"—!"
A razor-sharp wind blade tore from the giant peacock's beak, slicing through the air toward Kakuzu at terrifying speed.
"What—?"
Before he could react, the crescent of compressed wind cleaved straight through his torso, striking directly through his chest.
Kakuzu's body split cleanly in two.
"Second heart," Chen Xing said calmly, watching the severed body fall.
At the same time, a violently compressed hurricane surged toward the peacock construct, shredding the surrounding terrain.
The peacock beat its wings once, effortlessly evading the attack.
A black blur flashed.
The lightning mask shot forward, black tendrils erupting as it dragged Kakuzu's severed halves together, forcibly stitching his body back into one piece.
Kakuzu staggered upright, his form now completely wrapped in writhing black threads, more monster than man.
"Cough… I didn't expect this," he rasped. "To lose two hearts so quickly."
His condition was clearly deteriorating. Even for Kakuzu, having his body repeatedly torn apart placed immense strain on his chakra control.
Above him, the peacock construct hovered, wings stirring a violent storm that kicked dust and debris into the air.
Chen Xing looked down coldly.
"You have three hearts left. How long do you think you can last?"
Kakuzu glared up at him, voice low and hostile. "Brat… I underestimated you. I didn't expect this peacock technique to be capable of ninjutsu as well."
Despite his words, doubt crept into his mind. The chakra density was monstrous—and yet Chen Xing showed no signs of exhaustion.
This fight could not continue.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
The wind mask fired a compressed blast upward as Kakuzu abruptly turned and fled, leaping into the forest without hesitation—abandoning the Grass shinobi entirely.
"Damn it, Kakuzu!" the Grass ninja shouted in fury as he was left behind.
The peacock dove.
The wind pressure failed to slow it in the slightest. Its wings beat harder, accelerating as its talons stretched forward.
A sharp crack echoed.
The peacock's claws tore through one of Kakuzu's masks, crushing it completely. The heart inside was pulverized instantly.
Chen Xing did not pursue further.
"You stay here," he said briefly to the stunned onlookers, then redirected the peacock construct.
The chakra form rapidly condensed, shrinking down to only a few meters before vanishing into the trees at blinding speed.
The Grass ninja fled desperately through the forest.
Behind him, trees were severed cleanly, collapsing one after another as invisible wind blades tore through them.
A lethal pressure closed in.
He rolled desperately to the side—
The wind blade passed just above his head and sliced through multiple trees ahead, each cut as smooth as glass.
His fear peaked.
Then—
The peacock construct reappeared before him.
There was no time to scream.
A single strike pierced his chest.
His body collapsed.
Chen Xing calmly produced a storage scroll and sealed the corpse away.
"A rare specimen," he muttered. "Too valuable to waste."
Moments later, he reopened his eyes, formed seals, and sent the peacock construct streaking southeast.
Deep within the forest, Kakuzu fled at full speed, black tendrils writhing as his remaining masks rejoined his body.
"Tch…" he snarled. "This hunt was a disaster. Three hearts lost—and nothing gained."
For the first time in decades, Kakuzu did not dare slow down.
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