Kakuzu stared at the massive box before him.
It resembled some kind of treasure chest, with four faces—joy, anger, sorrow, and delight—carved into its sides.
He couldn't care less about it. It wasn't something he could exchange for money.
Once Kin returned, he could deal with it himself. For now, leaving it here was fine.
He wasn't responsible for hauling it around.
After scanning his surroundings, he confirmed no Grass ninjas remained. Every one he'd encountered had been devoured, adding another life to his collection.
Yet Kakuzu didn't rush to leave. Instead, he began combing through every corner.
After all, his mission was to leave no survivors.
Though the prison was still under construction, aside from the main entrance, there were no other exits—nor any traces of remaining Grass ninjas.
The only good news? He'd found the way out.
Finding the exit proved one thing: Kakuzu was not directionally challenged!!
A massive iron gate stood in his path, but he didn't charge through immediately.
Instead, he turned and raised a hand.
"Blood River Technique: Scouting Jutsu!"
Black threads surged endlessly from his body, flooding the area around him before spreading deeper into the prison.
Originally, this technique required using blood as a medium to absorb the life force and chakra of others, stockpiling vitality.
Kakuzu had modified it, using his Earth Grudge Fear as the core. Now, it no longer absorbed blood—but hearts.
It also incorporated elements of space-time ninjutsu, allowing him to store vast quantities of hearts.
The boost to his combat power was exponential.
Soon, his black threads saturated every inch of the prison, leaving no corner unchecked—including hidden compartments and the Grass ninjas lurking within.
"Found you."
The threads retracted like a tidal wave, funneling back into his body at blinding speed. Only a single strand remained, tethering his arm to the hidden enemies.
They'd sensed danger and concealed themselves, but it was futile.
In an instant, Kakuzu dashed along the thread's path.
He slowed only upon reaching the surveillance room, stopping before a wall.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand, and countless miniature masks coalesced around it.
"Chakra Cannon!"
A torrent of chakra energy erupted, engulfing everything in its path in a blinding blue-white radiance.
When the light faded, a colossal tunnel had been blasted through the wall, revealing the moonlight and the chill night air beyond.
As for the surviving ninjas?
Kakuzu doubted anyone could withstand that blast.
"With just this many hearts, the power increase is… staggering."
Even he was shocked by the cannon's might.
Stepping over the rubble, he exited the prison.
The surrounding buildings had been reduced to wreckage by the shockwave.
Figures emerged from the shadows—perched on debris, trees, and the remnants of structures.
Dozens of ninjas encircled Kakuzu.
"You've gotta be kidding me…"
One of them gaped at the tunnel carved through the prison.
That facility had been built to withstand anything. Yet this man had obliterated it in a single strike.
What kind of jutsu could do that?
Every eye locked onto Kakuzu in terror.
His gaze swept across their faces. There was no time to cross-reference bounties now.
"Any of you got a price on your heads?"
Might as well ask. A little extra cash never hurt.
The ninjas exchanged bewildered glances.
A high-ranking Grass ninja, positioned atop a pile of rubble, spoke coldly:
"What's the meaning of this? Hidden Grass has done nothing to provoke you."
They'd kept their heads down during the Second War. Where had this monster come from?
This felt unfair.
"Guess no one's talking."
Kakuzu sighed. Easy money was off the table.
The ninjas before him weren't pushovers—many were elites. Holding back wasn't an option.
"Listen—"
The high-ranking ninja tried to reason with him, still shaken by the prison's destruction.
No one in Hidden Grass could survive an attack like that.
But Kakuzu had no patience for diplomacy. His hand shot up, and threads erupted like a storm.
The Grass ninjas reacted instantly, raising kunai to block.
Despite their thin appearance, the threads were impossibly durable. Sparks flew as metal clashed against them.
"Like steel…"
A ninja barely finished his thought before threads coiled around his ankle, yanking him into the air. More strands pierced his torso.
"Earth Release: Ground Splitter!"
The earth beneath Kakuzu's feet fissured, leaving him momentarily suspended.
"Lightning Release: Bursting Thunder!"
Over a dozen Grass ninjas unleashed the same jutsu. Countless lightning orbs hurtled toward Kakuzu.
He cocooned himself in threads, forming a black sphere.
The orbs detonated, engulfing him in a sea of electricity.
When the light faded and the threads dispersed, Kakuzu's smoking body plummeted downward.
"Got him!"
A Grass ninja lunged with a sword, aiming to finish the job.
"Wait—!"
Someone noticed Kakuzu's fingers twitch.
Too late.
Threads lashed out, ensnaring the attacker and dragging him into Kakuzu's body.
Kakuzu stood, and a small, mask-like creature—no larger than a palm—emerged from his arm before clattering to the ground.
"Lost one life."
"Can't underestimate numbers."
Still, compared to before—when he'd only had five lives—he now possessed dozens, all courtesy of the Grass ninjas.
Hidden Rain's strict mortality quotas had limited his stockpile.
"This monster…!"
The Grass ninjas roared in fury.
They unleashed a relentless barrage of jutsu, disregarding chakra conservation or elemental affinities.
Hidden Grass had never emphasized such nuances. Their only goal was to bury Kakuzu under an avalanche of attacks.
The ground visibly cratered under the onslaught.
Without the Basic Internal Energy Technique, their chakra reserves were meager. Soon, they neared exhaustion.
"Did we get him!?"
They stared at the dust-choked crater where Kakuzu had stood.
As the haze cleared, only emptiness remained.
Their relief was short-lived.
Kakuzu materialized behind the high-ranking Jōnin, threads erupting from his body.
Before the man could react, he was swallowed whole.
Another miniature mask creature tumbled from Kakuzu's shoulder.
Now perched atop the rubble, Kakuzu gazed down at the remaining ninjas.
"Dead River: Standard Release."
Beneath his tattered cloak, countless masks surfaced—packed together in a grotesque, writhing mass.
(End of Chapter)