"Damn it, what the hell is that!"
Akatsuchi and the others had certainly seen the two masks emerging from Kakuzu's back, their faces filled with surprise and shock.
As the masks released powerful Ninjutsu, they felt even more uneasy inside, realizing things were not looking good.
They originally thought Kakuzu was merely a ninja skilled in Taijutsu and close combat, but his current displayed abilities left Akatsuchi and the rest increasingly anxious.
Whether Kakuzu was proficient in Ninjutsu or only capable in melee could mean the difference between life and death for them.
So when Kakuzu covered his last weakness and demonstrated his talent in Ninjutsu, the Iwagakure group opposing him felt immense pressure.
Boom!! Hiss!!
Kakuzu's jutsu shot toward the group, producing an astonishing sound in the air—thunderclaps and flames reverberating through the atmosphere.
Whoosh!!
The rock shinobi's techniques collided with those released by Kakuzu's masks. They canceled each other out, bursting into clouds of scattered chakra particles.
Seeing this scene unfold, the remaining Iwagakure ninjas wore expressions of deep distress, and a hint of fear crept into their eyes as they looked upon Kakuzu.
"Now what? The enemy doesn't seem afraid of Ninjutsu attacks at all! Those two strange masks...and those black threads! No matter how you look at it, none of this appears normal!"
Beside Akatsuchi, one Iwa jonin swallowed hard, sweat appearing on his forehead.
As an elite Iwagakure jonin who'd endured countless battles and perilous situations, he should remain extremely calm—but the pressure coming from Kakuzu simply couldn't be ignored.
The unknown always spelled terror.
"It seems the enemy's intelligence isn't as straightforward as previously believed. Whether engaging up close or from afar, this opponent is truly formidable..."
Akatsuchi pursed his lips, his somewhat round face tightening up as his eyes locked onto Kakuzu's silhouette.
After releasing his technique, Kakuzu remained rooted to the spot without rushing forward recklessly, seemingly plotting something.
Soon, his body began gradually transforming. He stirred the Black Threads within him, sending pulses of dark energy through them—as if awakening a sleeping demon.
And as he subtly twisted his body in small motions, the numerous stitch-like cracks across his skin from [Earth Grudge Fear] started loosening up. Threadlike black tendrils began emerging from his body.
At this moment, Kakuzu appeared monstrous: his bloated body was covered in writhing black tendrils. Most disturbing was his back, now resembling a patch of wildly overgrown bushes...
"Waugh!"
The stone ninja stood frozen, neither advancing nor initiating another attack first, yet feeling even greater unease watching Kakuzu's transformation.
As Kakuzu opened his mouth wide in a vomiting motion, [Earth Grudge Fear] threads extended outward from his mouth, trailing along the ground.
Even more horrifying was how the threads sprouting from Kakuzu's back began to take shape—forming several humanoid figures. Each wore a mask, and a closer look revealed there were exactly four of them. They gradually split away from Kakuzu's body, becoming distinct Mask Beasts.
These were Kakuzu's heart hosts. Previously, Kitsuchi had crushed one heart, but Kakuzu had replenished it using Kitsuchi's own heart. As a result, there had been virtually no loss at all, leaving him in a fully restored state with all five hearts intact!
"DIE IN FEAR! Perhaps your hearts can serve as my spares!"
Kakuzu slowly lifted his head. The Earth Grudge Fear form he hadn't used against Kitsuchi before now revealed its fangs.
"This... what the hell is this?"
Several ninja widened their eyes, instinctively feeling the urge to retreat—but that moment of hesitation vanished instantly.
They were Iwagakure's elite—and no enemy, however powerful, would make them turn their backs, not even death itself.
Clomp! Clomp!
The four Mask Beasts gradually came to a stop beside Kakuzu, each turning the hollow black eye holes on their masks toward the Stone ninjas. Despite showing no emotions whatsoever, they frightened the rock ninjas even further.
Whoosh!
The Mask Beasts began swaying left and right, like gathering momentum before charging forward. Kakuzu's jade-green eyes also grew increasingly cold, his chakra surging and setting the surrounding threads fluttering wildly.
"He's coming!"
