Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
Kazuma reacted quickly, retreating while forming hand seals.aa
A wall of earth rose abruptly, intercepting the roaring flames that surged toward Kakuzu and Kazuma.
"No, it's not Amaterasu," Kakuzu muttered, eyes narrowing as he formed hand seals once more.
If it were Itachi's Amaterasu, the flames would have reduced the earthen wall to ash. This was different. Likely a ninjutsu likely activated with ocular techniques.
In the ninja world, there were indeed such abilities, with the Shinobi of Lock Village being particularly notable.
Wind Release: Pressure Damage!
A fierce gust howled as a compressed ball of wind shot out from Kakuzu's Wind Release mask.
The ball exploded mid-air, creating a powerful tornado that tore through the earthen wall, scattering debris and whipping the flames into a fiery whirlwind.
The fiery storm expanded, painting the sky a burning red, as though setting the heavens ablaze.
Kazuma couldn't help but gape.
What an incredible Wind Release! Surely this would pose a threat to him? right?
Wildfire Gu!
Shinho remained stationary, his expression calm.
The temperature around him spiked dramatically, causing the air itself to distort.
With a wave of his hand, an enormous blaze surged forth, consuming the tornado entirely.
The fiery vortex raged for barely a second before collapsing in on itself, releasing a tremendous burst of flames that fanned outward.
The firestorm grew exponentially, blanketing the sky in an inferno.
Kakuzu felt his breath catch.
Everywhere he looked, there was fire.
What kind of Fire Release was this?
No—this wasn't just Fire Release.
According to Akatsuki's intelligence, Shinho's deadliest skill wasn't ninjutsu but taijutsu.
Damn it!
Desperate, Kakuzu hastily wove seals.
All three masks—Wind, Lightning, and Water—opened their mouths simultaneously.
Streams of water, arcs of lightning, and powerful gusts converged, surging toward the surging wildfire.
The firestorm exploded on impact, scattering violently in all directions.
"Help me!" Kakuzu shouted, his pupil's contracting.
Kazuma didn't respond immediately, sweat pouring down his forehead as his hands blurred through seals.
Finally, he bit his thumb and slammed his palm to the ground.
Earth Release: earth shift!
Just as the fire threatened to engulf them, the earth split open before them, creating a massive chasm that swallowed the flames.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Kakuzu leapt back, escaping the fire's reach.
Kazuma followed close behind.
As the flames subsided, the battlefield revealed scorched earth and Shinho, who had not moved an inch.
"Do we still need to fight?" Kazuma asked nervously, doubt creeping into his mind.
Two seemingly casual Fire Release techniques from Shinho had left them utterly battered.
And this wasn't even his specialty.
"We're not done yet," Kakuzu growled, glaring at him.
Retreating after only two exchanges would be a disgrace. Besides, he hadn't even used his trump card yet.
Kazuma hesitated but kept silent. Now wasn't the time for infighting.
"You're strong," Kakuzu admitted, his chakra flaring as his masks hovered in the air, supported by black tendrils.
"But compared to the First Hokage, you're still lacking."
He clapped his hands together.
Earth Release: Earth Spear!
His skin darkened to a pitch black, hardening into a near-impenetrable shield.
"The First Hokage?" Shinho asked calmly, "You've fought him before?"
"Indeed!" Kakuzu replied proudly. "I may not have defeated him, but he couldn't kill me either."
Kazuma gasped audibly.
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, known as the God of Shinobi, ended the Warring States period with his mastery of Wood Release.
That Kakuzu had not only faced him but survived was astonishing.
An ancient relic, Kazuma thought, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his heart. Maybe they could win.
"Impressive," Shinho said, laughing.
"What are you laughing at brat?!" Kakuzu snapped, raising his right arm as the Wind, Fire, and Lightning masks converged.
Electricity crackled as lightning illuminated the area, accompanied by gusting winds that stirred dust and flames that distorted the air with searing heat.
Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot!
The three elements combined into an enormous chakra cannon, releasing a devastating beam of energy that roared toward Shinho.
Kazuma stared in disbelief. As he was standing nbxt to it, he could feel the sheer destructive power of the technique.
The sheer power of the attack rivaled the legendary Kekkei Tōta technique, dust release, he had only seen being used from far away.
