BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!!!
The terrifying explosion from the clash of lightning and fire spread wildly.
The once lush forest was blasted open by wave after wave of impact, leaving vast stretches of empty ground behind.
The deep crater at the center stood out most of all.
Flames and electric arcs still flickered over the broken tree roots inside it.
The thick smoke was scattered by the wind, revealing the figures at opposite ends of the crater.
Kakuzu looked no different on the outside, but his heaving chest and quickened breathing showed he was far from unaffected.
At the other end, Shingetsu’s hands were charred black as if burned by fire, and the dark red showing through his cracked skin looked like flowing magma.
“Shingetsu…”
Sakumo watched him with a grave expression.
If anyone else had suffered injuries like that, both hands would definitely have been ruined.
Shingetsu had already shown inhuman physical toughness before.
Since he dared to use that move, the consequences probably would not be too serious, right?
“A strong attack, but…”
“That heart is empty now, isn’t it?”
Kakuzu panted lightly and said coldly, “To be able to use the Earth Grudge Fear so quickly, you really did surprise me.”
“I know better than anyone how much chakra that heart contained.”
“I have to admit, compared to geniuses from the Great Shinobi Villages like you, people blessed by the heavens, my talent falls far short.”
“Perhaps in ten years, or even just a few years, if I met you again, I would have no choice but to flee.”
“What a pity…”
“The reason you’ll die is that you came after me too soon!”
The drooping black tentacles began to writhe again, ready to strike.
“Let’s make peace, Kakuzu.”
Shingetsu spoke without expression.
For a moment, Kakuzu thought his ears had failed him.
Make peace?
At this point, how could you even say those words?
Do you think you can say childish nonsense like that just because you’re young?
You’re completely insane!!
“Are you joking?!!”
Kakuzu threw his arms wide and roared, “Do you think…”
“Do you think you’re guaranteed to win?”
Shingetsu cut off Kakuzu’s roar.
“We’ve used up a lot on our side, but how much chakra do you have left?”
He raised two fingers.
“The battle hasn’t even lasted that long, and you’ve already lost two hearts.
You only have three chances left.”
“Three is enough!”
Kakuzu sneered.
“If I don’t kill you now, I won’t be able to sleep or eat in peace!!”
“Are you afraid we’ll grow strong enough to get revenge?”
Shingetsu suddenly smiled.
“Why would we want revenge?
You’re the one who lost out, not us.”
“Look on the bright side.
You only lost part of the Earth Grudge Fear.
Given enough time, you can grow it back.
Is it really worth fighting us to the death?”
“It is!
I don’t feel like looking on the bright side!”
Kakuzu had completely lost the composure of an older-generation ninja.
“Do you know how long that will take?!
If I can get it back by killing you, why should I waste time restoring it?!”
“Time is money!!”
“That’s right.
Time is money.”
Shingetsu smiled and raised another finger.
“Three minutes.”
“What…
do you mean?”
“You really are senile…”
Shingetsu’s smile gradually turned dangerous.
“Have you forgotten…
whose territory you’re in?”
Kakuzu had already leaned forward halfway, planning to attack no matter what Shingetsu said.
Then he stopped.
“This is the Land of Fire.”
“After making that much noise, do you really think the Konoha ninjas at the nearby outposts won’t come running?”
“Three minutes at most.”
“Can you kill us and still escape after that?”
“Don’t dream.”
“I’m saying this because I don’t want you to get surrounded and beaten to death, you stupid old man!”
Hah…
childish.
Kakuzu’s expression sharpened.
He had heard enough nonsense.
Whether it went the way Shingetsu wanted, they would see soon enough.
Good.
At least one hand has feeling again…
Clang.
Shingetsu switched the blade to his other hand, his gaze indifferent.
“Made up your mind?
Then come.”
“If you’re not running, I have even less reason to.”
After a pause, Kakuzu slowly straightened his body.
“Why say there’s no reason?
Is it shameful to run in order to survive?”
“Only the living have meaning.
Only the living have value.
Only by living…”
A moment later,
“The White Fang of Konoha cannot stop me.
As for those mediocrities who couldn’t even notice me making it this far, they’re not worth mentioning.”
“Letting you go is a losing deal I can’t accept…”
“Originally…
that was true.”
He picked up the Takigakure Missing-nin forehead protector that had fallen nearby.
“This time…
consider it repayment.”
He had never been willing to admit that he survived because Hashirama Senju had shown mercy.
He had always claimed he escaped through his own strength.
Because back then, he had told his village that he had not fled.
Even if it meant death, he had not fled.
No one believed him.
“Next time we meet, make yourself worth more.
Don’t make me come all this way for nothing.”
With that, Kakuzu vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
“For a ninja from the First Hokage’s era to still have that much strength…
that really is impressive.”
Only after confirming that Kakuzu had truly left did Sakumo dare to speak.
Until then, he had kept his focus at its absolute limit, ready to deal with Kakuzu’s attacks and protect Shingetsu.
After a while, when he saw ninjas in Konoha vests sprinting toward them from the distance, Sakumo finally relaxed completely.
Exhaustion surged over him in an instant.
He collapsed to the ground and tapped Shingetsu’s calf.
“How were you so sure reinforcements would come?
We didn’t notify the nearby outposts, did we?”
“I wasn’t sure.
I made it up.”
“I was just talking to recover a little strength.
My healing is really fast.”
He had not expected Kakuzu to actually leave.
Shingetsu looked at the approaching ninjas and said quietly, “You’re too relaxed.”
“You’re the one who’s too tense.
Those people are just like you and me…”
Sakumo smiled.
“Konoha comrades we can entrust our backs to!”
“Haha!
Strictly speaking, you’re not really a comrade yet.
You’re still a student who needs my protection!”
“Hurry up and graduate when we get back.
Stop bullying everyone at the Ninja Academy.”
You may see them as comrades, but they may not necessarily…
A reminder was enough.
Shingetsu did not expect a few words from him to change Sakumo’s way of thinking.
Seeing Shingetsu stay silent, Sakumo, who had been holding back until now, could not help continuing.
“What did he mean by what he said at the end?”
“You know so much about him.
Do you know the reason?”
Shingetsu thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“Who cares?
Next time we meet, he just needs to have raised my Earth Grudge Fear properly.”
“I’ll bet a thousand ryō that if he heard that, he’d turn around and kill you on the spot.”
“I’m underage.
I’m not betting with you.”
Sakumo pushed himself up with his hands on his knees and laughed.
“The Earth Grudge Fear really is an amazing secret art.
It actually lets you use ninjutsu!”
“That last move was pretty powerful, but the power was too scattered.
If you could concentrate it more and aim…”
“Are you really better?
Is your chakra deficiency cured?”
Lulu, the ninneko who had lit the explosive tags and then fled far away from the battlefield, had returned.
Her round eyes took in Shingetsu’s wounded body.
His right hand in particular looked terrible, and her eyes turned a little glossy.
The black cat turned her head aside and gave a soft snort.
“Then I’m not coming out with you next time.
I’m tired and sleepy, and this stinky white-haired guy is so annoying!”
“Mm.
You really are useless now.
Go back to Cat Village.”
“Meow!!”
“Damn it!
You’re supposed to beg me to stay and help you!
If it weren’t for me this time, could you two have dealt with that stinky old zombie-smelling man?!”
“Apologize to me right now!
You jerk!!”
Shingetsu turned to look at the mask pressed against the back of his shoulder, his gaze darkening slightly.
He completely ignored the bristling black cat.