Chapter 34: Hoshigaki Kisame: Time to bail

"Impossible! How is this possible!! How could my Thunder Dragon Tornado just disappear like this!!"

Black Cleaver Raiga knelt on the surface of the sea, looking utterly dejected.

Abarai Renji didn't give him time to wallow in sorrow; he swung the hilt of his sword, and Baboon King Zabimaru moved instantly.

Its yellow eyes stared fixedly at Black Cleaver Raiga, and as its giant mouth opened, it prepared to swallow him whole!

Seeing this, Hoshigaki Kisame roared, "Raiga!"

Black Cleaver Raiga snapped back to reality, and seeing the giant maw inches away, his pupils constricted violently!

He quickly merged his twin blades and summoned lightning to coat his body!

"Ninja Art: Lightning Armor!!"

Bang!!

The snake head slammed into Black Cleaver Raiga, and the terrifying momentum carried him sliding rapidly across the sea surface!

Fortunately, thanks to the Lightning Armor, Black Cleaver Raiga did not suffer too heavy an injury.

Just as he had barely let out a sigh of relief, Abarai Renji spoke: "Baboon Bone Cannon!"

A massive amount of spiritual energy gathered in the giant maw of Baboon King Zabimaru's snake skeleton, and a terrifying red energy mass shot out like a cannon!

Black Cleaver Raiga's eyes widened, his field of vision instantly flooded with red!

The Lightning Armor shattered in an instant, and his entire body was swallowed whole by the Baboon Bone Cannon!!

A few seconds later, the Baboon Bone Cannon gradually dissipated, and Black Cleaver Raiga was nowhere to be seen; only his pair of twin blades fell from mid-air, dropping into the sea.

Abarai Renji used Shunpo to flash over and pick up the twin blades, Raiga.

"Raiga... has disappeared."

Not even a corpse was left behind...

Hoshigaki Kisame took a deep breath, feeling that life was truly unpredictable.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who had been so glorious in Kirigakure, were now reduced to only three because of a single mission.

Wasn't this just a mission to establish a base in the Land of Whirlpools? Wasn't clearing out the enemies of the Land of Whirlpools just a side task?

How did it end up...

almost being wiped out?

Even Mizukage-sama probably didn't expect this.

The dignified Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had actually stumbled in the already-destroyed Land of Whirlpools.

I fear Kirigakure still doesn't realize what a terrifying organization has appeared in the Land of Whirlpools!

Hoshigaki Kisame was silent for a moment, then suddenly shouted, "Retreat!"

Hearing these words, almost all the Mist Ninja let out a sigh of relief and then fled frantically in the direction they had come from!

This damn Land of Whirlpools is too terrifying!

If it weren't for the fact that fleeing without authorization would lead to imprisonment or even being branded a missing-nin, they would have run long ago.

Even Suigetsu Hozuki, who was still in a stalemate with Kuchiki Rukia, was visibly relieved.

Then, putting on a fierce facade, he pulled out his trump card.

"Samehada: Fusion!"

The great sword Samehada writhed frantically on Suigetsu Hozuki's body, becoming a part of him.

The merman-form Suigetsu Hozuki immediately made Kuchiki Rukia's eyes widen slightly.

"You really turned into a fat-headed fish?"

Suigetsu Hozuki's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Water Release: Continuous Shark Bullet Technique!"

Kuchiki Rukia instinctively used Sode no Shirayuki to defend, only to find the sea surface remained calm and tranquil.

"... Ran away?"

Kuchiki Rukia instinctively wanted to pursue, but was stopped by Matsumoto Rangiku.

"In that merman form, he's faster than a fish in the water; you won't be able to catch him."

"But..."

Kuchiki Rukia felt somewhat unwilling; everyone else had ninja swords to offer to the Soul King, but she was empty-handed.

Matsumoto Rangiku said lazily, "Alright, unless you can freeze the entire ocean, don't even think about catching that fat-headed fish."

Kuchiki Rukia suddenly said excitedly, "I understand! My training is not yet sufficient! If I could use Bankai now, this situation wouldn't have happened!"

"Thank you, Vice-Captain Matsumoto, I'm going to train right now!"

Kuchiki Rukia bowed and then went off to train.

"Uh..." Matsumoto Rangiku looked at Hinamori Momo and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with her?"

Hinamori Momo shook her head, indicating she didn't know either, then stared fixedly at Matsumoto Rangiku's impressive assets, before finally looking at her own.

Damn... big-breasted cow!

The Mist Ninja wanted to retreat, but the Land of Whirlpools naturally wouldn't agree.

You think you can come and go as you please? It's not that easy!

A Seat Officer led the team members to pursue the other Mist Ninja.

Kira Izuru blocked Hoshigaki Kisame's path, smiling, "Leaving so soon? Why not stay and have a meal together?"

Hoshigaki Kisame was expressionless; he had no time to listen to Kira Izuru's jokes now.

He swung the Decapitating Broadsword with all his might!

Bang!

Kira Izuru parried it easily, then smiled, "Raise your head, Wabisuke!"

Hum—

The hands Hoshigaki Kisame used to grip the Decapitating Broadsword suddenly sank.

What's going on?!

Why has the Decapitating Broadsword become heavier?!

Hoshigaki Kisame was shocked and quickly retreated. ===== CHAPTER 36 =====