Kakuzu began forming hand seals. The black threads running through his body writhed violently like living creatures. With a tearing hiss, the four savage, bizarre masks on his back began to transform—manifestations of the four hearts stored within Earth Grudge Fear.
The black threads on Kakuzu's body suddenly trembled violently, producing a teeth-grating creak. The strange stitches that ran through his entire body twisted like living things before suddenly bursting through his skin. Accompanied by the sound of flesh tearing apart, four masses of pitch-black matter erupted from the wounds on his back.
"Splurt—"
Four jet-black masked monsters broke free from Kakuzu's body and twisted into shape in midair. Their forms differed, yet each was equally grotesque.
"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"
The mask monster representing Lightning Release suddenly opened its mask, and blinding blue light erupted from the hollow beneath it. In an instant, violent lightning currents poured forth like a burst dam, thick lightning serpents carving charred trenches across the ground.
Faced with this devastating Lightning Release, Menma merely raised his right hand calmly. The Nine-Headed Beasts scattered in perfect coordination.
"Boom—!"
The dazzling lightning completely engulfed Menma's figure, and the thunderous blast snapped the surrounding trees in half.
Kakuzu stared fixedly at the center of the lightning storm. The raging current persisted for a full ten seconds before gradually fading. Within the rising dust, the ground had already been reduced to scorched earth.
However—once the dust settled, Menma was still standing where he had been, one hand raised. Not even a scorch mark marred his robe.
It wasn't that Naruto hadn't considered using Flying Thunder God to evade. He had chosen to test the new technique he had devoted himself to developing over the past year. While practicing the ninjutsu scrolls the old Third Hokage had given him,