Interrogation would take time, and Kakashi needed to catch up with Naruto and the others to help them. And keeping such a formidable enemy alive was also unsafe...
Kakashi quickly made his decision, but just as he was about to swing the kunai, the air in front of Kisame suddenly distorted. A massive water shark formed, baring its fangs and claws as it pounced towards the defenseless Sakura lying on the ground!
"Water Shark Bullet Technique!"
'It's bad!'
Kakashi's heart tightened as he instantly understood Kisame's tactic: attacking one target to save himself. Instead of surrendering during that brief moment of vulnerability, Kisame had gambled by using a Ninjutsu.
Kisame's hand gripped Kakashi's wrist that held the kunai, forcing a choice. At such close range, Kakashi could still muster the strength to slice Kisame's throat, but...
Electricity surged around Kakashi's body, crackling loudly as he once again pushed his speed and power to their limits. However, he didn't concern himself with Kisame, instead, he charged directly at the Water Shark Bullet aiming for Sakura.
"Heh heh." Kisame showed a triumphant smile, feeling the lingering danger as he touched his neck. He immediately pulled back, putting some distance between them.
Boom!
Water splashed everywhere as Kakashi used his enhanced strength to blast apart the water shark, the icy droplets soaking half of his body.
"Kakashi-sensei..."
Kakashi waved a hand, signaling that he was fine, then turned to face Kisame, who had backed away. Fatigue from the battle was forcing Kakashi to conserve his remaining energy, keeping only his left Sharingan open.
'The Ninjutsu aimed at Sakura earlier... it hadn't been particularly powerful.' Kakashi thought. It was clear that Kisame had hastily used a Ninjutsu out of desperation, but it had paid off.
"Hatake Kakashi, you really can't be underestimated. I almost got taken down just now." Kisame, having survived countless life-and-death situations, smirked as he adjusted his stance. He eyed the crimson Sharingan, a Kekkei Genkai with extraordinary abilities, and couldn't help but think of a certain comrade. He felt that the Sharingan truly was like a cheat code.
Having had one chance to kill the opponent meant there would be another. Kakashi glanced at the strange, barbed Samehada. Although his Chakra expenditure in that earlier clash had been regrettable, at least he now understood the sword's properties...
Taking Kakashi more seriously now, Kisame clapped his hands together, his cheeks swelling unnaturally, "Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
With a great exhale, Kisame spewed a torrent of water from his mouth. The sheer volume of water wasn't just some small pond. Within moments, the water turned turbulent. The ground soaked and debris swept along, as the expanding flood swelled into what was soon enough to form a lake. Kakashi bent down to scoop up Sakura, then leaped onto a nearby tree.
The water roared across the terrain. Due to the uneven elevation, some rocks jutted out while other areas were submerged, altering the entire landscape. The previously open ground was now nowhere to be seen.
Observing the scene, Kakashi couldn't help but speculate on the amount of chakra Kisame was expending was truly extravagant...
"Sakura, stay here and hide. I'll deal with the enemy." Kakashi instructed the bewildered Sakura. She nodded instinctively as Kakashi moved along the tree branches, approaching his opponent.
Kisame halted his Exploding Water Colliding Wave. He watched as Kakashi descended rapidly from above, weapon gleaming in the sunlight. Without fear, Kisame chuckled, completing his hand seals in an instant.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Streams of water quickly split from the river that had formed on the ground, creating a majestic water dragon that silently roared as it charged toward Kakashi.
"Changing the terrain to suit your own combat style, huh?" Kakashi calmly analyzed the situation. It was similar to how Zabuza would always begin with the Hiding in Mist Technique during their battles in the Land of Waves. But Kakashi wasn't one to fear others' Ninjutsu.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Kakashi unleashed the same technique. Although he cast it slightly later, the two water dragons clashed at the same time, canceling each other out and splashing back into the river.
Kakashi stood steadily on the rippling water surface, about to speak when Kisame raised his hands once more.
The rain had not yet fully settled when Kisame, without missing a beat, launched his next Ninjutsu. However, this time, Kakashi almost simultaneously formed his own hand seals!
"Water Release…"
In unison, Kisame watched Kakashi with amusement as he used his Sharingan, "Five Feeding Sharks!"
Both of them struck the water surface, and ten shark-shaped water bullets formed below. Five bullets from each side followed astonishing trajectories, colliding with each other.
The muffled underwater impact sent ripples outward, completely disrupting the previously calm water surface.
Kakashi's breathing grew heavier. It was hard to tell whether it was water or sweat trickling down his forehead, but he stood steadily on the swirling water.
Kisame glanced at Kakashi and chuckled, "Kakashi, synchronizing to copy my Ninjutsu is very impressive, but can your Chakra keep up?"
Kakashi, of course, wouldn't entertain such a trivial question. After a brief pause and sensing the battle's pace slowing, he shifted the conversation.
"Hoshigaki Kisame, S-Rank Missing-nin, Kirigakure sent assassination teams but have failed repeatedly to bring you down. Why did you join the Akatsuki?" Kakashi's left Sharingan stared intensely, as if trying to see through Kisame, "With your skills, to be confined to an organization and take orders… and the same goes for Hattori, who has also joined..."
Based on the battle so far, Kisame's strength, along with the impressions Kakashi had of Logan, heightened his caution. He believed that the other silent Akatsuki's member was just as formidable. With so many high-level Ninjas gathered together, they couldn't possibly be doing it just for idle discussions or casual sparring.
"What is your purpose?"
…
"What is your purpose?"
At the same moment, in the area where Itachi and Jiraiya were battling, Jiraiya asked the same question.
Boom!
Itachi's response was a blazing fireball.
Jiraiya's face darkened as he dodged to the side, only to see more fireballs shooting towards him.
It was the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique. Jiraiya repeatedly moved between tree trunks, but the sheer number of fireballs densely covered the area around him. The explosive flames eventually consumed the last tree trunk, forcing Jiraiya to the ground, where he met Itachi's cold, disdainful gaze.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball, burning with intense crimson flames, plummeted with overwhelming force. The leaves and branches along its path were pulled in and incinerated to ash. Jiraiya knew that this Fire Release was far more potent than an ordinary Fire Ninjutsu. Forming hand seals with his hands, his white hair began to move, extending with the wind. The strands hardened into needles, enveloping his body completely.
"Needle Jizo!"
The giant fireball collided with the white needles, and Itachi immediately amplified the Ninjutsu, triggering an explosion. The blast sent fiery tongues lashing into every crevice, leaving a blackened crater in the ground, with high-temperature white smoke clouding the view.
At the center of the crater, the Needle Jizo, slightly scorched on the surface, successfully absorbed the damage. Jiraiya's white hair softened and retracted to its original form. Coughing and stumbling out in a less-than-graceful manner, he exclaimed, "Man, it's so hot..."
Though the explosion's damage had been neutralized, Jiraiya felt as if he'd been thrown into a furnace and was nearly roasted. He quickly jumped out of the area, fanning away the searing heat and the scent of charred matter.