Naruto's vision blurred, his grip tightening around Kurokaze as blood dripped from the wound carved across his chest. The sharp sting radiated through him, but he grinned, defiant as ever. Kisame chuckled, his eyes glinting with a twisted satisfaction as he watched Naruto struggle to stand.
"Not bad, kid," Kisame taunted, swinging Samehada in wide, menacing arcs. "You've got guts, taking on the both of us. But guts only get you so far."
Naruto lunged, his body a blur as he drove toward Kisame with blinding speed. He slashed horizontally, aiming to slice through Kisame's defenses, but Samehada blocked the attack, its scales flaring as it hungrily devoured the chakra infused in Kurokaze. Naruto pressed harder, pushing his strength to its limit, each swing of his blade faster and heavier.
Kisame retaliated, lifting Samehada and smashing it down with the force of a tidal wave. Naruto dodged, barely avoiding the strike, but the impact splintered the ground around them, sending rocks and dust flying. He used the cover to propel himself into the air, twisting as he aimed a powerful downward slash, only to be met by Kisame's fierce grin as he parried it once more.
Suddenly, Itachi moved in, his Sharingan swirling ominously as he caught Naruto's gaze. In an instant, Naruto felt his vision spiral, the battlefield warping as he found himself trapped in the darkness of Itachi's genjutsu.
"Damn it…" Naruto muttered, struggling to break free. But each attempt only drew him deeper, the shadows of his own mind twisting into nightmarish illusions. Kurokaze thrummed in his hand, trying to dispel the genjutsu's hold, but Itachi's mastery was overwhelming, binding him in place as he wrestled against the illusion.
Naruto's vision returned to reality just as Kisame's knee drove into his ribs, sending him skidding backward, coughing blood.
"Not so fast," Kisame sneered, lunging forward and pressing his attack. Samehada connected with Naruto's torso, its scales digging into his skin as they absorbed his remaining chakra. Naruto felt his strength draining rapidly, and despite his best efforts, his body felt like it was reaching its limit.
Naruto staggered, struggling to stay upright as he swung Kurokaze one last time, but his movement slowed, and Kisame dodged with ease. Itachi raised a hand, a burst of chakra binding Naruto's limbs as he fell to the ground, gasping for air. The final blow struck him like a hammer, Kisame's foot slamming into his chest, sending him sprawling and unconscious to the dirt.
Kisame huffed, hauling Naruto up by the collar as he glanced over to Itachi. "Not bad for a kid. Stronger than most, anyway. Think he'll make an interesting guest?"
Itachi's gaze was unreadable, his Sharingan slowly fading. "We'll see."
With that, they hoisted Naruto between them, each taking an arm. They began the long journey toward the nearest Akatsuki hideout, Naruto's limp form hanging between them as they disappeared into the darkening forest, leaving nothing but shattered earth and fading bloodstains in their wake.