"What a stubborn bunch, Mr. Itachi. It seems the people of your Village really dislike you." Facing Choza, an experienced Jonin, Kisame dared not be negligent. He immediately unleashed Samehada, revealing its barbed blade, and charged forward with a look of battle in his eyes.
The Ino–Shika–Choji had a time-tested cooperation system, and even with Ino now, it wouldn't affect too much.
Choza used Ino's sensory transmission ability to pinpoint Kisame's location. The stout man let out a low growl, holding a long staff, his arm muscles bulging, and met the charge with equal ferocity.
The two exchanged more than ten blows in the blink of an eye.
Their strength and Taijutsu were similar, making it impossible to determine a winner for a while.
Kisame held his Ninja Blade with one hand, sweeping it down in an arc. Choza met it with his staff. The collision of the blade and staff produced a strange dull thud. Then, Choza, relying on his years of martial arts training, closed his eyes, flicked his wrist, and brought his staff down on Samehada's back.
On the way, Shikaku had already analyzed the information on the two Rogue Ninja. He knew about a famous Ninja Blade like Samehada.
Choza put strength into both arms, trying to suppress Samehada with the tip of his staff. Under heavy pressure, the barbs covering Samehada's blade undulated like living things. Choza's press wasn't solid; it felt a bit slippery. He quickly changed from pressing to lifting. Kisame gripped Samehada tightly, following Choza's strength and leaping several meters. He spun in mid-air, his body like a top, completing half a rotation, and kicked fiercely at Hyuga Hiashi's face.
He had no intention of a one-on-one fight.
The Hyuga Clan head had already seen through his intention with his Byakugan. With his left foot forward and right foot back in a bow stance, he raised his palm and let out a low shout, moving to slap Kisame's ankle from the side. If that palm strike connected, broken tendons and bones would be unavoidable.
Uchiha Itachi immediately provided support from the side.
He held four Kunai between the fingers of each hand. The Kunai in his left hand shot to the right, and the Kunai in his right hand shot to the left. In an instant, he threw eight Kunai at Hyuga Hiashi. When Hiashi retracted his move and retreated, the Kunai collided in mid-air, completely disrupting their original flight paths. The eight Kunai flew in dazzling arcs from multiple directions towards Shikaku and Ino.
Ino's sensory ability detected Uchiha Itachi making a hand-raising motion. From the sound, something seemed to be flying, but she couldn't determine what it was.
"Leave it to me!" She made two hand signs, raising her left hand. The water bubbles she had used against Gaara quickly appeared. She flicked her hand, throwing out more than ten water bubbles, which collided with the Kunai in mid-air. Only after the collision did she realize they were Kunai.
Kisame fought Choza and Hiashi simultaneously, yet still had time to observe the battlefield.
Seeing the bubble Ninjutsu, he was first stunned, then laughed and cursed, "That Ninjutsu looks like one from our Hidden Mist Village. Little girl, did you steal our Hidden Mist Village's Ninjutsu?"
"Steal? This was taught to me by the Second Mizukage! I remember you're a Rogue Ninja, so that's not your Village anymore." Ino was not at all polite.
Kisame was confused; this touched a blind spot in his knowledge: "Second Mizukage? Who's that?"
He knew the title Second Mizukage, but he truly didn't know that person's specific name or abilities, nor had he inquired.
Uchiha Itachi, Shikaku, and Inuzuka Tsume were fighting with Taijutsu. At this moment, Itachi was still calm enough to explain to his companions: "The Second Mizukage was named Hōzuki Gengetsu. He excelled in Genjutsu and Water Release Ninjutsu and was an ancestor of your Village's Hōzuki clan. I remember he established the Ninja Blade system."
Kisame shook his head, clearly uninterested in such old news, and simply let it pass.
He quickly engaged Shikaku again, while Hiashi faced Uchiha Itachi. Inuzuka Tsume assisted Hiashi with her family's Secret Technique: Fang Over Fang. Choza's long staff continuously clashed with Samehada, creating opportunities for Ino and Shikaku to deal with Kisame.
Later, it became Kisame against Hiashi and Kiba, and the Ino–Shika–Choji trio against Uchiha Itachi.
This was not a one-on-one fight; it was a five-on-two melee.
Shikaku repeatedly tried to steer the battle towards a rhythm suitable for the Ino–Shika–Choji, but Uchiha Itachi saw through his intentions. His own Taijutsu was also high enough, and he repeatedly interspersed, disrupting their formation.
Ino, who always wanted to be a Ninjutsu cannon, couldn't find an opportunity to use Ninjutsu. She was forced to clash with him twice using Kunai. This guy was extremely fast, and his Taijutsu was no less than Kakashi's or Asuma's. If Ino hadn't added some Taijutsu previously, she really wouldn't have been able to hold on for a few moves.
Even without his Sharingan, Uchiha Itachi could still easily defeat the current Ino with his speed, Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu.
The two sides fought in a chaotic melee.
As they fought, Kisame suddenly planted Samehada on the ground, looking provocatively at the others, and quickly formed hand signs.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Ino didn't understand his intention in using this Ninjutsu at this moment. This large-scale Water Release was something only she could stop on the field; she had to respond.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Their hand sign levels were similar. Kisame's understanding of Ninjutsu was lower, and Ino had slightly less Chakra than him. Both their Great Exploding Water Colliding Waves appeared out of nowhere and were unleashed simultaneously, then collided in mid-air!
Although it was water, under the propulsion of Chakra, their collision produced a huge roar, like an explosion.
The colliding water shot into the sky, then fell like heavy rain onto the battlefield.
Ino controlled the water flow to charge twice, but it didn't move, so she immediately changed her technique.
She took a breath and exhaled Water Release Chakra like fine needles.
This was her only Ninjutsu at the moment that didn't require hand signs, a Ninjutsu the Second Hokage had taught her before.
Ino was slowly transitioning from the hand sign era to the no-hand sign era. This process was a bit slow, but she was already showing signs of it.
"Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!"
Dozens of fine needles, like raindrops, attacked Kisame, who was still diligently forming hand signs, seemingly preparing to use Water Dragon Bullet.
Here's an honest man, everyone, come quickly and bully him!
Kisame was quite annoyed. He had to stop his half-finished hand signs and swung his Ninja Blade, Samehada, blocking all the Chakra needles she exhaled.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!" Ino seized the initiative and immediately used this powerful Water Release Ninjutsu.
The water flow, propelled by pressure, cut swiftly like a silver thread.
Recognizing the power of this move, even Kisame did not try to block it head-on. He cunningly jumped to the side, using Choza's body to shield himself from the Water Severing Wave.
Ino was helpless. Being unable to see was truly troublesome; she couldn't even use half of her full strength, so she could only dispel the Ninjutsu.
All Ninja possessed the ability to walk on water; even Inuzuka Tsume's dogs could walk on water.
The water flow had little effect on them, and the group continued their chaotic battle.
Kisame targeted Ino, who was using Water Release.
He swung Samehada, fending off Choza's two attacks. After gaining a momentary opening, he began forming hand signs again.
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