This will work!
Kazuma clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on Shinho, whose expression remained calm and composed.
Shinho raised his hand with a casual wave.
Heavenly Cascade of Light!
A radiant river of light streaked forward like a meteor, obliterating everything in its path.
The ground and vegetation disintegrated into dust the moment they made contact with the light.
Danger!
Kazuma's instincts screamed at him. Blinded by the light, he shut his eyes and hastily formed seals.
Earth walls rose around him in a desperate attempt to shield himself.
Boom!
The cascade of light tore through the combined chakra cannon in less than a second.
Kakuzu's shocked expression froze as he was sent flying backward.
His hardened Earth Spear defense was useless, his exposed skin vaporized in the light.
Black tendrils encased him, barely preventing complete annihilation.
Even so, two-thirds of his tendrils were obliterated.
Kazuma wasn't as fortunate.
His earth walls crumbled instantly, and before he could react, he was consumed by the light, reduced to nothing but bones.
When the radiant river faded, the once-vast plain lay barren, charred beyond recognition.
Shinho glanced at Kazuma's remains and shook his head slightly.
Pathetic.
After all, this was the same man who couldn't even defeat Sarutobi Asuma.
Turning to Kakuzu, Shinho saw that he was still alive—barely.
All four masks were destroyed, leaving Kakuzu with only one heart. The black tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear struggled to stitch his body together.
Kakuzu glared at Shinho, his expression dark.
He had completely underestimated his opponent.
This Heavenly Cascade of Light—he had seen it before, but at the time, he'd thought Hidan's incompetence was to blame.
Now, it was clear: the technique's power was far beyond what he could handle.
Worst of all, Shinho's specialty was taijutsu.
The realization left Kakuzu despairing. He had given his all, yet it wasn't enough.
"Want to Run?" Shinho asked, stepping closer.
Kakuzu remained silent, focusing all his energy on repairing his body.
"I'll take your heart," he growled as Shinho approached within a meter.
Suddenly, Kakuzu lunged.
The black tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear expanded, forming a massive web to ensnare Shinho.
Secret Technique: Heart Seizure!
A maniacal grin spread across Kakuzu's face as he leapt toward Shinho.
He acknowledged Shinho's strength but believed the Hokage's recklessness in approaching him unguarded would be his downfall.
After all, Earth Grudge Fear wasn't that simple, it excelled in close combat.
Dragon Elephant Strength Gu!
Shinho raised his hand, and behind him, the phantom of Dragon Elephant Strength materialized.
Effort Multiplier Gu
He cranked it to the maximum. Fivefold.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze.
Kakuzu's eyes widened in terror as he felt an immense force bearing down on him, like a mountain crashing upon him.
Shinho's punch struck Kakuzu's heart directly, shattering it into fragments.
A spray of blood mist burst into the air.
The rest of Kakuzu's body, along with the black threads of Earth Grudge Fear, was ground to dust under the overwhelming force, unable to mount any resistance.
Boom!
The ground split and a massive crater formed at the epicenter of their clash. Dust billowed into the sky, resembling a sandstorm.
..
Achievement Unlocked: "Black Tiger Takes the Heart"
Reward: Earth Strength Gu
[Earth Strength Gu: A Rank Five Gu that, when paired with Force Borrowing Gu, allows the user to draw strength directly from the earth.]
..
Shinho exhaled deeply, satisfaction flickering across his face.
Finally, he had obtained a reward worth the effort. His progress toward the Six-Armed Heavenly King Zombie was steadily advancing.
Looking toward Kakuzu's remains, Shinho confirmed his death. Only a few scattered black threads and the Akatsuki cloak remained of him.
Sure enough, if you take off your clothes you'll die. Shinho thought with a smile.
But then his smile faltered.
There had been no achievement triggered for Kazuma.
With a slight twitch of his mouth, he decided to let it go. The acquisition of Earth Strength Gu was reward enough.
His next goal was clear: to deal with Shennong.
Having made his decision, Shinho conjured flames to incinerate the remaining black threads completely. As always, he believed in leaving no loose ends.
Golden light enveloped Shinho as he returned to the Fire Temple.
However, he made no effort to explain the situation to Chiriku.
There was no need, and frankly, it would be a hassle.
