Chapter 202: Kisame's Team Gains Fame

No matter what opinions these Konoha Ninjas may have in their hearts, Setsuna's decision has already been made.

Continuous Fire Release attacks kept falling.

Kisame raised the Sword of Wisdom high as the Konoha Ninjas desperately surrounded him.

But Umiushi and his two companions remained as steadfast as a stable rock, unmovable.

Kisame felt his chakra surging within his body, becoming extremely full, even overflowing.

He then formed the hand seals.

"Water Release: A Hundred Feeding Sharks!"

Because the amount of chakra was insufficient to use the Thousand Feeding Sharks technique he had previously used against the Konoha Ninja army, Kisame opted for a smaller scale.

However, now he was only facing a small Konoha Ninja team led by Setsuna.

This was just a small outpost.

The appearance of hundreds of sharks was enough to pose a lethal threat to these people.

"Go!"

With a gesture from Kisame.

The Water Release Sharks surged violently toward the Konoha Ninjas.

In an instant, all the Konoha Ninjas were surrounded.

The relentless assault continued.

Cries of pain and despair echoed.

The Konoha Ninjas found themselves in a desperate situation.

"No!"

"Help!"

Some couldn't help but curse at Setsuna in their hearts.

"What's wrong with Setsuna?"

"He's completely clueless!"

"He's the one who got us into this mess!"

Compared to the Mist Ninjas, and compared to Kisame, these Konoha Ninjas hated Setsuna even more.

They hated Setsuna's foolishness even more.

Kisame looked at the scene, grinning and showing a smile.

"My abilities, combined with Stable Rock Style, are indeed a perfect match."

Blood splattered, and limbs were scattered everywhere.

The sharks had disappeared.

The ground was a mess, and not a single Konoha Ninja remained standing.

Only Setsuna was left, propped up on one leg, kneeling on the ground, barely managing to stay upright.

Setsuna looked at Kisame, his eyes filled with intense hatred.

"Little Mist Ninja!"

Setsuna was extremely unwilling to accept his fate.

Back then, he had questioned Senju Tobirama for the sake of the Uchiha Clan.

He led others in an attempt to change the fate of the Uchiha Clan.

But he was betrayed by some of his own clan members.

As a result, his plans fell apart midway.

Imprisoned in an underground cell for decades, he had finally managed to escape.

Now, he had the opportunity to regain his former glory.

Yet, the first battle after his "return" was a disastrous defeat.

"Why is this Mist Ninja so strong?"

"What is that Zanpakuto?"

"My luck is too poor."

Kisame looked at Setsuna, and in the next moment, appeared behind him.

"Thud!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of a blade slicing through flesh.

"Bang!"

Setsuna's head slowly fell from his neck.

It landed on the ground and rolled several times.

A Ninja with some medical skills quickly stepped forward, removed Setsuna's eyes, placed them in a container, and immersed them in a nutrient solution.

"A pair of Three Tomoe Sharingan!"

Kisame stored the container carefully.

"Return to the base!"

Soon, Kisame, carrying the Sharingan, stood before Fuguki.

"Fuguki-san."

"Has it been dealt with?"

"Yes, it's taken care of. This is a pair of Three Tomoe Sharingan, taken from a Ninja named Setsuna."

"Setsuna?"

Fuguki's expression changed slightly.

"Do you know him, Fuguki-san?"

Fuguki nodded.

"During the Second Mizukage's era, Setsuna was a Ninja with a good reputation, very strong, and had killed many of our village's Ninjas on the battlefield."

"But for some reason, he suddenly disappeared."

"I thought he was already dead."

"I didn't expect that he was still alive and that you, Kisame, would encounter him."

"This was my mistake; I didn't anticipate that there would be a person like Setsuna hidden in that outpost. Kisame, were there any casualties?"

Kisame shook his head.

"No, Setsuna's strength didn't seem very formidable."

His Kenjutsu strikes were directly blocked by Karatachi Umiushi.

The Ninjutsu attacks were absorbed by the Sword of Wisdom.

Suddenly, Kisame realized.

It might not be that Setsuna was weak, but rather that he, no, Kisame's team was now too strong.

A strong individual who has gained Fuguki's recognition is certainly not weak.

