Kakuzu's gaze darted back and forth between the glittering golden wall of bricks and the murderous aura spilling off Mako's twisted body. In the end, he made a decision true to his nature.
Slowly raising his hand, golden particles swirled into being. The short sword he had hurled earlier as a projectile reformed in his grip.
"Kakuzu, what are you planning?!"
In his inner world, Choumei flapped frantically, its seven wings nearly smoking.
"Forgive me, god-beast. But I have my own code."
Shaking his head to the Bijuu's pleas, Kakuzu stepped forward. Under the wide-eyed delight of the three brats, he drew a shining golden card from the transformation device at his waist.
"As expected, humans are fools…"
Sensing his unwavering resolve, Choumei sighed, yet still poured chakra into him.
"Kid. The price you offered satisfies me."
Kakuzu slid the card into the slot on his blade's hilt.
"Absorb Queen! Fusion Jack!"
A cold electronic voice rang out. Golden light flared so bright none present could keep their eyes open.
"Ahhh!"
The black mist shrouding Mako recoiled before that radiance, withering.
"Whoa…"
When the light faded, the brats gawked at Kakuzu, now plated in gold, wings spread proudly from his back.
"Round two."
His short blade had become a gleaming longsword. Red lenses flashed. His wings beat once—and he shot forward like golden lightning, blade arcing down.
"Eat…"
The malice, Go, sensed true danger. It surged more evil power into Mako, forcing her body into a battle form.
Her pale skin darkened as red keratin plates erupted across her body. Hands warped into crimson claws. Spines jutted from forearms and calves.
"What the hell…?"
Kakuzu skidded to a wary landing, wings flaring, eyeing her swelling aura.
"Mako, what's happening to you?!"
Stunned, Kamihiko rushed to her side, helpless as her face twisted. For a heartbeat, her eyes flickered with her old self… then vanished beneath surging hatred.
"ROAR!!!"
Her delicate face became a grotesque beast's head, huge green insectoid eyes bulging, her brow ridged like a predatory fish.
"Mako!!"
Kamihiko reached toward her.
"Wham!"
But the monster batted him away like trash.
Even in her bloodthirsty state before, she had never harmed him. Now, she was gone.
The red piranha-beast crouched low, green eyes locking onto Kakuzu.
"She transformed too?!"
The brats trembled, clinging together, cold terror sinking into their bones.
"She's looking at us like food!" Danzo whimpered.
"Idiot—she always ate people!" Hiruzen snapped.
"So dark… her chakra…"
Kagami's Sharingan spun to life. In Mako's warped body he saw tendrils of pitch-black chakra—darker even than their clan's Yin chakra, pure malice itself.
"Kakuzu. Run. Now."
Choumei's voice was grave.
"…I can't. I was paid."
Kakuzu gripped his blade tighter.
"Eat!!!"
The red monster screeched and blurred forward.
"Clang!"
Her claws raked his chest. His longsword barely blocked, stopping them centimeters from his heart. The impact rattled him—power like this could kill him.
Then she leapt back, circling, studying his armor for weak points.
She's thinking?
This wasn't a mindless beast anymore.
"Shhh!"
She lunged again, aiming for his joints. Kakuzu's wings carried him aloft—but she jumped after him, claws slashing.
"Rip!"
Pain seared his waist. Looking down, he saw a deep gash where his armor didn't cover, black mist already infecting the wound.
She landed and licked the blood from her claws, eyes gleaming with savage satisfaction.
Kakuzu staggered, blood pouring freely, the wound refusing to heal.
"Go, Hunter Knight Ken!!"
The brats cheered, fists raised.
But black mist wormed into him, corroding chakra, clouding his mind.
"Don't lose, Knight-san!!"
Their cries tugged him back from the brink.
"…Close one."
Choumei groaned. "That malice is like a plague. If not for me suppressing it, you'd be gone already."
"Forgive me. I was careless."
"Not the time for apologies! You can't kill that thing. The old man could only seal it in the Box of Bliss."
"…So only sealing works." Kakuzu grimaced. He knew no sealing. Prolonging this fight was suicide.
