Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 216 Kisame Hoshigaki VS Fuuka Noutō
The land of swamps, Honmatsu Castle.

The opulent city lord's mansion was filled with the smells of alcohol, cosmetics, and a nauseatingly extravagant atmosphere.

Outside, there was a scene of starvation and freezing cold, with corpses strewn everywhere, but inside the mansion, there was still warmth, incense, singing, and dancing.

The daimyo of the Swamp Country, Ono Takuto, with his large belly and oily face, was already drunk and bleary-eyed.

He embraced two scantily clad geishas on either side, his rough hands roaming restlessly over their bodies, eliciting coquettish complaints from the geishas.

Sitting opposite him was the city lord of Bensong City, a middle-aged nobleman who was also bloated and had a lewd look in his eyes.

Several nobles brought by Ono Takuto or local nobles of Honmatsu were seated in other seats around the banquet. They were laughing and indulging in the wine and women of the banquet, turning a deaf ear to the frozen corpses outside the lord's mansion and the ongoing popular uprisings.

"Hiccup... Lord Bensong, you say... hiccup... that Miroku priestess, after being under house arrest for so many days, shouldn't she have come to her senses by now?" Ono Takuto hiccuped, exhaling a strong smell of alcohol, his tone flippant.

"What's with all this pretense of being high and mighty..."

Lord Honmatsu chuckled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. He leaned closer, lowering his voice even further, laced with obsequiousness and lewdness: "Your Highness is absolutely right! If you ask me, the Land of Stars is nothing but a bunch of lowly, rogue ninjas, just there to intimidate people!"

"They haven't dared to touch us for so long because they're afraid of provoking us and hiring ninjas from the five great nations to wipe them out!"

"As for the Miroku Shrine Maiden... Hehe, Your Highness, she's a shrine maiden with immense prestige throughout the western countries! Her status, her aura... If Your Highness could 'favor' her and allow her to bear an heir, she would not only inherit the Swamp Country but also the shrine's influence... At that time, who would dare to say anything against Your Highness..."

His words were full of seductive and filthy innuendo, making Ono Takuya's heart itch with lust, his eyes gleaming with desire as if he could already see the beautiful scene. He couldn't help but burst into laughter, forcefully kneading the geisha in his arms: "Well said! Well said! Hahaha! After dealing with those hoshinobi scum, I will..."

"Hmph... what a bunch of... disgusting scum."

A cold voice, filled with disdain and murderous intent, suddenly rang out in the warm room without warning.

"Who?!" Ono Takuto and Lord Motomatsu were both startled, sobering up considerably, and looked around in fear.

The geishas were so frightened that they stopped what they were doing and trembled.

The next second, the terror on Lord Bensong's face froze forever.

A blurry black shadow suddenly appeared behind him!

The sword flashed!
It was so fast that it didn't even make a sound!
Lord Bensong's head, like a rotten fruit easily plucked, smoothly separated from his neck, tumbling and falling onto the exquisitely carpeted floor, his face still bearing the expression of terror.

Blood gushed out like a fountain from the severed neck, splattering the food and wine on the table and the pale face of the geisha beside him.

"Ah ah ah ah ah--!!!"

After a brief silence, the geisha screamed in terror, so loud it was almost ear-piercing!
Takuto Ono was completely terrified; the effects of the alcohol instantly turned into cold sweat that soaked through his fine clothes.

He watched as the dark figure materialized, revealing a man with an exceptionally tall and burly build, wearing a Star Ninja-style ANBU vest.

He had a face as ferocious and terrifying as a shark, with a seemingly natural bloodthirsty curve at the corner of his mouth.

He carried a huge weapon tightly wrapped in white bandages on his back, and in his right hand he held a gleaming, still dripping blood dagger.

Kisame Hoshigaki's small eyes held no emotion whatsoever, only a cold sense of duty and extreme disgust for the scum before him.

He flicked the blood off his short sword and glanced at Ono Takuto, who was paralyzed with fear in his seat, and the other swamp country nobles who were equally pale and trembling like leaves.

At the same time, with a few soft swishing sounds, three ninjas, also dressed in Star Ninja Anbu uniforms and wearing animal masks, appeared like ghosts in various corners of the room, completely sealing off all exits.

