Kakuzu was still tied up with Kakashi and Kurenai.
If his partner lost first, the situation would spiral completely out of control.
During their earlier exchanges, the blade-wielding Akatsuki member had already realized something—
Might Guy wasn't particularly skilled in ninjutsu.
That was the opening.
He forced Guy back with a heavy slash, then retreated toward a nearby river.
Guy immediately gave chase, brimming with fighting spirit.
"A battle between men allows no retreat!"
"I won't forgive anyone who betrays burning youth!"
The Akatsuki member didn't care about youth or passion.
He was simply baiting his opponent.
Guy charged in headfirst, swinging his nunchaku straight into the man's face.
"Twin Assault Fang!"
Two crushing blows—
The man coughed blood and was sent flying.
Just as Guy thought he had won—
The body splashed into water.
"Substitution Technique?"
Even if his thinking was simple, Guy recognized basic ninjutsu.
He scowled.
"Where did you run off to?!"
A massive blade suddenly descended from above.
"Die!"
Guy responded with brute force.
"Leaf Boulder Lift!"
An elbow strike smashed the attacker midair.
But—
It was another clone.
"Got you."
A cold voice whispered behind him.
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!"
Guy's expression changed.
A trap?!
Water encased him instantly.
This was a classic Hidden Mist technique—highly binding.
Even elite Jonin would struggle to escape quickly.
The enemy formed another seal.
"Water Clone Jutsu."
His chakra was draining fast, but he committed to finishing it.
His clone began forming a complex series of seals.
Judging from the sequence—
This would decide the battle.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A towering surge of water roared forward.
Inside the prison, Guy crossed his arms.
Green light erupted from his body.
"Eight Gates—Sixth Gate, Gate of View—Open!"
The water prison trembled violently.
The Akatsuki ninja's eyes widened.
What was this?!
In the next instant—
Guy shattered the prison.
His fists blurred like wind.
He punched straight through the crashing waterfall.
The man tried one last desperate slash—
But Guy vanished.
Reappearing in front of him, Guy kicked him high into the sky.
Then leapt to the same height.
Arms spread like wings—
Fists ignited with friction heat.
"Morning Peacock!"
A storm of flaming punches rained down.
The blade-wielder was overwhelmed midair—
And obliterated.
Kakuzu's Unease
Kakashi and Kurenai remained steady.
But Kakuzu was stunned.
That ridiculous green-suited watermelon head—
That level of taijutsu?!
He felt a rare flicker of unease.
Two Jonin were already troublesome.
Add that monster of pure physical combat—
The situation was turning ugly.
He silently cursed his partner.
"Useless trash…"
He needed to turn this around.
"Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear!"
Black threads erupted from the seams across his body.
They lashed out like living tendrils.
Kakashi and Kurenai slashed them apart with kunai—
Only for more threads to burst from underground.
Too fast.
Their limbs were bound.
"Damn it!"
Kakuzu seized the opening.
"Combination Ninjutsu: Flame Wind Chaos Wave!"
Kurenai hurriedly formed seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
But pure water couldn't withstand wind-enhanced flames.
The barrier cracked under pressure.
"Die."
At that critical instant—
Kakashi's potential exploded.
He pulled up his forehead protector.
His left eye spun violently.
"Sharingan—Mangekyō!"
"Kamui!"
A massive space-time vortex twisted open.
Kakuzu's triple-nature chakra cannon—
Was sucked into another dimension.
Akihito's eyes gleamed.
So this was the power born from Obito's eye.
Indeed—
Remarkable.
Kakuzu Refuses to Back Down
Kakuzu was shaken.
Space-time ninjutsu was rare even among great villages.
He had never faced it before.
But after recovering, he understood.
"Uchiha's Sharingan…"
"So you were hiding this."
It was grudging acknowledgment.
Still—
He wouldn't retreat.
Because the goods they carried—
Were real.
High-value merchandise guarded by three Konoha Jonin?
Possibly even a daimyo's convoy.
High risk.
High reward.
Kakuzu chose greed.
He glanced at Guy—
Clearly fatigued after opening the Sixth Gate.
Good.
Still manageable.
"Hand over the valuables."
"I may spare your lives."
Kakashi and Kurenai were speechless.
After all this—
Still about money?
Akihito chuckled.
Powerful ninja often had strange hobbies.
Madara liked dancing.
Hashirama loved gambling.
Tobirama played with forbidden jutsu.
Jiraiya wrote adult novels.
Akatsuki itself was a circus.
Compared to them—
Kakuzu was downright grounded.
"No dreams. Only money."
Kakuzu attacked again.
"Combination Ninjutsu: Strange Mask Explosive Flame!"
Kakashi and Kurenai dodged instead of blocking—
And that was exactly what Kakuzu wanted.
He bypassed them entirely—
And lunged toward Akihito.
The goods were mostly on him.
Seize the leader. Take the money. Leave.
Perfect plan.
Kakashi and Kurenai exchanged glances.
He was going to rob Akihito?
Truly fearless in pursuit of wealth.
Akihito blinked.
So that's it.
He locked onto the bait.
I showed some money to lure you—
Not so you'd mistake me for Tsunade-level prey.
"Threaded Fist!"
Kakuzu avoided large-scale jutsu to protect the cargo.
He launched a precise, lethal punch.
Akihito calmly activated Fire Release Chakra Mode.
The fist struck—
And did nothing.
Kakuzu's pupils contracted.
That brief contact told him—
Something was very wrong.
Akihito removed his pack and tossed it aside.
"You want this?"
"Hurt me first."
Kakuzu sneered.
"Arrogant brat."
"Think I can't deal with you?"
Akihito smiled.
Try.
Kakuzu's temper snapped.
Even Pain had never treated him so lightly.
"Secret Art—"
Chakra surged.
A triple-nature fusion cannon formed.
Even weakened, it still combined three elements.
Hiruzen combining two natures had shocked the ANBU.
Kakuzu's triple fusion?
On another level.
He aimed directly at Akihito.
"You're finished."
A triumphant grin crept onto his face.
Now you understand my power.
Too late for regret.
✨ Want to read ahead?
You can access advanced chapters on Patreon ♥
patreon.com/c/InkWhispers151
Every bit of support helps unlock bonus chapters and keeps the story moving.
💬 10 reviews → extra chapter
💙 100 Power Stones → extra chapter
Thank you for supporting my work! 💫