"Run!"
"…No. Not yet."
"Money or life?"
"…Money."
"You fool!!"
Choumei raged, too sick from swallowing malice to seize control.
"Don't worry. I'll balance both."
Kakuzu's wound closed slowly. His eyes flicked to Sasuke, unconscious nearby. He didn't need to defeat this monster—only retrieve the man.
"Brats! If I grab your father, can you run?"
"Eh?!"
"I'll stall it. Can you manage?"
The three exchanged looks, then Hiruzen shouted, "Yes! We can!!"
"Good."
Kakuzu drew his card again.
"Tentacle Impact!!"
Wings roared, wind surging. A phantom of the Seven-Tails loomed behind him. His thin blade thickened, and he hurled himself like a massive spear.
The red monster roared back, not dodging, leaping to strike with clawed spines.
"Da Setsudan (Great Severing)!"
"BOOM!!!"
The clash tore the street apart. Smoke billowed, rubble raining down.
"Now!!"
Kakuzu's voice cut through the dust.
The brats darted forward, hefting Sasuke onto their shoulders. Kamihiko watched them pass, eyes clouded, but didn't move to stop them.
"…Run."
"Uncle, aren't you coming?"
"I swore I'd never let go again."
Even bleeding, he shook his head.
"Take care, then!"
And they fled into the night.
"Good. My job's done."
In the dust, Kakuzu strained against the monster's claws, then deliberately let go, backflipping away. He landed beside the golden bricks, whipping out a scroll. With impossible speed, he sealed every last one.
"…I'm rich."
But as he prepared to retreat, Kamihiko's voice made him pause.
"Mako… it's me."
He gently stroked her keratinized head as if it were still her silky hair.
"Let's go home. I bought you new shoes…"
Her claws lowered, green eyes flickering. For a moment, her true self struggled upward.
"Mako…"
"…Eat…"
Hope glimmered in Kamihiko's eyes. She was fighting back.
But then a silver hand landed on his shoulder.
"Rogue Kamihiko. Come with me."
"EAT!!!"
The moment shattered. Malice surged, hurling both him and Kakuzu away.
They crashed hard, Kamihiko coughing blood, Kakuzu rattled inside his armor.
"…She's stronger again?!" Kakuzu gasped.
"You ruined everything, you fool!!" Kamihiko cursed him bitterly.
They turned—and saw her green eyes uneven, her arms twitching as two wills battled.
But in the end, malice won. She came at them like a crimson hurricane.
"Smash!!"
Her claw slammed Kakuzu through a stone post, shattering it to dust. Blood filled his mouth.
"…She's… growing stronger mid-fight?"
"Her strength was always great."
Kamihiko wiped his bloody lips, recalling the hidden power she had always concealed. If Grass shinobi had discovered it, she'd have been taken, experimented on—or worse.
"So it's bloodline talent."
Kakuzu cursed his greed. He could've left with the gold, but 35 million had blinded him.
The monster pressed harder. Kakuzu's armored fists barely held for seconds before she overwhelmed him, slamming him down.
Choumei stayed silent this time, letting him learn.
"Happou Shou!!"
Kamihiko struck her from behind, driving her back slightly.
"Eh?"
The beast's eyes flickered, showing growing human awareness.
"…You saved me?" Kakuzu asked, bewildered.
"Don't think too much. I need you alive… to restrain her."
Kakuzu smirked faintly. "…I'm expensive."
"35 million enough?" Kamihiko spat blood, eyes hard.
Kakuzu stared at him—and in those dull eyes saw deep resolve, even the shadow of death.
"…Deal."
"Then fight!"
Together, they turned to face the snarling red monster, malice dripping from her claws.
"…Happou Shou!!"
Kamihiko's palms blurred.
"…Damn it. All for the money."
Kakuzu grit his teeth, blade flashing, leaping back into the fray.
The battle ignited anew.
And in the shadows, a silver figure—Uchiha Gin, transformed as the Knight of the Netherworld—watched with interest.
"…Now this is fascinating. So there are beings other than Bijuu… that can be made into transformation cards."
(End of Chapter)
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