The chilling killing intent and sharp aura emanating from them far surpassed those of the wandering ninjas and samurai hired by Ono Takuto.

Takuto Ono was so frightened that he became incoherent, and his crotch area quickly became wet, emitting a foul stench.

Kisame frowned deeply, looking extremely impatient, as he listened to the incessant screams of the geishas around him.

He glanced at the geishas who were terrified and cowering in a ball, a flash of murderous intent crossing his eyes.

The hand holding the dagger twitched slightly, but ultimately restrained itself.

He recalled the words Lord Shura had specifically instructed him before leaving Star City: "Kisame, the objective of this operation is clear: eliminate the ringleaders and deter the villains. Try not to harm innocent civilians. We are different from them."

"Tsk, troublesome." Kisame muttered under his breath, but still waved his hand, signaling to an ANBU ninja, "Get them out of here, they're too noisy."

The ANBU ninja nodded, quickly stepped forward, and said to the terrified geishas in a calm but firm tone: "Those who don't want to die, leave here immediately and forget everything you've seen today."

The geishas, ​​as if granted a pardon, fled the bloody banquet hall in a panic, scrambling and crying.

Soon, Ono Takuto and several other key nobles were roughly dragged up by the ANBU ninja and handcuffed.

Kisame carried the limp and mud-like Ono Takuto like a chick, and the group walked out of the luxurious yet bloody main hall of the lord's mansion.

As soon as I stepped out of the palace, the cold air outside, mixed with a strong smell of blood, hit me!

Ono Takuto was horrified to see that the square in front of the lord's mansion was littered with corpses!
They were all his elite soldiers, hired wandering samurai, and those few wandering ninjas he had paid a high price for!
Blood stained the bluestone slabs of the square, freezing into dark red ice in the cold air.

Some Star Ninja Anbu were examining the corpses with expressionless faces, occasionally delivering a final blow to those who were still alive.

The battle ended very quickly and was a one-sided massacre!

The martial prowess that Takuto Ono relied on was utterly ineffective against a true ninja!
"No...it's impossible...they were all...killed?!" Takuto Ono completely broke down, muttering to himself.

Just then, a steady sound of footsteps came from behind.

Surrounded by a group of priests and priestesses from the Land of Demons, the Miroku priestess slowly walked over.

Her face was calm, but her purple eyes held a colder and more resolute look than usual.

She glanced at the tragic scene in the square, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, but said nothing more.

As she passed by Kisame, an ANBU ninja quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words in her ear, clearly repeating the filthy conversation between Ono Takuto and Lord Matsumoto that she had overheard in the palace.

Maitreya paused slightly, his face instantly turning frosty, and a hint of barely suppressed anger and deep disgust flashed in his eyes.

She had some moral concerns about the Star Kingdom annexing other countries, but those concerns had completely vanished by now.

These nobles in human skin are not worthy of ruling this land!

She walked up to the limp Ono Takuto, her voice icy, like the biting north wind of winter: "Ono Takuto, you nobles, you levy exorbitant taxes and treat the people like dirt. Even in years of famine, you live a life of debauchery and debauchery, and even... harbor treacherous intentions and blaspheme against the gods! You have long since lost the most basic 'foundation of the nation' for a ruler!"

"The Star Kingdom will uphold the Mandate of Heaven and thoroughly purge you parasites, restoring clarity to this land!"

Ono Takuto seemed to be provoked by these words. He suddenly raised his head, his face a mixture of fear and frenzied rage, and roared, "You wretch! You priestess who colluded with rogue ninjas! What do you know?! Without us nobles! Without the daimyo! What are those lowly commoners?!"

"They don't even own land! The houses they live in are a gift from the nobles! We gave them everything! It's only right that we rule over them! This is rebellion! This is defiance! I... I will definitely spend money to invite a great ninja village! I will invite the Leaf Village to quell this rebellion! I will kill all of you traitorous ninjas and lowly people!!"

His words were insane and vicious, and even though his life was in someone else's hands, they were full of class arrogance and conceit.

