Final Shot

"Are you getting serious now, Kakuzu? I know you haven't used your full strength yet. I'm looking for someone to use as a stepping stone, and you seem just right for the job." Qingyun smiled, brimming with fighting spirit.

"Need any help, Qingyun?" Yoshihime had already rescued Minato, who was now trying to wake Kushina.

"No. Just look after the others. I'm the only one who can handle Kakuzu." Qingyun was telling the truth. As things stood, neither Minato nor Yoshihime could match Kakuzu.

"Finished with your last words? If so, prepare to die." Kakuzu was truly serious this time. He had no intention of teasing Qingyun anymore. The Shinobi World was vast, and there were always freaks like Qingyun in it.

The threads in the cracks all over Kakuzu's body came loose on their own. Black threads now covered him completely.

The four masks behind Kakuzu appeared one by one.

"Demons? Looks like things haven't changed from the original. You still have five hearts." Qingyun spoke to Kakuzu.

"Seems you know quite a bit. It doesn't matter now. You're as good as dead." Kakuzu was determined to kill Qingyun, for both personal and professional reasons.

"He's coming!" Qingyun had already seen through Kakuzu's impending attack.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!" The demon in the Lightning Release mask opened its mouth, and lightning transformed into a sharp spear, shooting toward Qingyun.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" The demon in the Water Release mask also spat out a stream of water.

But the Water Release mask demon had temporarily detached itself. Attacked from both sides, Qingyun would have a hard time defending himself.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

"30 Million Volt Thunder Bird!"

Qingyun formed hand seals and used Earth Style: Earth Wall to temporarily block the Lightning Release attack. Then he teleported to the top of the wall and sent the Thunder Bird hurtling toward the Water Release demon at incredible speed.

"Lightning turned into a bird? This guy's a Lightning Release genius!" Kakuzu had tremendous combat experience. He immediately abandoned the Water Release demon and shouted, "Tentacle Fist!"

Qingyun's Thunder Bird struck the Water Release demon, instantly destroying one of the hearts in Kakuzu's body.

But Kakuzu gritted his teeth through the pain and used his tendrils to try to pierce Qingyun's heart again.

Qingyun had planned to use Electric Discharge to break apart Kakuzu's attack, but unexpectedly, one of the demons on Kakuzu's body suddenly used a combined ninjutsu.

"I see. You're using your tendrils to grab me, then having the demon on your back attack with ninjutsu?" Qingyun realized his opponent's strategy.

"Kid, this isn't some simple ninjutsu!" Kakuzu said with a slight smirk.

"Combined Ninjutsu: Searing Wind Turbulence!"

This technique combined the Earth Grudge Fear Fire Release mask monster with the Earth Grudge Fear Wind Release mask monster.

They used Fire Style: Searing Migraine and Wind Style: Pressure Damage at the same time, creating a vast sea of flames.

This combined ninjutsu was no weaker than the Third Hokage's. Qingyun gritted his teeth.

"I didn't want to use this move, but since you've forced my hand, don't blame me."

"Still talking tough when you're at death's door! What, are you going to conjure up a dragon?" Kakuzu said casually.

But the next second, Kakuzu froze. Qingyun had actually conjured a dragon.

That's right, Qingyun used the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to create a Lightning Dragon. Its body flashed with lightning as it coiled around him, shielding him completely.

"Lightning turned into a dragon..." Kakuzu could feel the lightning's violent power. Even someone at his level would be killed instantly if he approached it carelessly.

Kakuzu's attack struck the Lightning Dragon. It roared, its pain making it furious, but Qingyun wasn't affected by the lightning coursing through its body.

"60 Million Volts! This level of lightning may not reach the intensity of a natural bolt, but it's still extremely deadly. The safe voltage for humans is only 36 volts."

"Even with a combined ninjutsu, you're no match for an ability like mine." Qingyun spoke with complete confidence.

"Is this Qingyun's trump card? It's terrifying. Even the strongest Raikage would be no match for this!" Minato Namikaze was astonished. The gap between him and Qingyun had somehow grown even wider.

"Terrifying! You're a terrifying kid. With a body like yours, you shouldn't be able to withstand a ninjutsu of this magnitude, yet somehow you've pulled it off."

"A Kekkei Genkai?" Kakuzu was stunned too. For the moment, he couldn't think of a good way to fight Qingyun.

"Kakuzu, you have four hearts left besides the Water Release demon's. I don't want to drag this out. How about we settle this with one move?" Qingyun said.

"Oh? Is it because your body can't maintain this ninjutsu for long?" Kakuzu immediately guessed that Qingyun couldn't keep up such a powerful Lightning Release for long.

"No. I just don't want you to suffer. This is only 60 Million Volts. My lightning can reach as high as 200 Million Volts!" Qingyun smiled. "But I don't think you could withstand an attack of that magnitude."

"So, I hope we can make things fair. Why don't we end this battle with a combined ninjutsu?" After speaking, Qingyun drew the Lightning Dragon into his body.

"A combined ninjutsu? A kid like you can use one?!" Kakuzu asked in surprise.

"Of course. My teacher isn't Lady Tsunade. My teacher is Hiruzen Sarutobi, the current Hokage. I'm sure you know his combined ninjutsu is powerful too."

"What do you say? One combined ninjutsu to decide the winner?" Qingyun asked.

"What if I refuse?" Kakuzu asked.

"Then I'll strike you down with lightning," Qingyun said coldly. After all this time studying, he could just barely manage 200 Million Volts. It would definitely be enough to deal with Kakuzu.

Kakuzu knew Qingyun wasn't bluffing. He had truly picked a fight with the wrong person this time, but he also knew he had to do something.

"If you can beat me, why give me a chance?" Kakuzu asked. "What do you want? Just say it."

Qingyun smiled. "Simple. If I lose, you can do whatever you want with me. If I win, all you have to do is tell me what you know about the Bounty Exchange."

"That's all? Fine, I agree." Kakuzu wasn't a pushover. Though he had been on the defensive the whole time, he still had considerable confidence in his abilities.

Besides, Kakuzu was the sort of person who liked to get the better deal. He didn't think he would lose.

"Come on! Let me see how much of the Third Hokage's power you've got!" Three demons appeared on Kakuzu's shoulders.

"Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot!" The three demons gathered on Kakuzu's right arm. He was clearly charging up. If he succeeded, the attack's terrifying power might kill Qingyun outright.