Akatsuchi lowered his stance, spotting the Mask Beasts detaching from Kakuzu and rushing forward. He called out a warning while his hands began forming hand seals, ghostly images flickering around him.
[Earth Release—Swamp of the Underworld!]
While alerting his comrades, Akatsuchi unleashed the ninjutsu.
Those Mask Beasts clearly weren't easy opponents, so maintaining distance was currently the best strategy.
With a slam of his palms, the land between himself and the approaching Mask Beasts instantly transformed into a swamp, turning solid ground into treacherous mire.
Plop!
The leading Mask Beast stepped onto the swampy terrain, immediately beginning to sink under its own weight and the effects of the technique.
"You actually think something like this can stop me? Pathetic!"
A smirk crossed Kakuzu's face. Immediately, he manipulated the other Mask Beasts to leap directly over the sinking one, using it as a foothold to propel themselves beyond the swamp's reach.
At the moment the last Mask Beast stepped on its trapped comrade, numerous black threads shot forth from the drowning creature's body and wrapped tightly around the others. Effortlessly, it too was pulled free, landing safely on solid ground.
[Fire Release—Yan Dan!]
[Lightning Release—Lightning Strike!]
[Water Release—Water Curtain Barrier!]
[Earth Release—Tǔ Liè Zhuǎn Zhǎng!]
Tu Yi landed, closing the distance toward the enemy. Instantly, the Mask Beasts launched their jutsu. Since the previous battle where Kitsuchi destroyed Kakuzu's wind-natured heart, Kakuzu had replaced it. Right now, apart from his original earth-natured heart, one of the Mask Beasts also housed an earth-elemental heart.
"Watch out!"
Akatsuchi dodged sideways, originally believing his ninjutsu could buy a few seconds to stall the enemy—only to see it effortlessly neutralized.
[Earth Release - Earth Wall Formation!]
[Earth Release - Land Turnover!]
Several Stone Shinobi weren't idle either, activating defensive jutsu. Multiple layers of protective techniques formed powerful shields directly in front of them.
Boom!
The Mask Beast's technique was blocked upon impact with the earthen wall and overturned ground.
Crack!
However, this resistance only lasted briefly before the defensive jutsu shattered.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Mask Beast darted forward directly, charging toward the stunned ninja.
In truth, Kakuzu hadn't completely severed his connection to the Mask Beast—black threads still linked the beast to his true body from hidden points.
As the original body, Kakuzu served not only as the commander directing the attack but also as the "battery," supplying chakra for all of the Mask Beast's techniques.
His decision to engage in close-range combat stemmed from his desire to conserve chakra. Against enemies whose upper limit was jonin-level power, using wide-area attacks through the Mask Beast seemed unnecessary. Furthermore, since these shinobi hailed from Iwagakure—a village renowned for defense and stability—close-range ninjutsu combat might actually be the optimal solution.
Close-range ninjutsu combat meant keeping opponents distracted with taijutsu while unleashing a series of small, low-cost jutsu capable of delivering fatal damage.
As long as its heart remained intact, the Mask Beast feared no ordinary close-range battle, which was precisely why Kakuzu made this choice.
Taking advantage of the moment when enemies were pursued by the Mask Beast, his eyes flickered sideways toward Hidan, who had engaged Deidara in battle. Things looked rather easy on his side—was that explosives-obsessed brat really giving him trouble?
Midair, Deidara attempted to halt Hidan's advance with detonation bombs, but Hidan had foolishly yet effectively countered, leaving Deidara at a disadvantage midair where Hidan closed the distance.
At this moment, Deidara was leaping off the clay bird, half his body already exposed beyond the bird's back—yet Hidan had already arrived right before him, swinging down his weapon.
Whoosh!
Hidan grinned viciously, revealing cruelty in his eyes as he curled his lips into an arrogant smirk, like someone who had already grasped victory itself.
He could already see the terror in that blond brat's eyes—an expression that thrilled both himself and Jashin.
"Die now!"
Hidan locked eyes with Deidara as his scythe descended, a surge of exhilaration rising within him.
Slice!
His blade struck precisely at Deidara's waist as desired, instantly tearing across his body under Hidan's strength.
That blow nearly cleaved Deidara's body in half, a massive wound ripping from one side of his waist to the other, leaving only a thin strip of flesh connecting the two halves.