Kisame Hoshigaki grew impatient, a cruel smile spreading across his shark-like face as he looked at Miroku: "My lady, are you done rambling? Can I cut off this noisy head now? I promise I'll do it soon."

He brandished the short knife in his hand.

Ono Takuto was terrified, struggling and screaming wildly, "No! No! Spare me! Shrine Maiden, spare me!"

Miroku glanced coldly at Ono Takuto, shook his head, and his tone returned to calm: "His crimes and evils should not be punished by us in private. He will be tried publicly, and his final fate will be decided by the millions of people in the Land of Swamp who he persecuted and treated like dirt! This is the 'order' brought by the Land of Stars!"

Kisame pursed his lips in disappointment, but still put away his short sword: "Tsk, what a hassle."

He was absolutely obedient to Shura's orders, and since the priestess had said so, he naturally wouldn't take action.

Kisame then arranged for a squad of ANBU ninjas to stay behind to assist Miroku in continuing to provide relief to disaster victims and maintain basic order within the Land of Swamp, while awaiting the arrival of ninja forces and administrative officials from the Land of Stars to take full control.

Having lost its daimyo and core nobles, and with its army defeated, the Swamp Country was now like a pile of loose sand, with no decent resistance left.

With disaster relief efforts, the elimination of the remaining forces of daimyo and nobles, and the reorganization of the affairs and population of the Swamp Country, the Star Country is going to be very busy this winter.

Kisame didn't linger any longer. After a brief farewell to Miroku, he and his three other Anbu subordinates vanished in a flash, quickly leaving Honmatsu Castle and speeding towards the main battlefield of the Netherworld.

The border of the Land of Darkness, the headquarters of the Star Ninja Agricultural Cooperative Development Society.

The scene here is completely different from what it was a few days ago.

The peaceful standoff has been completely shattered, replaced by a fierce and brutal ninja war!
The wind and snow howled, and the light of chakra and the explosions of various ninjutsu resounded throughout the heavens and earth! Nearly eighty snow ninjas, clad in ice-blue chakra armor, launched a fierce attack on the Star Ninja's base under the cover of the wind and snow!

The light of the Ice Release ninjutsu flashed continuously, and huge ice spikes, sharp ice needles, and cold blizzards crashed down on the defensive fortifications built by the Star Ninja using Earth Release, like a storm.

However, the Star Ninja's defense was impregnable, and their counterattacks were incredibly sharp!
On the earthen wall in the center of the camp, Uchiha Hikaru stood quietly.

The cold wind blew through her long black hair and the hem of her dark blue clan robe. She crossed her arms, her cold face expressionless, only her scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan slowly turning, coldly overlooking the entire battlefield.

In her eyes, the Snow Ninja's movements, chakra flow, and even their next intentions were crystal clear.

She did not directly take action, but rather, like the most skilled chess player, occasionally guided the Star Ninja fighting below through the network of chakra she had imprinted.

"Wu Tai, at the three points, there is a cluster of ice cones, and the height of the earthen wall has increased by two meters."

"Bai, the Snow Ninja Jonin on the right flank is feigning an attack, targeting the medical point at the rear. The ice mirror is refraction to interfere with his vision."

"Kimimaro, the combined attack of those five Chunin in front has a 0.7-second gap. Use the Ten-Finger Piercing Bullet to interrupt it."

"Yukimi, use smoke to circle around and disrupt that guy who's trying to form a large ninjutsu."

"Fireflies, prepare the Peacock Technique, cover and strike their rear assembly point."

Under her precise command, fewer than twenty Star Ninjas, including Gota, Hotaru, Kimimaro, Haku, and Yukimi, acted like a sophisticated and efficient killing machine, firmly blocking the offensive of more than eighty Yuki Ninjas and even launching counterattacks, causing casualties!
Kimimaro moved across the battlefield like a ghost, his Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse) sometimes transforming into the strongest shield and sometimes into the sharpest spear. Wherever he passed, the Snow Ninja were either killed or injured. Combined with the Byakugan's insightful vision, he was almost invincible.

Haku's Ice Release is elegant yet deadly. His Ice Crystal Mirror is omnipresent, and his Thousand Books flow like mercury across the ground, often interrupting the enemy's coordination or saving his comrades at the most crucial moment.