"Master!"
Ichikishima-hime greeted him eagerly.
She had already awoken but had been trapped by the Water Curtain skyflower Gu, unable to leave the tent. She could only wait.
With a casual wave, Shinho dispelled the barrier.
Ichikishima-hime floated over and clung to him. As she wasn't as tall she had to float to effortlessly cling to him like koala.
"Let's head back," Shinho said, storing the tent into his Blue Sky Well Gu and holding Ichikishima-hime tightly as they flew toward Konoha.
…
An Hour Later
Back at the site of Kakuzu's death, the ground began to shift and rise.
"Terrifying!" White Zetsu muttered, his tone full of lingering fear.
He had been shadowing Kakuzu and Kazuma as a contact but had hidden as soon as the battle began.
Thankfully, his concealment techniques were unparalleled in the ninja world, and Shinho hadn't noticed him.
White Zetsu had witnessed the entire battle, or more accurately, the one-sided devastation. Kakuzu and Kazuma had fought fiercely, but Shinho had overwhelmed them effortlessly.
"This one must not be allowed to live," White Zetsu whispered, sinking back into the ground.
He needed to report back to the Akatsuki immediately.
Shinho had become the greatest obstacle to the Moon's Eye Plan. Not only had he killed over half the Akatsuki members, but Konoha now safeguarded three tailed beasts.
White Zetsu sighed deeply. Even Black Zetsu likely hadn't foreseen the emergence of such a powerful figure.
…
At Konoha's Forest of Death
Shinho landed gracefully, setting Ichikishima-hime down and raising his arm.
A faint blue glow flashed as she transformed into a small serpent and slithered into his sleeve.
Entering the village, Shinho suddenly stopped, sniffing his clothing.
Indeed there was a faint scent of Ichikishima-hime lingering on his body. Changing course, he decided to head home before reporting to the Hokage's office.
When Shinho opened the door to his house, he paused momentarily.
Tsunade was lounging lazily on the couch, dressed in a loose kimono.
Had she just woken up?
Glancing at the clock on the wall, Shinho noted it was only nine in the morning. Given her personality, this was entirely plausible.
"Why are you home at this hour?" Tsunade asked, her head tilting as she heard the door open.
"I just returned from the Fire Temple. Had a fight with members of the Akatsuki," Shinho explained briefly. "I'm going to take a shower."
He refrained from approaching her, wary that she might catch Ichikishima-hime's scent.
"Go ahead," Tsunade said, giving him a quick once-over to confirm he was unharmed before waving him off.
Relieved, Shinho disappeared into the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes later, Shinho reemerged, drying his hair.
"Come here," Tsunade called, holding a hairdryer.
Her long legs stretched slightly, creating a spot for him to sit.
Shinho complied, sitting down in front of her.
"Why are you so tall?" Tsunade grumbled, craning her neck to look up at him before shifting onto the couch and standing on it to dry his hair.
Shinho glanced around, catching sight of her pale legs and bare feet. His eyes strayed upward, where the edge of her loose kimono hinted at more.
A smile spread across his face.
This is luxury.
"Done!" Tsunade said, turning off the hairdryer and tousling his hair.
"Thank you, sensei," Shinho said, standing to take the hairdryer and place it aside.
"Hug me," Tsunade said, spreading her arms with a smile.
Shinho stared at her in a daze.
In the autumn sunlight, her soft smile was as warm as the golden rays themselves.
"What are you waiting for?" Tsunade huffed, kicking him lightly.
"It's because you're so beautiful, sensei," Shinho replied, snapping out of his stupor as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"I like that reason," Tsunade said, leaning against him.
Her weight was a delightfully soft and warm to thew touch.
…
Amegakure
Konan ascended the tower, her expression heavy.
"What is it?" Pain asked, glancing at her.
"Kakuzu is dead," Konan said with a sigh. "As is Kazuma."
Kakuzu had been the Akatsuki's primary financier.
"Who did it?" Pain's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Shinho Aburame," Konan replied in a deep voice.
"Him again?" Pain's voice carried a faint chill. "Once the Three-Tails is captured, I will personally go to Konoha."
"What?" Konan exclaimed, alarmed.
"Don't worry," Pain said, gazing at the stormy sky, "Because a god is invincible."
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