The noon sun shone brightly, yet even its light couldn't pierce through the dense forest canopy. The autumn wind howled, bringing a biting chill that added an air of foreboding to the atmosphere.
Tobirama Senju formed the Seal of Confrontation with one hand.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Five bursts of smoke erupted around him, revealing five identical clones.
Shadow Clone Jutsu.
This technique, which Tobirama would later refine into the forbidden Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, demonstrated the ingenuity of the Senju clan.
"Since you've already seen through my identity, why not witness the power of the Senju firsthand?"
Tobirama's voice was calm yet commanding. As the words left his lips, the clones spread out in five directions, each forming seals. The air buzzed with anticipation, the jutsu they prepared on the verge of unleashing.
"Oh? In that case…" Kakuzu's deep voice rumbled as he grasped the edge of his cloak, yanking it aside with a dramatic flourish.
Whoosh!
The cloak drifted to the ground, revealing his heavily muscled frame. His bare chest seemed almost to gleam with unyielding vitality.
'If Tobirama Senju dies here, history will undoubtedly change,' Kakuzu thought, his emerald eyes flashing with grim determination. Techniques that would define future wars—the Fourth Great Ninja War included—might never come to be. But none of that concerned Kakuzu. He had no interest in the grand arc of history, he only sought to extend his immortal existence and savor life's endless march.
Tobirama's gaze sharpened, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the kunai in his hand. Suddenly, all five clones moved in unison.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!
Earth Release: Earth Flow River!
Lightning Release: Lightning Current!
Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!
Five elemental techniques surged forward from five angles, each with a distinctive hue, painting the battlefield in a kaleidoscope of destruction. This display of overwhelming chakra, a hallmark of the Senju clan's unique physiology, showcased their inherent superiority. Their chakra reserves were at least 30% higher than the average shinobi, with prodigies like Tobirama pushing those limits even further.
For the Senju, unleashing all five elemental releases simultaneously wasn't just a feat—it was natural.
Kakuzu crouched slightly, his eyes cold and calculating. Against such an onslaught, the optimal strategy was to unleash his full Earth Grudge Fear form and counter each attack with equivalent or greater power.
But Kakuzu had other plans.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Twin hands formed rapid seals, erecting a barrier of water. As he retreated, his skin darkened, hardening into a black, armor-like shell—his Earth Spear technique activated.
Even as the water shield absorbed most of the impact, Kakuzu was forced into a defensive retreat. His movements were swift but constrained, his options limited against the relentless attacks. Yet his expression remained unshaken.
Victory wasn't determined yet.
On the other side of the battlefield, Tobirama watched with an unwavering focus. He raised his kunai, its edge gleaming dangerously, and brought it to the center of his chest. His eyes burned with a deadly resolve.
"This ends now. Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Kakuzu, mid-air and weaving between trees to avoid the piercing Lightning Release, suddenly froze.
In an instant, Tobirama materialized at Kakuzu's left side. His kunai, now crackling with lightning, was poised inches from Kakuzu's chest.
"It's over," Tobirama declared, his tone icy. "The fact that you forced me to use this technique speaks to your skill—but this is the end."
However, Tobirama's confidence wavered as Kakuzu's eyes flashed with a predatory glint.
The earlier skirmish had not been meaningless. During their first clash, when Tobirama had brushed his hand against Kakuzu's left arm, Kakuzu had anticipated this moment. Knowing Tobirama's reputation and mastery of the Flying Thunder God, Kakuzu had prepared.
Sometimes, deception is the sharpest blade.
Earth Grudge Fear!
Mid-spin, Kakuzu's left arm detached from his body, connected by a web of black tendrils.
Shunk!
The sound of flesh being pierced echoed in the still forest.
Tobirama's pupils dilated. He looked down to see the grotesque tendrils burrowed into his chest, narrowly missing his heart.
"Impossible… He predicted my technique?"
The pain spread like wildfire, numbing Tobirama's senses. Kakuzu's detached arm reeled back, pulling the Senju closer.
Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!
With a simple hand motion, Kakuzu trapped Tobirama in a swirling sphere of water. Despite its simplicity, the jutsu's effectiveness lay in its precision. Few could break free once ensnared.
Victory was within Kakuzu's grasp. History was about to change.
A sphere of water engulfed both Kakuzu and Tobirama Senju.
"Hah!!!"
Large bubbles surged from Kakuzu's mouth within the water prison. His left arm, animated by Earth Grudge Fear, tightened its grip even further. A thick mist of blood gushed from Tobirama's wounds, dyeing the confines of the water prison a deep crimson.
Tobirama's eyes widened in shock. The sharp pang of danger overwhelmed him—death was closing in fast. He had severely underestimated the man before him. Yet, years of brutal battles had honed his instincts. He forced himself to calm down, raising the kunai in his hand in an attempt to sever the threads binding Kakuzu's arm.
But would Kakuzu let him?
Gurgle… Gurgle…
More bubbles erupted in the water prison as Kakuzu's other hand clamped down on Tobirama's wrist, stopping him from making his move. Simultaneously, Kakuzu's left arm drove in with greater force. Tobirama gasped as he inhaled a mouthful of water, his blood tainting the liquid around him. The crimson mist grew thicker with every passing second.
Kakuzu's relentless left hand inched closer to Tobirama's heart.
Gritting his teeth, Tobirama muttered through the strain, "Flying... Thunder God Technique!"
Shwip!
In an instant, Tobirama disappeared, reappearing twenty meters away at a marked location.
But luck wasn't on his side. Even after the spatial shift, he remained trapped in the water prison—and Kakuzu came with him.
From within the water prison, Kakuzu experienced the jarring pull of space-time ninjutsu firsthand. Relief flashed in his mind—he had gambled, and it had paid off.
The Flying Thunder God Technique allowed the user to transport themselves—or a designated target—to a marked location. However, Kakuzu's hand had already pierced Tobirama's shoulder, and the water prison had fully saturated Tobirama's body. These connections tethered Kakuzu to his target, preventing Tobirama from escaping (A/N:just my personal opinion, feel free to debate lightly).
Despite the suffocating pressure of fighting in close combat within the water prison, Kakuzu endured. He knew, however, that Tobirama was suffering far more.
The chance to change history lay before him—now or never!
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the earth around them, reverberating across the battlefield.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo