"You don’t seem to agree with what I said."
Kakuzu stretched his limbs leisurely, looking relaxed, as if this were a casual chat.
Kyoichi swept his chakra senses across the surroundings while replying casually,
"No, I just pity your foolishness—always doing unprofitable business, yet acting like you’re so proud of it."
"Oh?"
"Think about it. 70 million to provoke soone like ? This could turn into a life-or-death battle. And the most important part is... is 70 million even that much?"
While bantering, Kyoichi was also observing and building up power.
Around Kakuzu...
There didn’t seem to be any ambushes nearby.
"I an, look at you. You could’ve started a ninja village, done so business, or at the very least—made Explosive Tags. Any of those would be safer and more profitable than what you’re doing."
"Hmph. What would you know? Money is just a bonus. People like you showing up to die—that’s where the real profit is."
Kakuzu chuckled lowly, clearly confident—like he was outright declaring there were traps waiting. And indeed...
Kyoichi’s chakra sense picked them up.
There were traps, more than one. So strange sensations even hinted at sothing weirder. He strongly suspected that Sasori had joined forces with Kakuzu.
If that were true...
This fight would be a lot trickier.
Fortunately, the mission wasn’t to kill the enemy, but to mark him for future tracking and to follow the trail back to the possible "organization" he belonged to.
So...
This situation actually made things easier. Kakuzu wouldn’t suspect Kyoichi if he ended up letting him go.
Kyoichi subtly made a hand signal.
Then—
Drew his sword in a flash!
At that instant, more than ten puppets burst out from underground, while threads from Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear surged from the ground around him.
And then—
He dashed toward Shisui and the others.
But—
He didn’t expect Kyoichi to be this fast.
One slash—
All nearby puppets were instantly destroyed.
The mont Kakuzu closed in, he found himself suddenly surrounded by vines.
But...
A mask inside him pulsed.
His vision shifted.
A genjutsu?!
Yet, in the next second, cold sweat burst down Kakuzu’s back.
The vines were still there.
Outside the genjutsu, his opponent had summoned real vines—and trees were also rising around them.
This was...
Deep Forest Ergence?!
Kakuzu broke into a cold sweat. He imdiately used Earth Spear to protect himself.
But—
The next mont, he felt a sharp pain in his heart.
A lightning sword had pierced straight through it!
What the hell—
How was this possible?!
His heart was racing with fear.
This was Wood Release!
How could soone else in this world still know how to use Wood Release?!
And not just that—
His opponent clearly understood his jutsu very well.
At least the Earth Spear...
This guy knew exactly how to counter it.
Kakuzu’s thoughts were spinning chaotically. Flooded with mories, he roared in fury and fear:
"You still not gonna help ?!"
The next mont, his body transford—Earth Grudge Fear activated in full, and black tendrils surged across him as he turned into a real monster.
Wind Release: Pressure Damage.
Fire Release: Searing Migraine.
Blazing winds swept out, tearing the vines apart instantly.
Kakuzu paused.
Illusions?!
Damn it, they were fake!
Fury welled up in him. Another mask flew out.
Boom!
Dozens of puppets burst into motion.
Poisoned needles and mist launched amidst the surging flas.
Asuma spat out gusts of wind, retreating as he did, while Shisui and Kurenai guarded his flanks.
As for their teacher—
No worries there. As long as they handled themselves, that side would be fine.
Kyoichi knew Kakuzu far too well.
"You actually survived a stab to the heart... ’Undying Ninja’—really suits you. But I’m guessing your immortality has to do with those masks, right?"
Kyoichi’s voice ca from the midst of the flas.
Kakuzu’s gaze sharpened.
This guy’s perception was terrifying!
He’d seen through the secret of Earth Grudge Fear in a flash. Kakuzu’s alarm flared, and he imdiately withdrew, attacking from afar with his tendrils—avoiding close combat.
However—
The next second, a figure appeared behind him.
All of Kakuzu’s tendrils surged toward his rear in a tidal wave.
Each tendril sharp as a blade, enough to pierce through most defense jutsu—but...
This was Kyoichi.
Ice Armor, Earth Spear, plus his enhanced body—Kakuzu’s tendrils couldn’t even scratch him. But Kyoichi’s twin swords were terrifyingly sharp.
With a swing—
Before the blades even reached them, the tendrils were already sliced clean through.
Wind-style Swordsmanship!
Kakuzu’s shoulder mask fired a stream of lightning, hoping to break Kyoichi’s defenses.
But in a flash—
A lightning aura burst from Kyoichi’s body.
Lightning Release Armor!
Kakuzu was stunned.
Who’s the one using Earth Grudge Fear here—him, or this guy?!
Why does he know everything?!
He was ntally numb.
Completely thrown off, Kakuzu was hesitant to continue fighting.
That earlier burst of close-range speed had rattled him.
Next—
Three masks erged on his shoulders.
Wind, Fire, and Water—all launched at once.
He himself retreated rapidly.
Wind and fire created a roaring inferno, and water filled the area with thick fog.
Huge black threads ford into blade-like lines, flying toward Kyoichi and cutting off his pursuit path.
Kakuzu himself vanished into the mist.
Kyoichi pretended to give chase, but "got held back" because Shisui’s group was under attack.
In truth, they weren’t in danger at all.
Sasori hadn’t seriously joined the fight—the puppets he deployed were all standard Red Cloaks.
