Having one of his hearts destroyed by Kakashi's backstab, Kakuzu was seething with anger.
Originally, I just wanted to do a bit of business without any capital.
Now I'll use your hearts to fill the gap!
Kakuzu formed seals at high speed and directly activated the Earth Grudge Fear secret technique.
Four black monsters burst out of his body, instantly surrounding Kakashi and Kurenai.
Because he had already suffered a sneak attack earlier, one of the monsters was destroyed the moment it came out.
Seeing this, Kakashi and Kurenai immediately made certain deductions about Kakuzu's ability.
His vital point had been pierced—yet Kakuzu himself didn't die, while one of the black monsters fell.
If each monster counted as a separate "body," then didn't this enemy have five lives?
The moment that possibility surfaced—
Kakashi and Kurenai's expressions both turned grim.
One person could have five lives?
No wonder he was an Akatsuki member that even Konoha was wary of!
Even though some of his ability had been seen through, Kakuzu didn't care in the slightest.
Understanding was one thing—breaking it was another.
These two Konoha jōnin might have grasped part of Earth Grudge Fear, but defeating him based on that was clearly going to be extremely difficult.
Kakuzu had roamed the shinobi world for many years. His strength had long since reached Kage level.
Two jōnin trying to deal with him were still a bit short.
Kakashi and Kurenai didn't dare act rashly, but Kakuzu chose to attack first.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
With Kakuzu's low roar, a violent storm instantly swept across the entire battlefield.
It was an indiscriminate wide-area attack.
Might Guy and the ordinary-faced man on the adjacent battlefield, as well as Uchiha Yusuke watching from afar, were all affected too.
Kakashi and Kurenai reacted quickly, immediately taking cover behind sturdy, towering trees to avoid damage.
Although Kakuzu's attack didn't cause real injury, his powerful Wind Release chakra shocked the entire field.
The ordinary-faced Akatsuki member flew into a rage and shouted at Kakuzu.
"Using a wide-range ninjutsu and not even giving a warning?"
"Are you trying to get me killed?!"
Kakuzu looked completely indifferent.
"What are you yapping about?"
"Just dodge."
The ordinary-faced man still wanted to argue, but Might Guy attacked again.
"Stop looking around!"
"Your opponent is me!"
The nunchaku whistled through the air, forcing the ordinary-faced man to defend.
Kakuzu stared at the place where Kakashi and Kurenai were hiding and sneered.
"Heh. You think you'll be fine if you hide?"
His hands formed seals at high speed as he controlled the black monsters to unleash another of his signature techniques.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
As the windstorm ceased, raging flames arrived.
Under the blazing inferno, two giant trees instantly turned to ash.
Kakashi and Kurenai were roasted in the firestorm, looking extremely disheveled.
Fortunately, both were skilled enough to escape the flames and survive.
But before the two could catch their breath after that narrow escape, Kakuzu immediately controlled the black monsters to launch another attack.
Thunder rolled down from the sky—clearly yet another new ninjutsu.
Kakashi and Kurenai's expressions both changed.
Earth Release, Wind Release, Fire Release—so far, Kakuzu had already displayed three different chakra natures.
And now he still had such powerful Lightning Release hidden?
Normally, most shinobi possessed only a single chakra nature.
Anyone with two chakra natures was already considered a rare genius.
Those who could master three or more chakra natures were extremely scarce in the shinobi world.
As for shinobi proficient in all five chakra natures—among those known so far, only the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and his father Sarutobi Sasuke were recorded.
Kakuzu had already shown four different chakra natures.
And that might not even be his limit.
Judging by chakra natures alone, he was clearly close to the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
Four chakra natures was already astonishing—let alone the fact that he also possessed monstrous power that had stepped into Kage level.
Lightning danced across the sky like silver serpents. The entire area was filled with crushing pressure.
Kakashi and Kurenai looked grim, facing him like a deadly foe.
Even the ordinary-faced Akatsuki member and Might Guy sensibly moved their battlefield elsewhere.
Among Konoha's side, only Uchiha Yusuke remained expressionless.
Kakuzu's techniques were strong, but not nearly enough to make him feel pressured.
Yusuke was full of confidence—he felt that even if he didn't intervene, Kakashi and Kurenai could still resolve this crisis.
Kakuzu's fingers shifted rapidly into seals, and a low shout followed.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
At the critical moment, Kakashi made a decisive call.
"Kurenai, cover me!"
Kurenai instantly understood.
She immediately acted, buying Kakashi time.
"Petal-Falling Seer Technique!"
The hypnotic genjutsu activated, and Kakuzu's movements slowed to a certain extent.
Using that brief instant, Kakashi had already gathered all his Lightning-nature chakra into both palms.
"Lightning Cutter: Twin Piercing Light!"
Two Lightning-nature chakra currents ground against each other. Kakashi was forced to retreat continuously, but he ultimately blocked Kakuzu's sure-kill assault.
