"This level of attack hurting me? What a ridiculous dream."
Kakuzu scoffed as he watched the kunai slicing through the mist toward him. With a slight tilt of his body, he easily dodged them.
So this is the strength of the Second Hokage?
It seems he'd overestimated his opponent earlier. The so-called brother of the God of Shinobi was nothing special after all.
"Shu! Shu! Shu!"
Several kunai whistled past Kakuzu's ears. But then he suddenly noticed something strange — Senju Tobirama's figure had disappeared without warning.
What the hell?!
Before he could even react, Tobirama reappeared right in front of him, both hands grabbing two kunai midair, stabbing straight toward Kakuzu's heart with ruthless precision.
Kakuzu's pupils constricted sharply. He clearly hadn't expected Tobirama to appear so suddenly. He tried to move to defend himself, but Tobirama's speed was simply too fast — the two kunai plunged straight into his heart.
From a distance, Renya witnessed the entire scene, his eyes brimming with admiration.
"So this is the Flying Thunder God Technique, huh?"
This was practically the ultimate travel-and-assassination jutsu! If he could master this, wouldn't he be able to slaughter enemies effortlessly on the battlefield?
Unfortunately, even after a year had passed, he still hadn't fully grasped the fundamentals of spatial theory.
It would take at least another one or two years before he could truly master it.
Now that the war was over, he finally had enough time to study the Flying Thunder God Technique properly.
Renya firmly believed that with enough effort and focus, he'd master it sooner or later.
Sure, the Flying Thunder God was notoriously difficult to learn, but it wasn't impossible. In the original timeline, besides Namikaze Minato, even his three personal guards were capable of using the Flying Thunder God Formation in unison.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, those three had combined their strength to instantly teleport Mizukage Mei Terumī onto the battlefield.
That alone proved that ordinary people could, at least theoretically, learn it. The only real question was whether they could use it proficiently.
For Renya, simply learning it was enough for now. Mastering it could come later.
His gaze remained fixed on Senju Tobirama, hoping to observe carefully how this old man wielded the Flying Thunder God Technique.
...
"Crack—!"
Two sharp sounds rang out as the masks on Kakuzu's chest shattered simultaneously.
Agonizing pain exploded in his chest — two of his hearts were destroyed at once. The tentacles of Earth Grudge Fear writhed violently, desperately trying to repair the damage to his body. But the two lost hearts were beyond recovery.
His face turned grim and terrifying, killing intent surging violently in his eyes.
Tobirama's movements had been too fast — so fast that Kakuzu hadn't even had time to react before losing two hearts.
If not for his surplus of hearts, any other man would have died instantly.
Including the one he'd lost earlier, Kakuzu had already sacrificed three hearts since the fight began!
Now, he had only two hearts left — meaning only two lives remained.
If Tobirama landed another successful strike, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"So… this is the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Kakuzu finally pieced it together. He remembered the rumors about Tobirama creating a space-time ninjutsu. Turns out they were true.
Troublesome… extremely troublesome!
His last two hearts pounded furiously inside his chest. His expression darkened, muscles coiling tight like steel springs, ready to explode into a desperate counterattack at any second.
"Heh… As expected of the Second Hokage," Kakuzu sneered coldly. "I really did underestimate you. But if you think this is enough to defeat me… you're mistaken!"
Tobirama swiftly leaped backward, landing steadily as his sharp gaze locked onto Kakuzu. The kunai in his hand gleamed with a chilling light.
He didn't attack immediately. Instead, he observed Kakuzu's movements carefully, maintaining a calm yet guarded stance.
After all, a cornered beast was dangerous. Tobirama wouldn't give Kakuzu any chance to drag him down in a suicidal counterattack.
"Your abilities are indeed strange," Tobirama said icily, "but in the face of absolute speed, all tricks are meaningless."
"Heh… we'll see about that!" Kakuzu roared, rapidly forming hand seals to unleash ninjutsu.
"Earth Style: Earth Spikes!"
Sharp stone spikes erupted violently from the ground, shooting toward Tobirama at breakneck speed. Simultaneously, the last remaining mask on Kakuzu's back lit up with a fiery glow.
"Fire Style!"
Flames roared alongside the earthen spikes, combining into a deadly assault against Tobirama.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed sharply. His figure blurred as he flashed to the side, evading the stone spikes. But as the torrent of flames came surging toward him, his hands moved rapidly.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
A towering wall of water surged upward, colliding head-on with the flames, filling the battlefield with thick, rolling steam.
Tobirama's vision was blocked. He cautiously scanned the mist around him, wary of Kakuzu's next move. Uncertain of his opponent's intentions, he refrained from attacking immediately.
"Now!" Kakuzu roared, seizing the chance as the fog concealed him. In an instant, he exploded with all his remaining strength.
Tobirama, hearing his voice, tightened his grip on his kunai, every muscle tensed, fully prepared for a desperate counterstrike.
Growing up on the battlefield, he had faced this scenario countless times.
Almost every dying man chose the same strategy — drag the enemy to hell with them.
Tobirama handled situations like this with ease...
But just as Kakuzu shouted, his figure suddenly shot backward, retreating at full speed.
Not an attack — he was running!
He couldn't win. There was no way he could win.
If he lost his last two hearts here, he'd really die for good.
If he didn't run now, when would he?!
Three hearts gone after just two clashes — Kakuzu finally understood with crystal clarity that he was no match for Tobirama.
If he stayed, he'd only find death.
So, he faked an all-out attack… but his true goal was to escape!
Kakuzu's speed was staggering — before anyone even processed what was happening, he had already bolted dozens of meters away.
"What?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen exclaimed in shock.
"This guy… ran away?!" Utatane Koharu stared in disbelief.
No one expected Kakuzu to retreat. Based on his earlier demeanor, they'd assumed he was ready to fight to the bitter end.
Even Renya froze for a moment, then twitched the corner of his mouth.
As expected of the future old monster who'd live past ninety — his escape speed was unmatched.
If you couldn't win, you had to be able to run.
Because if you couldn't… you'd just get killed.
"Kakuzu actually fought both the First and Second Hokage at the same time and managed to retreat alive… He's going to brag about this endlessly in the Akatsuki someday."
Renya could already picture it — decades from now, Kakuzu puffing out his chest, shamelessly boasting about this fight without even blinking.
Tobirama's gaze flashed as he watched Kakuzu's rapidly retreating back. Without hesitation, he hurled two kunai with pinpoint accuracy.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The kunai sliced through the air, striking Kakuzu squarely in the back.
"Splurt!"
Kakuzu's body jolted violently, and he crashed hard to the ground.
Everyone exhaled in relief — but to their shock, Kakuzu struggled back to his feet. His back began turning pitch-black.
It was his Earth Style Earth Spear — once activated, his hardened body possessed incredible defensive power.
"He's… still not dead?!" Shimura Danzō's eyes widened in disbelief. "This bastard's life is way too stubborn!"
Kakuzu's speed surged even further. Within seconds, he completely vanished from their sight — without even leaving a parting threat.
Renya smacked his lips, full of complicated feelings.
No wonder Kakuzu was the undisputed longevity champion of the ninja world.
There was a reason he'd survived so many decades — with an escape speed like that, hardly anyone could catch him…
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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