The Four-Tails, Son Gokū, was undoubtedly one of the stronger members among the nine tailed beasts. The Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails possessed overwhelming raw power, while the One-Tail Shukaku excelled more in sealing techniques and defense. The Four-Tails' Lava Release was both offensive and defensive, making it extremely versatile. In the manga, even Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode felt considerable pain when struck by attacks enhanced with Lava Release chakra.
Yet this powerful tailed beast and its jinchūriki, Rōshi, still lost to Kisame Hoshigaki in the original story.
The reason was simple.
Compatibility.
Who possessed the strongest Water Release in the shinobi world?
Aside from the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and perhaps the Hidden Mist's legendary figures, Kisame Hoshigaki was undoubtedly among the very best. Wielding Samehada, a living sword capable of devouring chakra, Kisame already possessed chakra reserves so vast that he was nicknamed the "Tailless Tailed Beast." During the Fourth Great Ninja War, even Might Guy acknowledged Kisame's monstrous chakra reserves. Neji Hyūga had once remarked that among all the people he had encountered, only Naruto possessed more chakra than Kisame.
Now facing Kisame Hoshigaki together with Hidan and Kakuzu, Rōshi immediately felt a tremendous sense of danger.
Without hesitation, he unleashed one of the strongest weapons available to a jinchūriki.
Tailed Beast Transformation!
A gigantic red-furred ape rose from the ground.
The Four-Tails, Son Gokū!
An enormous torrent of scorching-hot chakra erupted outward.
Kisame merely grinned.
His expression remained calm.
"Son! This enemy isn't ordinary! We have to go all out!"
Rōshi communicated directly with the Four-Tails.
"I know without you telling me."
The giant ape bared its fangs.
"I can feel it. This guy is a monster just like us."
The Four-Tails opened its enormous mouth.
A black sphere rapidly condensed.
Tailed Beast Ball!
The ultimate attack possessed by every tailed beast.
A technique whose destructive power could flatten mountains and erase entire landscapes.
Boom!!!
The black sphere shot forward.
Kisame, Kakuzu, and Hidan immediately scattered.
No matter how arrogant they were, none of them wanted to test whether their bodies could withstand a direct hit from a Tailed Beast Ball.
The black sphere slammed into a distant mountain.
The impact point instantly vanished.
A gigantic explosion erupted on the horizon.
Even after piercing through the mountain, the attack continued flying into the distance.
"As expected of a tailed beast."
Kisame's grin widened.
"Interesting. Defeating someone like you should be quite satisfying."
Without fear, Kisame charged directly toward the gigantic Four-Tails.
Samehada swung through the air while Kisame rapidly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique!"
"Water Release: Great Shark Bullet Technique!"
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Massive quantities of water flooded the battlefield.
Gigantic sharks formed from water surged forward one after another.
The honest and hardworking Kisame unleashed one Water Release technique after another as if chakra were free.
The Four-Tails and Rōshi both frowned.
The Water Release techniques were troublesome.
But Samehada was the real problem.
Like a giant parasite, Samehada repeatedly bit into the Four-Tails' chakra cloak and devoured enormous amounts of chakra.
The battle appeared evenly matched.
In reality, the Four-Tails and Rōshi were slowly being pushed into a disadvantageous position.
Meanwhile, Hidan and Kakuzu stood off to the side watching.
Neither could interfere effectively.
Neither could even shout "Amazing!" from the sidelines.
This situation was bad.
Their original plan was to wait until both sides were heavily injured before acting.
But Kisame's chakra wasn't decreasing at all.
The more he fought, the more chakra Samehada absorbed.
If this continued, Kisame would eventually win while still maintaining plenty of combat power.
How were they supposed to ambush him afterward?
Kakuzu closed his eyes.
His expression became pained.
Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick bundle of explosive tags.
His heart bled.
Money.
So much money.
With trembling hands, he handed them to Hidan.
"Go."
Kakuzu nodded seriously.
"I believe in you."
Hidan was surprised.
Then he suddenly understood Kakuzu's intention.
His eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, he plastered the explosive tags all over his body.
"Under Lord Jashin's protection, I'm immortal!"
Hidan proudly patted his chest.
"This is easy!"
Lord Jashin...
What a strange combination.
Kakuzu silently complained inwardly.
Then Hidan took a deep breath.
Gathered chakra.
And charged directly into the battlefield.
At that moment, Kisame was preparing to merge further with Samehada and launch a decisive attack against the Four-Tails.
Suddenly—
"Hoshigaki Kisame!"
Hidan's voice echoed across the battlefield.
"I'm here to lend you a hand!"
Kisame froze.
He instinctively turned around.
What he saw nearly made his heart stop.
Hidan.
Covered head to toe with explosive tags.
Charging toward him at full speed.
Kisame's pupils contracted.
Without hesitation, he jumped aside.
Hidan flew past him like a human rocket.
The next second—
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted.
Smoke instantly engulfed the battlefield.
Kisame's vision was completely blocked.
Then, through the smoke—
A gigantic fist emerged.
Bang!!!
The Four-Tails' enormous fist smashed directly into Kisame and drove him into the ground.
The earth shattered.
Even Kisame couldn't help coughing up blood.
Although Samehada gave him an enormous advantage, the Four-Tails was still one of the nine tailed beasts.
Its physical strength was terrifying.
Of course, if one talked purely about brute force among the tailed beasts, the Five-Tails Kokuō's Boil Release-enhanced strength was even more outrageous.
Still, the Four-Tails was more than powerful enough.
Kisame's advantage disappeared instantly after that punch.
Gritting his teeth, Kisame tried to push the gigantic fist away.
Then—
Kakuzu made his move.
"Kisame Hoshigaki!"
Kakuzu leaped into the air.
"I'll lend you a hand too!"
His hands rapidly formed seals.
One masked monster after another emerged from his body.
Wind Release.
Fire Release.
Lightning Release.
Multiple elemental attacks erupted simultaneously.
The Four-Tails immediately withdrew its fist.
Then all the attacks crashed directly into Kisame.
BOOM!!!
A series of explosions engulfed the area.
Kisame's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Even the Four-Tails and Rōshi were stunned.
What was happening?
Were these two really Kisame's allies?
The situation that had originally been unfavorable to the Four-Tails had suddenly reversed.
As the smoke slowly dispersed, Kisame stood in the center of a crater.
His clothes were torn.
His body was covered in burns.
He was panting heavily.
Kakuzu landed beside him.
His face remained completely serious.
"That monkey is really vicious."
Kakuzu shook his head.
"He actually used my attacks to hit you."
"Kisame, are you alright?"
Kisame stared at Kakuzu.
The corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
For a brief moment, he genuinely wanted to swing Samehada directly at Kakuzu's face.
But the Four-Tails was still standing before him.
After several seconds of silence, Kisame forcibly suppressed the urge.
"You and Hidan..."
Kisame gritted his teeth.
"...stay out of this."
"I'll handle him myself."
"Oh."
Kakuzu nodded.
"No problem."
He immediately gave Kisame a thumbs-up.
"Good luck."
Kisame's face twitched again.
Then he slowly turned back toward the Four-Tails.
As long as there were no incompetent teammates causing trouble...
This battle could still continue.
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