Satoru's heart pounded even harder with excitement. Kakuzu was a powerful ninja, perfect as a test stone for his new secret technique.
"Shadow Clone Technique!" Satoru immediately created two clones.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Release: Flame of the Fire Dragon!"
"Lightning Release: Projectile of the Thunder Dragon!"
"Combined Ninjutsu: Explosion of the Flying Thunder Fire Dragon!"
The transmigrator also began accumulating energy. When Kakuzu unleashed his full power toward the boy, he deployed his new secret technique.
The transmigrator couldn't use the Great Five Elements Squall Technique mixing all five elements, but he was well-versed in Wind, Lightning, and Fire.
Using Projectile of the Thunder Dragon and Flame of the Fire Dragon taught by the Third Hokage, enhanced by Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, he merged the two dragons into one and, riding the wind, charged the foe.
Satoru used such powerful combined ninjutsu in real combat for the first time, his heart thrilling with excitement. Facing Kakuzu's strongest shot, he charged without fear.
Both were combined ninjutsu of Wind, Fire, and Lightning Release—incredibly powerful. The two forces collided at immense speed, and the ground beneath them cratered into a giant funnel.
A hurricane raged. The clash of massive chakra masses sent destructive waves radiating from the epicenter.
Both Satoru and Kakuzu were seriously injured by the clash.
Kakuzu's heartbeat weakened, while Satoru's did the opposite. His single-tomoe Sharingan, tempered in battle, evolved to two-tomoe Sharingan.
Moreover, the boy's clothes absorbed much of the damage.
"Armament Haki: Hardening!" the boy still sustained his attack. Kakuzu's assault gradually weakened—his chakra nearly spent.
In truth, Satoru was at his limit too. He held on purely by willpower.
"I lost!" Kakuzu finally couldn't endure. All hearts but the main one were destroyed. The main one was still fine.
Satoru didn't continue. Doing so would've recoiled on his own body.
*Boom!*
The system user dispelled the shadow clones. His whole body ached unbearably.
He barely stood and slowly approached Kakuzu.
"You won. Kill me. We who live on a knife's edge have long been ready. Kill or be killed," Kakuzu smirked.
"Why kill you? You went this far just for money," the transmigrator didn't blame the Akatsuki member. After all, he did everything for cash.
Kakuzu, on village orders, tried killing the First Hokage. Returning, he got no understanding—just harsh punishment. He retaliated: stole a secret technique, slaughtered the village leadership. Became a rogue ninja—no village dared take him. He joined the Black Market, living by assassinations.
So the Earth native understood him. In this chaotic shinobi world, what else was there?
"You're letting me go?" Kakuzu smirked. "You'll regret not killing me. Sooner or later, I'll kill you."
"Do as you like. Kill me however, I'll wait," in Satoru's view, if Kakuzu couldn't win now, he never would.
Kakuzu fell silent too.
"Ha, your speech reminds me of someone," he noted.
"Who?"
"The First Hokage. When he beat me, he said the same," Kakuzu said indifferently.
"The First? Unlikely," Satoru doubted.
"Actually, I'm curious—why didn't he kill you?" the boy asked.
"None of your business. Since you're not killing me, I'll keep my word and tell you where the Black Market is," Kakuzu was a man of his word, and now utterly unable to resist Satoru.
Getting the info, Satoru concluded:
"Kakuzu, hope you get stronger. If you still can't kill me, consider working together?"
"I have millions of ryo in silver and hundreds of thousands in gold you could earn! Plus, fight various shinobi world masters," the transmigrator wasn't lying—he was filthy rich.
Reason? He won it in System lotteries.
Whether ten-draw or points exchange, Satoru always got silver and gold. At first useless, but now he saw—if used right, better development.
"You serious? I just tried killing you?" Kakuzu stopped, turned, eyed Satoru.
"Of course. I want peace in the world, no more wars, every poor soul fed. Even folks like you could sleep easy. The able should do more. Of course, I believe your main goals are money and fighting strong foes, right?"
"Fine, I'll think," with that, Kakuzu left.
Satoru knew he was hooked. But now he was just a kid. If he became Hokage later, no issue.
"Where am I?" at that moment, Uzumaki Kushina awoke from unconsciousness.
"Minato? You saved me?" she asked.
Minato blushed slightly:
"I came to save you, but the enemy was too strong. In the end, Satoru and Yoshime saved us."
"Satoru... Yoshime..." Uzumaki looked up at them and thanked them immediately.
"Good, should be safe now. Return to Konoha at once," Satoru ordered.
"You're not coming?" all were surprised.
"I'm heading to the underground Black Market! Tell everyone Kakuzu killed me. Separately tell Teacher Sarutobi I'm going to the reward exchange point," Satoru trusted his mentor would understand—otherwise, not his teacher.
Satoru didn't return to Konoha because he wanted to infiltrate the underground Black Market and find who ordered his hit. If Danzo evidence found, return and accuse. Might do nothing, but humbling that old fox was necessary.
Minato and others had no choice but head back to Konoha.
Satoru followed Kakuzu.
Beating Kakuzu gave another draw chance—he used it immediately.
Ding-ding-ding!
Congratulations, Master!
You obtained ninjutsu! Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
The system user nodded. This technique was very powerful! At the original story's end, Uchiha Madara used it against the United Shinobi Forces. Countless ninja used Water Release to counter.
"Alright, learn it when time. Now, main thing—find the underground Black Market."
Satoru followed Kakuzu and was soon spotted.
"What, brat? Breaking your word?"
"Want to kill me? Be my guest!" Kakuzu smirked at Satoru.
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan