Kakuzu. The name seemed to have some kind of magic.
At least, when this group of Takigakure ninjas heard the captain's call, they immediately stopped, watching as a tall and sturdy teammate walked out.
"We are Konoha ninjas," Hiruzen stepped forward, hoping to use Konoha's name to negotiate. "Konoha has no hostility towards Takigakure..."
"Kill them!" The ninjas of Takigakure didn't care. They had lived deep in the mountains for a long time and didn't care about what was called a great nation's ninja village. All they had to do was carry out their leader's orders.
A group of them quickly rushed towards Hiruzen and Danzo, with only the named Kakuzu rushing towards Shirou. For no other reason, Kakuzu's strength was the strongest in Takigakure. Therefore, he had always been used to handle the most troublesome problems.
"Die," Kakuzu held a kunai. His speed was extremely fast. He used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Shirou and stabbed towards his heart.
"Lord Emiya!" A sense of fear arose in Hiruzen's heart. Even Danzo watched in horror.
Is this a joke! Their mission had only just begun!
They couldn't imagine what kind of reprimand they would face if Shirou were killed. They desperately wanted to rush over, but were blocked by the Takigakure ninjas.
However, at this tense moment, Shirou's face was not panicked at all. He even managed to squeeze in the time to accept a newly refreshed mission request.
Time was tight.
This request had come a bit suddenly. There might not be such an opportunity again. Coincidentally, his Impure World Reincarnation state was very suitable for completing it, because the reward was very likely to be a truly immortal object.
[Unfinished Requests (3/3)]
[S-Rank Request: Display the ability of an immortal body in front of Kakuzu.]
As Shirou accepted this mission, his heart was pierced by the kunai in Kakuzu's hand. This scene instantly caused many people's faces to change drastically.
"Wei Yuan..." Hiding underground, Black Zetsu couldn't believe this was happening.
"Is this a joke?" Hiding in the forest, Madara watched with some surprise. He couldn't believe Shirou would be so helpless against this group.
"Lord Emiya..." Hiruzen and Danzo really felt like the sky was falling.
"What's going on?" Only Kakuzu, who had just pierced Shirou's heart, felt that something was not right. He had already seen dust and debris churning where the heart should be.
The next moment, a loud explosion sounded. A figure wearing red plate armor descended from the sky. "Get lost!"
Madara realized there was no point in hiding anymore. He kicked away Kakuzu and carefully observed Shirou's condition.
Only when he saw the dust and debris re-gather at Shirou's heart did he finally relax. It seemed he would not die. Madara even internally scorned Tobirama.
The jutsu invented by that insidious villain was, as expected, always so despicable. Once resurrected by this jutsu, the deceased could neither truly live nor truly die!
"That's... Madara Uchiha!" Danzo's voice immediately exploded. When Madara appeared, the two boys really felt that the sky had completely fallen, even worse than Shirou's death. Even the Takigakure ninjas remembered that prominent figure from the Warring States period.
A look of terror appeared on everyone's faces. Ever since Madara appeared in Konoha, the news of the search for him had spread throughout the ninja world. He was defined as a rogue ninja.
When the Takigakure ninjas saw Madara appear, their will to fight quickly diminished. They had a faint feeling that something big and bad was about to happen.
What if he just started killing people on a whim?
"Kakuzu! Kill him!" the Takigakure captain shouted, then immediately led his other subordinates to retreat quickly. "We'll retreat first. The leader's mission is up to you. Don't forget to kill these two brats!"
"Abandoning their own companion, that's too shameless, isn't it?" Hiruzen was dumbfounded. Even Danzo was shocked.
Who abandons their teammate to die as a diversion?
But... it seemed they should retreat too. He suddenly realized why the ANBU hadn't stopped this group. Perhaps they had already been killed by Madara. In that case, they had no backup. "Hiruzen, we should retreat too," he reminded him in a low voice.
Hiruzen hesitated. However, just as they were hesitating, the abandoned Kakuzu had already silently picked up his kunai. This sturdy man charged towards Madara without hesitation, as if willing to risk his life for the village's order.
"You," Madara was a bit surprised by the Takigakure ninjas' actions, but even more surprised by Kakuzu. "Have you lost your mind?"
This guy... is he a complete idiot? Didn't he see that his companions had abandoned him?
Kakuzu's gaze remained firm. He swung his kunai and stabbed at Madara. His wrist was instantly grabbed and twisted. The kunai fell. He lifted his foot to kick, and his leg was also broken.
The gap between them was too great. Madara raised his hand and grabbed his neck, looking as if he was about to kill him on the spot.
Just at this moment, Shirou's voice interrupted. "To kill someone in front of a medical ninja is undoubtedly a desecration of our ninja way. Is there anything I can do to help that would make you spare his life?"
Madara looked at Shirou with some confusion. Kakuzu's gaze was even more confused, as if asking why he was still alive, and why he would spare him.
"Lord Emiya!" Joy appeared in Hiruzen's heart.
"Hiruzen!" Danzo quickly grabbed his sleeve, hoping he would calm down.
"Hmph," Madara contemptuously released his grip on Kakuzu's neck. To him, Kakuzu was just a tool to test Shirou's temperament. His life didn't matter. Moreover, this person's life could be exchanged for a promise from Shirou.
Kakuzu got up miserably. Without a word, he limped and tried to leave. After such a humiliating battle, he didn't know what to say, nor did he know the meaning of his own life.
"Wait," Shirou suddenly called out. Everyone looked at him. "Your injuries," his face was expressionless, even deathly still due to his reanimated body.
However, his figure, illuminated by the setting sun, seemed exceptionally holy. "To let an injured person leave with their injuries in front of a medical ninja is a bit too improper..."