The three cards cut through the air with a high pitched whistle.
Kisame was still processing the disappearance of his Water Shark Bomb when he realized the counterattack was already upon him. He instinctively raised Samehada to block.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The cards struck the broad side of the sword with heavy force sparking against the bandages.
"These aren't paper!" Kisame thought feeling the vibration in his arms. "They hit like iron!"
He looked at Uehara who was standing calmly on the other side of the bridge shuffling a deck of glowing cards in one hand.
"You..." Kisame's expression darkened. "You are an annoying little brat."
"I get that a lot" Uehara admitted. "But Kisame san if you keep attacking me I will have to charge you a fee. My cards aren't cheap."
"I will pay you with your life!" Kisame roared.
He stabbed Samehada into the ground.
"Water Style: Thousand Feeding Sharks!"
The puddles on the entire bridge began to bubble. Suddenly hundreds of small water sharks erupted from the ground. It was an area of effect jutsu impossible to dodge by simply moving sideways. They swarmed towards Uehara like a tidal wave.
Beside them Itachi watched silently his Sharingan spinning slowly analyzing every detail.
He uses cards as a medium Itachi analyzed. But I see no chakra threads. And that absorption technique earlier... it completely nullified a B rank jutsu. This boy is dangerous.
Uehara saw the wall of sharks approaching.
"Too many to block" Uehara calculated rapidly. "I need to clear the field."
He reached into his pouch but instead of a physical weapon he pulled out mana.
"Pick a Card: Red Card!"
A crimson card materialized in his hand pulsing with unstable explosive energy.
"Take this! Special Rain Village Greeting!"
Uehara threw the Red Card into the center of the shark swarm.
BOOM!
The explosion was deafening. It wasn't just fire; it was a magical force that shattered the water cohesion. The blast vaporized the sharks instantly creating a massive cloud of steam that enveloped the entire middle section of the bridge.
"Explosion Style?" Kisame shielded his eyes from the hot steam. "Is he from the Stone Village?"
Through the thick mist a shadow dashed forward.
Uehara had activated his Berserker's Greaves and Speed Boots. He moved faster than a Genin should ever move closing the distance in a blink.
"You want to get close?" Kisame laughed seeing Uehara rush him. "I am the Tailless Tailed Beast! In close combat I am invincible!"
Kisame grabbed Samehada and swung it with both hands intending to cleave Uehara in half.
Uehara didn't dodge. He ran straight at the blade.
"Is he suicidal?" Itachi frowned slightly tensing his muscles to intervene.
But Uehara wasn't suicidal. He was calculating.
Just as the sword was about to hit Uehara raised his hand. A card glowing with brilliant golden light was clamped between his fingers.
"Pick a Card: Gold Card!"
He slammed the card against the bandages of Samehada.
DING!
A crisp clear sound rang out like a bell.
The effect was instantaneous and absolute.
Kisame's eyes bulged. His body stiffened. The massive sword stopped mid air defying physics. He couldn't move his arms. He couldn't move his legs. He couldn't even mold chakra.
[Status Effect: Stunned (2 seconds).]
The Gold Card didn't care about strength. It didn't care about chakra reserves. In the System logic a Stun was a Stun.
"Got you" Uehara whispered his face inches from the terrified shark man.
He reached out and flicked Kisame on the forehead.
Thwack.
"That is for calling me a kid."
Uehara leaped back creating distance again just as the stun wore off.
Kisame stumbled forward gasping as control returned to his body. He swung wildly at the empty air where Uehara had been a second ago.
"You... You little demon!" Kisame panted sweating profusely. "What was that? Why couldn't I move?!"
He looked at Uehara with a new emotion. It wasn't contempt anymore. It was wariness.
Uehara stood on the railing twirling a card. "I told you Kisame san. I am a full member of the Akatsuki. Did you think they let people in just for their looks?"
Kisame grit his teeth preparing to release his full power. "I am going to shave you into ribbons!"
"Enough" a calm voice cut through the rain.
Itachi Uchiha appeared between them. He didn't seem to move; he simply existed in one spot and then existed in another.
He held a kunai loosely in his hand but his eyes, the crimson Mangekyou Sharingan, were locked on Kisame.
"We are here to meet the Leader not to kill our guide" Itachi said.
Kisame paused. He looked at Itachi then at Uehara. He slowly lowered Samehada.
"Tch. You are lucky Itachi stepped in kid" Kisame grumbled though he was secretly relieved he didn't have to figure out that strange paralysis jutsu again.
[Mission Complete: Survive the spar with Kisame Hoshigaki.]
[Reward: 100 Gold Coins.]
Uehara let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. His back was soaked in cold sweat.
That was close. If Itachi hadn't stopped him Kisame would have probably fused with Samehada and flooded the whole district.
"Thank you Itachi san" Uehara bowed politely returning to his innocent persona. "And thank you Kisame san for the guidance. I learned a lot."
"Hmph" Kisame turned his head away.
"Please follow me" Uehara said gesturing towards the village center. "Pain sama is waiting."
As they walked Uehara checked his inventory.
100 Gold from the mission. Plus the daily passive income. I am getting close to Nashor's Tooth.
He glanced back at the two legends walking behind him.
I survived. And I even slapped the shark on the nose. Not a bad day for a mastermind.