breath and slowly drew the ninja sword from his back.

It was a strange, massive blade wrapped entirely in bandages.

"Don't..." The Third Mizukage's plea came to an abrupt end.

Squelch!

Blood sprayed.

Under the horrified gaze of all the Kirigakure ninja, Kisame Hoshigaki swung his blade, cleanly and decisively severing the head of the Third Mizukage.

The head that once represented the highest power in Kirigakure rolled a few times on the ground, covered in dust, its eyes wide open in death, staring directly at the subordinates who had once held him in such awe.

Kisame, carrying his dripping blade, turned slowly and knelt on one knee before Lin Feng.

"Kisame Hoshigaki is willing to serve you, My Lord."

Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction.

"Very good."

He raised his hand and pointed at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who were still hanging in mid-air by the vines.

"Then, as the new Mizukage, go and deal with these... remnants of the old era."

"Yes!"

Kisame stood up, blade in hand, and walked toward the seven legendary ninja who were already scared out of their wits.

"Wait!"

Fuguki Suikazan, who was hanging in the center and wielding the Greatsword Samehada, suddenly screamed in terror.

"We are willing to submit! We are willing to follow you, My Lord!"

He was the leader of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and Kisame's former superior.

Now, to save his own life, he chose to betray without hesitation.

With him taking the lead, the others scrambled to beg for mercy.

"Yes, yes! We are willing to submit!"

"Please spare our lives, My Lord!"

Lin Feng acted as if he hadn't heard them, his gaze fixed solely on Kisame.

Kisame's footsteps did not falter in the slightest; he walked up to Fuguki Suikazan and raised his blade.

"Kisame! You dare!" Fuguki Suikazan was both shocked and furious. "Don't forget, I am your superior! Samehada will never acknowledge someone like you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Kisame's blade had already descended.

However, this time, his blade did not strike toward Fuguki Suikazan's neck.

Thwip!

The blade bit into flesh; Kisame had actually plunged the sword into his own abdomen!

This sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.

Even Lin Feng's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

"My Lord."

Kisame endured the excruciating pain, grinning to reveal a mouthful of sharp, white teeth.

"I do not care for the position of Mizukage."

"I only seek... a place where I no longer have to swing my blade at my comrades."

"As for them..."

Kisame's gaze turned incomparably ferocious. He yanked the ninja sword from his abdomen, drawing out a spray of blood.

"These bastards who forced me to kill my own comrades—today, I must finish them with my own hands!"

With that, he ignored Lin Feng's reaction, dragging his wounded body and carrying a towering hatred as he lunged toward the restrained Fuguki Suikazan.