They were refined, but not unstoppable for Shisui and the others.
And later, Kyoichi and the ANBU squad helped out.
If anyone still got injured or killed...
Well, that’s on them.
Kyoichi returned, slicing down the remaining puppets in one swing. Sasori didn’t press his luck and promptly withdrew—his puppets all going inert.
He’d been pulling the strings from the shadows the entire ti.
"Sensei, I’m sorry..."
Asuma and the others looked ashad.
It was clear Kyoichi had let Kakuzu go only for their sake. If he’d been alone, Kakuzu never would’ve escaped.
"Save it for later," Kyoichi said simply.
Mukai hadn’t said a word the entire ti—just helped with the puppets and guarded Shisui’s group. Once the fight ended, he slipped away without fanfare.
The four returned to the inn.
Naturally, Kakuzu wouldn’t be coming back.
Inside, Kyoichi gathered the three in one room. After a glance, he asked,
"So—any thoughts?"
"That puppeteer was insane!" Asuma said.
He’d heard from the Third Hokage that a puppet master’s strength is judged by the number and complexity of puppets they can control.
That hidden puppeteer had coordinated dozens into a single cohesive force.
That level of control...
Unbelievable!
"Sorry, Sensei. We held you back."
Kurenai lowered her head.
Shisui thought for a mont, then said,
"Sensei, I understand now why you wanted to change the one-Jōnin-three-Genin squad format. It really limits a Jōnin’s combat potential."
"There are pros and cons. You can’t praise it fully, but you can’t dismiss it either," Kyoichi replied, smiling slightly.
"And besides... do you really think you were ready to fight that kind of enemy?"
The three of them went quiet, embarrassed.
They...
There was a bit of that kind of thinking.
"Don’t overestimate yourselves, and don’t underestimate others. That’s the main reason I brought you out this ti—well, that and to cover for my own actions."
Kyoichi stopped explaining at that point.
He trusted that his students would understand.
Sure enough...
Shisui caught on first, and soon after, Asuma and Kurenai also realized.
So what Sensei ant was...
The mission had been a success?
But wait!
They hadn’t even noticed Kyoichi doing anything.
"Get so rest. I’ll explain the specifics of the operation tomorrow. Of course, you should also take this ti to reflect on your shortcomings—think about how you can continue to improve."
"Yes, Sensei!"
...
After settling the three of them in, Kyoichi left his real body at the inn and sent a Shadow Clone outside.
Outside the town, Mukai was already waiting.
"Kyoichi-sama..."
"You didn’t notice the other person earlier?"
"No. That was my mistake. I sincerely apologize."
Mukai didn’t even try to defend himself.
He had completely missed Sasori’s presence—if not for Kyoichi’s vigilance, their "baiting operation" could’ve ended with the fish devouring the fisherman.
"Forget it, this wasn’t entirely your fault. During the fight, did you notice anything about his real body?"
"It... was strange. It didn’t seem to have a solid form."
Mukai hesitated.
He was afraid his report might mislead Kyoichi’s judgnt, but what he’d seen was exactly that.
That guy didn’t seem to have a physical body—more like a clump of chakra.
As expected...
Kyoichi wasn’t surprised.
Outwardly, he paused for a second or two, then said, "It might be a form of modified puppet technique."
"You an... the other person is a puppet? No, wait—he turned himself into a puppet?!"
Mukai was stunned.
Was there really soone that ruthless?
"It’s not impossible. After all, can a regular human manipulate dozens of puppets at once?"
"That..."
Mukai didn’t know how to respond.
He didn’t know much about puppet techniques, but even he knew they required chakra threads for control—and no matter how strong you were, a human couldn’t control that many at once.
"A technique of that level is rare even in Sunagakure, and the scope is extrely limited... If I recall correctly, Chiyo had a grandson who defected?"
"Sasori of the Red Sand. You also suspected he killed the Kazekage."
Mukai nodded. Then he looked up. Even with his mask on, the shock in his eyes was unmistakable.
If Sasori had turned himself into a puppet...
Then everything made sense.
The Third Kazekage was poisoned, but no one knew the details. It was easy to imagine him falling into a trap—and if Sasori was willing to do that to himself, why would he spare the Kazekage?
No wonder Lord Kyoichi didn’t pursue him.
Mukai took a deep breath and dropped to one knee.
"I failed to uncover the enemy’s identity. The fault is mine alone. Please punish , Kyoichi-sama."
"No need. Even I didn’t expect him to be working with Kakuzu—much less that he’d turned his own body into a puppet. If he was deliberately hiding, it would’ve been nearly impossible for you to spot him."
Kyoichi had no intention of punishing him.
Because...
When he’d destroyed Kakuzu’s first heart, he had already secretly placed a Flying Thunder God seal on Kakuzu. Under normal circumstances, the seal was virtually undetectable and couldn’t be removed—unless he encountered soone like Madara.
And if Kakuzu did run into Madara...
Then the location would be basically confird.
"I’ve already locked onto Kakuzu’s movents. Your team doesn’t need to follow them anymore. Now that they’ve suffered a loss, both Kakuzu and Sasori will be on higher alert."
"Understood!"
***************************
Read advanced Chapters ahead of everyone else on my P@treon.
P@treon/GodDragcell
100 powerstones for 1 extra Chapter!
Reviews
All reviews (0)