Chapter 40: Hanare’s Confession Before Death!

Chapter 40: Hanare's Confession Before Death!

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a masked figure sitting on a thick branch, laughing loudly.

Due to mission issues, it was necessary to recruit Hoshigaki Kisame, but the right opportunity had never been found.

So, Uchiha Yi had followed him all the way here.

Then he happened to see Kakashi's humorous struggle and couldn't help but laugh out loud, which exposed his location to everyone.

However, this was just a minor detail, and Uchiha Yi didn't mind at all.

"Hahaha!"

"Just go on; don't worry about me!"

Realizing he had become the center of attention, Uchiha Yi suppressed his laughter and spoke quickly.

But who would dare ignore his presence?

For the Mist Ninjas, a stranger suddenly appearing here was either a friend or an enemy.

"Senior Yi, keep an eye on him. I'll handle Kakashi!"

Hoshigaki Kisame didn't want any setbacks that could lead to mission failure.

So, he cautiously decided to take a wait-and-see approach toward Uchiha Yi.

Watching Uchiha Yi carefully with his blue eyes, Kisame believed there wouldn't be any major issues.

"Time is limited!"

"We need to finish this quickly!"

Water Style: Exploding Water Shockwave!

Hoshigaki Kisame turned to Kakashi, not acknowledging the woman next to him, as though she didn't even exist.

He leapt into the air, gathered chakra in his throat, and spat out enough water to flood the ground, transforming it into a vast lake.

In an instant, the entire terrain shifted, becoming a vast ocean.

With such a large-scale jutsu, Kakashi had no room to dodge, especially with a vulnerable companion nearby.

"This is really troublesome!"

Based on that move alone, Kakashi immediately concluded that Hoshigaki Kisame was stronger than him.

Moreover, the environment had become Kisame's domain, lowering Kakashi's chances of victory.

Standing on the water, Kakashi quickly analyzed the situation.

Samehada Fusion Form!

Hoshigaki Kisame put his full strength into his attacks, merging with his sword, Samehada, to become half-human, half-fish.

In this state, Kisame could move freely through water and had the ability to absorb and sense chakra.

Splash!

A faint ripple broke the water, and a dark shadow closed in beneath Kakashi and Hanare.

"Not good!"

Kakashi exclaimed, grabbing Hanare and leaping aside.

In the next instant, the water erupted, and Kisame's clawed hand shot out, trying to tear Kakashi apart.

Kakashi narrowly avoided the strike, bringing Hanare along just in time.

Water Style: Five Feeding Sharks!

Kisame wasn't surprised that his first attack had missed and immediately launched another assault.

Slapping the water, he summoned five shark-shaped water bullets that surged toward Kakashi.

In this watery battlefield, Kakashi's familiar techniques were ineffective.

Using his Lightning Style would harm those around him first. Earth Style would simply sink in this environment, and Fire Style was completely countered.

Facing the approaching sharks, Kakashi drew a short blade, shielding Hanare, using his Sharingan to track the sharks' movements and striking them down as they came.

"Let's see how long you can last!"

Kisame wasn't in a rush and sent another wave of sharks toward Kakashi.

After a few rounds, Kakashi's chakra and stamina began to dwindle from the continuous high-intensity combat.

"It's time to finish this!"

Water Style: Great Shark Bullet Technique!

Seeing Kakashi's exhaustion, Kisame aimed to end the battle decisively.

A massive shark-shaped water missile, like a torpedo, raced toward Kakashi and Hanare.

This time, however, the shark bullet absorbed chakra from any attack it encountered, growing even larger and more dangerous.

Unaware of this, Kakashi swung his short sword at it, but he quickly realized something was different.

A sense of dread filled his heart.

"Watch out!"

In a desperate moment, Hanare noticed something was wrong first. She reacted quickly, pulling Kakashi behind her to shield him.

Boom!

The shark bullet exploded, sending razor-sharp water droplets slicing into Hanare's body.

Blood seeped from her wounds, staining the water around her red.

"Kakashi…"

Hanare's voice was faint as she looked at Kakashi with gentle eyes.

"Hanare!"

"Why did you do that?"

"Don't you know you could die?"

Kakashi's voice was filled with horror as he pulled her into his arms with trembling hands.

He tried his limited medical ninjutsu, channeling chakra to her wounds, but her injuries remained.

Hanare, realizing her end was near, felt peace in knowing how much Kakashi cared for her.

"Because I love you."

Hanare confessed without hesitation.

Even without the masked man forcing her to carry out a mission to win Kakashi's heart, she had genuinely fallen for him.

But now, that seemed impossible.

"I…"

"I am cursed and unworthy of your love."

Kakashi's hands shook, and he stammered in reply.

"Kakashi, did you ever care about me?"

Hanare asked softly, fighting the pull of unconsciousness.

She felt her body growing cold, her consciousness fading into darkness.

Her final moments were drawing near, but she wanted to know the answer.

"I… I did."

Kakashi's voice was filled with regret as he sensed Hanare's life slipping away.

The weight of self-blame pressed down on him.

"I'm happy…"

"Even if I die, I have no regrets…"

Hanare's voice was strained as she coughed, her wounds worsening.

"Don't speak. You'll be okay!"

Kakashi's words sounded hollow even to him.

"Kakashi, I'm leaving…"

"Beware of a man with a mask…"

With her last breath, Hanare finished her warning and fell silent.

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