"Stubborn."
Minato's words were cold as he shifted his focus and struck again, giving Kakuzu no chance to catch his breath. This was still with Minato holding back, refraining from using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
If the four of them had gone all out, Kakuzu would already be in serious trouble.
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
To avoid being attacked from all sides again, Kakuzu unleashed a large-scale Wind Release technique aimed at Nagato and the others. This was the attribute of his final heart.
The Wind Release Masked Monster emitted high-pressure wind balls from its mouth, instantly forming a vortex storm that swept toward Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan. Trees snapped and shattered wherever it passed.
Kakuzu forced his feet into motion, attempting to dodge Minato's relentless attacks.
"It's not that easy," Minato said calmly, his focus solely on Kakuzu.
Without hesitation, Minato made another precise kunai thrust, aiming directly at Kakuzu's Wind attribute heart.
This time, Kakuzu didn't dare mock him. The danger Minato posed was now evident, and Kakuzu's estimation of him had risen significantly.
"Shinra Tensei," Nagato said quietly, extending his right hand.
The swirling storm of wind was suddenly repelled, bouncing back as if it had struck an invisible wall.
Kakuzu's eyes widened in disbelief. What kind of hellish Ninjutsu is this?
Not only had he never seen such a technique, but he'd never even heard of it.
Are all of Konoha's Anbu this insane?
For the first time, he realized how absurd it had been to attempt the assassination of Kawakaze Hatake in Konoha.
At that moment, Kakuzu fully came to terms with the grim reality. Accepting the bounty on Kawakaze's head had sealed his fate from the very start.
He knew better than anyone the sheer power of his own Ninjutsu. Now, he was desperate to escape the range of their relentless attacks.
But Minato stayed on him like a shadow, leaving him no opening to flee.
Is this kid not afraid of death?
"Damn it!"
Kakuzu cursed inwardly. If you're not going to run, I'm not going to run either. Who's afraid of you?
As the explosion sounded behind him, Kakuzu suddenly realized that Minato had vanished. When he looked up, he spotted Minato standing on a distant tree branch.
Although Minato's mask concealed his expression, Kakuzu could sense the sneer.
"Ahhh..."
Kakuzu screamed as he was thrown through the air, caught in the aftermath of his own Ninjutsu. The oppressive force was beyond description.
While airborne, Kakuzu began coughing up blood uncontrollably. When the dust settled, he was too weak to stand.
With only one heart left and his strength nearly gone, he saw no hope of escape. The black threads of Earth Grudge Fear could no longer save him.
"Is it done?" Konan asked as she flew to Minato's side, keeping her distance from Kakuzu. She had spent most of the battle observing, playing little active role.
"Well, he can't move anymore," Minato confirmed with a nod. Kakuzu was completely incapacitated.
"So boring," Yahiko muttered, clearly disappointed. He unleashed a small Water Release, more of an afterthought than an effort.
"As long as the mission is complete," Minato replied calmly. "Get ready to head back."
Glancing at Nagato, he gestured toward Kakuzu.
"Banshō Ten'in."
Nagato nodded, extending his right hand. An invisible force pulled Kakuzu toward him.
Kakuzu opened his mouth to speak but stopped when he felt the last remnants of Chakra in his body being drained by the red-haired Anbu.
Moments later, Kakuzu was slung over the shoulder of the orange-haired man like a lifeless dog.
"You're getting better and better at this," Yahiko said, patting Nagato on the shoulder.
Nagato's ability had indeed proved convenient, saving them the trouble of sealing their captive.
"Well, everyone has to grow up sometime!" Nagato replied with a hearty laugh, completely at ease.
As he aged, he was steadily mastering the unique abilities of the Rinnegan.
When the day came that he fully controlled the Rinnegan, he would undoubtedly surpass the Pain of the original storyline.
If it hadn't been for the limitations of his body, the original Nagato wouldn't have relied on creating the Six Paths of Pain. Using the Rinnegan directly with his own body was far stronger.
"Alright, let's go back to the village," Minato said, and the group began their journey to Konohagakure.
They hadn't actually been away from the village for long. Kawakaze had never truly intended to let Kakuzu leave in the first place.
As time passed, Minato and his team drew closer to Konoha. Meanwhile, Kakuzu, who had recovered slightly, began speaking from Yahiko's shoulders.
"I was in the wrong earlier. I might have spoken a little too harshly," he said slowly.
"I really am not a bad person. A few hours ago, it was Lord Kawakaze who escorted me out of the village. If you don't believe me, you can ask the guards later."
Kakuzu's tone softened as he attempted to clear up the misunderstanding. It was hard to reconcile the fact that after paying 900 million for his freedom, he was now back in captivity. What's going on?
"Shut up. We'll naturally go ask Lord Kawakaze," Minato snapped, his tone rude and dismissive. "It's not your turn to make demands."
He didn't bother giving Kakuzu any respect. As for asking Kawakaze, it was merely an offhand comment. The real orders to capture Kakuzu had come directly from his Sensei.
"Yellow-haired kid, you're so rude," Kakuzu retorted. "When I see Lord Kawakaze, I want you to admit your mistake."
Seeing Minato's attitude, Kakuzu realized he had been overthinking. There was no chance the yellow-haired kid would let him go. His only hope now rested with Kawakaze.
Kawakaze just accepted my massive bribe—there's no way he'd turn his back on me so soon, Kakuzu reasoned. It hadn't even been half a day. Besides, he had evidence of the bribe, so there was still a good chance he could secure his release.
Having sorted out his thoughts, Kakuzu decided to stay silent. Talking further might only push him closer to madness with Minato around.
"I'll be waiting," Minato said curtly before falling silent. This guy is really pitiful—he still hasn't figured out the truth.
When they arrived at the gates of Konohagakure, Kakuzu tried speaking to the guards. They didn't even look at him, completely ignoring his words.
Once back in the Anbu prison, Kakuzu calmed himself. He was convinced that Kawakaze would appear before him soon.
After dropping off Kakuzu, Minato and the others headed to the Hokage's Office, where Kawakaze was conferring with Shōta about something.
"Did you take care of it?" Kawakaze asked first.
"Yes, Sensei," Minato replied. "I've left him in the Anbu prison." Minato had followed Kawakaze's instructions to the letter.
"That's good. Then leave him be. Keep him locked up," Kawakaze said. "I'm being kind by sparing his life. If I let him out, he'll probably go on to commit even more crimes."
Kawakaze seemed satisfied, even thinking he had done a good deed.
"He kept asking to see you," Konan chimed in, unable to hold back a smile.
Konan now had little in common with the cold and aloof figure from the original story.
"Do you think I'd see him just because he wants to see me? Who does he think he is, and who do I think I am?" Kawakaze laughed, the sound tinged with mockery.
Poor Kakuzu—so straightforward yet being played like this.
"Exactly," Konan agreed casually, treating Kakuzu as nothing more than a prisoner.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, go home and rest. The Anbu won't assign you any missions today," Kawakaze said, dismissing them. Earlier that morning, he had already spoken to Sakumo, effectively ending their early shift.
"Then I'll go find Kushina," Minato said, darting off faster than a rabbit. While he hadn't used the Flying Thunder God Technique to get here, he didn't hesitate to walk away swiftly.
"Goodbye, Sensei," he called back.
The three friends exchanged helpless glances, shaking their heads. Whenever Minato had free time, he couldn't wait to spend it with Kushina.
In the end, they were all just young boys and girls caught up in love—none of them were any better than the others.