Flames surged forward like a tidal wave, scorching the entire ground ahead into a charred, blackened wasteland.
Using the properties of her crystals, Guren managed to block out the searing heat.
The moment Kakuzu finished unleashing this ninjutsu, he charged forward at blinding speed.
Beside him, Sasori pulled out another scroll and tossed it into the air. The Third Kazekage puppet materialized at his side, and under Sasori's control, it also rushed toward Guren and Juugo.
"I'll handle the puppet master. His techniques counter you too well — you deal with the other one."
Guren's expression darkened as she reached out and dissolved the crystal barrier encasing them.
Kakuzu's massive Fire Release ninjutsu had already completely severed their path of retreat, forcing them to remain sheltered within the crystal. This delay had cost them precious time for escape.
Now their only option was to fight!
Guren's feet shifted, and she appeared before the Third Kazekage puppet, blocking its path.
Juugo raised both hands before him, aimed them at the charging Kakuzu, and let out a deep, guttural roar.
Linked Chakra Cannons!
Surges of chakra rapidly compressed within Juugo's body, then erupted from both palms. They tore through the air like chakra cannon shells, blasting toward Kakuzu ahead!
"This level of attack isn't nearly enough!"
Facing the barrage of chakra projectiles, Kakuzu dodged with blinding speed, his pace not slowing in the slightest.
A thrill of murderous intent, bloodthirsty and exhilarating, radiated from Kakuzu's body.
Compared to killing lowly Curse Mark ninjas who were little more than cannon fodder, a warrior like Juugo was far more interesting to him.
In the span of two or three breaths, Kakuzu had already closed the distance, appearing directly before Juugo.
He reached out and seized Juugo by the throat, hoisting him into the air with a single arm.
"If this is all you've got, then die!"
A cold sneer twisted Kakuzu's lips as his grip on Juugo's neck tightened violently.
But the expected sound of bone snapping never came.
Though Juugo's neck had sunk inward slightly, it still held firm against Kakuzu's crushing strength.
"Your skin isn't just hard — it's got impressive resilience too?"
"If this guy were turned into a puppet by Sasori, he'd make a decent meat shield."
A flicker of surprise crossed Kakuzu's eyes as he murmured these words to himself.
"ROAR! Die!!"
Juugo let out a beast-like howl, his entire body trembling with frenzied rage as he drove his fist toward Kakuzu's face.
Kakuzu instantly released his grip on Juugo's throat and leapt backward, narrowly dodging the blow.
The moment Juugo's feet touched the ground, he didn't hesitate for even a fraction of a second. He hurled himself directly at Kakuzu once more!
Explosive Strike!
Chakra erupted from Juugo's arms like a violent geyser, doubling his speed in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he was upon Kakuzu again.
With chakra-enhanced fists, Juugo unleashed a barrage of blows — each one packing double the force and speed of a normal strike.
Fists rained down upon Kakuzu like a violent storm, each impact producing a heavy, muffled thud.
After landing dozens of consecutive hits, Juugo stared in disbelief. Kakuzu had only been pushed back a single step.
Earth Release: Earth Spear!
Crack-like patterns resembling stone spread across Kakuzu's body, then crumbled away in fragments.
The instant Juugo had launched his assault, Kakuzu had already activated his ninjutsu, hardening his entire body into an armored state.
"It's not just you who can use that kind of technique!"
A cold smirk lingered on Kakuzu's face as he swung his hardened arm, driving it straight into Juugo's stomach.
Juugo's body jackknifed forward like a bent shrimp. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.
The sheer force behind Kakuzu's punch had clearly exceeded the limits of Juugo's bodily defense.
The last trace of clarity in Juugo's eyes was extinguished by that single blow. Waves of berserk fury and savage killing intent erupted from within him.
"Die!"
"Die!!"
Juugo had completely lost himself to madness. His chakra surged wildly as he entered a full rampage.
Massive dark markings spread across his entire body, transforming him further into a monstrous figure.
"Oh? He can still get stronger?"
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes slightly as he took in Juugo's transformed state.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield.
Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!
Crystal Release: Crystal Shuriken!
Countless iron sand needles collided with crystal shuriken in midair, producing deafening crashes that shook the earth.
Guren attempted to maneuver around the Third Kazekage puppet to strike at Sasori's real body, but Sasori had no intention of giving her that opening.
Catching sight of Guren's unique Crystal Release — a kekkei genkai — a gleam of interest entered Sasori's eyes.
He was already considering capturing Guren alive and turning her into a new human puppet.
Seeing the Third Kazekage puppet blocking her path once again, a sharp gleam flashed through Guren's eyes. She rapidly formed hand seals and slammed her palms against the ground.
Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Prison!
Crystals erupted from beneath the Third Kazekage puppet's feet, spreading up its body at incredible speed and temporarily sealing it in place.
Guren knew this crystal prison probably wouldn't hold the puppet for long, but the time she needed was already enough!
She kicked off the ground, becoming a blur as she vaulted over the immobilized puppet and closed in on Sasori.
Murder in her eyes, Guren swung one arm toward Sasori's neck in a lethal chop.
As her arm arced through the air, crystals rapidly encased it from elbow to fingertip, forming a razor-sharp crystal blade.
Just as Guren believed her strike would finish off the puppeteer before her.
Sasori raised his arm, and a hidden tube extended from beneath it, aimed directly at Guren.
At the sight of this, Guren's pupils shrank sharply.
Scroll: Flame Prison!
From the tube beneath Sasori's arm, a torrent of searing red flames erupted in an instant!
Guren forced herself to halt her forward momentum, throwing herself backward in a desperate leap.
Even so, one of her legs was still engulfed by the blistering flames.
The entire leg was left scorched and blackened.
Intense burning pain shot up from her thigh, and Guren couldn't help but gasp sharply.
At the same time, a flicker of relief crossed her eyes — she had reacted just in time.
The fact that she could still feel pain meant the leg hadn't lost all sensation.
But with one leg compromised, her mobility would be severely hindered. The fight had just become far more dangerous.
As Guren frantically weighed her options.
Suddenly!
A harrowing roar echoed from the direction of the other battle.
Guren's face drained of color. She whipped her head around toward the source of the sound.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
The battle between Juugo and Kakuzu appeared to be over.
Blood poured endlessly from Juugo's mouth, mixed with fragments of his internal organs.
His body was riddled with countless wounds — clearly inflicted by Wind Release ninjutsu.
But what made Guren's expression turn truly ghastly was the sight at Juugo's chest.
Where Juugo's heart should have been, there was now a gaping, bloody hole.
And Kakuzu stood before him with a cold, mocking smile, holding a heart that still pulsed slowly in his grip.
It was unmistakably Juugo's heart.
The ragged, guttural sounds tearing from Juugo's throat grew weaker and weaker. The Curse Mark transformation that had turned him into a monster rapidly receded, his body reverting to its human form.
He swayed unsteadily for a moment, then collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Juugo was dead.
[
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