Then the true power of the attack erupted.
Kakuzu's body was blasted backward uncontrollably. He crashed through the forest, smashing into tree after tree before finally hitting the ground.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
More than a dozen massive trunks shattered under the impact.
"Argh!"
Kakuzu cried out in pain. Despite being protected by the secret technique of Earth Grudge Fear, he still suffered severe injuries. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to rise.
"Damn it..."
His eyes widened with disbelief.
"What is wrong with this kid?"
"How can someone so young possess such terrifying power?"
But there was no time to dwell on the shock.
Naruto was already moving.
Like a gust of wind given human form, he shot forward at incredible speed, closing the distance instantly.
"What?!"
Naruto let out a fierce roar as an even greater surge of chakra erupted from his body.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"
The Kusanagi Sword in his hand seemed to devour his Wind Release chakra greedily. The blade became wrapped in a dazzling layer of compressed wind, radiating terrifying sharpness.
With a powerful swing, Naruto slashed downward.
Kakuzu had no time to evade.
Forced into a corner, he transformed the black threads of Earth Grudge Fear into a cocoon around himself while simultaneously hardening his body with Earth Release: Earth Spear.
It was his strongest defense.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.
The wind-enhanced Kusanagi Sword sliced through the countless black threads as easily as a knife cutting through tangled hemp.
The protective cocoon exploded apart.
Black threads scattered in every direction, torn apart by the devastating strike.
Even Kakuzu's main body was unable to withstand the attack. The Earth Spear technique, which had always served as his ultimate defense, was shattered.
"Impossible!"
Kakuzu's eyes were filled with disbelief.
"My Earth Spear should be nearly invincible except against Lightning Release!"
"How can this brat's Wind Release be this powerful?"
Fortunately for him, the strike had missed his heart by mere centimeters.
Though shocked by Naruto's frightening destructive power, Kakuzu's combat instincts remained sharp.
The black threads he had secretly buried underground suddenly burst from beneath the earth.
In an instant, they wrapped around Naruto from every direction.
"What?!"
Naruto's expression changed.
The hardened threads tightened around him, digging violently into his body.
The black threads of Earth Grudge Fear were no ordinary weapon.
They could pierce flesh, invade organs, and even steal a victim's heart.
If they reached the heart, Kakuzu could activate the true ability of his forbidden technique.
Heart Stealing.
"Hinata!"
Naruto gritted his teeth.
At the same moment, Sasuke moved.
Dark markings spread across his body as the second stage of the Cursed Seal activated.
A violent silver-black Lightning Release chakra erupted around him.
"Chidori!"
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The sound of a thousand birds crying echoed across the battlefield.
Lightning exploded from Sasuke's hand.
This was his strongest attack.
Boom!
The enhanced Chidori pierced through the air like a spear of divine judgment.
Before Kakuzu could react, the silver-black lightning slammed directly into his chest.
The attack pierced straight through his heart.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
For the first time, Kakuzu's true body suffered a fatal wound.
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he screamed in agony.
His body trembled violently.
The pain was unbearable.
"How... how do you know..." he coughed out.
The damage disrupted his control over the black threads.
The restraints around Naruto loosened immediately.
With a powerful burst of strength, Naruto tore himself free.
Truthfully, even without Sasuke's help, escaping would not have been difficult.
While in Wind Release Chakra Mode, countless microscopic wind blades constantly surrounded his body.
The black threads could not restrain him for long.
Sasuke slowly withdrew his arm and looked at Kakuzu coldly.
"Your black hardening technique is Earth Release."
"Nothing escapes the eyes of the Sharingan."
"If it's Earth Release, then Lightning Release is its natural weakness."
"There is no such thing as absolute defense."
"This time, I destroyed your heart."
"You are already dead."
Naruto ripped the remaining threads from his body.
For an ordinary shinobi, such injuries would have been severe.
But Naruto was different.
His cellular activity far surpassed that of a normal human.
Even the black threads embedded within his body were quickly destroyed as he circulated Wind Release chakra through every cell.
The invading threads were shredded instantly.
"Nice one, Sasuke!"
Naruto grinned.
"There's no way he survives that."
Kakuzu lowered his head.
Heavy breaths escaped from his mouth.
"I never imagined..."
"...that I would be pushed this far by two children."
His voice was filled with bitterness.
Then—
"Watch out!"
Hinata's sudden warning rang across the battlefield.
Naruto and Sasuke instantly reacted.
Neither questioned her.
After fighting together for so long, they trusted her completely.
If Hinata had seen something with her Byakugan, then danger was approaching.
Without hesitation, both boys jumped backward.
At that exact moment, Kakuzu's head snapped upward.
His eyes flew open.
He looked as though he had come back from the dead.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
A torrent of blazing flames erupted from his mouth.
The inferno surged forward like a living monster.
Had Hinata not warned them, both Naruto and Sasuke would have been swallowed whole.
Naruto broke into a cold sweat.
Although Wind Release Chakra Mode was extraordinarily powerful, Fire Release remained one of its greatest counters.
One mistake could result in severe burns.
He could eventually learn to manipulate wind to disperse or redirect flames, but he had not yet reached that level of mastery.
The two narrowly escaped the sea of fire.
Naruto stared at Kakuzu in disbelief.
"What the hell?!"
"How is he still alive?"
"Is this guy immortal too?"
Even Sasuke frowned.
Hinata quickly explained.
"I used my Byakugan."
"The heart Sasuke destroyed was real."
"It belonged to the Earth Release mask."
She swallowed nervously.
"But the Fire Release mask transferred its heart into Kakuzu's body."
The realization struck everyone at once.
Hinata continued.
"In other words..."
"He originally had five hearts."
"As long as even one remains, he can continue living."
"He has five lives."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)