In a dense forest on the border of the Land of Water, a small squad of Hidden Mist ninja sat huddled around a crackling fire. They quietly ate their rations, the silence of the woods a heavy blanket around them as they replenished their strength.

A young kunoichi stood, taking a portion of her rations. She walked over to the corner of the clearing where a man with shark-like features sat alone, leaning against a tree. "Kisame-san," she said with a warm smile, "we are partners on this mission. Come, sit with us."

"Please… do not get too close to me," Kisame replied, his voice a low rumble. He took a sip from his canteen, his polite refusal carrying the weight of a final warning.

One of the other shinobi scoffed. "Hey, leave him be. He's always been a freak, too good to associate with the rest of us."

Another added with a sneer, "Yeah, he looks down on us members of the Cypher Division. Thinks we're too soft for a real warrior like him."

The kunoichi retorted angrily, "We are all carrying out the same mission! It doesn't matter what division we belong to. There is no need to create such barriers!"

"Tsk!" a portly ninja said with disdain. "The brains who analyze the code and the brawn responsible for protection can never see eye to eye. You are still far too young."

Just as the kunoichi was about to reply, Kisame's head snapped up. His eyes darted to a nearly invisible tripwire he had set at the edge of the camp. It was vibrating. "Move out, now!" he commanded, his voice sharp and urgent. "We have pursuers!"

Looking at Kisame's deadly serious expression, no one dared to delay. They quickly extinguished the fire, covered their tracks, and vanished into the jungle.

On the way, the young kunoichi kept pace with Kisame, her eyes warm. "Kisame-san, after this mission is over, let's have a meal together."

Kisame stared at her blankly, offering no response. It was the first time a woman had ever asked him out to dinner. Does she like me? The thought was a foreign one. But as a ninja of the Hidden Mist, how could he even entertain the idea of love? It was an unrealistic, dangerous fantasy. Hoshigaki Kisame lowered his head silently, his mind a turbulent sea.

On the surface, his mission was to escort the Cypher Division safely back to the village. In truth, his real orders were far darker. His immediate superior, Fuguki Suikazan of the Seven Swordsmen, had given him his true mission in secret: protect the cypher at all costs. Even if it meant the entire squad was wiped out, the information could not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. If capture was imminent, Kisame was to kill every last one of his companions. This had always been Kisame's true purpose. To kill his comrades.

At that moment, a kunai trailing an explosive tag shot from the trees, landing at the feet of the squad and shattering Kisame's thoughts.

"Run!" Kisame shouted, drawing the large blade from his back to cover their retreat.

Boom! Boom! Boom! A barrage of explosive tags detonated throughout the woods. Several of the Cypher Division ninja who had fallen behind were caught in the blasts, collapsing to the ground, gravely injured.

"Save me… quickly, save me!" they cried out in pain. Soon, a figure appeared before them. It was Hoshigaki Kisame.

Without a flicker of hesitation, he raised his greatsword and brought it down, silencing their pleas for help in a single, brutal spray of crimson.

There are too many pursuers. I can't handle them alone. It seems I have no other choice. Kisame's face was a grim mask as he ran, catching up with the remaining members of the squad at the edge of a high cliff. They were trapped.

The kunoichi looked down at the chasm, her face pale with terror. "Kisame-san, what… what do we do?!"

At that moment, several pained howls echoed from behind her. "Ah!" She spun around to see that Kisame had already killed all of their remaining companions. He was now approaching her, his sword held ready.

Swish!

With a single, clean strike, the kunoichi fell to the ground, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Why… why?"

Kisame replied, his voice devoid of all emotion. "Slaughtering my comrades is my true mission."

Hearing this, a sad smile touched her lips. "Kisame-san… your life must have been so painful. I truly… truly hope that one day you…"

Kisame's mouth twitched. The pursuing ninja were closing in. He had no time to listen to her final words.

Swish!

With another swing of his blade, he silenced her forever. From the trees, the leader of the pursuit team, Morino Ibiki of Konoha, stepped forward. "Why?" he asked, his voice low and grim. "Why did you kill your own comrades?"

"Why? You ask me why?" Kisame drew his sword and turned, a jagged, predatory smile revealing his sharp teeth. "You of all people should understand. I cannot hand over the Cypher Division to you. They are too easy to break, their secrets too valuable."

"If I survive this, I look forward to seeing you again!" With that, Hoshigaki Kisame leaped from the cliff, plunging into the dark river below and disappearing without a trace.

An hour later, Hoshigaki Kisame stood before his superior, Fuguki Suikazan.

"You've returned. How did the mission go?"

"I have eliminated everyone in the Cypher Division."

"…" Fuguki was silent for a moment, then turned his back. "Is that so? Very good. You have done well. You are dismissed."

Kisame's eyes filled with a cold, murderous light. He secretly raised his hand, his fingers gripping the hilt of his blade. "Sir, I cannot understand how the Konoha ninja knew our exact whereabouts. After thinking on it… it seems only you could have been the source of such a leak."

Swish!

Kisame's thirst for truth was unquenchable. Even his direct superior was not exempt. With a swift, merciless strike, the deed was done. Fuguki Suikazan opened his eyes wide in disbelief as he fell, his lifeblood pooling on the cold stone floor.

"Kisame… you!"

"Hmph!" Kisame squatted down and picked up Samehada, the great, living sword that had belonged to his former commander. "Do not blame me. In this world, I can no longer tell what is real and what is a lie. It is all ruthless deception."

After strapping Samehada to his back, Kisame turned to leave. Before he could take more than a few steps, the voice of the Fourth Mizukage echoed from the shadows.

"Thank you for your hard work, Kisame. I suspected he would let down his guard around you, his most trusted subordinate. That is why I subtly conveyed the truth of his betrayal to you. You have not disappointed me. From this day forward, you are the master of that greatsword, Samehada."