Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 367 Kisame, You Become the Jinchūriki

boom! !

The terrifying explosion and intense heat instantly engulfed everything, and the entire underground palace trembled.

Jiraiya, Huangtu, and the others in the front row felt an irresistible force slam into their chests, and their bodies were instantly lifted into the air.

Like being hit head-on by a giant elephant running at high speed, it was completely out of control, tumbling and flying backward in the air!

Bang! Click!

A series of heavy impacts and teeth-grinding cracking sounds rang out.

Their bodies slammed hard against the solid rock wall dozens of meters away before collapsing to the ground, where intense pain surged through their bodies, as if their bones had shattered.

A sharp buzzing sound kept ringing in my ears, and a burning sensation spread across my skin.

"cough!"

Kakashi coughed up blood, and the crackling sound of flames seemed to come from a very distant underwater place, indistinct and unclear.

Soon, a strong tingling sensation spread throughout his body, and he felt a throbbing pain in his head. His senses were gradually returning.

Immediately afterwards, thick black smoke, a pungent sulfur smell, and an indescribable, strange odor, like burnt pork, flooded his nostrils.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Kakashi coughed uncontrollably as his respiratory tract was scalded by the hot air he inhaled. He struggled to lift his head and focus his gaze on the center of the explosion.

"Woo..."

Before them, where they had been standing, lay a colossal beast, as large as a mountain, groaning in pain.

It was Isobu, the Three-Tailed Beast, in its complete tailed beast form!

However, at this moment, the Three-Tails looked extremely miserable.

The massive head, lacking the protection of a thick carapace, bore the brunt of the impact head-on.

The dark gray, hard keratin that originally covered the skin was now charred, cracked, and even melted over a large area, revealing the charred flesh underneath.

Wisps of smoke rose from the gruesome wounds, and the pervasive smell of burnt flesh in the air originated from them.

Directly in front of the Three-Tails, the area that had been engulfed by flames was now completely empty.

No, it's not empty, but rather...

It turned into a patch of scorched earth with a diameter of over 100 meters, and its surface was still radiating an astonishing residual heat.

Scattered on the scorched earth were several completely carbonized, twisted, pitch-black skeletons.

Clearly, the dozen or so Chunin who charged at the forefront had been instantly vaporized in the firestorm, or turned into several silent, terrifying remains on this scorched earth.

Yagura and Mitsuki, with their massive bodies, took the fatal blow for most of the people behind them, thus saving their lives.

However, the three tails were already exhaling more and inhaling less.

In order to test the maximum power of his "Hado" technique, 'Kage' held nothing back. If the Three-Tails had retracted into its shell to block it, it might have been fine, but there was no time for that.

This blow, you could say, hit him squarely on the head.

"Shadow!" Jiraiya, enduring the excruciating pain throughout his body, stared at the empty stone statue's fingertips and growled hatefully.

There was no trace of 'shadow' there anymore.

Just then, the light and shadow flickered at the entrance to the second floor, and several figures swiftly rushed in.

It consisted of Konan, the two Yukito, and several other elites from other villages.

Clearly, they were alarmed by the terrifying fluctuations in energy they had just witnessed.

Realizing that his companion might be in danger, worry and urgency instantly overwhelmed his desire to compete, and he managed to bypass the criteria for the "Healer" realm and successfully enter the area.

Those who, like Kakuzu and Shennong, were indifferent to the life and death of their companions, were still kept out.

However, as soon as they entered the second floor, Konan and the two Yugitos were shocked by the terrible scene before them, and their expressions changed drastically.

The scene was scorched earth, and the air was filled with a strong smell of burning and blood.

"Nagato!"

Konan's gaze swept across the room, locking onto Nagato, who was unharmed but with a slightly grave expression, and Hanzo, who was equally unscathed beside him. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

But immediately, an even greater sense of vigilance and seriousness welled up in his eyes.

Is this caused by the 'shadow'?
That guy, besides his ability to hide, actually possesses such terrifying power?

The two Yugitos' pupils contracted slightly, their gazes fixed on the shocking scorched earth and the dying Three-Tails, their eyes filled with astonishment.

The Three-Tails, with its strongest defense, was actually severely injured after fully transforming into a tailed beast.
This fact sent a chill down her spine, as she was also a Jinchūriki.

Swish!
Just as everyone was shaken, a figure moved without warning.

It's Hanzo!
Without hesitation, he rushed toward the stone statue, or rather, toward the remaining nine scrolls on the statue's fingertips, his movements so fast that he left only a blur!
however……

Bang!Bang!
A thick cloud of white smoke suddenly exploded in Hanzo's path. Hanzo instinctively stopped in his tracks. The smoke quickly dissipated, revealing three figures blocking his way.

On the left is Huang Tu holding a giant axe, which slams heavily onto the ground, creating a shockwave.

On the right, Yugito Nii had completely unleashed the Tailed Beast's chakra, transforming into the Two-Tails with two giant tails that danced wildly, emitting a low roar full of warning, blocking their path.