A trace of surprise flashed in Kakuzu's eyes.
"Oh?"
"You're still not dead?!"
"Did you cancel it out by using chakra of the same nature?"
Kakuzu was experienced. With one glance, he could tell that although Kakashi had blocked the attack, he had consumed far too much chakra.
Kurenai's genjutsu was indeed impressive, but she lacked powerful offensive methods and found it difficult to land a decisive blow.
At that thought, a smile appeared on Kakuzu's face.
Konoha might be fighting two against one—
But in the end, he was still the one holding the advantage.
Kakuzu looked at the two and said calmly,
"Give up."
"With just the two of you, you're still far from being my match."
The reason he didn't press harder was because he felt a trace of wariness toward Uchiha Yusuke.
That young man had seen through his fake death at a glance, and from beginning to end he remained calm.
Kakuzu had a faint instinct that the young man who hadn't acted yet was extremely dangerous.
Kakuzu wanted to quit while he was ahead, but Kakashi and Kurenai refused to back down.
"We killed you once."
"We can kill you a second time. A third time."
"Enough talk. Come!"
At that, anger flashed in Kakuzu's eyes.
"You don't know when to stop."
"You're seeking your own death!"
"Compared to me, your combat experience is far too lacking!"
"Seeing your forehead protectors reminds me of the first Konoha shinobi I ever fought."
"That was the First Hokage—Senju Hashirama!"
Chapter Ninety-Nine: Kakuzu Goes Berserk
Hearing that, Kurenai's eyes filled with shock.
The First Hokage Senju Hashirama was a figure who had been active more than sixty years ago.
This man claimed the first Konoha shinobi he fought was the First Hokage—
Just how old was he?!
Kakashi looked calm on the surface, but inside, waves crashed violently.
The First Hokage Senju Hashirama was known as the "God of Shinobi."
Could it be that this man could actually go toe-to-toe with that legendary figure?
Otherwise, why was he still alive—and why was his tone so arrogant?
A mocking smile flickered at the corner of Uchiha Yusuke's mouth.
As expected, Kakuzu couldn't resist using his "I fought the First Hokage" story to scare people again!
There was no way he "fifty-fifty'd" the First Hokage—he got crushed.
Eternal Mangekyō Madara, plus a Nine-Tails, had been pinned down and rubbed into the ground by Senju Hashirama.
Kakuzu, who wasn't even top-tier among Kage-level fighters, had no business dancing in front of someone like that.
Seeing Kakashi and Kurenai hesitate, Kakuzu lifted his chin, his face full of pride.
You're Konoha ninja—surely you've heard of the First Hokage's fame, right?
I fought the First Hokage and didn't die. So—are you scared?!
Kakuzu's logic wasn't wrong. Unfortunately, he misjudged the First Hokage's influence in this era.
Over sixty years ago, when Senju Hashirama was alive, he truly was a peerless powerhouse who suppressed the entire shinobi world.
However—
After Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara both faded from the stage,
The Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, the Second Tsuchikage Mu, the Second Mizukage Hōzuki Gengetsu, and others soon followed into history.
With so many great figures dying one after another, the shinobi world suffered a severe断层.
The new generation's strength was only so-so, yet their reputations grew bigger and bigger.
The "demigod" Hanzō of the Salamander, the strongest Hokage "Professor" Sarutobi Hiruzen, the strongest Kazekage—the Third, and so on.
Each of them was widely renowned, directly overshadowing the brilliance of the previous era.
For most Konoha ninja today, they only knew that the First Hokage once used Wood Release to pacify the chaotic era—
But they had no real understanding of just how strong Senju Hashirama truly was.
To be blunt, in the current era, the First Hokage's intimidation value was far less than the Third Hokage's.
Even compared to the "Three Legendary Sannin," the First Hokage might not even seem that impressive.
In the shinobi world, only a handful of elderly people—Ōnoki, the Third Hokage, Granny Chiyo, and a few others—still truly understood how terrifying Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara were.
Even among the Sannin's generation, almost no one had a clear grasp of the "God of Shinobi" and the "Asura of the Shinobi World" in terms of battle power.
If even Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru didn't know that history clearly, then how could Kurenai and Kakashi?
Kakuzu trying to intimidate them using the First Hokage's name was obviously the wrong call.
These two didn't even understand Hashirama's true level—what intimidation was there?
After a brief moment of shock, Kakashi and Kurenai charged at Kakuzu again.
"No matter what you say…"
"Don't think you'll escape easily today!"
Kakuzu felt a little dazed.
I already pulled out the achievement of having fought the First Hokage—and these two still dare come at me?!
Kakashi and Kurenai didn't care whether Kakuzu was distracted.
They seized the opening and launched a combined assault.
"Genjutsu: Triple Severing Sakura!"
"Kunai Lightning Cutter!"
