Ninja World: I, Kisame Hoshigaki, am no longer human!

"Then I'll just say it directly."

Kisame cleared his throat and revealed his "identity" to Deidara: "Actually, my true identity is that of a Jonin from Kirigakure in the Land of Water. My superior is the woman who killed your teacher, Onoki—Tsunade."

"what?!"

Upon hearing this, Deidara was indeed shocked and his whole body trembled.

"Are you surprised? Let me tell you the truth. It was Lady Tsunade who saw your talent and potential and praised your explosive art, which is why she sent me to Iwagakure to poach your talent. Also, she decided to transplant the Four-Tails Son Goku into your body, making you the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and thus mastering the power of Lava Release. In this way, you can combine Lava Release with your own Explosion Release and develop an even greater art."

Taking advantage of Deidara's mental turmoil, Kisame continued to tempt him with words.

The boy remained silent.

"Deidara, Lady Tsunade has high hopes for you. To be favored by the God of Shinobi at such a young age is truly enviable. However, it's alright if you don't want to agree. Lady Tsunade told me not to force you."

As Kisame spoke, he stood up and made as if to turn and leave.

"and many more!"

Just as Kisame's figure was about to disappear, Deidara shouted and chased after him. He yelled at Kisame's retreating back, "Why did you choose me? Since the Sixth Mizukage knows I'm Onoki's disciple, isn't she afraid that I'll seek revenge on her after gaining power?"

Kisame's lips curled into a smile as he turned around, spread his arms, and said, "As everyone knows, Lady Tsunade is a woman with a very broad mind. Of course, she knows you are Onoki's disciple and has considered that you might seek revenge against her, but more than that, what Lady Tsunade cares about is that an artist with exceptional talent should not be easily buried. That is Lady Tsunade's vision."

He lavished praise on Tsunade's image, since she was just a tool to him, and he could arbitrarily portray her as good or bad.

Kisame's words stunned the young Deidara once again.

Because of his research into the art of explosions, he was not only misunderstood by the villagers but also driven out, falling so low that he couldn't even get enough to eat. Meanwhile, in Kirigakure, a thousand miles away, the legendary ninja god saw his artistic talent and warmly sent an envoy to extend an olive branch.

Thinking of this, Deidara couldn't help but feel flattered, and he also felt a strange longing and yearning for Tsunade, whom he had never met.

"So, what's your answer? My time is running out, and I need to return to Kirigakure now."

After Kisame used the tactic of feigning indifference to lure her in, he saw that the time was right and asked again.

“…Okay, I’ll go with you.”

Deidara didn't hesitate for long before making the decision. After agreeing to Kisame's request, he said with anticipation, "Actually, I've always been curious about what kind of ninja could defeat that old man Onoki. Besides, since I've already been kicked out by the Fourth Tsuchikage and am no longer a ninja of Iwagakure, I might as well join Kirigakure. As long as I can continue my art research, that's fine."

"Don't worry about that. Your art will only truly realize its value in this free and enlightened land of Kirigakure," Kisame patted Deidara on the shoulder and promised.

"Um... before I leave, I'd like to say goodbye to two friends, is that alright?"

Deidara suddenly spoke, but quickly added, "If it doesn't work, then forget it, never mind, okay?"

"of course can."

Kisame readily nodded. He knew that the friend Deidara mentioned was Onoki's granddaughter Kurotsuchi—also known as "Leg Shadow" in the original work—and the honest and simple-minded chubby boy, Kurotsuchi.

Although Deidara may seem like a maverick who doesn't care about anything except art, he actually values ​​friendship and wouldn't easily betray his companions.

This is also an important reason why Kisame decided to recruit Deidara.

So the two of them returned together to the outskirts of Iwagakure.

Deidara stopped, rubbed his hands together, and created a clay bird the size of a sparrow from the mouth in his palm. Under his control, the bird flew into the village.

About ten minutes later.

As expected, Black Soil and Red Soil received Deidara's message and ran out of the village.

"What's wrong? You can't stand it anymore and want to come back? Do you want me to plead with the Fourth Tsuchikage for you? After all, he's my father."

Kurotsuchi, thinking Deidara had finally admitted his mistake, immediately teased him with a smug look. However, she also noticed Kisame behind Deidara, so she pointed at him and asked Deidara questioningly, "Who is this person?"

"Him? He is the messenger of Tsunade, the God of Shinobi."

Deidara answered his junior sister with the same smug look, saying proudly, "Lady Tsunade recognized my artistic talent and invited me to join Kirigakure. I've come to say goodbye. You probably won't see me again, so don't miss me. Yes, that's all."

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing this, Heitu was momentarily stunned and didn't react.

"Brother Deidara, are you really leaving us?" Red Earth asked stupidly, wiping his nose.

Just then.

"Black Soil, Red Soil, come back quickly!" A deep male voice suddenly came from behind the two little ones.

Oh?

Deidara was startled and looked in the direction of the sound, his expression changing drastically.

A burly man, over two meters tall, with a large nose, a long beard, and wearing a red ninja combat uniform, walked out of Iwagakure with a serious expression. Every step he took resounded like an earthquake.

This person is Onoki's son, the fourth Tsuchikage, Koto.

What's this guy doing here?

Upon seeing the yellow earth, Deidara was intimidated by the other party's imposing presence and instinctively took a few steps back, revealing his fear.

Deidara was already feeling insecure facing the formidable Fourth Tsuchikage. Now, with his decision to defect from Iwagakure and join the rival Kirigakure, if they found out, they probably wouldn't let him leave easily.

really.

