"Who are you?"
Konan gripped her kunai tightly, staring at the tall figure ahead with full vigilance.
Unlike her confusion—
Gojo recognized him instantly.
A Takigakure rogue ninja headband.
Body wrapped in black cloth.
Only a pair of eyes visible.
There was only one person in the entire ninja world with that appearance—
Kakuzu.
A man who valued money more than life itself.
A bounty hunter who would do anything for profit.
A monster who once attempted to assassinate Hashirama Senju—and survived.
Even if that "assassination" might've been throwing a kunai from 800 miles away…
Underestimating him would be fatal.
Right now, Kakuzu stood firmly among the upper-tier combatants of the ninja world.
—
"You two… know the person on that bounty, don't you?"
Kakuzu ignored Konan's question.
Instead, he stepped forward slowly, rotating his wrists as he spoke.
"Bounty?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Konan took a step back, her voice cold.
"If you don't stop right now, I won't hold back."
"Don't know?"
Kakuzu suddenly laughed.
"In the exchange earlier, when you saw that bounty—your heart rate spiked. Your blood flow accelerated."
"You definitely know that kid."
"Tell me where he is… and I might let you live."
"Otherwise…"
Before he even finished—
Kakuzu vanished.
A blur rushed toward them.
—
Konan reacted instantly, forming hand seals.
White paper appeared in her palm—
Hardened instantly with chakra.
Sharp as blades.
She flung them like shuriken.
Kakuzu raised his left arm—
It stretched unnaturally like rubber, blocking every single paper blade.
"What kind of jutsu is that?!"
Konan's eyes widened as she retreated further.
—
At that moment—
Gojo struck.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A roaring water dragon formed beside him, lunging forward with a massive surge.
With his sixfold talent boost—
What once required over ten hand seals now took only three.
The attack hit.
Kakuzu was slammed into the ground—
Water pressure pinned him down violently.
—
"Konan, fall back. I'll handle him."
Gojo ended the jutsu and immediately formed new seals.
"Lightning Style: Spear of Thunder!"
A glowing lightning spear condensed in his left hand.
"Water Style: Water Wave!"
From his right—
A massive water sphere blasted forward, crashing into Kakuzu's position.
At that exact moment—
Gojo hurled the lightning spear.
—
BOOM!!
Electricity met water—
Like oil hitting fire.
Violent explosions erupted.
Thunder roared.
Heat surged.
Energy spread outward in a devastating radius.
—
"Konan! Move!"
"Now!"
"Got it!"
They turned and retreated immediately.
—
But before they could escape far—
A black figure shot out from the explosion like an arrow—
Landing right in front of them.
It hit the ground like sludge—
Then gathered.
Reformed.
Into a grotesque black creature wearing a mask.
—
"What… is that?"
Konan frowned deeply.
"Probably his special technique…"
Gojo replied quietly.
Of course—
Killing Kakuzu wouldn't be easy.
He had five hearts.
Five lives.
—
"You… are quite something."
Kakuzu's hoarse voice came from behind them.
"Why haven't I heard of you before?"
"Konan, watch that thing. I'll take him."
Gojo turned—
And saw Kakuzu's true form.
His body stitched together with black threads.
Two masks emerging from his shoulders.
Another behind him.
A terrifying sight.
—
"Three masks… plus the main body…"
"That means… I only took one life just now."
Gojo analyzed quickly.
"Based on the masks—earth behind, fire left, wind right…"
"The destroyed one was water…"
"So the main body is lightning…"
—
Kakuzu spoke again.
"You're strong… and you can use both water and lightning."
"Perfect."
"I'll take your heart."
—
He formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Searing Migraine!"
The mask on his left shoulder opened its mouth—
A torrent of flames burst out like a tidal wave.
The moment it hit the ground—
It spread wildly—
Engulfing both Gojo and Konan in a sea of fire.
—
Gojo didn't hesitate.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
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