Directly in front of him, Jiraiya stood atop the head of an enormous toad.

"Hanzo!" Jiraiya stood atop Gamabunta, his gaze piercing as he stared intently at Hanzo below. His voice was icy as he said, "Don't even think about trying anything in the chaos!"

Hanzo abruptly stopped his charge, narrowed his eyes, and scanned the impenetrable wall of "one toad, one cat, and one person" before him, his face ashen.

He tilted his head slightly and glanced at Nagato behind him out of the corner of his eye.

Nagato remained standing still, shaking his head in response to Hanzo's questioning gaze.

"Hmph!" Hanzo snorted coldly, slightly reducing his fierce aura, but he did not retreat, clearly not giving up completely.

In this tense standoff, the enormous three-tailed Isobu began to shrink, transforming back into Yagura Karatachi, who lay supine on the ground, his breath as faint as a candle in the wind.

"Cough..." Yagura lay weakly on his back on the ground, coughing up another mouthful of dark red blood, staining his chin and clothes.

Upon seeing this, Kisame Hoshigaki's expression changed slightly. He rushed forward and used his arm to support Yagura Karatachi's upper body, allowing him to lean against his arm.

"Lord Mizukage, I'll take you back to the village..." Kisame's voice was hoarse and low, and the usual playfulness on his face disappeared without a trace, replaced by an unusual solemnity.

"It's no use, Kisame..."

Yagura shook his head with difficulty, stopping Kisame's movements. His unfocused gaze focused on Kisame's face, and he said weakly, "I know my own body."

"Moreover, the Akatsuki organization has its eye on the Three-Tails inside me, and they won't let you take me back to Kirigakure."

"We now have only one choice."

Yagura's spirit had already been shattered by Obito Uchiha's genjutsu, and was later severely injured by Uzumaki, one of the Espada...

According to the original storyline, Obito manipulated Yagura Karatachi, but Ao saw through it with his Byakugan. After Yagura broke free from the control, he actually died a few days later, consumed by guilt and self-blame.

Today, Yagura Karatachi is able to hold on until now entirely out of a desire for atonement.

Worried that Mei Terumi would be unable to cope with the chaotic situation in the ninja world and hoping to give Kirigakure more time to recover, she endured her mental and physical trauma and made several appearances.

However, having taken another hit from 'Shadow', he was completely exhausted. His face was as pale as paper, and his breathing was rapid and shallow. He was clearly on the verge of death.

"Listen, Kisame."

Yagura gripped Kisame's wrist with all his might, his knuckles turning white from the force: "The Hidden Mist Village cannot lose the Three-Tails, and the Five Great Nations cannot lose another tailed beast..."

As if guessing what Yagura was about to say, Kisame frowned deeply.

"While the 'Healer's' domain is still intact, and the rest of the Akatsuki can't get in..."

With difficulty, Yagura looked at Jiraiya's shadow clone beside him and pleaded, "Mr. Jiraiya, please use the sealing technique to seal Isobu inside Kisame!"

Jiraiya did not refuse, because he knew it was indeed the best choice.

With Yagura severely injured, the Akatsuki organization will definitely seize this opportunity to try and obtain the Three-Tails within him, whether by dragging him down or killing him.

Only by transferring the Three-Tails into someone else's body beforehand and then helping them return to their village can the Five Great Nations ensure that they do not lose another Tailed Beast.

However, only Yagura Karatachi can make the choice.

"..." Kisame's arm, which was supporting Yagura's, stiffened for a moment. He frowned and said, "Mizukage-sama, you want me to become a Jinchūriki?"

He, Kisame Hoshigaki, is an executioner whose hands are stained with the blood of his kin...

How could he possibly become the Jinchūriki who protects the village?

"Cough cough! Kisame..."

A slight smile appeared on Yagura's lips: "I know you hate this village, you hate this hypocritical world, and I have no right to ask anything of you."

“But Kisame…” His voice grew weaker and weaker, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light, as if in a final burst of energy before death, “Don’t you really want to find a true place to belong?”

"Compared to dying in some unknown corner, or continuing to be a tool in someone else's hands, becoming the Three-Tails Jinchuriki might not be a bad choice..."

"..." Kisame fell into a long silence, looking at Yagura Karatachi, who was weak and had hope in his eyes, in his arms, and finally sighed.

"I promise you." He looked up at Jiraiya's shadow clone beside him and said in a hoarse voice, "Mr. Jiraiya, thank you for your help."

"Alright." Jiraiya's shadow clone nodded solemnly, his hands rapidly forming hand seals.

However, at this critical moment.

"Make your move!" Nagato, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, suddenly shouted.

As soon as the command was given, Hanzo took the initiative, suddenly raising his arm. The space in front of his palm suddenly distorted, and a spatial portal instantly formed.

He flashed and stepped inside.

(End of this chapter)