Under Kisame's control, the water that had filled the grounds gradually receded.
Kisame also picked up Samehada again, the blade he was destined to wield.
Just then, Yūto suddenly spoke.
"Wait, let me have Samehada for a moment."
Kisame froze for a moment, but obediently handed Samehada to Yūto.
Yūto stuck a finger into Samehada's mouth, and tailed beast chakra surged out, immediately restoring it.
Having tasted tailed beast chakra, Samehada fawned over Yūto like a puppy.
Yūto instead tossed it back to Kisame in distaste. Samehada was indeed a powerful weapon, but it was a little ugly.
Kisame took the freshly fed Samehada and stroked its body twice.
Samehada immediately nuzzled his palm affectionately, even purring like a cat that had eaten and drunk its fill.
Kisame's mouth twitched. This blade never used to be so obsequious.
"Thanks." He nodded to Yūto.
Yūto waved a hand.
"It's nothing. But you'd better watch out for Kirigakure. They might summon the ninja blade back remotely."
Kisame smiled at that, revealing a row of sharklike teeth. "Don't worry. Samehada has a mind of its own."
He patted the hilt. "If it doesn't want to go, no one can take it away."
Most of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist's weapons were bound to their wielders, but one with an independent mind like Samehada was exceedingly rare.
In the original story, Samehada had even chosen on its own to betray Kisame and join the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, which showed just how unusual it was.
On the way back, Kisame deliberately slowed down, falling half a step behind Yūto.
Watching Guy and Might Duy ahead, father and son walking with their arms around each other's shoulders, he suddenly lowered his voice. "Yūto."
"The life I used to lead..." Kisame's voice dropped so low that