The black threads on Kakuzu's body had converged, forming several terrifying tentacles resembling octopus tentacles.
As he watched the flames gradually die down, Kakuzu dared not slacken his vigilance for a moment, keeping a close eye on the last spark as it dissipated.
There was nothing there.
Everything in sight was burned to ashes by the inferno, leaving only bare ground.
"Are you done performing?"
Just Kakuzu thought that Kazashiro had been burned to ashes, a mocking voice came from behind him.
"What?!"
The tentacle suddenly reached back, only to grasp at empty air.
As the Flying Thunder God Kunai landed, Kazashiro reappeared before Kakuzu.
"Well then, it's my turn!"
He covered White Fang with ice-style Chakra, and the chilling aura instantly dispelled the residual heat from the previous battle.
"Ice Release: Great Crimson Ice Wheel!"
The dragon roared.
The frost dragon, flapping its enormous ice wings, charged toward Kakuzu with unstoppable momentum.
The frozen frost beneath his feet restricted Kakuzu's movements, just as Kakuzu had tried to use the black lines to restrict Kazashiro.
By the time he managed to pull his foot out of the ice crystal, the dragon was already standing in front of him.
At this moment Kakuzu was like being hit head-on by an out-of-control dump truck, moving uncontrollably into the distance.
All obstacles blocking the road were violently broken apart, and the ground was torn apart by hard frost, forming a deep ravine.
After being sent flying several hundred meters, the ice dragon's momentum gradually slowed down. Just when Kakuzu thought it was all over and that he had withstood the terrifying attack with Earth Release: Earth Spear, Kazashiro began to form his hand seals.
"Ice Release: Ice Explosion!"
The frost dragon emitted a strong white light, and the next second, a violent explosion occurred before Kakuzu's horrified eyes.
"This should be a forest."
Walking up to Kazashiro, Pakura looked at the tree debris scattered all over the sky and brushed the dust off his clothes.
In the end, she didn't even have a chance to make a move.
"It's alright, I know a little brother, we can rebuild this forest when he grows up." Completely devoid of shame for destroying the greenery, after many battles, Kazashiro has grown into an "excellent ninja" who doesn't blush when doing bad things.
"Alright, let's go greet our new companions."
Kazashiro took the lead and rushed to the center of the explosion at top speed.
"A new ally? Taking that level of attack and explosion head-on, even the strongest ninja would be torn to pieces." Pakura didn't think Kakuzu survive an attack of that magnitude, but since Kazashiro had already taken action, she had no choice but to follow.
As soon as the two landed, they saw the Kakuzu re-aggregating under the influence of the black lines, slowly forming a human shape in Pakura's astonished gaze.
When Kakuzu's head was pulled back from a distance by the black lines and placed back on his neck, his dull eyes finally regained their light.
"Ugh, ughhhhh!"
A foul-smelling scream erupted, Kakuzu had just regained his senses, hunched over. Suddenly, the three masks behind him shattered, gushing out a pool of black water.
Three.
Kazashiro nodded knowingly.
"You know my secret technique..." Kakuzu's eyes held not only anger but also horror.
In his knowledge, there was only one person in the Shinobi World capable of using Ice Release to this extent: the Clan Head of the Ice Release Clan who helped the First Hokage Mizukage quell the chaos when Kirigakure was first established.
But that guy who lived in the same era as Hashirama has been dead for many years.
Having been engrossed in bounty missions for years, he naturally didn't know Kazashiro's real name, much less that the girl he always treated like a little girl was actually a boy.
It's because Kazashiro wasn't on the bounty list.
"So, can we talk about it?"
Kazashiro's tone was indifferent.
After mentally assessing the current situation, Kakuzu concluded that his opponent shouldn't have the strength to unleash that terrifying Ninjutsu from before, but...
"Tell me about it." Having already lost three hearts, Kakuzu dared not gamble. Money can be earned back, but once life is gone, there is truly nothing left.
Approaching Kakuzu, Kazashiro extended his hand. "Be my son, no, be my subordinate."
Damn, the scene in front of me is so classic that I even messed up my lines!
Upon hearing the first sentence Kakuzu actually began to consider whether he should agree to the other party's request.
What a nasty brat!
A girl like that will never get married in her lifetime!
"Subordinates, huh? Are you suggesting I join Konoha?" Forcibly suppressing his anger, Kakuzu didn't have a very good impression of Konoha.
"Yes and no. Becoming my subordinate does not mean you have to join Konoha. I want to establish an organization, an organization that is not affiliated with any hidden village or country."
"Oh? What an ambitious young girl. So what is your purpose?"
"The purpose...?"
Kazashiro pondered for a moment, then gave Kakuzu an unexpected answer, "For world peace."
"That's a ridiculous vision, I—" Kakuzu was about to mock Kazashiro's words when he was abruptly stopped by the other's next words.
"This newly formed organization needs someone skilled in financial management to handle its finances, Kakuzu, that's why I've come to you."
"That's a great vision, boss." Kakuzu's sudden change of heart almost caused Pakura to throw up her back.
Seeing Kakuzu grasp Kazashiro's hand, Pakura realized at that moment...
Is this guy really that funny?
"Very well, let's go then." Seeing that Kakuzu had agreed, Kazashiro finally had the opportunity to begin the first step of his plan.
"No, aren't you going to give him a Curse Mark or something?" Pakura was quite annoyed, feeling a bit unbalanced.
Why did this brat believe the monster so easily? That's not fair.
"Hmph, I've never gone back on my word. Honesty is the most basic quality of Bounty Hunter Ninja," Kakuzu sneered, refuting Pakura.
"Um, right, I haven't introduced myself yet. My Shimura Kazashiro, and I'm a boy." Kazashiro then remembered that Kakuzu didn't know his name.
"Um?"
"If you get my gender wrong again, you can say goodbye to all your hearts."
"Um?!"
The three walked further and further away, until everything had settled down, at which point the border patrol ninjas slowly arrived at the scene.
"No, this should be a forest, right?"
Looking at the barren land before them, the ninjas wondered if they had come to the wrong place.
"By the way, how did you find me?" On the way, Kakuzu was still brooding over who had betrayed him.
"I don't know his name either, but he felt bad for betraying you, so he only came to see you once as an apology," Kazashiro said, turning his gaze toward Pakura.
"Hey, do you want to take a look?" Pakura reached out to take out the Summoning Scroll.
"Fine, I forgive him."