"Ninjutsu was countered."

"Kenjutsu was also countered."

Kisame imagined it for a moment.

"If it weren't for the bodyguards, defeating Setsuna wouldn't have been so easy."

"With the bodyguards, Setsuna's techniques had no effect on me."

"Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Ninjutsu…"

"Therefore, I could only try to push the Sword of Wisdom's absorption limits with more Ninjutsu."

"I underestimated the Sword of Wisdom."

"Trying Taijutsu or Genjutsu wouldn't have worked the same way."

"Setsuna just happened to make the worst choice."

Fuguki said, "After disappearing for so many years, I am not sure what his situation is now."

"Let's not talk about him. Since he's dead, it's no longer important."

"Kisame, how do you feel about the bodyguards?"

Kisame nodded.

"The effect is very good. Previously, I had issues with Taijutsu and Kenjutsu Ninjas countering me. With the bodyguards, any Taijutsu or Kenjutsu Ninja trying to threaten me would have to first break through the bodyguards' defenses."

"The defensive capability of Stable Rock Style is extremely strong."

"Additionally, while they attempt to breach the bodyguards, I can also use Ninjutsu to attack them."

Pausing for a moment, Kisame continued.

"Fuguki-san, I actually think that the Stable Rock Style bodyguards are not only useful to me but can also benefit many Ninjas in the Hidden Mist Village. It could be promoted."

"Even the bodyguards protecting you, Fuguki-san."

"Any close combat attacks from the enemy will be blocked by the bodyguards."

"And if the enemy uses Ninjutsu, even though you do not have the means to absorb Ninjutsu, you can still use your Water Release abilities to counteract their attacks."

Fuguki imagined it for a moment.

"It does sound quite good."

"Mizukage-sama has agreed to establish the Stable Rock Style Dojo based on Soma's suggestion. Soma will be the head of the Stable Rock Dojo, while Hoshigaki Ryukame will serve as the deputy head. Soon, new Stable Rock Style Ninjas will be trained."

Fuguki's eyes showed a hint of anticipation.

Fuguki didn't think he was lacking in Taijutsu.

However, for a Ninja who needs to both defend and attack while frequently facing sieges, Fuguki hoped to have a capable bodyguard team.

"If I think this way, Raiga must feel the same."

"Compared to the past, Raiga has changed a lot."

"Perhaps the village's decisions have left Raiga disheartened."

"But Raiga himself is not without issues."

As fellow former members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Fuguki and Raiga were familiar with each other.

Though their relationship wasn't particularly close, it was simply the relationship between ordinary teammates.

Now, both wield Zanpakuto and are members of the Shinigami Squad.

They have both advanced further than before.

Fuguki was somewhat more inclined to get closer to Raiga.

...

Fuguki took the Sharingan.

"Kisame, are you interested in transplanting this Sharingan?"

Kisame hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

"For someone who is not an Uchiha, transplanting Sharingan has too many side effects. Additionally, the Sharingan's abilities are not strong enough, so for me, the cost-benefit ratio is not high, and the negative effects outweigh the benefits."

"Hatake Kakashi from Konoha became noticeably stronger after losing his Sharingan, which indicates that transplanting Sharingan is not necessarily a good thing for a Ninja."

Fuguki nodded.

"That's true. If it were Byakugan, it would be more valuable for transplantation."

"I'll arrange for someone to send this Sharingan back to the village."

The Mist Ninjas were abuzz with discussion about Kisame's team's first battle.

"Kisame's team is incredibly strong now."

"I heard that Setsuna was also a senior and powerful Ninja from Konoha."

"Uchiha's top-level Ninja."

"Possessing Three Tomoe."

"But he had no way to handle Kisame's team."

"Ninjutsu was ineffective."

"Genjutsu had no effect."

"Even Kenjutsu couldn't break through Stable Rock Style's defense."

"And even when facing the siege of numerous Konoha Ninjas, he remained unharmed."

"Ultimate defense!"

"Now, when Kisame faces Orochimaru and Jiraiya again, he certainly won't be so embarrassed."

Konoha's mood worsened further upon receiving the news of Setsuna's death.

Part of it was due to Setsuna's death.

