The sun tilted westward, beginning to reveal the beauty of the sunset. The soft crimson afterglow blanketed the earth, harmonizing with the ground covered in autumn leaves to create a breathtaking spectacle. Occasionally, birds would glide across the sky, adding a touch of life to the serene scene.
Yet, the focal point of this picturesque landscape was unmistakably the valley shrouded in black smoke.
Ganraku gripped a kunai tightly, advancing step by step with the calculated precision of a hunter closing in on his prey. His eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty satisfaction.
"This time, I don't need you to end my pain. Instead, I'll end yours! Hahaha!"
Ganraku, a skilled Jōnin of Iwagakure, was not one to grow complacent over a mere handful of victories. What satisfied him about this battle wasn't the win itself, but the fact that his prey—once a ferocious lion—had now been stripped of its claws, its arms broken, and left utterly powerless. This reversal of fate was the true source of his exhilaration.
When he was only a few meters away, Kakuzu finally shifted his gaze, breaking the silence. His masked face turned to Ganraku as he calmly asked,
"Do you still have anything left to entertain me with?"
"What?" Ganraku froze mid-step, bewildered. He couldn't grasp what Kakuzu was implying. Then, a chilling realization hit him. Kakuzu's limbs had clearly been blown off in the explosion earlier, but there wasn't a single drop of blood.
Even with quick blood clotting, it was impossible for there to be no visible trace. The triumphant joy Ganraku had felt was suddenly shattered, like a tarp ripped open to let in blinding sunlight—exposing the lurking darkness within.
"Your performance was decent," Kakuzu said, his tone cold and detached. "It's fitting for a Jōnin of Iwagakure. I'll make sure your death isn't too painful."
Still seated, Kakuzu's severed arms and legs twitched slightly.
Swish! Black threads slithered out from within his body, snaking toward his detached limbs with a life of their own. They swiftly reattached his severed hand and foot.
The charred and burnt threads that had been damaged were consumed and replaced by new ones, seamlessly knitting his limbs back together.
Thump! Thump! The sounds of bones and sinew snapping into place echoed. Kakuzu stood up, towering over Ganraku once more. He flexed his right wrist with ease, as though nothing had happened. The threads that had reconnected his limbs withdrew, leaving no visible trace of repair.
Anyone unaware of the earlier events would never have guessed Kakuzu had just walked away from an explosion.
The sight left Ganraku utterly paralyzed with fear. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground with a loud thud! His kunai slipped from his grasp, clattering uselessly beside him.
"You… What are you?" Ganraku stammered, his voice trembling.
Kakuzu frowned slightly, glancing at the sky as he appeared to ponder his answer. Then, with a swift motion, he reached down and hoisted Ganraku off the ground, lifting him high into the air. The much shorter Ganraku dangled helplessly, his feet a good half-meter above the ground.
Despite his predicament, Ganraku didn't dare resist. It wasn't just because he was completely drained of chakra—it was the overwhelming killing intent radiating from Kakuzu that crushed his will.
Faced with an unbeatable opponent, Ganraku could only resign himself to the role of a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"I think I understand what you're trying to ask," Kakuzu said, his voice steady. "This technique of mine is troublesome. It allows me to repair my body, but it comes with its flaws—like the inability to bleed like normal flesh. It's one of the more frustrating limitations."
To an ordinary person, Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear was nothing short of monstrous. Yet, he explained it casually, as though it were a minor inconvenience.
"Does that make sense to you?" Kakuzu's eyes narrowed as he studied Ganraku. Beneath his mask, a faint smile seemed to form.
Ganraku's throat bobbed as he tried to swallow, but his body felt cold and lifeless. His cracked lips parted as if to respond.
"Urgh… Uh…"
The only sound that emerged was a strangled gasp, the kind of noise someone makes when pain reaches its absolute peak.
Kakuzu's hand had already pierced through Ganraku's abdomen, punching straight through to the other side.
"Heh. I suppose I'm just as foolish as you," Kakuzu mused. "Why does everyone insist on celebrating too early?"
He realized that both he and his now-doomed prey had made the same error. Both had paused to savor their presumed victories before ensuring the battle was truly over.
"Then again," Kakuzu continued with a grim smirk, "if I had waited until you were dead to explain my abilities, that wouldn't have been nearly as satisfying, would it?"
With a slight twist of his arm, Kakuzu shattered Ganraku's internal organs.
Ganraku had seen only a glimpse of Kakuzu's true power, but that was enough. If Ganraku were to leave this battlefield alive, news of Kakuzu's technique would inevitably spread throughout the shinobi world.
And Kakuzu knew that his greatest weapon was the mystery surrounding his abilities. To preserve that secret, there could only be one outcome.
Anyone who learned the truth about him…
Had to die.
Shing!
One hand still gripped Ganraku by the collar, while the other slowly withdrew from his body. Kakuzu hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on Ganraku's chest. Should he take the heart?
Only for a second. Kakuzu dismissed the thought.
Ganraku's Earth Release explosives were intriguing, but they lacked versatility compared to Kakuzu's hardened Earth Spear technique. Risking too much for too little gain was the epitome of foolishness.
Lowering the arm that held Ganraku's limp body, Kakuzu let him fall to the ground. The man was already dead, his life snuffed out before Kakuzu had even withdrawn his hand.
The hunt was over. The game between hunter and prey had reached its conclusion.
But Kakuzu's task was far from finished.
He needed to bring Ganraku's corpse to the bounty exchange office to claim his reward.
"The closest exchange office... the Land of Fire, huh?" Kakuzu muttered, recalling the terrain map scribbled on a piece of parchment.
The Five Great Nations had only recently been established, their territories roughly divided. Many borders remained poorly defined, leading to constant tensions and military standoffs. Armies of thousands guarded contested borders, prepared for the slightest provocation.
However, Kakuzu knew the boundaries between the Land of Fire and the smaller neighboring countries weren't as heavily fortified.
The path he intended to take was unlikely to cross a ninja patrol. To be cautious, he could always use backroads. The Land of Fire's defenses wouldn't notice a lone wanderer sneaking in.
With his route planned, Kakuzu wasted no time. He turned sharply, his left hand swinging Ganraku's body through the air in an arc before slinging it over his back.
"This weight... manageable," Kakuzu remarked. Carrying a man weighing over a hundred pounds was as effortless to him as lifting a small bird. If he wanted, he could leap through the forest with Ganraku's body in tow, without breaking a sweat.
In his current condition, Kakuzu figured he could keep running for three days and nights without feeling a thing.
But...
"Just the thought of that is ridiculous," Kakuzu muttered, shaking his head. "I am Kakuzu, a renowned figure in the ninja world. I have some standards."
He started walking, the lifeless body slumped over his shoulder.
At this point, some might wonder: why didn't Kakuzu simply cut off Ganraku's head and carry that instead? Surely it would've been far more convenient.
The answer was simple: it violated the black market's code of conduct.
Kakuzu worked for clients who issued bounties, and he made a point to meet their expectations. A ninja's corpse was valuable in its entirety. Those who issued these bounties—village leaders or high-ranking officials—almost always wanted the full body returned for their own purposes.
Unless the bounty explicitly stated "kill on sight" or "dead or alive," with clear indications of intense personal grudges, it was best to follow the rules. Bringing the complete corpse avoided unnecessary trouble with clients.
As Kakuzu continued his silent march, the forest around him seemed almost serene, a stark contrast to the grisly task he had just completed.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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