The silver-haired man slid backward, his feet skimming the ground as he dodged. The sound of a fist slicing through the air echoed by his ear, the silver fox mask on his face narrowly avoiding Kakuzu's incoming punch.
Boom!
Kakuzu's fist struck the earth, creating a shockwave that tore through the ground. Dirt and debris exploded outward, leaving a gaping crater in its wake. Kakuzu's gaze flicked upward, his posture low and poised for another strike. His other fist, already prepared, shot forward like a cannon.
The silver-haired man crossed his arms to block the blow, the impact reverberating through his body. At the same time, his right leg whipped out like a steel lash, aimed straight at Kakuzu's face.
Kakuzu tilted his head slightly, the gust from the kick brushing the back of his skull as it passed. His knees bent sharply, and with a powerful leap, he vaulted into the air. From above, he glared down at his opponent, his vantage point granting him the space to unleash his full strength.
Whoosh!
Another punch descended like a meteor.
Behind the silver fox mask, the man's eyes narrowed. He raised his hands once more to defend, already planning his counterattack.
The two combatants clashed relentlessly, weaving through the forest like phantoms. Each punch and kick aimed for vital points, each exchange marked by the brutal collision of fists and the grinding of bone against bone.
If Kakuzu was a warrior forged in the blood of countless battles, then the silver-haired man was a seasoned veteran, honed through years of life-or-death combat.
In pure taijutsu, they were evenly matched. However, in the initial skirmish, Kakuzu's sharp instincts had allowed him to seize a slight advantage. Though the silver-haired man quickly recovered, even the smallest edge in a duel between equals could tip the scales. That split-second lead began to manifest—a half-second difference that could change everything.
And Kakuzu knew it.
His eyes burned with focus, silent but brimming with lethal intent. Earth Style activated, his fist hardened mid-strike, transforming into an indestructible iron weapon.
"Hah!"
With a ferocious shout, Kakuzu's iron fist hurtled forward, faster and deadlier than before.
"Damn!"
The silver-haired man's acute senses instantly detected the shift in power. He knew that if he took this hit head-on, even his resilience wouldn't save him from a broken arm—or worse. But dodging was no option either, letting that fist hit his chest would shatter his ribs.
In a flash of decision, he crossed his right arm over his chest and formed a defensive stance with his left hand in front. He didn't weave signs but assumed a ready posture.
Water Style: Water Formation Wall!
Whoosh!
A torrent of water surged upward at his feet, rising to form a barrier between him and Kakuzu.
When the iron fist plunged into the wall of water, Kakuzu's eyes flickered. The slight forward tilt of his body betrayed his surprise.
"A defensive Water Style? It won't stop me!"
Kakuzu could feel his punch connecting, but the water's cushioning effect had significantly weakened its force. When his fist finally struck the silver-haired man's arm, it failed to deliver the intended damage. A hairline fracture at most—not enough to hinder someone of his caliber.
And the silver-haired man was far from ordinary.
Water Style: Raging Stream Shot!
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Jets of water, sharp as bullets, burst through the barrier, striking Kakuzu's body. Droplets scattered like shards of glass on impact.
Though they didn't penetrate his hardened skin, the high-pressure strikes left his clothes in tatters and sent jolts of pain through him.
'His precision and adaptability... This one's no ordinary opponent,' Kakuzu thought, crouching lower and planting his hand on the ground.
Earth Style: Earth Formation Wall!
A towering earthen barricade erupted between them, cutting off the silver-haired man's offensive. At the same moment, his Water Formation Wall subsided.
But the silver-haired man was already prepared. Chakra swirled within him, ready to be unleashed. His hands formed a single seal.
Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!
Roar!
Water surged to life, coalescing into the shape of a massive, serpentine beast. The creature's form glistened as it soared upward, its movement slicing through the air with an audible hiss. The sound was reminiscent of a dragon's roar, a reverberation that sent chills through the battlefield.
Guided by the silver-haired man's will, the water dragon crashed toward Kakuzu's position with devastating force.
But Kakuzu, ever the strategist, had already anticipated this move.
The massive head of the Water Dragon Bullet crashed into the sturdy Earth-Style Wall with a deafening roar. Boom! Boom! Boom! Waves surged like crashing tides, scattering debris everywhere. A chunk of earth broke free from the already crumbling Earth-Style Wall in front of Kakuzu, tumbling to the ground. His peripheral vision caught sight of the water pooling around his feet.
Not just there—streams of water surrounded him entirely, covering the once-dry battlefield. Though it didn't seem like much on the vast, flat terrain, the faint movements of the currents were enough to indicate the strength of his opponent's Water Release techniques.
It was common knowledge: water may flow, but earth can defend. Earth Release was supposed to have a natural advantage over Water Release. Yet, his Earth-Style Wall had been nearly obliterated by a single Water-Style jutsu. It was clear—his opponent wasn't just strong. He was a master of high-level Water Release.
Across the battlefield, the silver-haired man gazed at Kakuzu from behind his mask, his eyes carrying a hint of something unusual.
'This man… he's stronger than I anticipated.' That thought echoed in the silver-haired man's mind, but retreat wasn't an option now. Their battle had already reached a fever pitch.
If he wanted to defeat Kakuzu, he'd have to step up his game. From beneath his mask, the silver-haired man took a deep breath.
And then— swish, swish, swish!
Even through the screen of chaos, his hands blurred as they formed hand signs with astonishing speed. Faster than the human eye could follow, his movements would overwhelm anyone with a weaker mind. Many shinobi would freeze in panic at such a display.
But not Kakuzu.
He wasn't watching with his eyes. Instead, he listened with his ears. Each of the twelve standard hand signs had its own distinct sound—a faint but unique whisper produced as the fingers moved. It was subtle, like a mosquito's hum, but for someone as experienced as Kakuzu, it was decipherable. He closed his eyes, focusing on the rhythm: Tiger—Ox—Monkey—Rabbit—Rat… Sixteen signs.
Golden light flickered in Kakuzu's eyes.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu."
This wasn't the first time the silver-haired man had used a "pre-cast technique," where the jutsu could be activated without hand signs. Yet, here he was, going through the process anyway. That meant only one thing.
Kakuzu's mind, like a finely-tuned machine, processed countless possibilities in an instant.
'He's preparing something bigger. He plans to create a miniature water domain, where a Water Release user can dominate the battlefield. Smart.'
As Kakuzu's thoughts crystallized, the silver-haired man finished his hand signs.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
This technique was on a whole other level compared to the Water Dragon Bullet. An A-rank jutsu, it wasn't just about raw power. Its true purpose was transformation.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
A roaring torrent surged forth, an endless cascade that turned the battlefield into a vast, flowing river. Kakuzu took a step back, leaping to gain distance from the rushing water.
But he wasn't retreating.
If his opponent had gifted him such a grand stage, Kakuzu intended to respond with a masterpiece of his own.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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