"Haha, die! Just die!"
Hidan's eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty satisfaction as he observed the damage inflicted upon Deidara.
However, in the next instant, he regained his composure and calmness when he saw Deidara, whom he had nearly sliced in half, gradually turn white and transform into clay...
"Tch! A clay clone again? When did you—!"
Hidan retracted his weapon and immediately leaped several meters backward. Meanwhile, the Clay Bird beneath his feet, having lost control from Deidara, started veering off course and plummeting straight toward the ground like a crashing airplane.
Puchi!
In the next moment, the belly of the Clay Bird suddenly split open, and a figure emerged from within, launching itself sideways into the air before touching the ground.
The one who had sneaked out from the bird's belly was indeed Deidara, who had used the Clay Clone Technique to hide himself there earlier.
Before Hidan landed on the bird's back, he had already activated the Clay Clone Technique to protect himself from being cornered by Hidan and risking having his blood drawn—putting himself in danger.
As for all the actions prior, they were just part of another plan.
Initially, he had planned to lure Hidan off the bird using the clay clone, then detonate it right under him. However, Hidan's attack had caught him slightly off guard.
Even so, the current situation was still well within his grasp.
As he shot out from beneath the bird, he instantly distanced himself from it. Midair, he flipped his body around and locked eyes on Hidan, who was still standing atop the bird's back.
"Hm?"
Noticing that Deidara had now left the bird, Hidan frowned. He then spotted the [Hand Seal] Deidara formed with one hand—the finishing gesture he always used before detonating his clay explosives.
His mind snapped into focus, and his eyes darted down to the Clay Bird beneath him. An alarm bell rang inside him. Without hesitation, he leapt away from the bird's back, trying to widen the distance between himself and it. If he wasn't mistaken, this bird was about to explode!
"Katsu!"
Deidara noticed Hidan's movement. Once confident he was far enough away from the bird, he activated the explosion while making the classic sound effect, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Boom!
"Damn bastard!"
Just as Hidan's foot left the bird's back, a deafening explosion roared behind him. A powerful force slammed into his back, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood—his previous wounds tearing wider open.
Swoosh!
Being so close to the blast, Hidan didn't have time to react further. The explosion struck him head-on, sending him hurtling downward. While still midair, his weapon slipped from his grip, falling faster than his own body toward the ground below.
Thud!
Flipping gracefully, Deidara landed firmly on the ground. Immediately, both hands reached into the clay pouches at his waist, kneading them swiftly.
Soon after, he pulled his hands back out. The explosion just now wasn't that strong—it only used normal clay. Thus, he knew full well that the explosion wouldn't finish off Hidan, even if the latter had been very close to the blast.
Therefore, the moment he touched the ground, he was already preparing to use more clay.
Standing on the ground gave him a deep sense of unease. His opponent was incredibly strong, and close combat wasn't his forte. Therefore, he needed to get airborne again—fast.
"Deidara, watch out!"
A gust of wind roared from behind, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. In an instant, every hair on Deidara's body stood straight up.
He didn't need a warning—he already knew what was happening. Instantly, he sprang sideways off the ground and hurled the clay in his hands toward the unseen attacker behind him.
It was Kakuzu's Mask Beast that had attacked Deidara. The creature extended a mass of threads from its body, intertwining them as they shot toward Deidara's back. Fortunately, Deidara dodged just in time, avoiding any real damage.
Then, in the next second, Deidara narrowed his eyes and triggered the explosion: "Haa!"
The clay bombs exploded instantly, engulfing the black threads in flames and sending smoke billowing into the air, obscuring vision.
Kakuzu had just noticed Hidan's ongoing battle when, after Deidara landed, he seized the opportunity to deploy one of his Mask Beasts to attack him.
In his mind, among the remaining Stone Shinobi, only Deidara posed a real threat—the rest were just delays. And now, with Deidara dismounted from his bird, it was the perfect chance to eliminate him.
Originally, Kakuzu's attack should have struck the moment Deidara touched the ground, but it was intercepted by another Stone Ninja, failing to land a decisive blow and giving Deidara time to react.