Xuejian's ability to transform into smoke is unpredictable, allowing her to harass, ambush, and rescue others with incredible agility.

Firefly's Peacock Technique is incredibly powerful; the purple chakra dragon can clear out a small area with each dive.

Wu Tai, relying on his seasoned experience and solid Earth Release techniques, stabilized the core of his defense.

The "Kunai Rapid Fire Crossbow" formation, meticulously prepared by Fuuka Nyutō and powered by chakra armor technology, was destroyed in an instant by Kimimaro and Haku's combined attack before it could even unleash its power. The snow ninja operating the crossbows suffered heavy casualties.

The battles between ninjas have long since altered the terrain here; earthen walls have collapsed and risen again, ice fields have been torn apart, and flames and frost have intertwined.

The You Kingdom army that was originally stationed nearby was terrified by the terrifying sight of this collision of extraordinary powers. They abandoned their armor and fled the death zone in panic, leaving only the Snow Ninja and Star Ninja fighting to the death on the battlefield.

puff!

Another snow ninja chunin was pierced by a bone spike that Kimimaro suddenly thrust out from the ground, and fell down screaming.

The casualties of the Snow Ninja have exceeded one-third, while the Star Ninja have only suffered minor injuries to three people, and one person was grazed by a stray arrow while covering the transfer of refugees, which is almost negligible!
Just then, four figures landed on the earthen wall of the Star Ninja's encampment.

It was Kisame Hoshigaki and his three ANBU subordinates who arrived just in time.

Kisame glanced at the fierce battle below, a bloodthirsty excitement appearing on his shark-like face.

He walked up behind Uchiha Hikaru, bowed slightly, and said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Hikaru, the mission in the Land of Swamp is complete. Ono Takuto and the main nobles have been captured, and the resistance forces have been eliminated."

Uchiha Hikaru didn't even turn around; his Sharingan remained fixed on the battlefield, and he simply gave a faint "hmm."

A moment later, she turned her head slightly and glanced at Kisame out of the corner of her eye, especially at the large sword Samehada wrapped in bandages on his back.

After Kisame Hoshigaki joined the organization, Menma bestowed upon him the great sword Samehada. This was the first time Hikaru Uchiha had ever seen Menma gift a ninja sword to a member of an organization.

The other captured ninja sword, the Executioner's Blade, is currently unclaimed.

"Although you were personally recruited by Lord Shura, it is said that you defected because of your assassination attempt on the Daimyo of the Land of Water and the Mizukage of Kirigakure..." Uchiha Hikaru's tone carried a hint of scrutiny and arrogance.

"But I haven't seen your true strength yet."

She raised her slender finger and pointed to the chaotic battlefield below, especially to Feng Hua Nutao, who was behind the Snow Ninja, wearing the most magnificent armor, with a livid face, and seemingly about to lose control.

"Now, I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself. Let me see if you're qualified to bear the expectations of the adults."

Kisame was quite unhappy with Uchiha Hikaru's condescending attitude, which made him seem like he was assessing a subordinate.

He is loyal to Lord Shura, not this woman who looks young but speaks with great arrogance.

"Hmph..." He grinned, revealing sharp teeth, and let out a low chuckle: "Then please, Lord Guang... watch carefully."

He raised his hand and grasped the massive, bandaged hilt of the sword behind him.

Greatsword: Samehada!

The bandages shattered and crumbled instantly, revealing the deep blue blade of Samehada, covered in barbs and trembling slightly!
"Buzz..." Samehada seemed to sense its master's fighting spirit and the abundant chakra "food" below, and emitted an excited low hum.

Although Kisame's chakra reserves are not as terrifying as Menma's, they are still far greater than those of an average ninja, as vast and powerful as a tailed beast, allowing him to easily control Samehada.

Kisame leaped into the air like a cannonball, crashing down onto the battlefield below with terrifying force!

The three secret agents immediately followed, like three sharp knives plunging into the battle.

Kisame's arrival instantly changed the situation on the local battlefield.

