Looking at the figure ahead of him, Kisame was certain this was the Konoha ANBU from all those years ago.
Although he had grown considerably stronger over the past few years, he still seemed weak in comparison. As he grew, the other man seemed to be growing too.
Still, he began to doubt whether the man was really a Konoha ANBU. Konoha had no Hyuga this formidable.
In his eyes, the Hyuga before him was a powerful shinobi on par with the Konoha Sannin.
His thoughts wandered, leaving him increasingly confused, and he soon gave up trying to make sense of it.
If he could not win, he would run. Since he could neither win nor escape, all he could do was silently follow the other man.
The two figures moved through the forest, one behind the other.
Zou Hyuga occasionally glanced back at Kisame, quietly mulling things over.
Kisame's talent as a ninja was beyond doubt. As Zou remembered it, Kisame with Samehada was a powerful shinobi capable of hunting jinchūriki, even fighting Guy with the Seventh Gate open to a standstill. He had entered the ranks of Kage-level fighters.
If the current Kisame had Samehada, Zou would not have won so easily.
With Samehada, Kisame would be like a tiger given wings.
But that presented a problem. The village's higher-ups all knew Samehada was in Zou's possession. If it suddenly appeared in Kisame's hands, he would inevitably come under suspicion.
Setting that concern aside, Zou Hyuga began considering how to get Kisame to join his organization.
Kisame might not be among the strongest ninja, but he was among the most loyal. That was why Zou had deliberately sought him out.
With Kisame joining them, the organization would immediately gain both a formidable fighter and an instructor.
At that