Chapter 121: Creeping Hunger
While the Earth Grudge Fear technique could replace hearts, it certainly couldn't regenerate a severed head.
After all, this was the Naruto universe—not some world of gods and demons where spells like regeneration from a single drop of blood or growing new heads after decapitation actually existed.
Kakuzu's eyes filled with astonishment and utter confusion. A thin crimson line appeared across his neck, and then his head tumbled heavily to the ground with a dull thud. The severed surface was smooth as polished glass, as if his body hadn't yet registered what had occurred. Only after a second or two did a violent fountain of blood erupt from his neck stump.
Perhaps due to the unique properties of the Earth Grudge Fear technique—
Although his head had been completely severed, Kakuzu didn't die immediately. He still desperately clung to life, barely maintaining consciousness through sheer willpower.
"Why...?"
Kakuzu's severed head rolled to a stop near Kazuki's feet, his eyes still wide open in shock as he asked with his remaining strength.
He couldn't comprehend it. He had already admitted complete defeat—even expressed willingness to submit and serve. Moreover, having lived for so many decades, he possessed countless valuable secrets, forbidden jutsu, and intelligence networks. From any logical perspective, his value alive should have far exceeded his value as a corpse.
Yet Uchiha Kazuki had still, without the slightest hesitation, cleanly severed his head.
"I... I still have tremendous value to offer you!" Kakuzu refused to surrender to death. Although his head was detached, he believed if it could somehow be reattached quickly enough, he might still survive. So he pleaded desperately: "I can become your loyal subordinate, gathering intelligence across the shinobi world! I'm functionally immortal and can infiltrate any dangerous location!"
In the shortest possible time, he frantically advertised his advantages, desperately hoping to capture Uchiha Kazuki's interest and reconsideration.
He understood perfectly that at this critical moment, he couldn't afford to waste words on empty rhetoric.
If he continued stalling with evasive responses, the unpredictable shinobi might grow displeased and finish him off permanently.
"You might not realize this, but the applications of Earth Grudge Fear extend far beyond simple combat!" Kakuzu fawned shamelessly, his expression turning pathetically subservient. "It can steal another person's heart and absorb it along with their elemental chakra nature! As long as the head remains intact, even if every heart is destroyed, it can be used to revive the user. It can even grant dramatically extended lifespan!"
"I'm willing to offer you the complete Earth Grudge Fear technique—just please spare my life, Kazuki-sama!"
To preserve his existence, Kakuzu completely abandoned every shred of dignity, willing to surrender even his most treasured forbidden jutsu.
The longer one lives, the more desperately one clings to life. He had walked alone through countless decades, witnessing the rise and fall of entire shinobi generations, and he absolutely refused to die here in complete obscurity.
"Are you finished rambling yet?"
Uchiha Kazuki was busy extracting items from his storage and didn't have time to properly acknowledge the incessantly chattering severed head.
"Huh...?"
Kakuzu's throat felt parched from talking, but he was crushingly disappointed to discover that his target hadn't listened to a single word. The Uchiha had even pulled out a pair of translucent gloves that appeared disturbingly organic—as if crafted from actual human skin.
The semi-transparent skin-like glove seemed to writhe as though genuinely alive, emanating an profoundly ominous and unsettling aura.
Staring at those nightmarish gloves, Kakuzu suddenly felt bone-deep terror, primal fear flooding his pupils. "What... what are you planning to do?!"
"Relax. Take a deep breath. Don't be so tense."
Uchiha Kazuki elegantly slipped on the glove with practiced ease, crossing his arms casually before stating with clinical calm: "Everyone experiences this for the first time eventually. You're dying for the first time, I'm using this for the first time. Let's cooperate smoothly, alright? We'll finish this quickly."
Listen to yourself! Is that even remotely humane language?!
What do you mean "you're dying for the first time too"?! It's not like anyone gets to die twice!
"Wait! I still have critical intelligence that could prove invaluable to you!" Kakuzu—now reduced to only a severed head—still attempted to struggle desperately.
"Stop moving!"
Uchiha Kazuki reached down and firmly grasped Kakuzu's head, silently activating 'Creeping Hunger.'
The unnaturally icy touch sent violent shivers racing across Kakuzu's scalp. An uncontrollable chill surged to his forehead. If he still possessed a functional respiratory system, he might have gasped audibly in terror.
Unfortunately, with his neck completely severed, that physiological response was no longer possible.
"Devour!"
