Bursting Through the Heart, Igniting Heart Fire!

The whirling Water Blade screeched!

Before it even reached him, Kakuzu felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

Uchiha Ci's lightning-fast strike had completely caught Kakuzu off guard, while also ruthlessly hitting his weakness.

Indeed, Kakuzu possessed an ability almost akin to an "immortal body."

As long as the five Revival Coins he carried had not all been destroyed, he could revive endlessly.

But even so, the head was a special part.

If his head was severed, his control over Earth Grudge Fear would weaken, creating an opening for his opponent.

Then Uchiha Ci would have a brief window to strike at the five hearts still attached to his True Body.

That was something Kakuzu could never accept!

A Death Crisis he had not felt in decades erupted at that moment!

"How could Old Man possibly let you succeed!!!"

Kakuzu's eyes widened as he gritted his teeth and roared. His hands formed the Snake Seal, and the skin across his body instantly turned Dark Black.

This was Earth Style: Earth Spear.

Though it was called Earth Spear, it was a genuine Defensive Ninjutsu that hardened the skin for either offense or defense. Its destructive power was tremendous: it could easily knock down a wall and even withstand an Exploding Tag's blast.

However, this technique had one major flaw—

after it was activated, the body's hardening would make it stiff.

That meant Kakuzu could no longer use the taijutsu that overwhelmingly surpassed Uchiha Ci's.

Uchiha Ci's gaze sharpened, and the corner of his lips curled up. The Water Blade that had been whirling down toward Kakuzu suddenly vanished, leaving only the kunai clenched in his hand.

Then, holding the kunai in a reverse grip, he drove it into the Wind Release: Earth Grudge Fear mask crouched on Kakuzu's Left Shoulder!

Pfft!

Pointed Blade Broken Face!

The Wind Release: Earth Grudge Fear mask shattered abruptly. Just a little more, and the heart inside would have burst!

"What?!" Kakuzu was stunned, his Deep Green pupils filled with disbelief.

His hardened skin had not been struck by Uchiha Ci's Water Blade.

At the very instant he was about to succeed, Uchiha Ci had actually switched targets.

It was as though he knew all of Kakuzu's information!

In his panic, Kakuzu immediately flung his shoulder and Sidestepped away, hurriedly using his secret technique to control the Fire Release: Earth Grudge Fear mask on his right shoulder.

At Uchiha Ci, who was right in front of him, it opened its mouth wide and violently spat out a blazing fireball!

Fire Release: Searing Migraine!

Once it detonated, it could turn into a vast sea of flames!

However, facing this fatal ninjutsu, with the fireball about to strike his face reflected in his Crimson Sharingan, Uchiha Ci's eyes remained utterly calm.

He hooked the Index Fingers of Both Hands, and a Black Silk Thread suddenly appeared on the ground!

The thread coiled around his fingertips. He yanked it fiercely with Both Hands, and Uchiha Ci was abruptly pulled downward. He slipped beneath Kakuzu's crotch, twisted off the ground with the Sole of Foot, sprang onto his back, and once again raised his kunai toward the Water Style: Earth Grudge Fear mask on Kakuzu's back.

The fireball shot out and crashed thunderously against the barrier, bursting into a dazzling spray of Fireworks!

Kakuzu's face darkened, veins bulging one after another across his forehead.

"That same unreasonable instinct again—This Kid's body reacts faster than his mind!"

"Damn it, he's practically a flea!"

At this thought, Kakuzu's gaze turned ruthless, and he pressed his hands together.

The four masks on his back writhed, their Dark Black Earth Grudge Fear bodies crawling halfway out, then opened their mouths toward Uchiha Ci—

Wind Release: Pressure Damage!

Lightning Style: False Darkness!

Fire Release: Searing Migraine!

Water Style: Water Curtain!

Four masks spewed ninjutsu at Uchiha Ci like machine guns!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Water spheres burst, wild winds danced, lightning raced, and flames scorched his body!

At the sight, Uchiha Ci immediately flashed a feral grin and curled his fingers again, tugging at the threads.

His entire body shot forth like an arrow.

