"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
With a lithe and agile leap, a ferocious water dragon erupted from Terumi Mei's mouth.
The roaring dragon swept across a vast swath of Sand ninja in an instant.
In the next moment, as Mei formed hand seals once more, the raging water dragon transformed into a whip of water coiled around her hand. With a single lash, a deafening explosion resounded like a thunderclap on a clear day. The Sand ninja charging forward were instantly torn apart, their bodies flung backward, their fates unknown!
Mei's eyes gleamed with icy resolve.
For the sake of Kirigakure, for the village she deeply loved.
She had to bear the label of a traitor, leveraging Konoha's strength to eliminate the shadowy forces behind Kirigakure's leadership.
This path was destined to be arduous, fraught with hardship, and misunderstood by others.
But...
She had no choice unless she truly abandoned Kirigakure.
But...
That was impossible.
For Kirigakure, she was willing to sacrifice everything.
"Fire Release: Head Carving Technique!"
"Wind Release: Crushing Harm!"
The wind fueled the fire, and the fire surged with the wind. A towering wave of flames, like a tsunami, roared toward Mei with devastating force!
Several Konoha ninja were engulfed by the fiery tsunami, their screams swallowed by the blaze. Mei's expression remained resolute as she swung her water whip toward the "tsunami" with a powerful throw!
At the same time, her hands formed seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
A torrential flood burst forth from the water whip, instantly halting the fiery tsunami!
"All of you, fall back!"
Mei glanced at the surrounding Konoha ninja, raising a hand to issue the command.
The Konoha ninja hesitated for a moment, casting glances at Mei before retreating like a receding tide, leaving the battlefield to her.
As water clashed with fire, countless wisps of mist spread across the battlefield.
Mei locked her gaze on the figure emerging from the hazy mist.
The immortal ninja, Kakuzu.
"I never imagined a Kirigakure ninja like you would fight for Konoha."
A deep, resonant voice came from Kakuzu, causing Mei's expression to darken slightly.
He knew her identity...
Kirigakure had long been shrouded in secrecy due to the Fourth Mizukage's isolationist policies, leaving the outside world with little knowledge of its inner workings.
Yet Kakuzu knew who she was, which meant the forces behind Kirigakure's leadership were now clear.
What had once been mere suspicion was now confirmed.
The Akatsuki.
A barely concealed killing intent flickered in Mei's eyes.
Every member of the Akatsuki deserved to die!
Without wasting words, Mei's aura surged with murderous intent as her hands flashed through seals.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
A vast cloud of acidic mist spewed from Mei's mouth, further reducing visibility on the already foggy battlefield.
Some tried to assist Kakuzu, but the moment they touched the acidic mist, their flesh corroded, their bodies dissolving into grotesque, blood-red pus that splattered onto the ground. Hair, skin, muscles, and bones melted away under the mist's corrosive power.
Witnessing this, the others fled in terror, scrambling to escape the deadly fog.
Kakuzu's black-and-red-clouded cloak was completely corroded, his skin reduced to pus. Yet he did not fall. Countless black tendrils supported his body, allowing him to continue fighting.
This was Kakuzu's core secret technique.
Earth Grudge Fear, the source of his ability to live nearly a century while remaining as vigorous as a man in his prime.
"Interesting. A fine heart."
Kakuzu's voice, cold and sinister, emerged from the thick mist as he addressed Mei.
At this moment, Kakuzu could no longer be called human.
He was a black monstrosity, formed from countless writhing tendrils.
The four masks on his back, seemingly specially crafted, were impervious to the highly corrosive mist.
"Monster."
Mei stared coldly at the twisted black creature before her, spitting out the word with icy disdain.
"Heh, a monster?"
"If you think I'm a monster just because of my appearance, you're far too shallow."
"The human heart is treacherous. Beneath the human facade of others, what lies hidden in their souls?"
"For power, they kill their comrades. For lust, they rape and pillage. For immortality, they commit every evil. For selfish gain, they slaughter children. Some even destroy entire nations for their twisted ideals."
"Are those people not monsters?"
"And me? I do it for money."
"I'm far nobler than most in this world."
"Take the money, do the job."
"It's that simple."
As Kakuzu spoke, the skin on his face gradually melted under the acidic mist, his once deep and resonant voice turning shrill and piercing.
At this moment, he had fully transformed into a grotesque creature of writhing black tendrils.
"Twisted logic!"
"If a butcher like you can be called noble, then I must be a saint!"
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique!"
A milky-white, viscous liquid spewed from Mei's mouth, surging toward Kakuzu like a tidal wave!
Four monstrous creatures emerged from behind Kakuzu, unfazed by the oncoming acidic liquid.
"Heh, little girl."
"It's time to wake up from your dream and face the real world."
Though Kakuzu's eyes were no longer discernible, Mei could still feel the mocking gaze of the creature named Kakuzu.
"Earth Release: Earth Core Shift."
One of the four masked creatures unleashed a technique without even forming hand seals. The ground beneath Kakuzu's feet suddenly rose, lifting him and the four creatures into the air, evading Mei's Melting Apparition Technique.
"You hate me."
Kakuzu looked down at Mei from his elevated position.
"Probably because of something an Akatsuki member did to Kirigakure."
"But what does their actions have to do with me?"
"And look at this battlefield."
Two arms formed from countless tendrils raised high, as if embracing the heavens and earth.
"War. The five great ninja villages. When it comes to the number of lives taken, no individual or organization in the world can compare to the five great villages!"
"And me?"
Black tendrils formed two fingers, pinched together.
"I've only killed this much."
"And even then, it was because someone hired me."
"Compared to the five great villages, I can say with a clear conscience—"
"I'm no saint, but I'm certainly no villain."
The frenzied, twisted black monster waved its grotesque tendrils, as if proclaiming the injustices of the world.
"This wretched world is full of betrayal!"
"Little girl, it's time to wake up!"
"Wind Release: Crushing Harm!"
A relentless gale burst forth, sweeping across the battlefield, dispersing the acidic mist and sending it soaring into the sky!
At that very moment, a flash of lightning crackled, and a swift figure, like a hunting leopard, charged toward Kakuzu on his elevated platform!
It was Kakashi!
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