Chapter 259: The Five Hundred Million Ryo Man, Kakuzu
Seeing Kyosuke's arm extend toward him, a strange look appeared on Kakuzu's face. But he quickly realized that this unknown ability was a far cry from his own Earth Grudge Fear. It lacked the same flexibility and control.
With a single, powerful pulse from the heart-like mass on his arm, he sent Kyosuke flying once more.
"It's over!"
The masks of wind, fire, and lightning on his right arm gathered, and after a brief charge, unleashed a terrifying blast of chakra.
"Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot!"
The combined power of the three elements was on par with a Tailed Beast Bomb, and it was timed perfectly, just as Kyosuke was hitting the ground. Any other shinobi would have been dead or severely injured. But Kyosuke was a user of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Just as the attack was about to hit, he vanished, teleporting to another location.
Kakuzu had anticipated this, a mocking smile on his face. "I knew you would use your space-time jutsu to escape. But you can't get away."
As a veteran of the Warring States Period, he was more than familiar with the Second Hokage's signature technique. He had already located Kyosuke's marker and had one of his Earth Grudge Fear monsters lying in wait.
It was a perfect plan. But what happened next made his eyes go wide with disbelief.
Kyosuke had indeed used the Flying Thunder God, but he had not appeared at the marker. He had appeared... behind him.
With no time to think, Kakuzu lunged forward, trying to escape the impending attack. But the sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air, and Kyosuke's hand pierced through his chest, destroying another of his hearts.
The enraged Kakuzu stared at the shattered lightning mask on the ground and, without a word, unleashed his ultimate technique. The back of his cloak bulged, and the fire and wind masks merged with his shoulders.
"Earth Grudge Fear Mode, activate!"
"To be able to push me this far... you should be proud, Konoha brat," he said, a strange smile on his face.
"To receive the praise of a senior is an honor. But..."
"But what?"
"To be able to defeat you would bring me even greater joy," Kyosuke replied with a smile.
"Heh. Then by all means, try," Kakuzu sneered. The masks on his shoulders opened, and a torrent of fire and wind chakra began to gather.
"Fire Style: Searing Wave!"
"Wind Style: Pressure Damage!"
"Combination Ninjutsu: Scorch Style: Intense Pain!"
A massive sea of fire, amplified by the wind, rushed toward Kyosuke.
"Go on, brat. Let's see you dodge this one. Hahaha," Kakuzu laughed, his eyes fixed on Saori, who stood a short distance behind Kyosuke. If he dodged, she would be caught in the blast.
"Impressive. You're very impressive," Kyosuke said, a calm expression on his face. He had seen through Kakuzu's plan.
The curse mark on his neck unsealed, and the one and only Snake Sage of the shinobi world appeared once more.
"Sage Mode, activate!"
Like Kakuzu, he stood his ground. The snake shadows behind him mirrored his opponent's jutsu, unleashing a powerful blast of wind and fire Sage Art.
"Sage Art: Wind and Fire Gilded Blade!"
The two massive combination ninjutsu clashed in mid-air, the resulting explosion leveling the surrounding forest for several kilometers.
"Even without his Sharingan, the gap between us is still so great," Saori thought, her fists clenched as she watched the spectacular, yet terrifying, display of power. "Do I not even have the right to fight by your side anymore...?"
Sage Body... Tenseigan...
For the first time, a deep, burning desire for the power Kyosuke had spoken of ignited within her. Her pride would not allow her to be protected. Not even by him.
This is the last time... I swear it!
The two jutsu, after a brief stalemate, dissipated in a final, massive explosion.
Kakuzu, who had poured all of his remaining power into the attack, was now gasping for breath. In that single moment of weakness, Kyosuke's form appeared behind him once more.
This time, there was no escape.
Two images of his Kusanagi Sword flashed, shattering the masks on Kakuzu's shoulders. The real blade came to rest at his throat.
"You lose."
With all of his stolen hearts destroyed, Kakuzu was at his end. He closed his eyes, awaiting the final blow.
But it never came. He opened his eyes and saw that his opponent had sheathed his sword and was now looking at him with a strange, smiling expression.
"Why don't you kill me?" he asked.
"Hm?" Kyosuke blinked. "When did I say I was going to kill you?"
Then what the hell was all this for?! Kakuzu thought, his eye twitching.
"Actually..." Kyosuke said, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together, the universal sign for money. "I was hoping to borrow a little cash."
The color drained from Kakuzu's face. He stared at the shameless young man before him, then, through gritted teeth, asked, "How much?"
"Oh, you know... a few hundred million. A man who has fought the First Hokage can't possibly be short on cash, can he?" Kyosuke said, his voice light and casual, but with a hard, menacing edge on the last few words.
Money was important, but life was more so. And for a man who was practically immortal, money could always be earned back. With a pained grimace, he handed over a stack of promissory notes from a black market bank.
Kyosuke took them and saw that they were worth two hundred million ryo. And that was just what he carried on his person.
"This isn't enough," he said, a greedy look in his eyes.
"That's all I have! I'd rather die than give you another ryo!" Kakuzu growled.
"Is that so?" Kyosuke said, gesturing to Saori. "My companion here is a specialist in mind-reading. If she confirms that you have no more funds, I will let you go, as promised."
"...Shameless," Saori thought, her face a blank mask. But I like it.
Kakuzu looked at Saori and finally understood. She wasn't just a liability; she was a lie detector.
Cunning brat. All Konoha ninja are scum, he cursed inwardly. He reached into a hidden pocket and produced another stack of notes, worth three hundred million. He handed them over and stood there, his face a mask of stone, awaiting his fate. He knew that any promise Kyosuke had made was now worthless.
Kyosuke took the notes and, after a quick count, gave a satisfied nod. "Excellent. A bountiful harvest."
He exchanged a look with Saori, and the two of them gave Kakuzu one last, mocking smile before turning and walking away.
"...They just left?!"
Kakuzu stood there, alone and five hundred million ryo poorer, a look of utter bewilderment on his face.
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