"No, I don't need it..."
Aomi declined Senju Tobirama's proposal with a faint smile, his teasing tone tinged with determination, and said earnestly:
"Staying behind is for the Will of Fire. If I were to borrow your strength, wouldn't my previous words be just empty talk?"
"Let me experience what it feels like to truly practice the Will of Fire, sacrificing for my companions..."
"Even if it means facing the danger of death, I accept it."
Senju Tobirama frowned. He hadn't expected Aomi to refuse his power...
And why is this kid starting to talk nonsense?
Talking about life and death, it's really inauspicious...
"Tobirama, tell me, if I really die, do you think Tsunade-sensei's hemophobia will get better?"
"Perhaps Asuma's Will of Fire will burn fiercely because of my death, and he'll become a good Hokage..."
Aomi casually joked about himself, but Senju Tobirama's brows were already knitted tightly, secretly thinking, "Damn Uchiha Izuna, his chakra is influencing Aomi!"
"Otherwise, Aomi would never refuse my power, getting stubborn like some Uchiha over pointless issues..."
"The Will of Fire is flexible, seems like I'll need to find a chance to teach Aomi how to adapt..."
"At the crucial moment, even if this kid doesn't want my power, I'll find a way to force it onto him!"
After Kakuzu appeared.
Senju Tobirama remained silent, meticulously observing every move Aomi made amidst this unexpected situation, for it's during such crises that one's true qualities shine best.
So far, Aomi had greatly satisfied Senju Tobirama, and the words he exchanged with Asuma at their parting even made this usually unexpressive Second Hokage smile broadly.
Who does this kid Aomi resemble?
He resembles him, one hundred percent!
Look at this calm demeanor, wise thinking, words of guidance to his companions, and that steely Will of Fire!
Isn't this exactly like when he stayed behind for Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo back in the day?
Even the words are almost identical!
That young monkey was left in a daze by Aomi's words, a sight that brought back memories of the youthful Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo for Senju Tobirama.
There's courage, but also a bit of timidity...
Yet, one can't demand too much from this boy in such a dire situation...
The only regret is that Aomi refused his power, leaving a faint bitter taste in Senju Tobirama's heart.
It's quite strange.
If from the start, Aomi had considered him as a trump card and asked for his power upon encountering Kakuzu, Senju Tobirama would have thought Aomi's intentions impure, and his earlier words might have been a ploy to win people's hearts using his power...
But after clashing with Kakuzu, Aomi never spoke a word to him, and when Senju Tobirama now actively offered to lend his power, Aomi still resolutely refused.
This made Senju Tobirama doubt, is Aomi's Will of Fire too pure, or is Uchiha Izuna's chakra beginning to take effect?
Nonetheless, after listening to Aomi's speech, even Senju Tobirama himself saw his own shadow, and made a decision—
If Aomi wishes to use his power, as long as it doesn't endanger Konoha, even slightly reckless actions can be negotiated...
Moreover, if Aomi encounters danger, Senju Tobirama intends to tell him—this power, you must accept, regardless!
Kakuzu approached, standing not far off, scrutinizing Aomi, who held Muramasa with a calm expression, and coldly commented, "Kid, you're being used as a pitiful sacrifice."
"Son of a Hokage, disciple of a Hokage, you're an Uchiha and a noble ninja, but now you can only serve as their human shield, momentarily halting this old man's steps..."
"But don't worry, I'll help you kill them all, so you won't walk this road alone!"
Black threads burst forth from Kakuzu's body, rapidly gathering chakra: "Lightning Release: Pseudo-Dark!"
Thunder roared down, shattering sections of pine trees!
Aomi's silhouette, ghost-like, deftly evaded the bombardment of lightning, rushing toward Kakuzu at great speed with Muramasa in hand!
Kakuzu eyed the tachi in Aomi's hand and sneered, "A Uchiha proficient in close combat?"
In his view, Aomi was employing a typical Uchiha battle method, using Sharingan and swordsmanship to engage in close combat with the enemy, seeking a moment of weakness, aiming for a decisive strike...
But Kakuzu wasn't afraid.
Any physical attack was ineffective against him!
Kakuzu's green eyes faced Aomi's three-tomoe without flinching, manipulating the Earth Grudge Fear's black threads to capture Aomi's movements...
But Aomi's speed and body technique were beyond the reach of these clumsy black threads.
Under the augmentation of Instant Body Jutsu, Aomi's speed increased, raising Muramasa to unleash a vicious strike at Kakuzu from a cunning angle!
Kakuzu raised his arm, his entire body turning dark, catching Muramasa's edge bare-handed!
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
As the hardened arm clashed with Muramasa, a metallic clang was heard...
"Physical attacks are useless against me, kid!"
Kakuzu grasped back, attempting to seize Muramasa!
But Aomi was faster, swiftly pulling back the blade, and insta-shifting to Kakuzu's back!
Yet Kakuzu seemed unfazed, not turning to face Aomi, though a slight smirk appeared on his lips...
He had deliberately exposed his back to Aomi.
His Earth Release: Hardening Jutsu could not only harden his arms, but envelop his entire body...
As long as Aomi cuts towards his back, then when the blade fails to penetrate and is thwarted, the masked monster lying in ambush will capture Aomi!
This battle will then come to an end...
"Aomi, that guy's jutsu is called Earth Release: Earth Spear, a jutsu that hardens the entire body!"
