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The Fire Mask of Jiongu opened its maw.
—Fire Style: Intelligent Hard Work!
A tidal wave of flame poured out. It hit the ground and erupted. In an instant, the earth transformed into a breathtaking sea of scarlet lotus fire.
Sasuke's expression was as still as deep water.
He'd fought too much. Fire of this scale… it was nothing new. His mind worked differently. He saw the gaps others missed.
Kakuzu claimed to have fought the First Hokage. That meant he was a shinobi from the Warring States era or just after. A shinobi's body deteriorated with age from constant war. Yet here was Kakuzu, nearly a century old, unleashing fire of this caliber. That was the real problem.
"So… that 'Jiongu' technique. It's a rare one. A biological modification procedure. Directly reconstructs the body itself…"
WHOOSH!
The sea of flame surged toward him. Heat washed over his face. Sasuke's hands formed the Horse seal.
—Fire Style: Warrior Arrow Dragon!
ROAR!
Vermillion flame erupted from Sasuke's mouth. It morphed. Coalesced. Became a fiery dragon. It tore through the advancing fire-sea, a spear of concentrated power driving straight for Kakuzu.
From the forest's edge, Kabuto gasped. "What kind of Fire Style is that?! The scale is smaller than Intelligent Hard Work, but it's completely overwhelming it!"
Orochimaru watched, pleased. "Sasuke-kun has long moved past chasing scale. He prioritizes 'casting efficiency.' He's compressing chakra equivalent to Intelligent Hard Work into a highly refined form. The difference is obvious."
"To suppress Intelligent Hard Work… is this an amplification from Hashirama Senju's chakra?!"
CRACK!
The Wind Mask monster on Kakuzu's left shoulder activated. A gale erupted—a violent storm-wind. It fanned the sea of flame to a new, blistering intensity. The Warrior Arrow Dragon's advance visibly slowed.
Sasuke didn't rush. He analyzed.
Left shoulder: Fire Mask. Right shoulder: Wind Mask. Two more on his back. Plus the chest mask destroyed earlier by Wood Spike. Five masks total in this Jiongu form. Each mask uses one nature transformation. And those mask-monsters seem to have a 'decoy' effect? What's the principle?
Right. When he grabbed my Lightning Clone with those black threads… he tried to rip out my 'heart.' So… each mask monster contains a 'heart.'
Five hearts. Five lives.
I see. This is the truth behind the Akatsuki's North Star, Kakuzu, and his immortality.
SHING! Sasuke's hand seals changed.
The flame dragon, pressured by Wind and Fire, suddenly gaped its maw wide.
—Warrior Arrow Dragon: Devour!
SHWOOP!
The flames of Intelligent Hard Work were violently sucked into the dragon's mouth. The dragon swelled. Grew massive.
Kakuzu's mind recoiled. What kind of joke is this?! That technique is absorbing my fire?!
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The enlarged dragon broke through with overwhelming force.
—Water Style: Water Formation Wall!
KRA-KOOM!
Kakuzu had no choice. The Water Mask on his back activated, firing a powerful water cannon. It slammed into the advancing dragon.
Elemental advantage—but not enough power.
—Lightning Style: False Darkness!
ZAP! The final, Lightning Mask opened. A sharp spear of lightning joined the water cannon. Finally—the attack was halted.
Kakuzu's jade-green eyes were wide with fury. "What… is this? One Fire Style… forced me to use four masks?!"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "I didn't see Sasuke-kun use such an impressive Fire Style against Sasori. Did he learn it just now?"
Orochimaru shook his head lightly. "No. That technique is one Sasuke-kun created a very, very long time ago. A genuine, super S-rank Fire Style. Against Sasori, his chakra reserves weren't sufficient to unleash its true potential. Only now, with the White Cursed Seal unsealed alongside his power, can he wield it. The techniques Sasuke-kun has mastered… far exceed what you see here. As his power grows further, you will witness more."
Nearby, Karin listened, her mind churning. A very long time ago? He's only thirteen! Why does Lord Orochimaru talk about him like he's some old geezer? …Not that I'd mind if he was, hehehehe~.
On the ridge above.
Black Zetsu's voice was low. "Obito. Your thoughts on the Uchiha brat's performance?"
White Zetsu chirped. "How else? With our eyes~!"
"Quiet. This is serious."
"Fine, fine. We share a mouth anyway…"
Obito was silent for a long moment. Then, gravely: "If he lives… one day, he will surpass 'Nagato.'"
Hmph. Surpass Nagato? Black Zetsu thought coldly. Your ignorance limits you. As Indra's transmigrant, surpassing Nagato is a given. I've monitored his movements since the massacre. How did he suddenly become so strong? Did 'Hagoromo' interfere?
The observers' thoughts didn't touch the battlefield.
Four hearts left. Four lives. Four mask-monsters for protection. Feints are essential…
Sasuke charged. He pulled up his right sleeve. His left palm brushed over the summoning formula written on his forearm.
POOF! White smoke. A FĹ«ma Shuriken appeared in his grasp. He hurled it directly at Kakuzu.
Kakuzu sidestepped it with contempt. "I was just starting to take you seriously. And you use a laughable feint like this…"
A faint smirk touched Sasuke's lips. Two fingers raised.
—Secret Technique: Shuriken Replication Summoning Formula!
POOF! POOF! POOF-POOF-POOF—!!!
From the formula inscribed on the lead shuriken, a sky-darkening swarm of Fūma Shuriken was summoned. Nearly invisible wires trailed from each one—all gathered in Sasuke's hand.
CRACKLE!!
Lightning chakra raced down the wires, coating every blade. Sasuke's hand yanked down hard.
—Uchiha Style Shuriken Formation: Lightning Flash Rain!
Instantly—a storm of lightning-weaved shuriken blotted out the sky. Kakuzu's escape routes, front, back, left, right—completely sealed.
"You—!!!" Kakuzu's eyes bulged. Black threads of Jiongu erupted wildly from his body, weaving into a protective black dome around him.
CLANG! SHING! CRUNCH-SHATTER—!!!
The dome was mauled by the relentless storm.
Using the shuriken storm as cover, Sasuke closed the distance in an instant. Wood Spike sprouted from his hand again.
"Damn it—!!!"
Sensing the kill-strike, Kakuzu's main body formed seals.
—Earth Style: Earth Spear!
KRRRK. His skin hardened, darkening with chakra. The Wood Spike, meant to pierce and expand from within, failed to penetrate his epidermis.
Kakuzu snarled. "Hey! Don't expect the same trick to work twice!!"
Sasuke's mind flashed. Altering skin hardness… that's Earth Style. But his Earth heart was destroyed. He retreated swiftly, avoiding the lashing black threads.
Right. He formed the seals with his main body just now. That hardening technique… it's not part of Jiongu. It's his own ability.
Kakuzu stared at the forest of FĹ«ma Shuriken, arcs of lightning still dancing across them. A chill ran down his spine.
That 'feint' alone could kill most shinobi. Just what is this brat?!
"You say the same trick won't work?" Sasuke brought his hands together before his chest. "Fine."
—Wood Style: Birth of the Forest of Trees!!
RRRRUUUMBLE—!!!
The earth shook. Split. Trees—thick, ancient, voracious—surged from the soil. They climbed, they strangled, they rolled forward in an unstoppable tide. A Forest of Trees even more vast and terrifying than the one used against Sasori.
Kakuzu bellowed, his voice raw. "HIDAN! GET OVER HERE!"
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