"You brat! Don't think I can't reach you just because you're in the sky!"
"Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear... grants me endless destructive power!"
With a furious roar, Kakuzu's black tendrils stretched out, reaching toward the heavens.
At this point, Kakuzu had completely disregarded Bobosai and Yahiko. All he wanted was to kill the brat standing between him and his fortune.
Kazuyama Gekkō had no intention of becoming a stationary target. In a flash, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reappear behind Bobosai and Yahiko.
Scattered all around were the marked kunai—he had already prepared the field.
"Village Head, Yahiko, it's time to fall back."
"Actually, no... better to call for reinforcements. I can hold him off for a bit, but not for long."
"Whoa, he's coming again!"
With one hand pressed to the ground, Kazuyama summoned another massive crystal dragon, lifting Bobosai and Yahiko into the air.
In that moment, he and Yahiko exchanged glances.
Kazuyama: Retreat. Don't go too far. Got it?
Yahiko: ...Got it, but is this really okay?
Kazuyama: Rolls eyes in silence, shooting a glare. "Figure it out yourself."
Yahiko gave Bobosai a deep look, finally understanding Kazuyama's intentions.
Bobosai was seriously wounded, and the culprit was none other than Kakuzu, a Missing-nin. As long as Bobosai remained incapacitated, it would be easier to seize control of Takigakure.
Even if Yahiko didn't like it, there weren't many options left.
To achieve the peace they longed for, some sacrifices had to be made.
If the old Yahiko had been hesitant, then after Kazuyama's influence, he had become someone who could make ruthless decisions.
"Lord Bobosai, let's retreat. Kazuyama will cover us."
"Your injuries need treatment right away."
Supported by Yahiko and lifted by the dragon, Bobosai's face was pale, his expression tense. But Yahiko's eyes were resolute—he knew what needed to be done.
"Cough, cough... Alright..."
Pain radiated from Bobosai's abdomen, draining the color from his face.
He wanted to keep fighting, but he was too old, too injured—pushing forward meant certain death.
Kakuzu saw them leave but didn't pursue. His eyes followed Bobosai for a moment, murderous intent gleaming in them.
"Hey, sewing freak—what are you staring at?"
"Looking for this, maybe?"
"Hehehehehe..."
That devious laughter rang out again, but this time it wasn't accompanied by fluttering bills.
Instead, a heap of dazzling golden glitter sparkled in the air.
Kakuzu's attention was instantly hooked. Gold? Wait... no...
Gold dust???
The gleaming golden light mesmerized him. There was so much of it—too much!
Kakuzu shook his head hard. He'd already fallen for a trick once—he wasn't going to fall for it again!
"You damn brat! I won't... fall for it... again..."
Something felt wrong. Very wrong.
Kakuzu realized his tongue was going numb.
He couldn't even pinpoint where it was now... but the tingling sensation spreading through his entire body was all too real.
Glaring at Kazuyama floating in midair, Kakuzu knew—he'd been played again.
"Hehehe..."
"Think this is gold sand?"
"Then maybe you should head to Sunagakure and ask Jonin Rasa—oh wait, he should be the Fourth Kazekage by now."
"His Magnet Release uses gold dust. What I used is paralysis powder, catalyzed with my chakra. Why is it gold, you ask? Think about it."
Kazuyama grinned, utterly smug.
On the battlefield, brute-force ninjutsu wasn't always the answer. Phosphor powder had always been one of his go-to secret weapons.
And as for why it was gold?
Well, that was Chōmei's doing.
Chōmei: Tch. Just a chakra reaction, nothing special. Could've been pink, green, even purple.
"Damn it..."
In all his years, Kakuzu had never felt so thoroughly played.
And the one to humiliate him... was just a brat. A damn brat!
A damn Konoha ninja! This mission was a complete failure. Out of five targets, four had escaped—and now he was paralyzed on top of that.
But don't count him out just yet!
What happened next was beyond Kazuyama's expectations.
Though coated in Scale Powder, Kakuzu suddenly released his masked monsters from within. Since these creatures were chakra-based clones created through the secret technique Earth Grudge Fear, they weren't affected by paralysis the same way he was.
The three monsters immediately grabbed Kakuzu and began flying toward Takigakure.
"Huh? He's retreating already?"
"But in that direction?"
"Trying to get a new heart?"
"Keep dreaming!"
Kazuyama had no intention of letting Kakuzu recover. This wasn't Sasori—there'd be no regrouping on his watch.
Sasori? Right... he'd nearly forgotten about that one.
But for now, chasing down Kakuzu took priority.
Riding atop a crystal dragon forged with Crystal Release, Kazuyama shot forward in pursuit.
...
"Lord Bobosai, are you alright?"
"We're almost at the village gate."
Yahiko formed a hand seal, and a ripple of water shot into the village—a signal flare.
As long as Konan and the others saw it, they would come running.
"It's Lord Bobosai and Yahiko!"
"Quickly!"
Takigakure shinobi, alerted by the signal, appeared beyond the waterfall entrance. Upon seeing their injured village head, they rushed to help.
But they were just a moment too late.
"Gah!"
Suddenly, blood burst into Yahiko's view.
"Lord Bobosai!"
Bobosai's chest was pierced straight through, and black tendrils spilled forward along with the gushing blood.
Yahiko and the Takigakure shinobi cried out in rage.
For Yahiko, the moment was especially cruel. He had only just resolved to return and find a way to strip Bobosai of power—to take control for the good of the village.
But fate had moved faster than any plan.
Those black threads—it was Kakuzu!
"He destroyed one of my hearts, so I'll take yours instead!"
Swoosh!
The tendrils recoiled, and a fresh, blood-soaked heart appeared in Kakuzu's hand. Without pause, he shoved it into his own chest.
Bobosai coughed up a torrent of blood, his eyes filled with fury and unwillingness.
"You bastard! I'll kill you!"
Yahiko roared, swinging his arms to unleash twin blades of water.
He lunged at Kakuzu—but a man couldn't outrun flight.
Having seized what he needed, Kakuzu immediately changed direction. He knew backup was closing in.
"Hmph. Feel this familiar power, brat."
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
The newly claimed heart transformed into a fresh mask, which opened wide.
A surge of high pressure and raging winds exploded outward, forming a tornado that seemed capable of devouring everything in its path.
Yahiko and the advancing Takigakure shinobi were blasted backward. Even Kazuyama's crystal dragon, crafted with Crystal Release, began to crack and shatter under the force.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake