Hiromi looked at the arriving Kakuzu and grinned. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."
[Mission Name: So You Want My Head?]
[Mission Content: Kill Kakuzu!]
[Mission Reward: Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear + Cellular Regeneration Absorption]
This was a mission he had seen just as he left the village. Out of these two rewards, he felt that only Cellular Regeneration Absorption was somewhat useful. As for Earth Grudge Fear, he didn't have the desire for immortality yet. Because after the Fourth Great Ninja War's end, he would find this world very empty and boring.
But that didn't stop him from wanting to kill Kakuzu right now.
In an instant, orange flames erupted, immediately covering Hiromi's entire body.
Within the surging orange flames, golden light emerged. A crown, gilded patterns, bracelets, and anklets suddenly condensed into being. In a flash, a noble aura accompanied by terrifying heat ravaged the entire field.
Hiromi stood there as the sand beneath his feet melted, forming a two-meter pool of lava that shimmered like gold, accentuating his supreme nobility. Those eyes emitted a soul-shaking golden glow, sharp enough to see through everything, causing unease and panic.
Fire Release Chakra Mode: Flame Emperor Form!
Kakuzu, who had originally viewed the ninety-million bounty as his money, felt as if he had returned to the moment he had thrown a Kunai from eight hundred miles away the second he saw this form, his heart was filled with endless panic and fear.
This was the pressure brought by terrifying strength at its absolute peak!
Kakuzu's pupils shrank violently, and he immediately turned to flee. At the same time, a black-threaded monster wearing three masks emerged from his body. The three masks opened their mouths simultaneously, and Wind, Fire, and Lightning condensed within each.
Earth Grudge Fear: Final...
At this moment, Hiromi's voice rang out like the low chanting of ten thousand people, filled with judgment.
"Emperor Flame: Annihilation."
A streak of golden light, brilliant to the extreme, like the rising sun, illuminated and warmed this dark and cold land. However, this light was filled with destruction. Everything it touched within a radius of several hundred meters—withered leaves, weeds, even meteors and high mountains—was annihilated together. It was as if to the light, everything in this world was evil and should be annihilated.
Kakuzu's eyes widened as he watched the golden light sweep toward him, thinking back to the money he hadn't yet finished spending.
"NOOOO!!!"
In an instant, everything was reduced to ashes.
The golden glow faded, leaving the surroundings charred black with drifting ashes, with only terrifying heat remaining.
Hiromi stood there alone.
The black-threaded monster with three masks and Kakuzu were nowhere to be found.
[Mission 'So You Want My Head?' completed. You have obtained Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear + Cellular Regeneration Absorption.]
Just then, a ripple of Chakra appeared.
Hiromi sensed it and looked up. He saw Ōnoki and Kitsuchi floating in the air using Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique.
Ōnoki's expression was filled with murderous madness as Dust Release condensed in his hands.
"A fellow like you absolutely cannot be allowed to live in this world!"
The moment he saw Hiromi's Flame Emperor Form, he abandoned the countless calculations in his mind. Because if he didn't kill the youth in front of him now, there would never be another chance.
At all costs!
He could not let him leave this place alive!
"Brat! In your next life, remember not to run wild on someone else's territory!"
Hiromi's eyes narrowed slightly as golden light quickly condensed in his hand.
Just as a glimmer of white light appeared, the charred ground on both sides began to move.
Earth Release: Sandwich Technique!
Kitsuchi clapped his hands together. Two huge rocks, filled with the power of a natural disaster, slammed shut fiercely.
...
Orochimaru stood on a distant rock, hands tucked into his sleeves, watching the stunning scene of the massive rocks merging with a "Keke" strange laugh.
Dozens of meters behind him, Jūzō could no longer laugh. His face was terrifyingly gloomy.
He thought he was strong, but the scene before him completely destroyed all his confidence.
...
The Uchiha Root Members, who were several kilometers away, looked at the two mountain-like masses behind them, speechless and in disbelief.
Then they thought of something, and their faces turned pale, their expressions filled with nothing but endless panic.
Two Uchiha Root Members hurriedly handed Baki and the other three over to one member and then quickly rushed back the way they came. Only one voice kept ringing in their hearts.
"Please don't let anything happen..."
"Please don't let anything happen..."
"Please don't let anything happen..."
—
Sasori, who was chasing the Uchiha Root Members, looked at the scene behind him with an uncertain expression. Even from several kilometers away, he could still feel a terrifyingly high temperature that made the body uncomfortable from that golden light that had reached the extreme.
Now Iwagakure's Ninjutsu had appeared. Especially at this level, only Kitsuchi, the son of Ōnoki, had such ability. And since Kitsuchi had acted, it could only mean that Ōnoki wanted to kill Hiromi.
Why?
He could see that killing Hiromi had no benefit for Iwagakure. So why did the killing intent suddenly arise after that golden light?
There was only one most improbable truth—Hiromi was so powerful that Iwagakure was afraid and didn't dare let him continue living.
Having reached this conclusion, Sasori's eyes flickered. He glanced in Gaara's direction and then back toward Hiromi's direction.
Even though two Uchiha Root Members were rushing back, he didn't care.
After hesitating for two seconds, he made up his mind and turned toward Hiromi's direction.
If Hiromi was killed, he would definitely not pass up such a strong puppet.
If Hiromi wasn't killed, then it wasn't worth offending such a powerhouse for the sake of a Jinchuriki.