The main force of Kirigakure was now stationed on the coastal lands of the Land of Whirlpools.
Kisame Hoshigaki climbed out of the sea covered in wounds. His blue-gray skin had turned an eerie flushed red, and a faint aroma of cooked meat wafted from his body.
"Lord Kisame!"
Seeing Kisame Hoshigaki in this state, the Kirigakure sentries at the camp entrance hurried forward to support him.
Kisame Hoshigaki shoved a sentry aside and strode toward the largest tent in the center of camp, demanding sharply as he went.
"Is Lord Mizukage here?"
"L-Lord Mizukage is in the main tent..."
Kisame Hoshigaki shook off the sentry and headed straight for the main tent.
He lifted the tent flap and immediately spotted Karatachi Yagura sitting alone in the seat of honor.
"Lord Mizukage."
Karatachi Yagura raised his head, his pale purple eyes turning toward Kisame Hoshigaki.
"You're injured."
"Yes... I almost died..."
Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, revealing a mouthful of sawlike teeth, his gaze exceptionally ferocious.
"That Light of Konoha is here... that monster really is something else..."
Karatachi Yagura nodded, his expression unchanged.
"I've already received word from Mei Terumi that the Light of Konoha has arrived on the Eastern Front Battlefield."
Mei Terumi?
Hearing that name, Kisame Hoshigaki's sharklike face immediately took on a puzzled expression.
"Mei Terumi is still alive?"
"She is."
Karatachi Yagura's answer was brief and cold.
"Mei Terumi's Third Force also completed its flanking support mission before Uchiha Minamoto reached the Eastern Front Battlefield. They're currently resting."
The confusion on Kisame Hoshigaki's face deepened.
He knew how strong that woman Mei Terumi was.
Though she possessed two kekkei genkai, that was all there was to it. His fighting style countered hers perfectly.
Mei Terumi's subordinates were just ordinary Kirigakure ninja, with nothing special about them.
Kisame