Clash

(Eighty thousand characters! Time for recommendations, (^▽^) Wonder what happens when I recommend this novel.)

A few days later

Asuma awoke. Although he had saved his life, all his Chakra was gone. He was now just an ordinary person.

Even so, Asuma didn't show any negativity. He optimistically accepted the fact, as there were more important things than being a ninja now.

After all, his wife was carrying his child.

Kakashi, Ino, Choji, and the others packed their bags and prepared to depart. After all, there were some grudges to settle.

On the road to Konoha

Hidan and Kakuzu were once again searching for their next bounty target. It had to be said, the Akatsuki Organization was truly fortunate to have them.

Whoever recruited Hidan and Kakuzu was a genius. Josuke estimated that the Akatsuki Organization's many expenses were likely covered by these two brothers, but in the end, it was all squandered by that spendthrift Konan.

And they couldn't even defeat an enraged child.

What was the point of taking someone's arm?

Kakashi and the others had also laid an ambush on the path the two would take. Seeing Kakuzu and Hidan, everyone present wished they could grind them into dust.

As the saying goes, enemies meeting see red. Once the two entered the prepared ambush zone, the operation began.

Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique launched a surprise attack, attempting to control Kakuzu and Hidan.

However, the two easily dodged, and Kakuzu and Hidan were separated.

Just then, behind Kakuzu, Kakashi's Raikiri pierced through Kakuzu's chest. Kakuzu was surprised, but then seemed to break free from Kakashi as if nothing had happened.

He kicked Kakashi flying.

Then he took off his clothes.

Revealing the four monsters hidden underneath. Not far away, the sixth Josuke arrived as expected.

The immortal duo?

Regarding these two, Josuke's only fear was likely Hidan. That kind of technique was truly shameless, a conceptual-level ability. Even the Six Paths would probably be crippled by self-mutilation.

Kakuzu was another matter. His strength and power were formidable, but his skills weren't buggy. He only had five lives, less than Danzo's Sharingan.

Speaking of which, all four of Kakuzu's monsters were summoned, but one of them collapsed on the ground for some unknown reason.

Hidan then charged towards Kakashi, wildly swinging his scythe and shouting about sacrificing to the evil god.

Just like in the original story, after failing to catch Kakashi, Hidan charged directly at Shikamaru, who led him step by step towards the pre-set trap.

On the main battlefield, only Kakuzu remained to be dealt with, yet it still plunged the three into a bitter struggle.

Josuke knew it was time for him to enter the fray. Kakuzu's clones seemed to have an endless supply of Chakra, unleashing combined Ninjutsu attacks on the three, making them suffer immensely.

Kakuzu looked at the three and felt utter disdain. The combined bounty on these three was barely worth one and a half Asumas.

But even a mosquito's leg is still meat; it's edible.

Just then, several Kunai flew towards Kakuzu. Kakuzu glanced at them dismissively. That's it?

It seemed the opponents had no killing moves. Did a few Kunai intend to injure him?

So he increased his Chakra output.

Kakashi, Ino, and Choji hid behind Kakashi's Earth Style: Earth Wall, while outside, the combined Ninjutsu attacks from Kakuzu's four clones suppressed them, preventing them from lifting their heads.

Kakashi's Earth Style: Earth Wall had only one layer left.

He wondered if it could hold out until Shikamaru's plan was executed.

As expected, Shikamaru's plan succeeded. The scythe, filled with Kakuzu's blood, stabbed into Hidan's body, and Kakuzu also received damage.

Kakuzu cursed Hidan, calling him an idiot.

He quickly retracted one of his clones back into his main body.

"Super Great Ball Rasengan!!!"

Josuke arrived.

He initiated with a Super Great Ball Rasengan, releasing it directly at Kakuzu's chest.

The Kunai that had just flown out were Flying Thunder God Kunai thrown by Josuke. It was precisely because Kakuzu underestimated him that Josuke found an opportunity.

Kakuzu immediately lost two clones, enraging him. He quickly ordered his remaining two clones to defend.

A combined Fire Style and Wind Style Ninjutsu attack blew towards Josuke. Josuke calmly used Flying Thunder God to teleport to a nearby branch, where he had just flown up.

Kakuzu was furious. He had never suffered such a setback in his many years traversing the ninja world. He then ordered his remaining two clones to attack Josuke.

Josuke wasn't flustered by this.

He formed hand seals.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet"

A stream of water spat from Josuke's mouth, forming a water dragon that charged at Kakuzu's clone.

The two attacks canceled each other out, creating steam that enveloped the surroundings.

Josuke used the opportunity to appear next to Kakashi.

"Teacher Kakashi."

Looking at his former student, Kakashi didn't know what to say. He hadn't seen him in days, and his strength had improved again.

"Josuke-kun!!"

Josuke's arrival jolted more than just Kakashi; Ino was also startled, but now was not the time for catching up.

"How is Teacher Asuma?"

He still cared about Orochimaru's experiment, so he asked.

"Thanks to your medicine, Teacher Asuma is fine. He's just lost his Chakra, but he can still gather it again!"

Is that so? Josuke understood the side effects and decided he would discuss it with Orochimaru and the others later.

At this moment, the steam gradually dissipated, and Kakuzu could vaguely see everyone present. He immediately summoned a fire clone and attacked everyone with Fire Style.

Fortunately, Kakashi used Earth Style: Earth Wall to block it.

"Teacher Kakashi, what's our plan?"

Facing such a powerful opponent, Josuke asked. Considering everything, Kakuzu was the strongest enemy he had encountered in a long time.

He had skill and awareness.

He was a troublesome guy. In a one-on-one fight, Josuke wasn't sure if he could win. The reason he was able to take down one of Kakuzu's clones earlier was...

It was Kakuzu's own underestimation that gave Josuke an opportunity.

But it might not be successful next time.

Kakashi pondered for a moment. His Kamui still had a few seconds of cooldown. As long as he sent the enemy to Kakuzu, Kakashi's Kamui could twist Kakuzu's body.

He then gave the following instructions...

After hearing the battle plan, Josuke nodded, activated Cursed Mark Stage Two, and his entire body was covered in armor. He charged at a fire-element mask monster, which had never seen such an approach.

Seeing Josuke coming to throw his life away, the monster was naturally happy to oblige.

It then unleashed Fire Style: Great Fireball!

The attack hit Josuke's armor, kicking up a large cloud of dust that covered the surroundings. Good, now!

(To be continued in the next analysis)