The next day, Land of Waterfalls.
Gekko Chizan had already gathered his team and was preparing to head back.
At the entrance of Takigakure, Saibon and Yahiko came to see Gekko Chizan off.
A village chief coming to personally see them off—this surprised Gekko Chizan a bit.
Saibon kept watching Gekko Chizan and his team leave before finally turning to Yahiko and saying:
"Tell Konan and the others to stay alert on the road to Konoha."
"Once the Chunin Exams are over, we shouldn't let our people go out again."
"Recall all the shinobi currently on missions outside."
Yahiko frowned slightly, not quite understanding what he meant.
Seeing this, Saibon explained in detail. After hearing him out, Yahiko nodded.
Saibon sighed softly, a trace of melancholy in his tone.
"War is about to break out again...."
As soon as he said that, Saibon's expression suddenly changed, and he sharply looked in one direction.
This movement puzzled Yahiko, who couldn't help but ask,
"Saibon-sama, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing. Maybe I felt it wrong."
"Yahiko, come with me. Something doesn't feel right."
Saibon was a shinobi skilled in Wind Release, with an extremely sharp sense for air currents. He was sure he had just sensed something, but no matter how carefully he looked, he saw nothing unusual. That unsettled him.
Thinking of Gekko Chizan's group that had just left, he decided to go check.
...
Meanwhile, some distance away from Takigakure, Gekko Chizan suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He and Pakura exchanged a glance, both seeing the same alertness in each other's eyes.
"Scatter!"
His sharp shout rang out.
Without a second thought, Kakashi and the others darted in all directions.
The moment they moved, a burst of flames exploded where they had just been standing.
"Boom!"
The explosion blasted a crater into the ground.
"Hmph, so impatient, huh?"
Gekko Chizan's gaze locked onto a direction.
There stood a man—the flames had come from him.
But when Gekko Chizan saw the man's face, he froze. Even the Chōmei within him was stunned.
"Damn, Chizan, you pretended to be him! Now he's come looking for you!"
"But seriously, he's so damn ugly—I thought you messed up your Transformation Jutsu."
It was the mercenary Kakuzu.
"One, two... fifty million, hehehehe...."
"Konoha brats, are you going to obediently let me kill you, or do you want to struggle first?"
Kakuzu's voice was deep but tinged with excitement. From his words, it was clear he already saw Gekko Chizan's team as nothing but walking stacks of cash.
Gekko Chizan looked at Kakuzu with open disdain. Pakura and the three younger ones—Kakashi, Obito, and Rin—moved to his side.
"Hiring mercenaries? Only Iwagakure would stoop this low. So cautious, huh?"
"Bunch of cowards."
"Attack!"
With that command, Obito struck first.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball roared straight at Kakuzu.
"Boom!"
Another explosion shook the area.
Kakuzu dodged with ease—only for a flash of steel to streak toward his vital points.
Kakashi's swordsmanship had improved tremendously since the war. Combined with the effects of his Lightning Body Training, his speed had grown astonishingly. His short Hatake blade had been reforged with the finest metal to perfectly complement his kenjutsu.
That speed and skill made him nearly impossible to counter.
Unfortunately, his opponent was no ordinary man.
Even Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, remembered this man vividly.
Kakuzu's skin instantly turned pitch black.
"Clang!"
The ringing clash of metal rang out, sparks flying.
"Hmph, not bad. But too bad you met me."
With a burst of raw strength, Kakuzu sent Kakashi flying.
"Tch!"
"Kakashi, move!"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Kakashi leaped back just in time as a volley of fireballs surged forward to continue the assault.
When the first wave ended, Kakashi and Obito regrouped.
As the flames cleared, Kakuzu stood unscathed—only his clothes had burned away, revealing his true body beneath.
Everyone except Gekko Chizan froze in shock at the sight.
His entire body was stitched together with black threads—a truly horrifying sight.
"Pakura, take them and leave. The rest of this fight is mine."
Gekko Chizan rolled his shoulders, ready to step forward—only to see Pakura had already launched her attack.
"Hey, hey, hey? Pakura."
"Scorch Release: Overheating Kill!"
Fireballs shot skyward, the temperature soaring instantly.
Pakura's hands swept forward, sending the blazing spheres hurtling toward Kakuzu at blistering speed.
"Oh? A Kekkei Genkai...."
"I underestimated you."
"But this little fire isn't nearly enough."
Kakuzu clenched his fists. Countless black threads erupted from his body.
The sight made Gekko Chizan's scalp prickle. If he merely disliked Orochimaru, he downright loathed Kakuzu.
And at the core of that loathing was this technique.
Takigakure's forbidden jutsu—Earth Grudge Fear.
Those endless black threads... ugh, they looked revolting.
Pakura's expression darkened. Clearly, the writhing black tendrils disgusted her too.
"A monster, huh...."
Her scorching fireballs closed in on Kakuzu.
"Mere flames...."
"Water Style: Water Curtain."
A masked, blue-faced creature burst from Kakuzu's body.
At its appearance, the air grew damp.
The mask creature opened its mouth—swirling torrents of water gathered, then roared forth in a devastating blast.
It snuffed out Pakura's flames instantly, then surged on toward the group with undiminished power.
"Damn, the power and range of this jutsu...."
Pakura's face paled. Its destructive scope was far beyond her expectations—covering all of them.
"Crystal Release: Shield."
Knowing Kakuzu's strength, Gekko Chizan rapidly formed hand seals, erecting a defensive barrier.
A translucent crystal triangle formed before Pakura, solidifying just before the water torrent struck.
Its unyielding crystal tip split the water cannon in two.
"Hey, hey, hey, your opponent is me."
"Sewing-thread bastard."