Why is my blood black?
A flicker of confusion flashed across Kakuzu's eyes, but he quickly reacted.
No—that blade is poisoned!
He looked in disbelief at the boy standing before him, sword in hand. The boy was watching him with a half-smile that sent chills down his spine.
"Oh? Seems like the gap between us just closed a little."
"You... you're despicable!" Kakuzu snarled in fury.
He prided himself as a genius from Takigakure, having experienced countless battles and faced all kinds of opponents using every conceivable technique.
But a guy who poisoned his blade? That was a first.
Even the puppet masters of Sunagakure—recognized across the ninja world as masters of poison—weren't this sinister!
Normally, puppet masters used things like poison needles or gas. You could tell it was poisoned just by looking, which gave the opponent a chance to be on guard.
Ninjas, when fighting puppet masters, would instinctively stay cautious.
But who would have thought this sharp-looking, well-mannered boy would use such a cheap and dirty tactic?
A katana, gleaming coldly under the light... and it was poisoned.
And most shocking of all—this boy was from the Uchiha clan!
Weren't the Uchiha known for their arrogance?
Weren't they supposed to look down on this kind of fighting?
"Despicable?" Renya sneered. "Did you think being a ninja was some noble profession?"
In Renya's eyes, being a ninja was a devious and cunning job. The primary goals were mission success and staying alive.
If you wanted to defeat someone stronger than yourself, you'd have to use underhanded tactics.
If you could kill your opponent with a sneak attack or poison...
Why would you bother fighting fair?
It's not like he was strong enough to act fearlessly like Senju Hashirama.
And even then, no matter how powerful you are, there's still a risk of death.
Even someone as mighty as Six Paths Madara got taken out by Black Zetsu stabbing him in the heart!
In the end, ninja bodies just weren't strong enough.
Renya had spent years learning body-tempering methods from his past life, but they hadn't been very useful...
The physical limits of a ninja were just too low. Someone like the Third Raikage—his level of body strength was already the ceiling of the ninja world.
Hearing Renya's words, Kakuzu's face darkened.
Whether it was the poison or the truth in Renya's speech that infuriated him more, he couldn't tell.
Of course he knew that ninja combat was often anything but honorable.
But this boy—he was an Uchiha!
In the ninja world, the powerful clans usually held themselves above this kind of dirty tactic.
So Kakuzu had gone into battle with Renya assuming he was a "gentleman," not someone who used such disgusting moves.
He'd misjudged—and got hit the moment the fight began.
"You damn brat... you're nothing like an Uchiha!" Kakuzu roared in anger.
He'd fought Uchiha before, but none of them had ever stooped to these dirty tricks.
Before he could finish the thought, everything went black. His body collapsed uncontrollably to the ground.
Watching the boy slowly walk over, Kakuzu knew... he was done for today.
"Damn you higher-ups. If there's a next life, I'll never forgive you!" Kakuzu clenched his fist in frustration.
But even that much strength was gone—his fist trembled weakly.
Between life and death lies true terror. Facing death, almost no one could remain composed.
Perhaps once, he'd been loyal to Takigakure, even willing to die for it.
But now, staring death in the face, he couldn't help but resent the village leaders.
If it hadn't been for them ordering him to assassinate Senju Hashirama, how could he have ended up like this?
If he'd known earlier, he might as well have killed those bastards instead...
While his mind spiraled in regret, Renya arrived at his side.
This future immortal of the ninja world now lay on the ground, twitching like a beached fish.
The poison was taking full effect.
Renya looked down coldly at Kakuzu's twisted, convulsing figure. The crimson Sharingan in his eyes held not the slightest hint of pity.
"Letting you die quickly... is already a mercy."
As he spoke, he flipped his wrist, pointing the blade at Kakuzu's carotid artery.
If he slashed now, it would be a clean decapitation.
Kakuzu trembled, trying to lift his arm in defense, but couldn't move even an inch. Despair filled his eyes.
Suddenly, he thought of all the lives he'd taken with his own hands.
So this is what it felt like, when death came. Even the proudest warrior's ego shattered into the same helpless despair.
Renya didn't hesitate. He raised his blade—
And just then, a large, powerful hand grabbed his wrist tightly.
He turned in confusion and looked at the person who had suddenly appeared.
"Hashirama-san, what are you doing?"
Hashirama's face was solemn as he shook his head.
"Renya, let him live."
"But..." Renya was about to argue, when Hashirama cut him off.
"Have you forgotten our dream?"
Renya's lips twitched. He cursed in his heart.
What dream?
You're the only one who's been rambling about this crap the whole time!
"Renya, only if everyone is filled with love—"
As Hashirama began another long speech, Renya quickly interrupted.
"Hashirama-san, I think you're right. I'll spare him."
He didn't really want to let Kakuzu go, but he wanted even less to hear another lecture.
"Hmm, I'm glad you understand." Hashirama nodded in satisfaction.
He knew this child had perfectly inherited his ideals.
Just then, Renya's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hashirama-san, I think he's dying..."
Hashirama reflexively looked down at Kakuzu.
The man's eyes had rolled back, foam bubbling at his mouth. Clearly, he didn't have long.
"Renya, don't you have the antidote?" Hashirama urged. "Quick, give it to him."
Renya pulled a small bottle from his pouch.
"Hashirama-san, with his condition... I'm not sure the antidote will work."
"It's fine. As long as we try to save him." Hashirama snatched the bottle and poured the contents into Kakuzu's mouth.
Renya watched from the side, curious whether Kakuzu could actually be saved.
You could say Kakuzu was lucky—he miraculously woke up.
Eyes fluttering open, he stared blankly at the sky.
"Am I dead?"
He thought he'd just seen his great-grandmother...
"Haha, you're awake!"
Suddenly, Hashirama's huge face popped into his view, nearly scaring him to death.
Hashirama quickly tried to comfort him.
"Don't be afraid. We won't hurt you."
Kakuzu: "..."
He struggled to sit up and looked at Hashirama in confusion.
"Hashirama-sama... why didn't you kill me?"
Hashirama bent down and picked up the kunai Kakuzu had dropped.
"A ninja's blade shouldn't exist just to cut down enemies."
He handed the kunai back.
"I want you to live—to witness the world as it changes. Maybe one day, you'll understand that some things are more worth protecting than killing."
Kakuzu looked up at Hashirama's retreating figure.
At that moment, he finally understood why this man was called the "God of Shinobi."
In the distance, the crisp sound of Renya sheathing his blade echoed.
The two figures slowly faded into the distance...
Leaving behind only a battlefield full of wreckage—and one "dead man" whose fate had just been rewritten.
"Alive...?" Kakuzu murmured quietly.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo