"You have it with you?" Kawakaze asked casually, but Kakuzu didn't respond right away.
If he said he had it, would he still need to pay?
If he said he didn't, how would the other person believe him?
Before Kakuzu could answer, Kawakaze spoke again. "That's an impressive sum."
Kawakaze gave a satisfied smile. Indeed, who in the world doesn't like money?
"So, you're saying yes." Kakuzu's face showed a flicker of joy, and his tensed nerves began to relax.
"No, you're overthinking it," Kawakaze said, shaking his head, his eyes glinting with mockery. "I want your money and you."
Letting Kakuzu go wasn't an option. Not only would Tsunade never forgive him, but he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly once he returned.
"You're too greedy," Kakuzu muttered, stepping back cautiously, his face tense with vigilance. Kawakaze's unpredictable speed sent a chill down his spine. He still couldn't figure out how Kawakaze had appeared behind him.
"If someone else had said that, I would have accepted it," Kawakaze said, closing in slowly, exuding a powerful sense of pressure.
"But who are you, Kakuzu, to say such a thing?"
"I..." Kakuzu started but found himself at a loss for words.
Indeed, he was the greediest of all. If it weren't for the massive bounty, who would dare come to Konoha?
"Do you surrender, or do you want me to beat you?" Kawakaze clenched his fists, producing a crisp sound.
Each step felt like it pressed directly on Kakuzu's heart, his aura growing more oppressive with every move. To Kakuzu, the lightning surrounding Kawakaze seemed even more dazzling.
"Don't even think about it."
At this point, Kakuzu had abandoned any illusions. During their conversation, he had already sewn up the gaping wound in his chest. It didn't look life-threatening anymore. If he could escape, he could always find another heart to replace it.
"Hoah~!"
With a roar, eight massive black tendrils erupted from Kakuzu's upper body, giving him a hideous and terrifying appearance.
"What a disgusting secret technique," Kawakaze remarked, eyeing the writhing black tendrils. Yet, he showed no sign of nervousness.
With a light jump, he evaded the attack range of the tendrils.
Bang!
A half-meter-deep pit appeared where Kawakaze had just been standing.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness."
The attack missed Kawakaze, exactly as Kakuzu had expected. Without hesitation, he formed hand seals with both hands. The lightning mask on his shoulder spat out a sharp spear of lightning from its mouth.
It arrived in an instant!
"Are you out of your mind to use Lightning Release against me?" Kawakaze said, still in mid-air, a faint smile of contempt curling his lips.
"Break."
A simple punch, just like the one that shattered Kakuzu's Chakra Cannon, obliterated the Lightning Release spear before it could even touch him.
After the punch, Kawakaze vanished from Kakuzu's field of vision.
Recalling his earlier mistake, Kakuzu quickly turned around, expecting an attack from behind.
"Sorry, you guessed wrong. I'll take the second heart."
Kawakaze's arm plunged into Kakuzu's chest and then withdrew as he moved away. Another large hole opened in Kakuzu's chest.
"You might as well just kill me! What's the point of taunting me?!"
Kakuzu didn't even bother to sew up the wound this time, his emotions nearing a breaking point.
He had never faced such an opponent before—someone with both a formidable defense and unpredictable speed. No matter how he analyzed the situation, he couldn't think of a way to break through. His years of hard-earned combat experience suddenly felt laughably inadequate.
"If I kill you, who am I going to ask for the money?" Kawakaze's voice carried a mocking edge.
"That's over 900 million."
At this moment, Kawakaze's actions made him seem like a villain. His laugh was unnervingly creepy.
Wasting a little time for 900 million. I'm sure Tsunade won't blame me.
"Don't even dream about it. Even if I die, I won't tell you," Kakuzu replied firmly. He wasn't a naive fool and didn't believe a word of Kawakaze's nonsense. Kawakaze could only have one of the two: the money or the person.
"Really?" Kawakaze sneered.
"Then you can just die!"
This was the first time Kawakaze took the initiative. His movements were swift like lightning, his momentum like thunder. Before Kakuzu could react, Kawakaze's massive fist was already in front of him.
Kakuzu quickly manipulated his black threads, forming a large shield to block the attack.
"Nothing new," Kawakaze remarked.
After several exchanges, he had fully gauged the strength of Kakuzu's black threads.
"Ah~"
Kakuzu's body was sent flying as his Earth Grudge Fear shield crumbled under Kawakaze's assault.
"Wood Release: Four Pillars Prison Technique."
Before Kakuzu could hit the ground, Kawakaze clasped his hands together. A massive wooden prison burst from the earth, instantly engulfing Kakuzu.
"It's not that easy to trap me."
So, the rumors were true. Kawakaze Hatake had indeed mastered Wood Release.
Kakuzu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and frantically manipulated his black threads to attack the wooden prison. However, the strength of the Wood Release was far beyond that of ordinary trees.
The Wood Release of the First Hokage could contend with Susanoo. Even if Kawakaze's skill fell short, it was still far beyond Kakuzu's ability to break.
As his attacks proved ineffective, Kakuzu grew increasingly agitated, and his Chakra consumption surged.
"I'll make you suffer some more," Kawakaze muttered.
As his Chakra output continued, changes began to take shape within the cage. Spikes sprouted from every piece of wood, growing slowly but steadily. Kakuzu's range of movement shrank with each passing moment, and unless something unexpected happened, he would soon be impaled by the spikes.
"I wonder how many hearts you can keep like this," Kawakaze said lightly, his words drifting to Kakuzu's ears.
"Don't underestimate me!" Kakuzu snapped.
"Earth Release: Iron Skin."
Abandoning his attack, Kakuzu shifted to defense. After forming a hand seal, his entire body turned black. This technique had once allowed him to withstand the force of countless Explosive Tags without injury.
When the wooden spikes touched Kakuzu, they couldn't advance an inch. As they continued to grow, the spikes began to crack. These were not as sturdy as the wood forming the prison itself.
"Haha, this move of yours won't kill me," Kakuzu said, laughing as his defensive technique proved effective.
"Interesting," Kawakaze replied. "What do you think of this move?"
He clasped his hands together, and the wooden prison began contracting rapidly. The spikes shattered against Kakuzu, and the prison shrank smaller and smaller.
Soon, Kakuzu was completely encircled, the intense pressure making him feel as though his internal organs were being crushed. No matter how many hearts he had, being pulverized would leave him no chance of survival.
"Please, I don't want to die yet," Kakuzu rasped. Under the shadow of death, he realized he wasn't as tough as he imagined. His voice was hoarse, and the humiliation of begging a young man for mercy cut deeply.
"I was just joking," Kawakaze said.
The pressure eased abruptly, and the wooden prison stopped contracting.
"I still have to take you back to be judged by Lady Hokage," Kawakaze added, walking forward calmly and gripping the wooden prison with one hand.
Kakuzu tried to move, but there was no room to budge.
"Behave yourself, and I'll decide whether you live or die," Kawakaze said.
With a slight push off his toes, Kawakaze darted forward. Kakuzu hung his head listlessly. The predator had become the prey, and the tables had completely turned.