Third Match, Sasuke Uchiha vs. Kisame Hoshigaki!

At Heavenly Gate Gorge in the Land of Lightning, the mountain path had been built into steps leading straight to the temple above, with red torii gates shaped like the Gate of the Great God lining the stone stairway.

At the foot of the mountain, Kabuto's Blade Reversal brought Sasuke, Orochimaru, and Karin into view.

After activating the sensory power of Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Karin spoke guardedly. "The target is up on the mountain... How should I describe that Chakra? It's unimaginably powerful!"

Orochimaru gave an objective assessment. "Even without Samehada, Kisame's own Chakra reserves are enormous. Otherwise, that snobbish Samehada would never have teamed up with him!"

Kabuto Yakushi surveyed their surroundings. "This terrain doesn't seem to offer a good place to watch the fight. Following Sasuke up the mountain wouldn't be appropriate either..."

Orochimaru smiled. "At a time like this, Teacher Sarutobi's abilities, housed within the Shinigami's belly, will come in handy!"

He had grown over these past days as well. He could now directly use the Hokages' ordinary abilities without entering his Shinigami Unsealed state.

"Ninja Art: Telescope Technique!"

Whoosh!

A view of the mountaintop appeared in the crystal ball that materialized in Orochimaru's hand!

The scene exuded an intense sense of everyday normality—something they would almost never have expected to see!

A simple thatched hut stood on the mountain. An Akatsuki Robe, still not dry, hung from the clothesline outside, while Kisame sat in the sunlight, peeling a stalk of Sugarcane with a small knife and savoring it slowly!

Kabuto Yakushi pushed his slipping glasses back up his nose and marveled, "This really caught me off guard. I can hardly reconcile this scene with those Akatsuki members!"

Indeed, Kisame Hoshigaki, the man who had just captured a Tailed Beast for the Akatsuki, had parted ways with Itachi and begun a solitary vacation right where they had sealed the beast.

Had the group not arrived unannounced, this scene might never have been witnessed by outsiders!

Sasuke felt nothing about it. All he craved now, with every fiber of his being, was a truly intense battle!

"I'm going..."

Sasuke climbed the steps, the presence radiating from his departing figure instantly turning the leisurely atmosphere tense!

In front of the mountain hut, Kisame tossed his leftover Sugarcane peel to Samehada beside him.

"Hm!?" Suddenly sensing something, he lifted his bulging, fishlike eyes and fixed them on the opening in the mountain Forest!

There, a boy in a white kimono approached with steady steps, openly displaying his Sharingan!

After a moment of surprise, Kisame immediately guessed the newcomer's identity. "Itachi's little brother?"

Sasuke said, "That's right."

Kisame asked, "Are you here to find Itachi?"

Sasuke replied, "No. I'm here for you."

Shing!

The Kusanagi Sword left its sheath, and his eyes blazed with an unquestionable desire to fight!

"Itachi really did see this coming..."

With that remark, Kisame rose to his feet.

"This is the temporary home I just built. Mind if we take this somewhere else?"

Sasuke said, "Suit yourself."

Kisame pulled the dripping Akatsuki Robe off the clothesline and put it on, then flicked Samehada up with his foot and rested the great sword on his shoulder.

"Follow me!" Grinning with sharklike teeth, Kisame dashed into the distance!

Sasuke followed at a measured distance, and the two arrived at a clearing in the mountains.

Kisame slowly turned around. "I heard you took down Sasori, Kakuzu, and Hidan all by yourself. Then let me ask you this: did you have anything to do with the disappearance of Suigetsu and Jugo, the two newcomers who recently joined our organization?"

Sasuke's gaze darkened slightly. "I don't know either of them."

Kisame said, "Good. That's all I wanted to ask."

Sasuke asked, "You're not going to ask why I came after you?"

Kisame chuckled. "Heh. A Shark doesn't ask why when it bites its prey to death! As for which of us is the prey, we'll only know after we clash!"

Clang!

Samehada dropped from Kisame's shoulder to the ground, while he raised two fingers of his other hand in front of his chest!

