It's hard not to go out and end this out of sheer impatience, and knowing, however capable she is, that his charge is out of sight. This is a true guarding mission, and ever since the disastrous, false guarding missions of his youth, Kisame has been exceptionally serious about them.

But Kisame holds himself still and waits. The waiting is rewarded very shortly when a woman that can't possibly be anything but a powerful kunoichi appears in a blink. She's skilled, just from that alone, and the hand seal she forms is signal enough that she's the master of these puppets. He memorizes what is said as he pulls himself slowly free of the water. The water clone he creates simultaneously has the desired effect of just a moment of distraction, and the puppet doesn't dodge fast enough to avoid Kisame's blade. Not immediately fatal, but the puppet won't be running anywhere anytime soon, having effectively been hamstrung.

The kunoichi is exceptionally skilled, but Kisame laughs through the blow she inflicts on him. It would be serious, or even fatal for another ninja, but the scroll for Samehada slides down his sleeve in a smooth movement.

"Your opponent is Hoshigaki Kisame of the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen. It will take more than this to defeat me!"

Samehada is already giving him the temporary fusion he needs to heal, and he swipes at the kunoichi to drive her back. She's forming hand seals as she does, and avoids being hit, but Samehada was close enough and she stumbles before leaping back again. Her face draws up in actual worry for a second as she discovers the drain on her chakra.

"Ah, now I have to kill you. But I'll make sure Shishito-san talks with you first, eh?"

He needs to end this fast, so Kisame wastes no time charging in, Samehada leading the way.