Boom!
Another Shadow Clone exploded. Violent flames surged outward, devouring everything in their path. Caught off guard, Kakuzu could only use a fragment of his Earth Grudge Fear to block the attack head-on.
This was the terrifying part about Kakuzu. He possessed five hearts.
Realizing this, the Hancock clone decisively chose to retreat.
"That must be a forbidden technique. But now I understand your ability. Next time, I'll be prepared. You won't escape then, Witch Hancock. That ten million bounty is mine. Even Pain can't stop me. I said it."
Aside from losing one heart, Kakuzu's injuries were not severe. He did not pursue immediately. Instead, he planned to replenish his lost heart before continuing the hunt.
After all, a ten-million bounty was not something just anyone could claim. If he let the situation simmer for a while, the reward might even rise.
Meanwhile, several of the ninjas fleeing alongside the Hancock clone finally collapsed.
Kakuzu had not killed them outright, but he had not shown mercy either. They had already been injured, and the shockwave from the Shadow Clone's Secret Art Bomb made their wounds far worse. Most ninjas were fragile once heavily injured. Some died not long after running.
The surviving ninjas felt a strange sense of excitement in their hearts.
Good. The fewer competitors, the better.
Although these ninjas all surrounded the Hancock clone, deep down they wished the others would die, leaving only themselves.
Such was the terrifying charm of the Tomie power.
If the template Uchiha Fujie possessed had not been an optimized version, these ninjas might already be plotting how to monopolize the Hancock clone—perhaps even killing and dismembering her.
"Carry them for now. We'll bury them later," the Hancock clone said calmly.
She continued running. It still wasn't safe.
As she moved, she communicated with the original body and the other clones.
Uchiha Fujie and the other clones highly praised the power of the Secret Art Bomb developed by the Kawakami Tomie clone. It had actually managed to injure Kakuzu.
If that was the case, then if Uchiha Fujie revealed all his trump cards, there was a real chance he could kill Kakuzu.
After all, Uchiha Fujie possessed every ability cultivated by his clones. Whenever a clone achieved a breakthrough, its understanding and experience would be transmitted back to him.
Techniques created by the clones naturally suited them perfectly.
And what suited them perfectly also suited Uchiha Fujie.
Combined with the Mangekyo Sharingan ability, Absolute Control, Uchiha Fujie could master any technique his clones created within ten minutes, reaching the same level of proficiency.
Since the original body focused mainly on refining chakra and strengthening his physique while relying on the Mangekyo to inherit techniques from the clones, his true combat strength was actually higher than that of any individual clone.
"It seems I underestimated the power of the Tomie template… and I also underestimated the abilities of my Mangekyo Sharingan."
Uchiha Fujie understood that his direct combat power was not yet overwhelming.
But if he prepared an ambush in advance, even one of the Five Kage could fall victim to his schemes.
After all, if Uchiha Fujie created hundreds of clones beforehand and detonated Secret Art Bombs the moment the Five Kage appeared, only the Raikage might survive. The others would almost certainly die.
Even if the Raikage survived, how much strength would he have left?
After all, when a Shadow Clone used the Secret Art Bomb for self-destruction, its power was only about one-fifth that of a full clone's explosion.
Yet even that level of power had injured Kakuzu.
"In that case… it's time to collect a little interest."
Uchiha Fujie decided to begin targeting the Konoha F4.
If not for the Kawakami Tomie clone developing the Secret Art Bomb, and if the Hancock clone had not achieved results against Kakuzu, Uchiha Fujie would not have acted so soon.
However, he was not planning to attack the Konoha F4 directly.
That would be far too boring.
First, he would make them suffer.
Then he would drive them into despair.
Only at the very end would he kill them.
Until he had absolute certainty, the original body of Uchiha Fujie would never reveal itself.
Uchiha Fujie began communicating with the eye clone hidden within Danzo Shimura. Through it, he gathered intelligence about the Sarutobi clan, the Shimura clan, the Utatane clan, and the Mitokado clan.
The eye clone lurking within Danzo Shimura had nothing to do every day except slowly assimilate him.
Because of this, it knew every piece of information Danzo Shimura accessed and every order he issued.
The eye clone organized the intelligence and passed it to Uchiha Fujie, who then transmitted it to the Hancock clone.
Among all the clones, the Hancock clone was the best at using the Desire of Beauty ability.
"So it's near the Land of Rice Fields… which means the border between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire. I understand now."
After receiving the information, the Hancock clone smiled with interest.
Perhaps Kakuzu could be used.
The Konoha F4 had sent young ninjas from their respective clans to train on the border.
As for why they avoided the Land of Earth border, the Hancock clone didn't even need to think about it.
Jiraiya was stationed along the border with the Land of Lightning.
Sending them there was much safer.
At the same time, they could accumulate merit and enhance the reputation of the four clans among the common people.
"Doing it yourself is the worst strategy. Using someone else as the blade—that is the superior plan."
The Hancock clone sneered.
She had already devised a plan to complete the original body's mission while simultaneously eliminating the nuisance known as Kakuzu.
Other clones had their own objectives.
For example, the Aizen clone was also heading toward the Land of Rice Fields, but not for the same reason.
Its goal was to gain indirect control over the Land of Rice Fields.
The Aizen clone had encountered the son of the Land of Rice Fields' daimyo. Using its blood, it quietly assimilated the daimyo's son into another Tomie, turning him into an ally.
Unless necessary, the clones avoided creating too many additional Tomies.
Unlike the original Tomie from the manga—who believed only one version of herself should exist—these clones simply did not want to see too many versions of themselves.
Otherwise, the number of clones would easily exceed hundreds, if not tens of thousands.
It required little effort.
If they truly tried, they could create tens of thousands of clones in a single day.
In theory, Uchiha Fujie could create an army in one day and attack the five great ninja villages.
But that would be boring.
Besides, Uchiha Fujie had never truly considered the Konoha F4 as real enemies.
They were not worthy of forcing him to reveal all his trump cards.
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Despite the Hancock clone continuously recruiting new followers, they still could not withstand Kakuzu's relentless pursuit.
Now only six people remained beside her.
However, these six were much stronger.
The strongest among them was comparable to a Konoha jonin.
In truth, the Hancock clone had opportunities to kill Kakuzu through deception.
But she deliberately avoided doing so.
Kakuzu would become a very useful blade.
After traveling constantly, the Hancock clone finally approached the border between the two nations.
Immediately, they were intercepted by Konoha ninjas who demanded to know their identities.
This area was close to a temporary Konoha outpost. Several such outposts had been established along the border.
The one nearest to the Land of Lightning was guarded by Jiraiya.
The Hidden Cloud Village had deployed the Eight-Tails jinchuriki.
If they could not defeat Jiraiya, both sides would likely reach an unspoken agreement to stand down.
Two squads of Konoha ninjas—eight people in total—blocked the Hancock clone's path.
If anything suspicious occurred, they would attack immediately.
The Hancock clone was undeniably beautiful.
But without activating the Desire of Beauty ability, those ninjas would not lose their senses.
After all, she was not the real Boa Hancock who had eaten the Love-Love Fruit.