Mizushima Kimou and Ayase Mado of the Ame-nin were on the verge of death, barely holding on under the combined assault of Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki. At any moment, they could be cut down where they stood.
But then, just as Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki had to dodge the very same Wind Release: Shuriken Jutsu that they had faced earlier, they were forced to momentarily relinquish their suppression.
The two Ame-nin saw their chance.
"We're saved!"
"Run!"
Without hesitation, Mizushima Kimou and Ayase Mado moved at lightning speed. Seeing that Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki were being held up, they immediately chose to flee.
However, just as they thought they had a chance to escape—just as their chakra flared to propel them forward—before their bodies could even move an inch…
Two sharp blades pierced through their backs, stabbing straight into their hearts.
"Ugh…"
"Ghkk…"
A sharp pain shot through their chests. As they looked down at the cold steel emerging from their bodies, they couldn't even utter a complete sentence before collapsing lifelessly on the spot.
The ones who had executed them… were none other than Veigar's two Shadow Clones.
From the very moment Kisame Hoshigaki had begun weaving signs for Water Release: Exploding Water Shock Wave, Veigar had already cast Shadow Clone Jutsu as his very first move.
Using the cover of the surging water, his clones had stealthily moved into position, targeting Mizushima Kimou and Ayase Mado.
And Veigar's objective?
To claim the kills.
The Life Essence of two doomed souls—how could he possibly let that slip through his grasp?
Besides, those two were originally his prey. It was only because Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki had intervened that they were stolen from him.
Now that he had taken them back, Veigar felt it was only fair.
But there was another reason he had deployed two Shadow Clones—to stall Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki, ensuring they wouldn't interfere with his duel against Kisame Hoshigaki.
The sheer power radiating from Kisame convinced Veigar that he was a worthy opponent. A chance to test his strength and sharpen his combat instincts.
"This path is closed. We won't let you interfere with our original's battle against Kisame Hoshigaki."
Veigar's Shadow Clone, having just slain Mizushima Kimou, held his ninjatō in a horizontal guard and pointed the blade at Yuki Minazuki.
His words were deliberate. A clear message:
The one fighting Kisame right now… is the real Veigar.
But would Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki believe him?
That was a question only they could answer. A fifty-fifty gamble.
"You think two mere clones can stop us?"
Itō Uto scoffed, voicing the exact thought Yuki Minazuki had been about to say.
"Why don't you find out?"
Veigar's second Shadow Clone raised his blade, pointing it at Itō Uto.
"Thousand-Kill Water Flight."
Before the words had even finished leaving Veigar's Shadow Clone's lips, Yuki Minazuki had already unleashed an Ice Release technique, launching an attack against the two clones.
Whether or not Veigar's claim was true…
All they had to do was fight to find out.
The battlefield was still drenched from the earlier combat. Now, under Yuki Minazuki's Ice Release, every lingering droplet of water transformed into razor-sharp ice senbon, shooting toward Veigar's Shadow Clones at blinding speed.
Meanwhile…
Kisame Hoshigaki stood within the Hidden Mist Jutsu, eyes locked onto the silhouette of Veigar. A sinister smirk curled across his lips.
"Veigar… Looks like you have a lot of confidence in your abilities."
"You must be one of Konoha's hidden prodigies, aren't you?"
Kisame had already noticed Veigar's two clones locked in combat with Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki.
Inside the mist, Veigar couldn't rely on sound direction or line of sight to pinpoint Kisame's location.
For many shinobi, being trapped inside the Hidden Mist Jutsu was a nightmare. Without knowing the enemy's position, they had no way to anticipate an attack.
But Veigar?
He had Chakra Sensory Jutsu.
Kisame thought he was well hidden. He had no idea that Veigar had already locked onto his exact position.
"Kisame Hoshigaki… I'll remember you."
Veigar had no particular desire to kill Kisame right now. Knowing the future, he wasn't about to disrupt his greatest advantage.
If Kisame were to die here, it could alter events in ways he couldn't predict.
Just as Veigar finished speaking…
A massive water shark lunged out from the mist, surging toward him from his rear left flank with terrifying speed.
"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Jutsu!"
Kisame's voice followed right after the attack.
He thought he had Veigar trapped. That this would be the deciding blow.
But Veigar already knew.
With barely a moment's delay, Veigar leaped into the air, evading the attack as his hands flashed through a rapid series of seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
As Veigar soared, he unleashed a powerful gust of wind straight down at the mist below.
The sheer force blew apart the dense fog, revealing Kisame's silhouette.
Kisame, unfazed, sprang upward through the wind's resistance, swinging his massive blade straight at Veigar.
"Ittō-ryū: Iaijutsu!"
Kisame's strike was fast—blindingly so.
But Veigar didn't panic.
Calmly, he finished his jutsu, adjusting his stance in mid-air before countering with his own blade technique—Iaijutsu.
Clang—!!
Steel clashed against steel. The impact sent sparks flying as the two shinobi found themselves evenly matched once more.
But this time… neither of them backed down.
They fought relentlessly, exchanging blows with blades, fists, and kicks, using every weapon at their disposal.
As they descended toward the ground, Veigar's ninjatō slashed across Kisame's left cheek, leaving a deep cut.
At the same time, Kisame's blade tore into Veigar's left shoulder, opening a fresh wound.
BAM!
BAM!
Simultaneously, they kicked each other squarely in the gut, launching each other backward. Both crashed to the ground.
Veigar barely had time to recover before he dispelled his two Shadow Clones, ending their battle against Itō Uto and Yuki Minazuki.
The two shinobi barely had time to process what had happened when suddenly—
A black shadow and two tornado-like attacks came roaring toward them.
By absorbing his clones' Life Essence, Veigar's body rapidly healed, his wounds closing at a visible speed. Even the fresh cut from Kisame stopped bleeding within seconds.
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