The smoke and flames had yet to clear when a figure shot backward from the edge of the explosion like an arrow loosed from its bow. It was Asuma.
He slammed heavily into a burning tree trunk, barely managing to stop himself.
His throat tightened, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
His right arm, the one gripping his blade, trembled slightly. Clearly, he had taken a brutal attack.
Just then, a muffled groan of suppressed pain came from the distance.
It was Kurenai.
"I'll deal with this troublesome woman first."
She had no time to retreat before Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear wrapped tightly around her.
An icy, slippery tentacle coiled around her slender neck like an iron shackle, tightening without end.
The suffocation and agony flushed her face crimson. Her hands uselessly clawed at the pitch-black tentacle around her throat, while her scarlet eyes widened in pain from the lack of oxygen.
"Thirty-five million, plus a Jonin who isn't worth much. Coming here wasn't a waste."
He stepped out of the smoke one pace at a time. One intact Earth Grudge Fear tentacle rose high behind him.
Its tip was as sharp as a spear, gleaming with a cold, eerie light as it aimed at Kurenai's exposed, defenseless heart.
"Kurenai!"
Asuma shouted and sprinted toward Kurenai with all his strength.
A split second before the black spear pierced Kurenai's heart, a shrill whistle tore through the air.
It was like a silver flash ripping space apart!
The black tentacle that had been about to pierce Kurenai's heart was precisely impaled by a ninja blade wrapped in frigid energy and pinned viciously to the ground!
Kakuzu suddenly raised his head and looked toward the direction of the attack.
A white-haired boy slowly approached, his scarlet