Spinning, leaping, closing his eyes, letting his body follow the pulse of instinct!

When he opened his eyes again, he had already slipped through the gaps between the four ninjutsu attacks and landed once more on Kakuzu's back.

Immediately after, Uchiha Ci used Kakuzu's back as a foothold and leaped high into the air, rolling 360 degrees in mid-air.

He pressed his palms together, swung his arms straight up over his head, then

pulled every thread at once!

One thread after another on the ground suddenly went taut, slicing through the Earth Wall before lashing and coiling around Kakuzu with the force of inertia.

His limbs, chest, abdomen, head, and even the Earth Grudge Fear bodies carrying the masks on his back

were all ruthlessly bound, yanked, and twisted apart!

Screech, screech, screech—

A teeth-grinding sound rang out without end.

"What is this?" Kakuzu's pupils abruptly contracted as he realized that what had bound him were his own Earth Grudge Fear Silk Threads.

He immediately struggled with all his strength.

Yet under the bindings of multiple Earth Grudge Fear Silk Threads, the more he struggled, the tighter the threads wound around him. Only his True Body, strengthened by Earth Style: Earth Spear, could forcibly tear apart some of the threads.

But to break free, he clearly needed at least several seconds.

But those few seconds of restraint were already

more than enough for Uchiha Ci!

He took a deep breath, formed hand seals, and drew a kunai.

Rabbit—Wèi—Si!

Water Release: Water Fang Blade spun violently around his hand once more!

Then, Uchiha Ci's gaze turned savage as he clenched his back teeth hard.

"Hiss."

Cold Wind was drawn into his chest, turning into fuel and sparking between his teeth!

Even his Crimson Eyes transformed at that moment into a brilliant blaze-like radiance!

"This is the moment!"

"This is the moment I've been seeking!"

Uchiha Ci's eyes flew wide with fury. He slammed one hand against his heart and strode forward!

Katon: Chakra Mode, activate!

Blazing Fire Release Chakra surged explosively around Uchiha Ci's body!

"Burning Heart!"

"Surpass my limits!"

The power spreading from his heart instantly filled every corner of his body!

In an instant, the firelight flared!

Illuminating the entire Mountain Cliff, castle, and Refugee Camp.

At that moment, countless Refugees of the Land of Hot Water raised their heads and narrowed their eyes, gazing up at the barrier growing from the Cliff Face in the Sky.

Within the barrier, a blazing sun rose!

Its dazzling light tore apart the darkness of the Moonlit Night, bringing the Dawn of Birth!

"Uchiha Ci, what are you doing?!" Mei Terumi and Hidan cried out in shock, their eyes widening.

Shennong, who had been quietly watching from the Cliff Face, finally lost control of his expression. His gaze shook as he watched the scene.

"With that technique—with that power—he'll die!"

"Even if he learned the Forbidden Jutsu: Body Rebirth from me, he'll still die!"

"Is he insane?! Has he gone insane?!"

"For such insignificant bonds, for two so-called 'friends' he'd known for less than a day?"

"This kind of person..." Shennong clenched his fists tightly, staring at Uchiha Ci within the barrier in shock.

Shennong's withered heart seemed to have been rekindled by this blazing sun.

An intense envy and conflicted longing suddenly rose within him.

If—if he had friends like that...

On the day Sky Ninja Village was destroyed, would he have chosen to live and die alongside them, or would he have been like he was now, swallowing his humiliation and clinging to a miserable existence worse than death?

Inside the barrier, "Raaahhh!"

Uchiha Ci's eyes were nearly splitting apart.

He was about to lose control of the berserk power, and could only roar to relieve the pressure!

Gripping the sword with both hands, the surging Fire Release Chakra poured wildly into the Water Fang Blade in his hand, instantly evaporating the spinning Water Blade.

A flame blade over six feet long burst violently from the Sword Hilt!

Wielding the Blazing Flame Longsword formed through forcibly completed Nature Transformation, Uchiha Ci's eyes were bloodshot as he flung out a dazzling spray of flames!

He shouted fiercely at the sweating Kakuzu:

"Weren't you having a great time just now?"

"Now..."

"...it's my turn!!"

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