"We've known each other for a while now, haven't we? Isn't it a bit improper to come after me under these circumstances?"
Jinghang pulled the towel off his head, visibly annoyed as he spoke.
"This is just business. There's no such thing as proper or improper. Besides, while we've met before, we're not close, nor do we have any sort of relationship."
A low, emotionless voice emerged from the shadows.
"Ugh, what rotten luck. Can't even take a bath in peace."
Jinghang adjusted his underwear and spread the towel open, carefully wrapping it around his waist.
Here's what had happened: after winning over a billion ryo at the Kyōpū Casino, Jinghang and his companions were in high spirits. They spent three days indulging in food, drinks, and entertainment in Dragonfly City. By the third day, Jinghang felt a bit worn out and suggested visiting the city's most luxurious bathhouse—Tōchi Hot Springs—for a relaxing soak.
Tsunade and Pakura eagerly agreed, and Gao Jin naturally had no reason to refuse. However, Tsunade firmly rejected Jinghang's lecherous suggestion of mixed bathing and went with Pakura to the women's bath. Left with no choice, Jinghang opted for a private deluxe bath to enjoy some solitude. After all, if it wasn't mixed bathing, he had no interest in cramming into a pool with a bunch of rough men.
But just as his pores were beginning to relax, a shadowy figure barged in. Jinghang looked up and saw none other than Kakuzu! No need to ask—he was clearly here to collect the bounty on Jinghang's head.
"You're really confident you can take me down one-on-one?" Jinghang sneered.
"If it were under normal circumstances, I might not be so sure. But right now, in your current state, I'd say I have a seventy percent chance of success."
Kakuzu's tone remained as cool as ever.
"Oh? So confident? Care to explain why?"
Jinghang's curiosity was piqued.
"I spent 200,000 ryo at the exchange office to purchase records of your past battles. You often rely on iron sand in combat, maintaining a control range of about 800 meters. Right now, your clothes and scrolls are 800 meters away, and there's no iron around here. I'd wager you don't have even a couple of ounces of iron sand on you. This is the perfect opportunity to take your head."
With that, Kakuzu prepared to strike.
"Hold it, hold it!" Jinghang raised his hand to call for a pause.
"Aren't you worried I'll call for help?"
"No. This is a high-end establishment with excellent soundproofing. Even if I set off explosive tags here, no one would hear a thing. Relax, I'll make it quick."
As he spoke, black tendrils extended from Kakuzu's body.
"Wait a second! How about I pay you to spare my life? Cash, right here!"
"Hmm?"
Kakuzu paused, clearly caught off guard by the suggestion. He stopped his movements and gave it some serious thought before shaking his head.
"No. First, it goes against my principles. Second, even though you're the Kazekage, I don't believe you could produce 35 million ryo in cash on the spot. Now, prepare to die."
With that, Kakuzu's hand, connected by black threads, shot straight for Jinghang's throat.
Jinghang pushed off the edge of the bath and flipped out of the way, narrowly dodging Kakuzu's attack. Internally, he cursed, Damn it, who does he think he's underestimating? I'm the freaking Kazekage, managing assets worth over a hundred billion, and my head's only worth 35 million? That's the same price as Asuma Sarutobi's? Even with inflation, this is insulting!
That said, Kakuzu's assessment wasn't wrong. Without his iron sand, Jinghang couldn't use his imitation of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. He'd have to figure out a way to hit this old immortal with a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, just like Naruto did.
But that technique required some time to prepare. Meanwhile, Kakuzu had already deployed three Earth Grudge Fear masks, merging them into one, while another mask hung back like a guard dog, likely to prevent reinforcements or escape attempts. The old fox was nothing if not cautious.
Barely catching his breath after dodging several of Kakuzu's "flying hands," Jinghang found himself facing a completed Earth Grudge Fear fusion. Two of the masks opened their mouths wide, unleashing a massive combination jutsu—a mix of Wind Release and Fire Release. The wind fueled the fire, amplifying its power several times over, and a raging inferno engulfed the entire bathhouse.
With no way to escape, Jinghang suddenly had an idea.
"Rasengan!"
He slammed a Rasengan into the bathwater, creating a small waterspout that formed a protective barrier in front of him. Water met fire, and the resulting clash filled the bathhouse with steam, shrouding the area in a thick white mist.
"You think water vapor will block my vision? It's useless. There's only one entrance and exit here. You can't escape. This pool will run dry soon—do you have another one?"
"Who said I was trying to escape?"
As the mist cleared, Jinghang stood tall, his face now adorned with five whisker-like marks on each cheek. White markings framed his eyes and nose, giving him the appearance of a kabuki mask. Combined with his towel and shorts, the look was… comical, to say the least. He resembled nothing so much as a disgraced adulterer caught in the act.
"Hmm? Are you about to perform a play for me?"
Kakuzu, for once, cracked a rare joke.
"Hmph, I'll show you a real performance today!"
With that, Jinghang moved like a ghost, closing the distance in an instant. Kakuzu's eyes couldn't track him. Left with no choice, the three Earth Grudge Fear masks fired jutsu blindly in all directions.
The bathhouse walls were riddled with holes, but not a single attack grazed Jinghang.
In just a second or two, Jinghang was upon Kakuzu. Before Kakuzu could react, Jinghang's hands turned into claws, reaching for two of the Earth Grudge Fear masks.
"Chicken Coop Grab!"
What could he do? The techniques of Xuanyuan Tomb were always so straightforwardly named.
Kakuzu's face contorted in pain as countless black tendrils shot toward Jinghang.
"Pluck the Feathers!"
Jinghang's hands became a blur, deflecting every tendril with ease.
"Twist the Neck!"
In a flash, Jinghang's fingers formed a blade, slicing cleanly across Kakuzu's throat. Blood sprayed everywhere, splattering Jinghang's face. Kakuzu clutched at his wound, gurgling, but it wasn't long before he collapsed, the light fading from his eyes.
Just then, Jinghang noticed the last Earth Grudge Fear mask attempting to flee. He leapt forward, catching it in a scissor lock.
The mask turned and fired a Water Release jutsu at him, but Jinghang, in his Sage Mode, endured it. Twisting his body, he pinned the mask beneath him, one hand gripping its neck while the other formed a Rasengan.
"Don't move. Stay still, or I'll smash you with this ball! This is your last one, right? If it dies, so do you."
Covered in blood, Jinghang looked like a demon from the depths of hell. The mask seemed to understand his words and ceased struggling.
"What's going on?!"
Tsunade and Pakura, wrapped in towels, rushed over to investigate the commotion. (Feel free to imagine the scene.) They froze in shock at the sight of Jinghang, bloodied and pinning down a black monstrosity.
"It's fine. Just an assassin. Pakura, keep an eye on this thing. Tsunade, stitch up that corpse's throat over there."
With that, Jinghang stood up, unwrapped the towel from his waist, and wiped the blood from his face. Biting his thumb, he smeared blood onto the back of his hand.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, a voice rang out.
"What do you need me for this time?"
It was Buck, the weasel.
Jinghang bowed deeply.
"Master Buck, I need to borrow Pi Huntun's skin!"
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New chapter live! Patreon updated to Chapter 118
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