That was... the Seal of Confrontation, a gesture of etiquette that powerful shinobi used before battle only when they considered their opponent an equal!

"Come on, Itachi's little brother. Show me what you've got!"

Sasuke returned the Seal of Confrontation, his thoughts already turning.

I never saw Kisame fight at full strength in my previous life, but I do know he's a master swordsman who can absorb Chakra, and his powerful Water Release rivals the Second Hokage's. Looks like a prolonged battle is unavoidable. He probably learned about my abilities through Obito and Zetsu. In that case, I'll throw out some bait first and lure out this Shark's hidden abilities!

Driving the Kusanagi Sword into the ground beside him, Sasuke clasped his hands in front of his chest!

Clap!

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

At the foot of the mountain, Kabuto Yakushi watched the scene in the crystal ball in surprise. "Opening with Deep Forest Emergence? That doesn't seem like Sasuke's style!"

Orochimaru offered a broader perspective. "Sasuke-kun stopped being bound by his old ways long ago. He adapts his fighting style to his opponent. Besides, knowing that Kisame possesses Chakra reserves as immense as his own, using a straightforward Ninjutsu like Deep Forest Emergence to apply moderate pressure will help him quickly probe Kisame's abilities!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Facing the forest surging toward him and shaking the earth, the equally battle-hungry Kisame laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Now that's a refreshing greeting!"

"Samehada: Flying Chain Slash!"

Samehada's hilt suddenly extended more than ten meters, bending and coiling like a chain. With his monstrous strength and swordsmanship, Kisame swung it like a gale, destroying the approaching forest as though he truly wielded a blade over ten meters long!

But Deep Forest Emergence was not a technique that swordsmanship alone could overcome!

As his slashing assault ended, Kisame released Samehada, formed hand seals, and spewed a vast torrent of water onto the ground before him!

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

Whoooosh...!

The water swiftly swelled into a flood, becoming raging waves that surged toward the forest!

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom...!

The tremendous collisions officially marked the beginning of the Third Match!

Kisame stood on the constantly heaving, rising surface of the water, his hands maintaining a proper seal. A battle-hungry grin spread across his face as he closely watched the movements on the other side!

Boom...!!!

When the remnants of the forest dispersed with the raging waves... an enormous dark-purple figure stood revealed behind them!

Bloodshot veins appeared in Kisame's wide, fishlike eyes as excitement surged through him!

"You really are opening my eyes..."

Around Sasuke stood the second form of Susanoo, a great purple arrow already nocked on its fully drawn bowstring, poised to fire, its sharp tip aimed straight at Kisame!

"Divine Weapon: Heavenly Magatama Bow!"

Whoosh!

The arrow tore through the air!

"That's more like it!"

Kisame roared, seized Samehada's extended hilt, and swept it forward with all his strength!

Clang...!!!!!

With an explosive crash, Samehada was knocked flying, but the arrow's trajectory shifted as well. With terrifying force, it pierced the earth beside Kisame, sending countless fragments of stone flying!

But as Kisame tried to pull Samehada back, a second arrow... was already on the string!

Giving Kisame no room to breathe, the second arrow followed immediately!

Boom...!!!!

The arrow pierced Kisame's body, which burst into countless streams of water!

Sasuke's gaze grew intent. At least at the instant I fired, I could confirm he wasn't a Clone. An extremely advanced Water Release Clone he can create in a split second? Then his real body...

Rumble, rumble, rumble...!!

Just then... the earth beneath Sasuke and his Susanoo began to shake violently!

Sasuke focused his gaze. Earth Release? No, this is...

"Itachi's little brother, you really leave me wanting more...!"

Clap!!!

Having hidden underground with Subterranean Voyage, Kisame forcefully formed hand seals!

"Water Release: Super Water Formation Pillar!"

Rumble, rumble, rumble...!!

A raging pillar of water rivaling an underground watercourse blasted through earth and stone, erupting beneath Susanoo's feet and driving both Sasuke and Susanoo into the sky!!!!