At that moment—
Kisame Hoshigaki stood like a deep-sea leviathan awakened.
Behind him, faintly—
the shadow of Fuguki Suikazan flickered.
Two existences.
One body.
One will.
Ao (Elder Advisor)'s eyelid twitched.
Mei Terumi instinctively stepped back.
Cold fear crept into her chest.
This wasn't just strength.
This was evolution.
A shark—
given bones of a dragon.
Anlan smiled.
"Good."
His interest deepened.
So the possession technique worked.
Now—
it needed testing.
Real combat.
"Come with me, Kisame."
Then he glanced at Ao.
"I'll leave the prisoners to you."
"Wait—!"
Mei stepped forward.
For once—
she chose initiative.
"What… should I do?"
Her eyes locked onto Anlan.
Determined.
And slightly annoyed.
Anlan paused.
Looked at her.
Then casually said—
"I do need someone to handle tea… documents… daily affairs."
"Interested?"
Silence.
Mei's expression froze.
Me?
A frontline commander… reduced to a secretary?
Her smile twitched.
She glanced at Ao—
who was practically screaming ACCEPT IT with his eyes.
"…Of course, my lord."
Sweet.
Forced.
Painful.
Behind them—
even Fuguki's soul looked uncomfortable.
Juzo Biwa quietly looked away.
Only Ao smiled.
Relieved.
Close to power—that's what matters.
Forest Training Grounds
Deep in the western mountains—
Shisui Uchiha stood before a massive beast:
Saiken (Six-Tails)
Slimy.
Gigantic.
Terrifying.
"Six-Tails… consider this an honor."
"Become my summoning partner."
Confidence radiated from Shisui.
His Mangekyō spun—
brilliant.
"Fuse with me."
The Six-Tails lowered itself.
"Understood… Shisui-sama."
Chakra surged.
Vast.
Endless.
Flooding into him.
"Susanoo!"
A colossal emerald skeleton erupted—
then formed into a towering warrior.
Second stage.
Incomplete—
but overwhelming.
"Armor it!"
The green chakra spread—
trying to wrap around the Six-Tails.
But—
not enough.
Too small.
Too unstable.
Shisui clenched his teeth.
"…Not enough."
Then—
resolve hardened.
"Third Stage!"
BOOM—
The Susanoo expanded.
Completed.
Legs formed.
Armor thickened.
Power surged.
This time—
the fusion held.
Not perfect—
but real.
A massive hybrid form stood—
half beast.
half god.
Blood slid from Shisui's eye.
But he smiled.
Arrival
At the forest edge—
Anlan, Kisame, and Mei arrived.
And saw—
that scene.
Kisame stopped.
His grip tightened.
His confidence—
cracked.
Mei's lips parted.
That power—
was beyond comprehension.
"This… is Uchiha power…?"
Fear.
And something else.
Awe.
Only Anlan smiled.
Satisfied.
As expected.
Shisui noticed them—
and dispelled the technique.
He landed lightly.
"Brother!"
Excited.
Hopeful.
Like a student awaiting praise.
"Good progress."
Anlan nodded.
"Let's test further."
Lake of the Three-Tails
They arrived at a vast lake.
Deep.
Silent.
Then—
movement.
Below the surface—
Isobu (Three-Tails)
"Kisame."
"Fight it."
No hesitation.
"Understood."
He launched forward—
like a missile.
The lake exploded.
The Three-Tails roared.
Battle
Kisame struck first—
"Samehada!"
Samehada tore into chakra—
not flesh.
Devouring.
Absorbing.
The Three-Tails lashed out—
a tail like a mountain.
Kisame blocked—
countered—
"Water Shark Bomb!"
Multiple massive chakra sharks collided with the tail.
BOOM—
The lake cratered.
Water exploded skyward.
Shockwaves rippled.
Kisame bled—
but smiled.
Stronger.
Fiercer.
The Three-Tails—
weakened.
Slowly.
Observation
Anlan watched closely.
Host dominant.
Not possession…
Integration.
Like—
Susanoo armor.
Or something beyond.
Elsewhere — Rain Village
Far away—
in Amegakure—
Danzo Shimura waited.
Days.
Weeks.
Silence.
Then—
the door opened.
Orders came.
War.
Hanzo of the Salamander had decided.
The army would march north.
Rain fell.
Cold.
Relentless.
Danzo stepped forward.
Finally—
movement.
Finally—
a chance.
The war board shifted.
Again.
And far to the west—
under a different sky—
another monster…
was already rising.
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