When Wood Release appears in battle, is it all over?
The answer is a definite yes.
Bound by the entangling force of Wood Release, neither Hanzo nor the giant salamander beneath him could move. The chakra within their bodies was rapidly drained away by the relentless absorption of the jutsu. Hanzo's face contorted in pain, his body wracked with agony. As he struggled violently, his gas mask was knocked off, falling to the ground. Poisonous purple gas began seeping from the wound on his abdomen, punctured by the Wood Release.
"You... this bastard..." Hanzo's pupils dilated as he stared at Kakuzu.
From a young age, Hanzo had a poisonous gland implanted in his body from a giant salamander, making his every breath toxic. Ordinary people couldn't even get close to him, which was why he always wore a gas mask and breathed through his mouth. But now, with his poison gland ruptured, even Hanzo himself could barely withstand the deadly toxins spreading through his body.
Kneeling on one knee atop the salamander's head, Hanzo's eyes gradually closed. The once-mighty leader of the Land of Rain had finally fallen.
Some might think that a man known as the "Demi-God" of the Shinobi World wouldn't perish so easily. But if you asked Kakuzu, he'd say that Hanzo's so-called "Demi-God" title was no different from Hiruzen Sarutobi's "Strongest Hokage"—mostly a product of flattery from his own people in Amegakure.
The greatest advantage Hanzo had over others was the constant stream of poison within his body. In other aspects, he was merely stronger than the average Kage-level ninja. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been used as a stepping stone for Mifune's reputation boost during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
With things settled here, Kakuzu leaped down from the tower. News of Hanzo's death would soon spread across the ninja world, achieving the effect he desired. The consequences would be left for the leaders of various villages to handle.
Under the light drizzle of the Land of Rain, Kakuzu prepared to leave. However, departing wouldn't be as easy as arriving.
Footsteps echoed.
Ahead of him, dozens of black-cloaked ninja rushed forward, their feet splashing through the wet ground. Kakuzu barely spared them a glance—eliminating them wouldn't take more than a minute. But before he could act, the leading figure among them suddenly raised a hand, signaling the others to halt.
Not only that, but the leader also ordered his comrades to lower their guard before stepping forward slowly.
"Excuse me, are you Kakuzu-sama?"
"Hm? You know me?" Kakuzu narrowed his eyes. He didn't recall having any acquaintances in the Land of Rain.
However, upon hearing his confirmation, the orange-haired youth before him broke into a wide grin.
"I never expected to meet Kakuzu-sama here. What a fortunate encounter!"
"I've heard of your exploits, Kakuzu-sama. You are a powerful shinobi who survived from the Warring States period—I have always admired you!"
Listening to the young man's words, Kakuzu chuckled softly. He hadn't expected his reputation to have spread this far. Could this be considered having a fan?
By now, the orange-haired youth and his companions had come closer. He raised a thumb, pointing at himself with a bright, confident smile.
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yahiko. In a way, Kakuzu-sama, we share a connection—my teacher was Jiraiya-sama. I heard that you've met him before."
As he introduced himself, Yahiko gestured to his companions.
"These people are like-minded friends of mine, and together, we formed an organization—"
"Oh, I almost forgot! This is Nagato, and she is Konan. The three of us trained under Jiraiya-sama."
Kakuzu's gaze shifted to the blue-haired girl standing beside Yahiko. Konan offered him a shy smile before bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
"Kakuzu-sama, it's an honor to meet you. My name is Konan."
On the other side, the red-haired Nagato was noticeably less outgoing than Yahiko and Konan. However, he still maintained a polite demeanor, bowing slightly as he greeted Kakuzu.
"Kakuzu-sama, my name is Nagato. Please guide us well."
Dressed in a raincoat, Nagato offered a warm smile, though he seemed unsure of what else to say.
Kakuzu nodded but paid little attention to the others. His focus was entirely on Nagato's eyes—those mysterious, concentric-ringed eyes. He took a step closer.
"So, you're Jiraiya's students, and you've formed an organization called Akatsuki to create the peaceful world you envision."
Repeating Yahiko's words, Kakuzu watched as the young leader enthusiastically nodded.
"Yes, Kakuzu-sama! We seek true peace, and for that, my companions and I are working tirelessly. We are still young and have much to learn. If we make any mistakes, please guide us."
Kakuzu smirked slightly.
Yahiko... how should he put it? The young man reminded him of an idealistic college graduate, brimming with passion and ambition, eager to make a meaningful contribution to society. He stepped into the real world with high hopes, believing he could become an essential force for good.
It was a nice sentiment.
But reality was often cruel.
"Then tell me, Yahiko, what brings you and your comrades here?"
Kakuzu continued walking forward as he spoke.
"We received a summons from Hanzo-sama, so we came to provide support," Nagato replied earnestly.
Kakuzu nearly burst out laughing.
The weight of that statement was equivalent to a fresh graduate getting scammed out of everything by a con artist. They hadn't even figured out what kind of person Hanzo truly was, yet they were willing to act as his vanguard. They had no idea that, in the original timeline, Hanzo was the beginning of their nightmare.
Kakuzu shook his head. Yahiko, this bright and hopeful young man, was still far too naive.
But some things had already changed.
And right now, a golden opportunity was standing before him.
"Yahiko, you say you want true peace? Then let me tell you—there's only one thing you need to do to achieve it."
"What is it?" Yahiko asked, confused.
Kakuzu's body suddenly surged with murderous intent. His iron arm shot forward, seizing Nagato's red hair.
"Aaaaahhhh!!"
Nagato let out a scream as Kakuzu effortlessly lifted him off the ground.
The sudden attack caught Nagato completely off guard. His Rinnegan glowed, and his shinobi instincts kicked in—he braced his legs against Kakuzu's chest, trying to break free, while his hands began forming seals for a counterattack.
Beside them, Yahiko and Konan were equally stunned.
Konan's youthful shyness evaporated in an instant. She rushed forward, grabbing Kakuzu's arm in desperation.
"Kakuzu-sama! Nagato is our comrade! He's not an enemy!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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