Uchiha Kazuki commanded silently within his mind.
The Creeping Hunger artifact responded with what felt like jubilant eagerness, its corrupted spirit constantly praising the great 'True Creator' in distorted whispers at the edge of his consciousness.
"Ughhhhh—!"
Suddenly, an overwhelmingly powerful and twisted suction force violently erupted.
Kakuzu instantly felt devastating vertigo as his very soul seemed to be forcibly dragged outward from his physical head by that terrible supernatural pull.
"No! STOP!" Kakuzu immediately realized the Uchiha intended to extract his soul itself. His face contorted with absolute terror as he screamed desperately: "Please! Don't do this to me!"
But unfortunately, his anguished pleas were completely ignored by Uchiha Kazuki.
Within moments, a nearly translucent spiritual form was violently wrenched free from Kakuzu's severed head. The Creeping Hunger feasted upon it greedily—like a ravenous beast—viciously tearing and gnawing at the helpless spirit before slowly swallowing it whole.
Souls devoured by 'Creeping Hunger' not only suffered excruciating agony during the consumption process itself, but also experienced endless torment during their subsequent imprisonment and 'grazing.'
Of course, Uchiha Kazuki felt no sympathy whatsoever. After all, no matter how one examined the situation, Kakuzu was far from being a good person by any moral measure.
Upon first 'devouring' Kakuzu's spiritual essence, he could immediately sense the feedback from the corrupted artifact.
The Creeping Hunger now had only four remaining soul-grazing slots available—along with what seemed like an instinctive ability to freely 'graze' and release captured souls.
"Speaking of which... how exactly do I upgrade this thing like a Shepherd would?"
Uchiha Kazuki fell into contemplative thought. Where could he possibly locate a Sequence 5 Shepherd in this world?
After considerable deliberation, he decided to temporarily abandon that concern and instead test out his newly acquired grazed soul. He wondered how fortunate his luck would prove on this inaugural usage.
"Graze!"
As his mental command fell, the 'grazing' ability immediately manifested its power.
Four Earth Grudge Fear entities—resembling grotesque clusters of writhing black threads—instantly materialized near his position.
"Tsk, only one ability?"
Uchiha Kazuki felt somewhat dissatisfied. It was his first time using the artifact, and the results seemed disappointingly limited—only obtaining a single random ability from the soul.
However, he immediately reconsidered thoughtfully: "Speaking of which... did Kakuzu actually possess any other notable abilities besides Earth Grudge Fear?"
It seemed, from what he could recall, that Kakuzu's combat repertoire consisted almost exclusively of Earth Grudge Fear applications, correct?
As he pondered this realization, Uchiha Kazuki felt a sudden throbbing headache. His previously stable spiritual energy gradually became dangerously restless, and the whispered praises to the True Creator echoing in his mind seemed to grow progressively clearer and more insistent.
His eyes sharpened instantly with alarm. He quickly tore off the Creeping Hunger glove and hurled it back into his system storage space.
"Hiss... this corrupting side effect is genuinely excessive."
After repeatedly employing mental soothing techniques to forcibly stabilize his spiritual energy, Uchiha Kazuki frowned with concern. "Without access to Sefirah Castle's suppressive influence, I should definitely minimize usage of this artifact in the future."
He had to admit feeling genuinely envious of Klein at this moment—Sefirah Castle was simply an invaluable divine artifact for Beyonders!
After Kakuzu's unfortunate interruption, Uchiha Kazuki decided against resting any longer. He quickly gathered his belongings and resolved to return directly to Konohagakure.
He wondered what interesting developments had transpired in the village during his extended absence.
Speaking of Konoha, one particular individual absolutely had to be mentioned—
Danzo had been driven to the brink of madness by Hiruzen Sarutobi over these past several days. The elderly Hokage inexplicably kept summoning her to the office to ostensibly discuss important village matters.
But whenever she arrived, after barely exchanging a few cursory words, Hiruzen would insist on taking her out for a "reunion," claiming they were old classmates who should reconnect after all these years.
Either they'd visit the hot springs together, or they'd drink sake late into the evening—
Until finally, the peculiar way Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at Danzo began making even the hardened Root operatives feel a deeply uncomfortable sense of unease.
Was he actually... developing feelings? Could her feminine charm truly be that overwhelming?
[End of Chapter 121]
[Reader Event Active]
500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter
Thanks for reading!
20+ advance chapters on P2treon DarkFoxx