I knew that sooner or later, Naruto would 'jump the shark'...

Last week, Kisame bit his own tongue off to stop Aoba from getting information on Akatsuki, and this week he breaks free from his shackles. Everyone is forces back, and Yamato is surprised Kisame broke free even though he strengthened the shackles with wood-style jutsu. Aoba tells everyone to take Kisame alive, as they may never have a good opportunity for information like this, and Might Guy says he knows. Kisame starts to pour water out of his mouth, encircling himself in a Water Prison Technique. The prison halts Guy’s attack, but he escapes before Kisame summons some sharks into the prison with him. Naruto points out that Kisame used a Water Prison jutsu (obviously, he said it when he used it) and Yamato says not to worry, as there’s nothing Kisame can do in the current situation. Kisame then remembers back to when he and Itachi became partners in Akatsuki. He introduces himself, how he was formerly of the Hidden Mist and the Seven Swordsman of the Hidden Mist. He also says that he knows all about Itachi, and that is why he was chosen as Itachi’s partner. Kisame then says it is impossible to describe how it feels to slaughter your comrades, and asks Itachi if he felt the same. Itachi replies that he talks too much. Itachi then says that Kisame doesn’t know himself, having been a wandering rogue in the mist.

Kisame then draws Samehada on Itachi, describing how sharks are hatched from eggs in the mother’s womb, and how they resort to cannibalism before they are birthed. They kill their own siblings, as they see nothing but prey, and tells Itachi that they are now partners in Akatsuki, and to be careful of him. Itachi tells Kisame to do the same, his Mangekyo Sharingan activating. Kisame laughs and says he hopes that they get along fine, and that he hopes they don’t end up as each other’s final opponent. Itachi gets up and says that those who turn against their comrades are deserving of a terrible death. Kisame answers that that means they are already branded to die, but Itachi says that they are humans, not fish, and that they won’t know what type of people they really are until the moment of their deaths, saying that that is what death is. Back in the present, Yamato gets ready to use a jutsu, but Kisame orders his shark summons to eat him alive, filling the Water Prison with his blood, thinking to himself that he isn’t a bad person when it came to his death. Everyone is shocked, and the Water Prison explodes with blood. Motoi asks if Kisame really died, and Samehada cries (sort of), proving that he did. Naruto realises that even Akatsuki do things for their comrades, thinking of Nagato and Konan. Guy pats him on the shoulder, saying that Kisame was a true shinobi, and that he would remember his name forever. A bit late now, but sure. Guy then brings to attention the scroll Kisame tried to get away with, and Aoba suggests opening it. Instead, it releases multiple Water Prisons, capturing them all. Water sharks then appear, one stealing the scroll and swimming off with it. Elsewhere, Madara faces Konan, Madara asking where Nagato is. Konan says she expected Madara to come for her eventually.

A pretty nice chapter this week. We get more of a glimpse into Kisame’s past. Whilst some of it was merely to fill panels, the main point was that Kisame would find out what type of man he was at his death. He turned out to be a nice guy in the end, even if it was for the wrong cause. An antagonist that ends up killing themselves to protect their comrades. Something that I don’t think I’ve seen before. Please tell me if I’ve missed anyone important that did this, or else this is pretty unique. Credit to Kishimoto for making Kisame awesome even in death. Apparently, the whole ‘Guy forgets Kisame’s name until he dies’ joke was planned up until this point. Which is a bit too far to go for a punchline, but I’ll bite. Konan versus Madara though. I hope Kishimoto shows this, because I don’t think Konan has ever fought properly. If he doesn’t, that’s fine, as I’m expecting Konan to lose anyway. Still, what will our heros do now that they’re trapped in Water Prisons? Only Kishimoto knows now!