The head-on collision between Gōkei and Molten Inferno ended with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. In terms of raw power, the two techniques were essentially evenly matched. If one were forced to name a winner, however, Kirito could be said to have come out slightly ahead.
After all, when it came to consumption, Kakuzu's Molten Inferno demanded far more chakra than Kirito's Gōkei. Under equal chakra reserves, Kirito would have decisively overwhelmed Kakuzu. Unfortunately, the world was never fair, and in a life-and-death battle, fairness did not exist at all.
"This kid… impossible! He actually broke through my Molten Inferno!"
Kakuzu's eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at the forbidden techniques that had annihilated each other and vanished into nothingness.
That exchange had consumed a significant amount of his chakra, leaving him in a brief moment of internal emptiness. Yet from beginning to end, he never exposed this single weakness. His expression remained calm and steady.
This was the terrifying aspect of a monster who had lived for decades, not only immense strength, but a mind skilled at deception and control.
Kirito, however, had no idea that Kakuzu was currently experiencing a fleeting moment of vulnerability , the perfect opportunity to press the attack. In truth, Kirito himself was running low. Although Gōkei consumed less energy than Molten Inferno, it was still a massive burden for him.
He could not afford to continue dragging this fight out.
This battle had to end, now.
Kirito raised both hands.
The cherry blossoms swirling across the battlefield suddenly scattered outward. In the next instant, high above the sky, Senbonzakura's countless blades solidified, reverting from petals into their original sword forms.
Blade after blade took shape, standing upright in dense rows across the sky, forming a vast and terrifying sword array.
"What?!"
Hidan stared at the scene in utter shock. "This kid still has something like this?! Just how many trump cards is he hiding?!"
Kakuzu's expression darkened slightly as he muttered,
"So the Leader wasn't wrong after all. Sending us to capture this kid… At his age, he already possesses power of this level."
"Senkei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
Thousands of blades filled the entire space, an overwhelming sight at first glance. But both Kakuzu and Hidan knew full well, this formation was far more than mere spectacle.
"Whish!"
One of the swords suspended in the sky shot downward and landed directly in Kirito's hand.
"…Just one?"
Kakuzu frowned slightly, unable to understand Kirito's intent. He had summoned such an enormous formation, yet now he wielded only a single blade?
Ever cautious, Kakuzu immediately heightened his guard. The heavy chakra consumption from Molten Inferno had already passed, and his body had recovered from that brief weakness. He still had more than enough chakra to continue fighting.
"Whoosh!"
Kirito vanished from Kakuzu's sight without warning.
"So fast!"
Kakuzu's expression changed instantly. By the time he reacted, Kirito had already closed the distance to within a few steps.
Without hesitation, Kakuzu commanded the earth-attribute mask to move in front of him while simultaneously activating a defensive jutsu.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall"
Before the wall could fully form, Kirito's blade cleaved straight through it. The immense sword pressure shattered the rock and split the earth-attribute mask in half along with it.
"Hngh!"
Each mask carried one of Kakuzu's hearts. With its destruction, a powerful backlash struck his main body.
Shock flashed through Kakuzu's eyes, not only at Kirito's sudden surge in speed, but at the terrifying explosiveness of his sword strike. Yet even in crisis, Kakuzu remained composed. Seeing Kirito's next attack aimed directly at his main body, he knew there was no time to reposition another mask.
He would have to block it himself.
Kakuzu crossed his arms in front of his chest. From his cracked wrists, massive black threads erupted, hardening under chakra control into dense, spiraling wire shields.
At the same time, he layered on another jutsu.
"Earth Style: Hardening Technique!"
With this double-layered defense, even Kirito's ice blade should be stopped, at least long enough to create an opening for a counterattack.
Unfortunately for Kakuzu, this calculation was wrong.
Shlk!
Kirito's Zanpakutō pierced through both layers of defense with ease. The terrifyingly compressed sword pressure drove straight through Kakuzu's torso.
"Urgh?!"
Kakuzu's eyes widened as he stared at the blade lodged in his chest, his gaze fixed on the seemingly ordinary Senbonzakura glowing faintly in Kirito's hand.
"This sword… how can it be this powerful…?"
"You don't understand?" Kirito said calmly.
"Do you know why the blades are fixed into their original sword forms within this space?"
"Explosive power. In this state, Senbonzakura exists solely to amplify destructive force."
"Whish, "
Another sword flew down from the sky. Kirito caught it in reverse grip and drove it brutally into Kakuzu's thigh, the blade piercing through the back of his knee and pinning him to the ground.
"Shlk!"
Kirito then ripped the sword from Kakuzu's chest without hesitation.
There was no need for further words.
Kakuzu was a genuine Kage-level monster, Kirito was certain he still had hidden techniques. The only reason Kirito had gained the upper hand was because Kakuzu didn't yet understand Senbonzakura's true nature. Kirito had deliberately revealed its apparent weakness earlier to mislead him.
This advantage would not last.
He had to finish it now.
Kirito swung his blade horizontally toward Kakuzu's neck, aiming to sever his head completely. No matter how many hearts Kakuzu possessed, decapitation meant death.
"Guh!"
With his leg pinned, Kakuzu could not retreat. At the instant the blade approached his throat, he dropped his body low and formed hand seals at extreme speed. In a moment of life-or-death desperation, he slammed his palm against the ground.
"Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!"
A high-pressure water drill erupted from the ground. Kirito barely managed to block with his arm before retreating.
But at that very moment,
Another sword descended from the sky, piercing straight through Kakuzu's back.
"Gah!"
Then another.
And another.
More than a dozen blades fell in succession, impaling Kakuzu's body from all directions and pinning him firmly to the ground.
The battlefield fell silent.
<><>---------------------------------------
45 Advanced Chapters on p(a)treon
p(a)treon.com/Aaltairr
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters