The next moment.
Countless small masked figures emerged from Kakuzu's body, coalescing behind him into a gigantic masked entity.
"Monster!!!"
A Grass ninja screamed, attempting to flee.
But it was already too late.
Kakuzu had completed his hand seals.
"Fire Release: Devastating Fire!"
A torrent of flames erupted from the massive mask's maw, engulfing the entire Hidden Grass Village in an inferno. There was no space left for escape.
"Help—"
A Grass ninja tried to run, but his body was already consumed by flames. Those around him couldn't save him—they, too, were burning alive.
Countless Grass ninjas wailed as the fire swept over them, dragging them into death.
At this moment, the raging flames devoured every structure.
Two fleeing Genin looked up in terror as a collapsing building loomed over them.
"Boom!"
The rubble buried them.
A group of Grass ninjas, desperate to escape the firestorm, realized with horror that there was no way out. They turned to see the sea of flames surging toward them.
Staring hopelessly at the approaching inferno, they understood:
"Hidden Grass is finished."
The fire raged unchecked, the village sealed within the barrier. Even escape had become an impossible dream.
"What have you done!!?"
A furious roar echoed through the ruins.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!" Multiple voices shouted in unison.
A massive deluge of water surged across the village, battling the flames.
By the time the fire subsided, it was already over.
Only a dozen or so survivors remained, encircling Kakuzu.
Only Jōnin could withstand such an inferno. The heat alone made extinguishing the flames impossible for Chūnin—their Water Release techniques were useless. They could only perish in despair.
One Jōnin collapsed to his knees.
"It's over... all of it!"
Hidden Grass could now be declared annihilated. With only a handful of ninjas left, the village could never recover.
Hatred burned in their eyes as they glared at Kakuzu.
This was a vendetta of life and death.
"I'll kill you!!"
A masked elder, his head adorned with a beast-like helm, charged at Kakuzu with a long blade. But what awaited him was an ocean of black threads.
The elder, skilled enough to hold his title, weaved through the threads with precision. Yet the sheer volume was overwhelming. Just as he was about to be swallowed by the onslaught—
"Earth Release: Chain Binding Technique!"
Another elder appeared behind Kakuzu, launching his jutsu.
Chains erupted from the ground, swiftly binding Kakuzu's limbs.
The massive masked entity's threads morphed into colossal arms, lashing out at the elder. The elder leaped back, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Meanwhile, the other elders and Jōnin completed their hand seals.
"Lightning Release: Heavenly Thunder!"
A bolt of lightning streaked down from the sky, striking the giant mask. The entity shuddered, collapsing toward Kakuzu.
Kakuzu struggled, but the chains held fast. He could only watch as the monstrous mask crushed him beneath its weight.
"It's over."
An elder fell to his hands and knees, gazing at the apocalyptic devastation.
"Gone... everything is gone."
All they had fought for had been reduced to ashes by a single Fire Release technique.
Before he could sink further into grief—
Two hands shot out from the ground, seizing his legs. The elder's pupils contracted in shock.
"Earth Release: Earth Burial Technique!"
He was dragged underground without resistance.
At the same time, the fallen mask entity stirred, its maw splitting open as crackling lightning gathered within.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
A massive spear of lightning erupted from its mouth, hurtling toward the remaining Grass ninjas.
Though they reacted quickly, the sheer scale of Kakuzu's Dead River-enhanced technique left no room for evasion.
"Boom!!!"
The lightning consumed the ruins of Hidden Grass.
This time, there was no escape. The survivors were reduced to dust.
Had they united and countered with Wind Release, they might have neutralized Kakuzu's Lightning Release. Though his techniques now covered vast areas, their raw power hadn't increased drastically. A coordinated assault from multiple Jōnin could have offset even his strongest Lightning Release.
But they never realized the solution.
In the end, Grass ninjas were no match for the elites of major villages.
As the lightning faded, Kakuzu emerged from the ground, clutching the head of the grieving elder.
"I've grown much stronger."
He flexed his fist. Against his past self, victory wouldn't be effortless, but it would be decisive.
However...
"I didn't absorb many lives this time."
After leaving the prison, he'd only managed to claim a dozen or so lives. The rest had perished in his Fire and Lightning Releases.
Even he was surprised by the scale of destruction.
"I wonder how I'd fare against Hashirama Senju now."
Kakuzu pondered.
He compared their strengths.
Then he gave up.
Still no match.
"Why did the shinobi world ever produce such monsters?"
Even Tobirama Senju, who once dominated the era, might now be on par with him—at least in theory. Without outliers like Madara and Hashirama, Kakuzu could hold his own.
But he'd never actually fought Tobirama. The man's Water Release was on another level. Kakuzu was barely scratching the surface.
Reality was harsher than expectations.
Kakuzu glanced at the smoldering ruins.
Black threads slithered from his body, scouring the area for any survivors.
But after two such cataclysmic techniques, the chances of any Grass ninja remaining were zero.
Land of Grass
Daimyo's Palace
The portly Daimyo leisurely finished his dinner and, with servants in tow, made his way to his chambers.
"The new one today is quite beautiful."
He rubbed his hands together. Everything in the Land of Grass belonged to him—women included.
Though this one had resisted fiercely.
And he liked them feisty.
Dismissing the servants, he pushed open the door.
"Here I come, darling."
On the bed lay a slender, unconscious girl, bound tightly.
And seated beside her was a figure in a black mask.
"Who are you!?"
The Daimyo barked.
Kin turned, the tomoe of his Sharingan spinning rapidly, and raised a hand in greeting.
"Yo."
(End of Chapter)