"This world is indeed a terrible place, with betrayal lurking everywhere."
"But it's exactly because of that, that countless people keep pushing forward, giving their all."
"To end wars, to end injustice, to end chaos."
Clutching the crackling Chidori in his palm to fend off the lightning spewed from the black monster's mouth, Kakashi's face was grim as he stared at Kakuzu and spoke.
"Heh, how laughable to hear such words from a Konohagakure ninja," Kakuzu sneered, his eyes fixed on Kakashi. With a swift kick, he sent Kakashi flying backward.
Kakashi adjusted his body mid-air, landing steadily beside Terumi Mei.
"Kakashi, don't forget—what sparked this war in the first place?" Kakuzu's black tendrils pointed toward the pink-haired figure in the distance. "It was you Konoha ninjas who started this war. Your high-and-mighty words really piss me off."
Kakashi glanced at the pink-haired girl, then steadied himself and responded, "All of this is a necessary sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?" Kakuzu retorted. "Why isn't it Konoha making the sacrifices? Why not hand everything over to me, to others, and let Konoha bear the cost?"
The moment Kakuzu's words fell, he sensed danger.
Instinctively, he ducked, but even so, several of the black tendrils on his shoulder were severed in an instant!
Sakura maintained her stance after throwing a kunai, calmly staring at Kakuzu from afar.
"The reason is simple," she said. "I have the power."
"And you don't."
What the hell is Rasa doing?! Kakuzu fumed internally. He can't even keep that pink-haired girl occupied, letting her take a shot at me with a kunai?!
Kakuzu's anger flared, but he had no time to confront the Fourth Kazekage. Because…
"Lightning Release: Thunder Tiger Barrage!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Combination Ninjutsu: Thunder-Water Dragon Bullet!"
Having already coordinated against the Eight-Tails, Terumi Mei and Kakashi moved in perfect sync, unleashing a devastatingly powerful technique. A raging water dragon, laced with unmatched electric light, roared as it charged toward Kakuzu!
"Just as Sakura said!" Kakashi called out. "We have the power, and you don't! So, you might as well die."
Kakashi poured more chakra into the water dragon, his voice cold and resolute.
"Hahaha!" Kakuzu laughed maniacally. "In the end, it's all about who has the bigger fist! Just a bunch of hypocrites!"
With that, he declared, "Let me show you just how strong the opponent of Hashirama Senju was!"
The four monsters behind Kakuzu opened their mouths in unison.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
"Water Release: Water Curtain!"
"Fire Release: Head Engraving Flame!"
The four monsters unleashed four different elemental techniques, all hurtling toward Kakashi and Terumi Mei. Lightning roared, wind blades tore through the air, water surged like a tidal wave, and flames blazed fiercely!
"These techniques!" Terumi Mei immediately prepared to counter with her own ninjutsu.
"I've got this!" Kakashi shouted, summoning three shadow clones that appeared in front of Mei.
Kakashi and his clones swiftly formed different hand seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
"Water Release: Water Surge Wave!"
Wind counters lightning, fire counters wind, earth counters water, water counters fire!
Unlike Kakuzu, who stole hearts to gain different chakra natures, Kakashi alone wielded all five chakra natures—wind, lightning, water, fire, and earth. The clash of ninjutsu between Kakuzu and Kakashi was like a battle between two fully equipped ninja squads!
The violent winds kicked up by their techniques sent Mei's brown hair whipping wildly.
She stared, stunned, at Kakashi standing protectively in front of her.
This man…
But his moment of glory lasted barely three seconds. After using five ninjutsu in rapid succession, including the chakra-draining Shadow Clone Technique that split his chakra evenly, Kakashi slumped to the ground, exhausted.
This man's pretty interesting… Mei thought, a faint smile crossing her lips as she pushed aside her curiosity about him. She stepped forward, standing in front of Kakashi.
"You recover your chakra," she said. "I'll take it from here."
Watching Mei position herself protectively in front of him, Kakashi reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out one of Sakura's special soldier pills, left over from their fight against the Eight-Tails. He tugged down his mask and popped it into his mouth.
Crunch, crunch.
The taste was… indescribable, but Kakashi had to admit, Sakura's soldier pills were incredibly effective.
Whew… this guy's kinda handsome, Mei thought, catching a fleeting glimpse of Kakashi's unmasked face. The corner of her mouth twitched upward.
In front of a handsome man, a beautiful woman naturally couldn't afford to look weak.
Mei's eyes sharpened instantly, and she charged forward alone.
Kakuzu had access to nano-poison bugs but hadn't used them yet, likely realizing that her Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique completely countered them.
If that's the case… there's nothing to worry about!
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
Casting a glance at Kakuzu, Kakashi, and Mei, Sakura shifted her focus back to the one-armed man and the red-haired boy nearby.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara.
As Rasa sensed the danger, Gaara, under Chiyo's orders, had arrived on the battlefield to confront Sakura.
"Have you figured out how to deal with me yet?" Sakura asked, looking at Rasa. "Seems like Kakuzu over there has some complaints about you."
"I love you," Rasa ordered Gaara. "Use the power of the One-Tail."
Gaara nodded without hesitation, responding in a low voice, "Yes, Father."
Rasa knew by now that he alone could never pose a real threat to this pink-haired girl. Only by leveraging the power of the One-Tail did they stand a chance of actually harming her!
Gaara took one last look at the pink-haired girl across from him.
Haruno Sakura.
Naruto Uzumaki's comrade.
But your path ends here.
No one can defeat the combined might of Father and the One-Tail.
The ground trembled as endless yellow sand rose from beneath Gaara's feet, coiling around his body. Mysterious violet patterns spread across the sand…
Gaara's form grew larger and larger, transforming into the full manifestation of the One-Tail.
A colossal sand tanuki, dozens of meters tall, appeared on the battlefield!
Rasa leaped onto the One-Tail's head and addressed the beast below. "Gaara, how long can you maintain this state?"
"Twenty minutes," Gaara replied, his consciousness still in control of the One-Tail.
If that time limit passed, the One-Tail's will would suppress his own.
"Twenty minutes?" Rasa mused. "That's enough."
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