Startled by Kakuzu's terrifying, almost feral expression, Yamanaka Haiichi didn't hesitate for even a second. The moment Kakuzu unleashed his barrage of ninjutsu, Haiichi immediately chose to flee rather than turn and test the opponent's strength.
Even if one wanted to probe an enemy's abilities, there were limits. The ability to use multiple elemental releases already spoke volumes, and the fact that Kakuzu opened with B-rank ninjutsu made the answer obvious in Haiichi's mind.
This opponent was far stronger than he was. Someone he could not afford to provoke—running was the only option.
In the black market, nearly every Konoha jōnin carried a bounty, each head worth a substantial sum of money.
And money was something Kakuzu would never let slip past his grasp. He immediately pursued, hurling ninjutsu after ninjutsu. Fire Release and Lightning Release crackled and roared as his most frequent attacks, his only thought to end the battle quickly—so he could still make it to the underground exchange before it closed for the night.
"That guy… how can he be so strong? Opening with B-rank ninjutsu, throwing them out one after another without tiring—his chakra reserves must be huge."
Haiichi's thoughts raced, trying to analyze Kakuzu's capabilities. But after just a few brief exchanges, how could he possibly understand the true nature of Kakuzu's jutsu?
The only clear answer was this: Kakuzu's strength far outstripped his own. This was not a typical jōnin. He was on the level of an elite.
Elsewhere, Hatake Kakashi relied on Shadow Clones and Substitution Jutsu, toying with Kongō as if the latter were some mindless beast. The hulking brute had nothing but overwhelming strength and a massive battle-axe; without ninjutsu or technique, all he could do was swing wildly.
Kakashi, even with his chakra running low, still had enough left to weave in a few flashy moves now and then—just to keep the giant gorilla enraged.
Kongō roared in fury, his axe slamming down again and again as he chased Kakashi relentlessly, eyes locked on his head. To Kongō, there was only one answer, no matter what Kakashi did or said—swing harder.
"Houuuh!"
Beating his chest with a single fist like a war drum, Kongō bellowed in challenge. The meaning was clear: If you've got guts, stop running!
If Kakashi could understand, he would no doubt smirk and reply: Only an idiot would stop running.
A glance ahead revealed Nara Shikaku and Godzilla locked in a tense standoff. Beast and man stood frozen, neither moving, a contest of patience and endurance.
"I need to change direction. If Kongō gets anywhere near Shikaku in this state, he'll be cleaved in half with a single swing."
The Shadow Possession Jutsu allowed the user to control an enemy's body—but only under one condition: the caster's chakra or physical strength had to outweigh the target's. Otherwise, it could only restrain them.
When Uchiha Sasuke defected from Konoha, the newly appointed Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, dispatched a team of genin to pursue him. During that mission, Nara Shikamaru had used the Shadow Possession Jutsu to restrain multiple enemies at once. But at that time, his power was lacking. He could freeze them in place for only a short while, with no ability to control their movements.
Now, as Kakashi veered off in another direction, his peripheral vision caught sight of Kongō still chasing him and not Shikaku. He let out a sigh of relief. If Kongō had abandoned him to charge Shikaku, that would have been a disaster.
Sweat dripped from Shikaku's brow, dark spots staining the ground by his sandals. His gaze locked onto Godzilla's furious eyes. He could feel the beast straining to break free.
Shikaku knew he lacked the raw strength to overpower Godzilla, but with the clan's secret technique, he had forced the jutsu to connect. As long as the link wasn't broken, he was confident the monster could not escape.
Godzilla couldn't move—but his rage grew. The spines along his back flickered with ominous light, sending chills through anyone who watched. Danger radiated from every pulse of energy.
That danger was exactly why Kakuzu, who knew firsthand how destructive Godzilla could be, avoided interfering. The last thing he wanted was the beast turning on him and unleashing a storm of annihilation beams point-blank.
Meanwhile, Aoyama and Maito Gai continued their brutal clash. Fists blurred into afterimages as they hammered at each other's vital points, neither worried about killing the other with a blow—only frustrated that their strikes weren't landing cleanly.
Taijutsu was straightforward. It lacked the sheer destructive power of ninjutsu, nor was it as fast as weapons thrown at range. But when two masters collided, the results were nothing short of earth-shaking.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Every strike crashed like meteor impacts, detonating across their bodies with thunderous roars.
Neither gave an inch. It was like watching two disciples from the same school duel, perfectly mirroring each other. Every move one knew, the other could counter; even techniques one hadn't mastered, the other adapted to in an instant.
Both fought with the Eight Inner Gates opened, torrents of gaseous chakra raging around them like armor. When their fists connected, the excess chakra absorbed part of the force, allowing them to continue without immediate injury.
Aoyama grinned widely.
"Gai! You've surpassed your father. You're a true genius of taijutsu! Now show me more—show me how far you've come!"
With that, he smashed a punch straight into Gai's face, sending him flying back.
Yet Aoyama didn't press the attack. Instead, his eyes burned with anticipation. He wanted Gai to open the next Gate, to unleash even greater strength.
Both of them had only opened the Third Gate. In terms of speed and power, they were evenly matched. Neither could dominate the other in this state.
For the battle to evolve, one of them would need to advance to the Fourth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates.
Gai's expression hardened.
"Aoyama, I don't know why you chose to defect, but I've always considered you a friend. I will not use dangerous techniques against a friend!"
Stubborn. That word perfectly described Maito Gai.
Aoyama sneered.
"Not willing, huh? Then I'll make the first move! Eight Inner Gates—Fourth Gate, OPEN! Fifth Gate, OPEN!"
The chakra surrounding him erupted like a storm, blazing around his body in violent waves. He looked almost like a Super Saiyan, cloaked in a fiery aura. If his hair had turned golden, the image would have been complete.
Clenching his fists, Aoyama relished the surge of new power.
"Gai! Right now, we are not comrades. I am no longer a Leaf shinobi—I am a rogue ninja. You should know full well what those words mean!"
"Don't forget why you were denied entry into the ANBU. It wasn't your lack of strength—it was your inability to adapt. That head of yours… don't tell me you're still clueless!"
Come on! Stop hesitating! Or do you want me to keep spitting insults until you finally snap? What's the point of dithering like some delicate woman? Show me your true power, Gai! Let's finish the battle we once left incomplete!