As he leaped aside and detonated the bombs midair, Deidara's other hand spat out swelling clay onto the ground. Guided by chakra, it quickly shaped into a bird.
Using the explosion to blind his enemy, Deidara wasted no time, leaping forward and landing precisely on the newly-formed bird's back. He then guided the bird skyward, creating more space between himself and his enemy.
Hidan hadn't been blown away entirely, but at point-blank range, he was still severely wounded. Within moments, his senses dulled, and upon landing, he crashed hard into the ground—unable to counterattack immediately.
"Damn it!"
Kakuzu growled under his breath as he redirected his Mask Beast's assault toward the ninja who had blocked his strike. He decided to abandon further attacks on Deidara.
That missed moment cost him the perfect chance to end Deidara for good. Although he hadn't even used his full strength yet, continuing the fight now felt less certain.
Watching Deidara ride his bird higher into the sky, Kakuzu paused before recalling all the Mask Beasts controlled by Earth Grudge Fear and moving instead toward where Hidan had fallen.
There, a flicker of White Zetsu's presence flashed briefly.
"How is it?"
Kakuzu frowned as he looked at Hidan, who had been helped up by a White Zetsu Clone.
Hidan looked terrible—his body riddled with bloody wounds, making him a pitiful sight.
"Thankfully that bastard's Explosion wasn't enough to kill me. I'll definitely offer him to Lord Jashin!"
Hidan shot a venomous glare at Deidara, who was slowly moving toward the Stone Shinobi side.
Though he hated to admit it, he had already lost the strength to keep fighting. The damage from the Explosion wasn't as simple as it seemed.
"I've already taken the target away while you guys were busy fighting. So if you want to retreat now, that's acceptable."
The White Zetsu Clone smirked slightly, speaking casually as if he already knew Kakuzu's plan.
"Is that so?"
Kakuzu turned his gaze toward the fissure but couldn't see inside. However, the target's chakra had indeed become very weak.
"Then we'll stop here for today. Hidan seems unable to fight anymore, and that blond kid's ability is somewhat troublesome—it's not suitable to continue battling."
Kakuzu nodded and extended his hand. Earth Grudge Fear threads crawled along his fingers and slithered over to Hidan's wounded body.
"Tch! Can't you be gentler?!"
Hidan let out a sharp cry of pain as the black threads slowly stitched up his wounds. [Earth Grudge Fear] threads had a unique ability—one that worked like an effective medical technique.
"Hmph! Then why don't you just die?"
Kakuzu snorted coldly without minding Hidan's complaints, continuing to manipulate the threads to simply patch up those wounds.
"Akatsuchi, are you okay?"
As another enemy reappeared, Deidara steered his Clay Bird to circle above Akatsuchi and the others.
Kakuzu's recent attack hadn't caused any deaths yet, although several ninjas had sustained various injuries—pierced or wrapped by the Mask Beast's threads.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you?"
Akatsuchi gave a slight nod, keeping most of his focus on the three enemies across the battlefield, especially the pale figure who had just appeared.
That eerie whiteness looked almost sculpted, like one of Deidara's clay creations come to life.
"I'm fine too. Be careful, enemy reinforcements have arrived."
Deidara whispered softly. He and Akatsuchi got along well—they had both trained under Onoki for some time, sharing a fellow apprentice bond.
"Well then, prepare to fall back. White Zetsu—you cover our escape. Don't let that flying brat tail us."
Kakuzu paused in thought, glancing at Deidara before addressing White Zetsu.
Since the target had already been retrieved first, there was no need for them to stay here longer. Normally they would kill all these Stone Shinobi, but today's circumstances were special. Hidan had suffered severe injuries and temporarily lost his combat capability, and the opposing side still had someone who could fly—making the battle feel frustrating and unprofitable.
Therefore, stopping here and disengaging was the right decision since the tailed beast retrieval mission had already been completed.
"Alright, you can leave safely—I'll hold them off."
The White Zetsu Clone looked at Deidara, speaking in a disarmingly mild tone, as if merely commenting on something trivial.
So it's just a clone. Its combat strength is barely Chunin-level. But when it comes to annoying tactics, it's actually pretty effective — using its unusual abilities, it can temporarily drive off these Iwa ninja.
"Hmm."
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