Kakuzu was shocked and hurriedly formed seals to defend.
"Water Release: Water Curtain!"
Because he had to resist both genjutsu and Lightning Release kunai at once, Kakuzu deliberately chose this "barrier-wall" style defense.
However—
Just as Kakuzu was dealing with the first wave, Kakashi suddenly shifted his spearhead toward the black monster wearing the Lightning Release mask.
"Earth Release: Fissure Piercing Fang!"
"Lightning Cutter!"
Kurenai's genjutsu left Kakuzu tied up, and the water curtain also blocked his vision.
By the time Kakuzu reacted, it was already too late for him to control the black monster to dodge.
Crack!
Kakashi's Lightning Cutter pierced through, instantly destroying the core of the black monster wearing the Lightning Release mask.
As the black monster collapsed, Kakuzu lost another heart.
"Damn it!"
Kakuzu snapped back, nearly fuming.
In a single battle, two of his hearts had been destroyed one after another?
He was being utterly humiliated!
At that thought, the vicious aura around Kakuzu surged.
I was going to let you off.
Now stay here and become my replacement hearts!
Kakuzu roared, and the remaining two black monsters immediately went berserk.
To prevent being picked off one by one again, Kakuzu directly activated Earth Grudge Fear, fusing the two monsters into his own body.
After the black monsters entered him, Kakuzu himself transformed into a strange being covered in black lines.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
After completing the fusion, Kakuzu leapt forward and launched a fierce offensive.
Kakashi and Kurenai simultaneously used ninjutsu to resist.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Using water to counter fire should have granted an advantage.
But once Wind Release was added to Fire Release, the power multiplied.
Even with Kakashi and Kurenai combining their Water Release, they still couldn't hold it back.
Not good!
Pure Water Release couldn't cancel out a Fire Release infused with Wind-nature chakra.
Realizing that, Kakashi and Kurenai both retreated.
Kakuzu bombarded the area ahead, turning the battlefield into a sea of flames.
Even while surrounded by raging fire, Uchiha Yusuke's expression remained unchanged.
His title was the "Flame Demon of Konoha." If Fire Release could injure him, that would truly be unbelievable.
It had to be said: after transforming, Kakuzu's combat power increased dramatically.
Before, Kakashi and Kurenai could still match him evenly—now they were completely pushed into the disadvantage.
The two were forced into constant danger by Kakuzu, yet Uchiha Yusuke showed no intention of stepping in to help.
The tougher the battle, the more it tempered them.
With Kakashi's and Kurenai's talent, even if they couldn't turn things around, they wouldn't lose in a short time either.
Enraged, Kakuzu had no intention of holding back at all.
He was willing to burn massive amounts of chakra, continuously launching ninjutsu at Kakashi and Kurenai.
Kakashi and Kurenai weren't pushovers either.
One represented Konoha's pinnacle of genjutsu among non-bloodline shinobi; the other was widely famed as the "Copy Ninja," said to have mastered over a thousand ninjutsu.
The only reason they were being suppressed was the gap in combat experience.
Kakuzu was a battle-hardened veteran, while Kakashi and Kurenai—though they had weathered some storms—were still somewhat immature overall.
Given time, that gap in experience would gradually be erased.
And when that happened, even facing Kakuzu alone, either of them would have the power to fight.
The battle between Kakuzu and Kakashi and Kurenai fell into a deadlock.
On the other battlefield—
Might Guy and the ordinary-faced Akatsuki swordsman still hadn't decided a victor.
In taijutsu, Might Guy held a slight edge.
But in ninjutsu, the ordinary-faced man managed to pull back his disadvantage.
The two used every trick they had and fought for a long time, yet still couldn't settle it.
At this moment—
The ordinary-faced Akatsuki member was full of resentment toward Kakuzu.
Not doing the proper work, and instead going to rob a caravan on the official road—what was that supposed to mean?
Now they had inexplicably provoked Konoha ninja.
Who was he supposed to complain to about this?!
The ordinary-faced man's mood was terrible.
He had thought Kakuzu would finish quickly.
Count the money, then come help him.
But he hadn't expected—
This squad's combat power was extraordinary, and even the highly confident Kakuzu had been dragged into a prolonged fight.
That opponent in the weird outfit with the bowl haircut had absurd taijutsu strength.
He didn't want to risk his life fighting someone like that just for Kakuzu's money!
With his mind elsewhere, the ordinary-faced man's swordplay gradually dulled.
Meanwhile, Might Guy fought like he was injected with chicken blood, growing more excited the longer it went.
"Ah—fight, fight, fight…!"
Might Guy's strange shouts never stopped, and his nunchaku swung with masterful finesse.
The ordinary-faced man kept swinging his blade to block, but the longer it went on, the more strenuous it became.
This can't continue.
I have to find a way to finish this fast!
As he slowly fell into the disadvantage, the ordinary-faced man grew increasingly anxious.
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