Izumi's cold eyes locked onto Kakuzu, her expression devoid of emotion, as though he were nothing more than an insect.
"Is he the one who invaded the Land of Waves?" she asked, her voice carrying a faint chill.
"Yes," Naruto replied softly. "His name is Kakuzu—a very dangerous bounty hunter."
Kakuzu's strength wasn't remarkable compared to true Kage-level shinobi. His longevity came from more than a century of experience, vast chakra reserves, and mastery of countless jutsu.
But what made him truly terrifying was Earth Grudge Fear—a forbidden technique that allowed him to stitch new hearts into his body, granting him a twisted form of immortality. So long as he avoided recklessness, Kakuzu could keep living—and growing stronger—forever.
That same long life had taught him caution. And right now, caution screamed that he was in danger. Against the young man before him, Kakuzu already felt pressured. With Izumi and another powerhouse joining in, the odds were grim.
Against ordinary shinobi—even Kage-level—Kakuzu could exploit ignorance of his abilities, trading a single heart to claim his opponent's life. But now…
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
Twin blasts of fire and wind tore forward—two of Kakuzu's signature techniques.
Even as the jutsu erupted, Kakuzu flickered away with the Body Flicker Technique, retreating at full speed.
But everyone present was a master. The moment Kakuzu moved, his intent was already laid bare.
"Yuu, stay here and guard Tarou," Naruto ordered sharply. "Izumi and I will handle the pursuit. No one invades my territory and leaves unscathed!"
The next instant, Naruto and Izumi vanished like phantoms.
Kakuzu, realizing he was being chased, cursed under his breath and rapidly weaved signs.
Water Clone Technique!
Two clones materialized, blocking Naruto and Izumi's path.
Izumi's Mangekyō spun to life. With a single glare, both clones dissolved into nothingness.
Kakuzu's eyes widened in shock. His scalp tingled. What in the world was that ability?!
He no longer wanted to fight. If given the chance again, he would never have come to the Land of Waves.
What a waste—if he died here, who would spend all his money? The greatest tragedy was not death itself, but dying with unspent wealth.
Naruto glanced at Izumi, concern flickering in his eyes.
"Izumi, you don't need to use your Mangekyō Sharingan. His clones would only delay us for a few seconds at most."
"…Sorry, Naruto-kun. I was too hasty," Izumi admitted softly.
"It's fine if he escapes. Right now, I don't have a way to counter the Mangekyō's side effects. Use it only when absolutely necessary."
Naruto's gaze lingered on her—her beauty, her resolve. He knew Izumi wasn't acting recklessly. She wanted to protect what they had built together. The Land of Waves was like a second home to her.
They sped across the coastline, their speed carrying them to the open sea in moments. Naruto had already drained much of his chakra rushing from the Land of Fire and sought to conserve what remained.
Izumi, however, only felt warmth stir in her heart. He would rather let the enemy go than see her suffer?
Her aura surged, her speed spiking as she shot past Naruto, rapidly closing the gap on Kakuzu.
Naruto blinked in surprise. Did I say the wrong thing? Why is she pushing herself harder?
Kakuzu sensed the deadly intent pressing from behind, and his heart clenched in dread. Was she holding back until now? Or is this some secret jutsu?
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A roaring dragon of flame surged forward, bearing down on him.
"Damn it!"
Kakuzu had no choice. To keep his speed, he unleashed one of his strongest defenses.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
His body hardened to iron, prepared to endure the inferno.
The flaming dragon crashed into him, engulfing Kakuzu in fire.
The scorching flames slammed into the surface of the water, instantly evaporating a massive cloud of mist.
The scent of charred flesh rose in the air—not human, but fish caught in the attack. Scorched bodies floated lifelessly on the waves, while those closer to the inferno had already turned to ash and charcoal.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
A torrent of water surged upward, forming a towering wall that roared toward Izumi.
At that moment, Naruto arrived at her side.
Though Naruto's true body was powerful, his Shadow Clones lacked the same resilience. And because his training spanned so many disciplines, his progress in any one area was slower than if he had specialized. Even so, to others his strength was nothing short of extraordinary.
In Naruto's view, with sheer persistence (Heaven rewards diligence), even ordinary shinobi could reach incredible heights by dedicating themselves to one path. But Naruto's ambitions were far broader.
While spreading himself thin slowed his growth, it also laid the foundation for the rapid rise of the Umbrella Organization. Shisui's abilities were invaluable, but Naruto himself was the true pillar. Every skill he acquired, every technique he mastered, would one day converge into overwhelming power.
Izumi evaded the Water Wall with ease—but she failed to notice the Water Clone hiding in its shadow. Lack of battlefield experience left her open.
The clone lunged, kunai flashing, aiming for her back.
In that instant, Naruto appeared, intercepting the strike. His blade deflected the kunai, then sliced cleanly through the clone's body, reducing it to a harmless splash.
Naruto's eyes flicked to Izumi. If he hadn't intervened, she might have been nicked—or worse, forced to rely on her Mangekyō Sharingan. And that cost was far too steep.
Overusing the Mangekyō could eventually lead to blindness.
During that brief moment, Kakuzu was anything but idle. He had already identified Izumi as the weak point—formidable in raw power, but lacking the hardened instincts of a veteran.
The black threads of Earth Grudge Fear erupted from his body in a writhing mass, surging toward her.
Naruto's hand blazed with chakra, forming a spinning sphere of destruction.
"Rasengan!"
He hurled himself forward, the attack aimed squarely at Kakuzu.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed in recognition.
"The Fourth Hokage's Rasengan! You… you're from Konoha?"
The technique was infamous. During the era of the Fourth Hokage, the Yellow Flash had dominated battlefields with the Flying Thunder God Technique and Rasengan. No hand signs, no wasted motion—just speed and raw power. Wherever he appeared, scores of enemies fell within moments.
Kakuzu's expression darkened. If the boy was truly tied to Konoha, then the Umbrella Organization's existence took on an entirely new, terrifying meaning.
Could this group have been a hidden project of Konoha all along?
The bounty exchange's intelligence had already suggested that Umbrella's goals were anything but simple, gradually encroaching on the lives of civilians across the Five Great Nations.
But if this was Konoha's doing, then it was a scheme decades in the making—a plot to seize not only influence but the very hearts of the people.
Kakuzu's battle-honed instincts screamed of the consequences such a strategy could bring.
But he was still underestimating.
Naruto's vision wasn't to slowly tighten the noose. His plan was far more audacious.
Once the Akatsuki revealed themselves and drew the world's attention, Naruto would strike with overwhelming speed, uniting all lands under one banner.
The shinobi era—the era created by Senju Hashirama himself—would be brought to an end by Naruto's hand.
Only unification could bring true, lasting peace.
...
TN:
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