"Deidara, what did you mean by what you just said to Kurotsuchi? You want to join Kirigakure, and you were even invited by the Sixth Mizukage, Tsunade? Answer me!"

After Huangtu strode over, he shielded Heitu and Hongtu behind him, then looked down at Deidara from his high position, frowning as he questioned him.

However, although he was questioning Deidara, most of his gaze was fixed on Kisame. In Huang Tu's view, this man was clearly a spy from Kirigakure, who had used some sweet talk to lure Deidara away.

Fortunately, he arrived in time.

"I……"

Under Huang Tu's stern questioning, Deidara panicked for a moment, his voice trembling. But the next second, a large hand pressed on his shoulder from behind, indicating that he should not be afraid.

"Fourth Tsuchikage, you must have heard what Deidara just said. His talent was not valued in Iwagakure, and he was even expelled from the village by you, almost starving to death in a temple outside. Fortunately, our Kirigakure's Goddess of Shinobi, Tsunade, had discerning eyes and was willing to take Deidara in, and sent me here to pick him up. From now on, Deidara is a member of Kirigakure, and he no longer needs to answer any of your questions."

Kisame gazed at the yellow earth and said this, then prepared to leave with Deidara.

"stop!"

Huang Tu roared and charged forward without saying a word, throwing a punch at Kisame.

boom.

With that punch, his entire right arm transformed into solid rock, its hardness and weight greatly increased. The powerful blow was enough to send any enemy flying.

Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique.

However, facing the unstoppable punch from the yellow earth, Kisame neither dodged nor avoided it. He casually stretched out a hand and actually caught the punch.

Snapped.

Kisame spread his five fingers and casually enveloped Huang Tu's fist, which Huang Tu could not pull away no matter how hard he tried. Huang Tu's expression turned to extreme horror in just a few seconds.

Who exactly are you?

He stared at Kisame, asking incredulously. This man before him definitely possessed strength surpassing Kage level; he couldn't possibly be an unknown figure. He must be a trusted confidant of that woman named Tsunade.

"you do not need to know."

Kisame said calmly, and as soon as he finished speaking, he released his five fingers and gave a gentle push, which caused Huang Tu to be impacted by a huge force and retreat more than ten meters. Finally, he knelt on one knee and barely managed to keep his body from falling.

This scene left Deidara, Kurotsuchi, and Kokuto completely stunned.

"Remember, protect this Hidden Stone Village and the Land of Earth, live your lives honestly, and peace will naturally come. This is Lady Tsunade's advice to you."

Kisame said this to the yellow earth, then quickly left the place with Deidara.

One day later.

Kisame returned to Kirigakure and went straight to the Mizukage's office, where he found Tsunade engrossed in processing documents.

"You still know how to come back?"

Tsunade sensed Kisame's presence, looked up, frowned, threw the pen in her hand on the table, crossed her arms, and said, "Where have you been these past two days?"

"If I remember correctly, you're only the nominal wife of the Mizukage, not my real wife. So, even if I'm fooling around outside, it's none of your business, right?"

Kisame smiled slightly, and as he spoke, he opened the refrigerator in his office, took out a bottle of drink, and then plopped down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked completely relaxed.

Click click click.

Tsunade clenched her fists so tightly they cracked. Although she got angry whenever she saw Kisame, she wasn't in the mood for a verbal battle. So she stood up and, without saying a word, prepared to push open the door and leave.

"Wait. Even if you're angry with me, please let me finish what I have to say, okay? My magnanimous Lord Mizukage?"

Kisame blocked Tsunade's path, glanced at her broad chest, and said bluntly, "On this trip, I rescued a mother and daughter from the Uzumaki clan in your name. Given the generations-long friendship between the Uzumaki and Senju clans, you wouldn't abandon them, would you?"

Tsunade was taken aback upon hearing this.

Her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, was not only Hashirama Senju's wife, but also Konoha's first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Many of Tsunade's ninjutsu, including the Yin Seal, were learned from Mito Uzumaki.

Tsunade knew all too well how much sacrifice Mito Uzumaki, Kushina Uzumaki, and many other members of the Uzumaki clan had made for Konoha and their ally, the Senju clan.

Unfortunately, the Senju clan failed to protect their allies, leading to the tragic annihilation of the Uzumaki clan.

Tsunade felt guilty about this matter.

So, just as Kisame expected, when she heard that Kisame had saved a mother and daughter from the Uzumaki clan, she indeed showed a concerned expression.

"Where are they?" she asked, staring at Kisame.

Kisame gave her a few instructions, and then released Haruna and Karin from the Box of Elysium.

Tsunade immediately noticed the rows of shallow teeth marks and scars on Haruna's arms and thighs. Although Kisame had treated them and they were no longer seriously injured, they still looked shocking.

With a feeling of guilt, Tsunade received the mother and daughter.

260. The Nine Jinchūriki of Kirigakure

Just as Kisame predicted.

After Tsunade met Haruna and Karin, she took a great deal of interest in them and offered to take care of them.

The two women's red hair reminded Tsunade of her deceased grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, while the teeth marks and scars covering their bodies served as a stark reminder of just how much suffering the Uzumaki clan, abandoned by Konoha and Senju, endured.

Her enthusiasm overwhelmed the mother and daughter.

"Are you Lady Tsunade?"

Karin looked up at Tsunade with her big, watery eyes and spoke cautiously. She had heard about Lady Tsunade's exploits from her mother and was filled with admiration for the most powerful female ninja in the entire ninja world.