As he was speaking, a figure slowly walked out from behind the tree. The man was wearing a black robe, with half of his face covered by a black mask. His strange dark green pupils stared grimly at Uchiha Sogetsu.
Kakuzu folded his arms across his chest, his eyes filled with arrogance, waiting to see an expression of extreme shock on the other man's face.
He had used this tactic many times, especially against Konoha ninjas, and it always worked!
After all, the First Hokage was the one who pacified the troubled times, single-handedly divided the tailed beasts, and created the era of the ninja village.
Every ninja born in Konoha grew up listening to the legend of Hashirama Senju. Who doesn't hold the First Hokage in awe?
As for him, Kakuzu, he was a ninja who had fought against the First Hokage. This title alone was terrifying!
However, the shocked expression he expected did not appear on the young man's face.
Not only that, the corners of the other man's mouth seemed to twitch slightly, and there was even a hint of deep contempt in his eyes.
Kakuzu suddenly felt humiliated, veins popping out at the corners of his eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, "Arrogant Uchiha brat, didn't you hear what I said? Or are you doubting that I was lying to you?"
To maintain his dignity, he simply tore off his robe, revealing a body that looked like it had been patched up with needle and thread.
His body was covered with criss-crossing, densely packed stitches, looking extremely strange, as if it had been forcibly pieced together.
"Haha, let me prove it to you!"
A cruel smile appeared on Kakuzu's face as he said, "A head worth 80 million taels is barely worth it for me to use this ninjutsu against you!"
Boom boom!
Boom boom!
The strong heartbeat echoed clearly and dully.
Then, the muscles on Kakuzu's back swelled as if they were inflated, like something was trying to struggle out of his body.
On his high back, four masks with different patterns suddenly tore through the skin, and clumps of black substance as sticky as oil emerged.
"A sticky black substance fell nearby, and from it emerged a creature composed of countless wriggling tentacles. Each tentacle bore four masks with different patterns.
"It's an honor to die by this technique!" Kakuzu exclaimed proudly, grinning arrogantly. "The only one who survived after facing this move was the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama!"
"Sorry to interrupt," Uchiha Sogetsu couldn't hold back any longer, his irritation evident. "Are you implying that fighting the First Hokage means throwing a shuriken from eight hundred miles away?"
Kakuzu's eye twitched, his pretentious speech suddenly caught in his throat.
"I really don't understand. Could you explain?" Uchiha Sogetsu frowned with disdain. "With your skills, I doubt you could even handle a Wood Clone of the First Hokage, let alone defeat him."
Puff! Puff! Puff!
It felt like several sharp swords stabbed directly into Kakuzu's heart. His face flushed red, veins bulging.
"Lies don't hurt, but the truth cuts deep," Uchiha Sogetsu continued, his words seemingly stripping away Kakuzu's pride and exposing his vulnerabilities.
Kakuzu's dark green eyes narrowed in anger and embarrassment. "Arrogant Uchiha brat, you're so sharp-tongued and ignorant. I'll show you how vast this world truly is!"
With a swift movement, Kakuzu crossed his hands to form the hand seal. Nearby, the four Earth Grudge Fear responded to his command, rushing forward with masks of different patterns.
"Wind Style: Pressure Damage!"
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Fire Style: Intelligent Hard Work!"
"Water Style: Water Wave!"
Chakra gathered in their mouths, forming four rapidly condensing orbs of different elemental attributes.
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind surged like a roaring torrent, carrying the combined energy of thunder, fire, wind, and water attributes, crashing directly into Uchiha Sogetsu.
The swirling tempest swept through the jungle like a tidal wave, uprooting trees and tearing large chunks of earth along its path.
Boom!
The colliding chakra attributes, complementing and countering each other, exploded with even greater destructive force.
In an instant, the massive chain reaction tore open a gap in the forest tens of meters wide and nearly a hundred meters long.
The remaining chakra in the air churned violently, raising the nearby temperature by several dozen degrees. Steam and lightning intertwined, painting a scene of devastation.
"Hmph, the more arrogant they are, the weaker they tend to be."
Kakuzu sneered, a hint of regret flickering in his eyes. Yet, he maintained a disdainful expression, remarking, "Seems Uchiha Sogetsu's head isn't worth those 80 million ryo after all."
But in the next moment, Uchiha Sogetsu emerged unscathed beside him.
Surveying the ravaged forest calmly, he remarked, "Your mix of four-element chakra has power, but your aim is lacking. Be more precise next time."
"What?!" Kakuzu's spine chilled, retreating several dozen meters with a hunched back, like a startled cat.
Once he put distance between them, deep confusion and surprise clouded his dark green eyes: "You didn't move visibly, so when did you...?"
Kakuzu, possessing the ability to sense chakra, hadn't noticed Uchiha Sogetsu's approach from start to finish.
Moreover, the proximity just now was so close that a sudden attack could have destroyed at least one of his hearts!
"Though I don't know how you evaded my detection," Kakuzu's expression darkened, hands forming seals. Earth-attribute chakra coursed through him, a black, hardened layer covering his skin. He smirked coldly, "But that was your final opportunity. I won't let you get close again!"
According to the intel from the black market, Uchiha Sogetsu excelled in Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and incredibly swift Body Flicker Jutsu.
However, fate had it that Sogetsu met him, rendering any powerful illusions futile. Earth Grudge Fear was essentially another version of himself, capable of easily dispelling illusions by disrupting each other's chakra.
"Long-range combat is my specialty in ninjutsu!"
In a matter of seconds, Kakuzu had already devised a meticulous plan.
The Earth Grudge Fear shrieked as it converged around him. The stitches on his arms and body abruptly burst open, and black silk threads poured out from his mouth and back, mending and connecting the ruptured areas.
Soon, Kakuzu transformed into a monstrous form, with large masses of silky tentacles sprouting from his body, a terrifying sight.
"Earth Grudge Fear Mode!"
Kakuzu grew serious, setting aside his disdain, fully intent on eliminating his adversary.
"Do you realize I've encountered many individuals with severe psychological issues like yours?"
Uchiha Sogetsu adjusted his black glasses, his eyes shimmering faintly as he directly hypnotized Kakuzu. He then approached slowly, shaking his head and sighing, "I distinctly warned you that I'm not in a good mood. Why did you have to provoke me?"
Unable to move?
Kakuzu was horrified to find himself unable to control his own body.
"Oh, and let me inform you of one more thing."
Uchiha Sogetsu spoke calmly, "Despite your control over the Earth Grudge Fear, biologically speaking, it possesses its own emotions and thoughts."
Simply put, even Sequence 9 Spectator face it.
Even a simple "jolt" is enough to immobilize Earth Grudge Fear, whose mind is as innocent as a blank sheet of paper.
"W-wait! Hold on!"
Kakuzu's eyes widened in fear as he shouted, "I was wrong! I'm willing to submit to you! I know many secrets!"
"Oh, there's no need for that."
Uchiha Sogetsu raised his blade and swiftly slashed Kakuzu's neck. He spoke indifferently, "Moreover, you'll be more valuable to me dead. Be cautious in your next life."
********
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