If Konoha's situation weren't so dire, Hiruzen would never have released Setsuna from the underground prison.

Hiruzen was well aware of what Setsuna had done in the past.

He was an extremely radical, selfish, and audacious person.

He even dared to incite the Uchiha Clan to rebel during Tobirama's administration.

If Setsuna had succeeded, Konoha would have fallen into internal chaos.

He was an extremely dangerous element.

However, Hiruzen was also aware of Setsuna's strength. Among the Uchiha Clan, Setsuna could be considered one of the best.

Yet, he was so easily defeated by Kisame.

He posed no threat to Kisame at all.

Not even a minor injury.

"Kisame's team…"

"Compared to before, has Kisame's strength increased again?"

"No, it's the complementary abilities of the team members and Kisame that make him even stronger."

"To kill Kisame has become even harder."

"In the future, Kisame will undoubtedly become one of Konoha's greatest adversaries."

Hiruzen wore a worried expression.

This was what Hiruzen was even more concerned about.

Konoha Ninjas were both astonished and fearful of Kisame's team.

Later, it turned into quite harsh and mocking comments.

"This Kisame must be afraid, he's chickened out."

"Small-minded cowards."

"As a Ninja, not only is his Taijutsu inadequate, but instead of improving, he has the village provide him with bodyguards."

"How can he even be considered a genius?"

"He doesn't deserve to be called a Ninja at all!"

However, as these Konoha Ninjas were complaining, they suddenly realized something.

That is, using bodyguards is not a new concept introduced by Kisame.

Before Kisame, others had already done the same.

For example, the newly appointed Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Minato Namikaze.

He had a bodyguard team consisting of Shiranui Genma, Raido Namiashi, and Tatami Iwashi.

If Kisame is unworthy of being called a Ninja, what about Minato Namikaze?

After all, Minato Namikaze had done it before Kisame.

"This is different," one Konoha Ninja argued stubbornly.

"Minato-sama's bodyguard team was not created specifically for protecting Minato-sama; it was only to assist."

"But Kisame's bodyguard team is specifically for protecting Kisame."

"If we must say, Kisame is merely a poor imitation of Minato-sama."

"Using the excuse of cooperation to pursue his own benefits."

The more Konoha Ninjas criticize Kisame, the more it actually proves that Konoha Ninjas have no effective way to deal with Kisame's team.

But compared to ordinary Konoha Ninjas, Uchiha members hate Kisame even more.

Though Setsuna had disappeared for many years, radical Uchiha members still viewed him as a totemic figure.

Now, their totem has been killed by Kisame.

This is a deep-seated grudge.

Moreover, Konoha Ninjas have not yet found the complete corpse of Setsuna, which has been destroyed. Otherwise, they would know that Setsuna's Sharingan has been removed.

Even Kakashi's Sharingan makes Uchiha Clan members very unhappy.

If it were other Ninja villages holding it, Uchiha Clan members would be even angrier.

"We must kill Kisame to avenge Setsuna-sama!"

A day later, the Mist Ninjas discovered another Konoha stronghold.

A major battle was imminent.

"This defense is too difficult to break through."

"We have no idea how to approach it."

"Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu... none of them work. What can we do to break this damned defense?"

"Rely on Nara's Shadow Binding Jutsu?"

"Or Yamanaka's Mind Body Switch Jutsu?"

"It seems neither will work."

"What's with this Kisame? He should be renamed Turtle!"

The Konoha Ninjas facing Kisame's team were completely helpless. Besides cursing, they could do nothing.

Fuguki glanced over.

"Not only Konoha Ninjas, but even Raiga and I would probably be unable to deal with Kisame's team."

"Kisame's growth is terrifying."

"Kisame's talent is on a different level compared to mine."

"In the future, he could indeed reach the level of a successor Mizukage."

"And then there's Elder Genji's disciple, Terumi Mei."

"Among the younger generation, the village now has two geniuses capable of succeeding as future Mizukages."

"That Hozuki Mangetsu is said to have talent equal to that of Gengetsu-san."

"Hidden Mist Village has a promising future!"

"I hope I live to see that day."

...

...

"Elder Genji."

"Soma."

Genji smiled.

"I have good news."

---

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