"Damn it, you brat, how dare you toy with me."
Watching Seiryū disperse into white smoke, Kakuzu let out a low, furious roar.
A blood red hue surfaced in his strange pupils.
The Chakra around him surged even more violently, making him appear even more monstrous.
He was enraged.
That brat was too disgusting, constantly making small moves from the shadows.
He did not even dare show his face.
He had been fooled by the other side.
Fooled by a brat who looked barely ten years old.
Where was he supposed to put his pride?
How could there be such an insidious and cunning little monster?
Sealing Techniques that were hard to avoid from afar, powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu, a strange technique that concealed his presence, and an overly cautious fighting style.
How was this something a ten year old should display?
"You are already so old, yet your temperament is still this poor. Are you really the Ninja who once fought the First Hokage and escaped unharmed?"
"Could it be you threw a shuriken from eight hundred meters away and then turned around and ran, and you call that a fight?"
"If that counts, then I fought the Sage of Six Paths in my dreams. He even wanted to seal me in the moon to keep his mother company."
Seiryū's voice drifted from somewhere, filled with nonsense and ridicule.
"Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work."
Kakuzu's ears twitched. He turned sharply toward a direction.
The Fire Release mask on his shoulder opened its mouth and spewed a scorching curtain of flames, sweeping forward in a wide arc.
Boom, boom, boom.
The flames engulfed the area ahead, burning everything to ashes.
"What was that for, showing off your Chakra reserves? You do have quite a lot, at least more than me. My Chakra is almost gone."
"I really envy adults. If I were an adult, I probably would only need one or two moves to kill you."
"Actually, I do not like sneak attacks. I prefer fighting head on. But I am too young. Please forgive me."
Seiryū's voice sounded from another direction, still irritating.
The effect of Bakudō #26: Kyokkō was extremely effective.
Kakuzu could not lock onto his position at all.
Of course, Tsunade's presence also forced Kakuzu into a miserable state.
It was not that Kakuzu was weak.
If Seiryū were alone, he would likely be revisiting this place in seven days.
It was also true that Seiryū's Chakra was nearly exhausted.
If he had more Chakra, the clone earlier would not have used Rasengan, but Raikōhō.
Kakuzu took a deep breath, suppressing the boiling rage in his chest.
He could not allow this brat's words to disturb him.
Losing composure was fatal for a Shinobi.
This brat's mouth was even sharper than Tsunade's.
He was so angry his chest hurt.
"This kid's mouth is still as vicious as ever."
Tsunade felt both amused and speechless.
Even Kakuzu, who had lived for decades, was breathing heavily in anger.
That mouth was truly capable of driving people mad.
Seiryū once mentioned some special Bloodline Limit called Talk no Jutsu.
Could such a thing exist?
Probably not.
Seiryū always joked around.
There was no way words alone could affect someone's mind like that.
The crisis was not over, so Tsunade refocused.
Whoosh.
She launched another attack, charging forward.
"Bakudō #30: Shitotsu Sansen."
Seiryū's voice rang out again, seemingly coordinating with her.
Kakuzu's expression turned serious. He scanned the surroundings, waiting for the sealing attack.
But nothing came.
"Hahaha, idiot. I already said my Chakra is almost gone. How could I still use a Sealing Technique?"
Seiryū's mocking laughter reached him.
Kakuzu gritted his teeth. His voice was nearly hysterical. "Brat, pray that you never fall into my hands. Otherwise, I will make you beg for death."
The frustration and anger in his heart reached its peak.
If he could, he would not even care about the bounty.
He only wanted to kill him in the most cruel way possible.
This kid was too disgusting.
"And you, I will kill all of you."
With murderous eyes fixed on Tsunade, Kakuzu suppressed his rage.
He formed hand seals and shouted, "Combined Technique: Lightning Explosion."
A blazing fireball wrapped in lightning surged forward, forcing Tsunade to retreat and halting her attack.
"If I cannot deal with you two, do you think I cannot deal with the others?"
He spat the words viciously.
Kakuzu used the Body Flicker Technique and rushed toward Katsuyu.
He had not forgotten the other Konoha Shinobi.
As long as he captured them, he could use them to threaten Tsunade and that hateful brat.
"Oh no."
Tsunade's expression changed drastically. Chakra burst from her leg as she propelled herself forward, attempting to intercept him.
She could not let him succeed.
Sensing her pursuit, Kakuzu turned coldly and formed hand seals again. The two remaining masks opened their mouths.
"Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work."
"Lightning Release: False Darkness."
A curtain of flames and lightning spears shot toward Tsunade, attempting to stop her.
"Do not even think about it."
Tsunade's face darkened. She had no intention of dodging.
Chakra surged violently as she charged straight through.
She could not stop.
If she stopped, Kurenai and Shizune would be in danger.
Kakuzu laughed wildly. "It is useless. You cannot stop me."
"Combined Technique: Lightning Explosion."
He unleashed another powerful attack.
A fireball wrapped in lightning crashed toward Tsunade as she emerged from the flames and lightning.
"Get lost."
Tsunade roared, her eyes burning with killing intent.
She threw a heavy punch. Her Monstrous Strength exploded and collided with the lightning infused fireball.
Boom.
Although she shattered it, a large scorched mark appeared on her fair arm.
She was injured.
More importantly, her momentum was halted.
Kurenai and Shizune were in danger.
At that moment, Seiryū was atop Katsuyu's massive head, beside one of her eyes.
Concealed by Bakudō #26: Kyokkō, he watched Kakuzu approaching.
A meaningful smile appeared on his face. "Just as I thought. There is no way he would not target Kurenai and Shizune."
When Kakuzu became frustrated and desperate, Seiryū had predicted he would attack them.
Kakuzu was not foolish. He would seek their weakness.
And their weakness was Kurenai and Shizune.
If he captured them, he could use them as hostages.
They would be forced to hold back.
Therefore, Seiryū had been guarding against this move.
He had been waiting here the entire time, preparing to give Kakuzu one final surprise.
(To be continued.)