Senju Tobirama quickly said, "Use Lightning Release to break it, or alternatively, use the Hard Vortex Water Blade!"
But Aomi seemed as if he hadn't heard him, still wielding Uchiha Izuna's Muramasa!
However, this wasn't an ordinary slash...
Large amounts of chakra swirled around Aomi's arms, the Senju clan's monster strength was unleashed to the extreme at that moment, and the blade of Muramasa ignited with fierce flames!
But in just an instant, the violent flames were rapidly compressed, condensing onto the blade of Muramasa!
The sharp Muramasa, at that moment, seemed almost like a charred piece of wood, yet contained an incredibly terrifying temperature...
If not for Aomi mastering Uchiha Izuna's Ninja Blade Technique and being proficient in Uchiha Madara's Fire Release Techniques, it would truly be difficult to achieve this level, representing mastery over Fire Release and blade technique to the fullest...
Senju Tobirama felt a sinking feeling; Aomi didn't use his Water Release but instead used Uchiha Izuna's moves, even upgrading them!
Swoosh!
When Muramasa's blade collided with Kakuzu's back...
The body, originally as hard as rock, under the extreme compression of high temperature and immense force, was forcibly cut open!
The searing pain in the back made Kakuzu cry out instantly, while Aomi, relentlessly, increased his strength, having Muramasa viciously pierce through Kakuzu's body!
The charred Muramasa lay across Kakuzu's body, its terrifying high temperature scorching his flesh, even melting the black threads around him!
But Aomi wasn't greedy with the sword, wrapping chakra around his leg, he kicked Kakuzu away from Muramasa's blade!
[Perceived a strong sense of anger from Kakuzu toward the host, binding as a target!]
Aomi smirked, knowing that Kakuzu was extremely angry, but Kakuzu was now pretending to be dead, lying quietly on the ground without moving.
Is he trying to pull a trick?
Aomi slowly clapped his hands, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Are you going to keep lying there? If you wait any longer, my companions will be back in the village having dinner..."
"You bounty hunter, I think you need to improve your professional attitude, focus on efficiency..."
[From the target Kakuzu, you gained Earth Attribute Chakra Mastery!]
[From the target Kakuzu, you acquired Earth Release: Earth Spear Jutsu!]
Kakuzu's body visibly trembled, countless black threads surged and erupted from his body!
Five monsters wearing different colored masks quickly ran from a hidden spot to Kakuzu's side, guarding him.
Among them, the one wearing the Earth Attribute mask split open as it ran halfway and fell trembling.
While from the remaining four monsters, black threads linked to the wound on Kakuzu's back, helping to repair it.
"Kid, you really angered me, that was my precious Earth Release Heart!"
Kakuzu slowly stood up with a face full of anger, watching Aomi's arm and Muramasa warily.
Not with Lightning Release Ninjutsu, which restrains Earth Release, but by combining Fire Release and brute strength, Aomi had forcibly broken Kakuzu's confidently believed impenetrable defense!
"Your heart, I don't plan on selling it to the black market anymore, I want it!"
Kakuzu roared loudly, the remaining four monsters surged back into his body, and black threads began to riot from that moment, erupting from his joints, mouth, and back, eight extremely thick black threads moving like barricades on his surface.
Among the four masks of the monsters, the Wind-Fire Mask floated on his shoulder, while the Thunder Water Mask covered his left arm...
"Earth Grudge Fear Form: Full Power Burst!"
At this moment, an enraged Kakuzu unleashed his full strength, wanting to kill Aomi, who had destroyed his Earth Release Heart, and had to hurry to capture Tsunade and Asuma, who were running further away.
Every second wasted was equivalent to billions of silver taels moving further away!
And as the battle reached a fever pitch.
Unable to bear seeing Senju Tobirama's ninjutsu and ideology poisoning Aomi, Uchiha Madara, who chose to return to reality and work harder, but couldn't resist the loneliness in his heart today, turned on the Zetsu brand television once again, searching for programs about Aomi...
"Just one look, only one look..." Uchiha Madara muttered silently in his heart but furrowed his brow.
Huh?
Not at the Ninja School, nor the Uchiha Clan Land, not even in Konoha, then where?
Uchiha Madara sighed, this was what happened when kids grow up, and their hearts go wild...
Uchiha Madara deftly performed hand seals, connecting to the information network covered by Zetsu across the Ninja World, searching meticulously...
"Found it, this Zetsu sensed Aomi's chakra..."
When the scene observed by Zetsu flooded into Uchiha Madara's vision, the heart of this Ninja World Asura trembled!
Aomi, unlike Senju Tobirama this time, Uchiha Madara saw the moment when Aomi wielded the Sharingan and split Kakuzu's body with extremely exquisite Fire Release Ninja Blade Technique!
Too Uchiha, too Izuna...
But now, the question in Uchiha Madara's mind was—how did Aomi get into a fight with such a monster!
This was extremely dangerous!
Uchiha Madara suddenly stood up, commanding through the connected Zetsu: "All Zetsu near the Land of Fire border, abandon your surveillance targets immediately, reinforce Aomi at all costs!"
"If necessary, you may expose your existence, only one condition, ensure Aomi's safety!"
At this moment.
Near the border of the Land of Fire, thousands of Zetsu moved through the earth, racing wildly towards Aomi's location!
Uchiha Madara watched the scene intensely, feeling the urge to go personally!