He didn't need any fancy ninjutsu; with just Samehada, which was as thick as a door when he swung it, he could smash several Snow Ninja, along with their armor, into mincemeat with each sweep!
Samehada greedily absorbed the ice-style chakra that the Snow Ninjas were trying to use to retaliate, making their attacks seem weak and ineffective.

Wherever he went, he was like a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex, stirring up a storm of blood and carnage!
Behind them, Feng Hua Nu Tao watched helplessly as the Snow Ninja he had carefully trained were slaughtered like cutting melons and vegetables, his heart bleeding!

Especially that newly joined shark-faced monster, he's incredibly ferocious!
He knew he couldn't wait any longer!

"A bunch of trash! Get out of my way!" Feng Hua Nu Tao roared furiously, frantically channeling his chakra into his magnificent chakra armor, causing the blue crystals on the armor to burst forth with dazzling light!

He shoved aside his subordinates who were blocking his way and charged into the battlefield himself!
The target is the shark-faced creature that's wreaking havoc!
Feng Hua Nu Tao is determined to crush this guy with his own hands and restore morale!

The raging waves, like a heavy chariot, carrying wind, snow, and powerful chakra fluctuations, rushed towards Kisame.

He leaped high into the air, clenched his right fist, and instantly a huge, spiked ice crystal gauntlet condensed on his fist.

"Ice Release: Ice Cone Fist!" With an aura that could crush everything, it smashed fiercely toward Kisame's head!

"Well done!" Kisame sensed the opponent's chakra, which far exceeded that of ordinary snow ninjas. Instead of being surprised, he was delighted, and his eyes flashed with a fanatical fighting spirit.

Instead of dodging, he took a step forward, his muscles bulging, his hands gripping the massive hilt of Samehada. From bottom to top, he unleashed a slash that, while lacking any fancy moves, contained terrifying power, to meet the icy fist of the raging wind and waves!
"Try this! Samehada—!"

The barbed blade of Samehada, with a terrifying whistling sound as it tore through the air, collided fiercely with the enormous frost fist!
boom--! ! ! !

A deafening roar erupted, accompanied by a shockwave from the collision of chakra!

The surrounding snowflakes were instantly cleared away, and the ground cracked and collapsed!
Snap... Snap... Bang!

Under the incredulous gaze of Feng Hua Nu Tao, his incredibly hard Frost Gauntlets, powered by his chakra armor, cracked like fragile glass the moment they came into contact with the strange greatsword, and then shattered into countless ice crystals!

Not only that, an unimaginable, terrifying force was transmitted through the shattered ice fist!

Feng Hua Nu Tao felt a sharp pain in his arm, as if he had been hit head-on by a high-speed train. With a muffled groan, he was sent flying back from mid-air by Kisame's simple yet incredibly powerful slash!
He tumbled and rolled on the snow for more than ten meters before barely managing to regain his balance. His magnificent armor was covered in snow and mud, his clenched right fist trembled slightly, and his arm armor was even slightly deformed, indicating that his arm inside was injured!

He looked up at the enemy who was still in a slashing stance, a ferocious smile on his shark-like face, and for the first time, his eyes showed horror and solemnity.

What kind of monster is this?!
The power is incredible!

And that knife…

It opened its blood-red maw like a living creature and began to suck up his chakra!
Kisame slowly lowered Samehada, dragging it across the snow and leaving a deep mark.

He cracked his neck, making a snapping sound, and grinned at the grim-faced Nu Tao, revealing his gleaming white, shark-like teeth:
"The Daimyo of the Land of Snow? Is that all the strength you have? Not even enough to tickle Master Shark!"

On the earthen wall, Uchiha Hikaru looked down at Kisame's domineering and unparalleled slash and Fuuka Nyutō's disheveled appearance, and a trace of approval finally flashed in his scarlet Sharingan eyes.

"Strength...not bad." She murmured to herself, a cold smile curving her lips. "So, how will you toy with this arrogant ice worm, Kisame Hoshigaki?"

At the heart of the battlefield, the duel between Kisame Hoshigaki and Fuuka Nouto has only just begun, and it is destined that only one side can survive!

The balance of power was actually decided the moment the battle began.

(End of this chapter)