"Isn't it my turn now?"
As Sen spoke, the piece of deadwood beneath his feet bobbed in the water.
Ripples spread outward in rings.
Kisame's blue-green face looked worse than if he had swallowed a dead fly.
He swallowed, his throat dry.
He glanced at Samehada, floating belly-up in the water and still bubbling green foam.
Then he looked at the kid across from him, hands in his pockets, without so much as a bead of sweat on him.
For the first time, he felt it.
Without a blade in his hands, he had no confidence at all.
"You..."
Kisame had just opened his mouth to throw out a threat and salvage some dignity.
"Kisame."
A low, cold voice, as still as stagnant water.
Suddenly.
Cut him off.
Itachi Uchiha, who had stood at the other end of the water, watching coldly like a wooden post.
Finally moved.
He slowly raised a hand and pushed up the bamboo hat on his head, its wind chimes dangling.
The chimes gave a crisp jingle.
"Stand down."
Itachi's voice was quiet, but over the silent river, it carried an unquestionable authority.
He knew all too well.
The boy before them, who could overfeed Samehada until it vomited, was absolutely beyond Kisame's ability to handle right now.
Even he himself had little confidence.
But their mission could not end in failure here.
"Mr. Itachi..."
Kisame clenched his teeth, his cheeks bulging.
He shot Sen a resentful glare.
But he obediently shut his mouth and took two steps back.
His soles splashed against the water's surface.
"Switching fighters?"
Sen tilted his head as he watched Itachi Uchiha step forward.
He picked his ear with his little finger, then casually flicked the earwax into the river.
"Hey, are you taking turns wearing me down?"
"Lose a