Great Fire Extinguishment

Shadow Clone Technique! Qingyun immediately created two shadow clones of himself.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

Lightning Release: Lightning Dragon Bullet!

Compound Ninjutsu: Lightning Flame Soaring Dragon Explosion!

Qingyun began to channel his energy, and the moment Kakuzu unleashed his full power against him, Qingyun released his new ultimate technique.

Qingyun was unable to use the Five-Shot Technique—that ninjutsu which blended five different natures—but he was quite proficient with the wind, lightning, and fire natures.

Utilizing the Lightning Dragon Bullet and Fire Dragon Flame Bullet taught to him by the Third Hokage, and combining them with the Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, he merged the two dragons into one, finally riding the wind as they crashed toward his opponent.

This was the first time Qingyun had used such a powerful compound ninjutsu in actual combat, and he felt incredibly exhilarated. Facing Kakuzu's strongest strike, Qingyun felt no fear and charged straight ahead.

Both were wind-fire-lightning compound ninjutsus, and both were immensely powerful. The two forces collided at high speed, causing the entire ground to collapse violently.

Fierce winds raged, and due to the massive clash of chakra, the energy radiated outward from the center of the two forces.

Both Qingyun and Kakuzu were severely affected by the aftermath.

Kakuzu's heartbeats grew weaker and weaker, while for Qingyun, it was the exact opposite; his Sharingan, originally possessing a single tomoe, had been tempered by the battle and evolved into two tomoe.

Not only that, but the clothes on Qingyun's body had also shielded him from a significant amount of damage.

Armament Haki Hardening! Qingyun continued to maintain his attack, while Kakuzu's assault gradually weakened; it was clear that his opponent's chakra was running low.

Qingyun was actually reaching his limit as well, currently relying entirely on sheer willpower to hold on.

"I lost!" Kakuzu finally couldn't hold out any longer. All his hearts had been destroyed, and only his original heart remained healthy at this moment.

Qingyun did not press the attack; if he continued, his own body would suffer a backlash.

"Poof!" Qingyun dispelled his shadow clones, his entire body aching with pain.

Qingyun managed to stand up with difficulty and walked slowly to Kakuzu's side.

"You won. Kill me. Those of us who lick blood off the edge of a blade have long since prepared ourselves for this; if you can't kill your opponent, you must be prepared to die yourself," Kakuzu said.

"Why would I kill you? You only reached this point for the sake of money," Qingyun said, not blaming Kakuzu, as he knew Kakuzu was a man who worked for coin.

Kakuzu had carried out a mission for his village to assassinate the First Hokage, but upon returning, he was not understood; instead, he was severely punished. Consequently, Kakuzu took revenge, stole the secret arts, and slaughtered the village's top brass.

Kakuzu became a missing-nin, and with no village daring to accept him, he entered the Underground Bounty Station, earning his keep by killing.

Therefore, Qingyun could understand Kakuzu. In this chaotic ninja world, what else could one do?

"You're going to let me go?" Kakuzu sneered. "You'll regret missing this chance to kill me, because sooner or later, I will kill you."

"Suit yourself. You can try to kill me however you like; I'll be waiting for you." In Qingyun's view, if Kakuzu couldn't defeat him now, it would be even more impossible in the future.

Kakuzu fell silent.

"Ha, the way you speak really sounds like someone else," Kakuzu said.

"Who?"

"The First Hokage. When he defeated me, he said the exact same thing," Kakuzu said indifferently.

"The First Hokage? That doesn't seem likely, does it?" Qingyun expressed his doubt.

"Actually, I'm very curious—why didn't he kill you?" Qingyun asked.

"That has nothing to do with you. Since you aren't killing me, I will keep my word and tell you the location of the Underground Bounty Station." Kakuzu was a man who kept his promises, especially since he couldn't beat Qingyun right now anyway.

After obtaining the information he wanted, Qingyun said, "Kakuzu, I hope you become stronger in the future. If you still can't kill me by then, would you consider working together?"

"I have millions of ryo in silver and hundreds of thousands in gold for you to earn! Plus, you'll get to fight experts from all over the ninja world." Qingyun wasn't spouting nonsense; he was indeed incredibly wealthy.

The reason? He had won it all through his lottery system.

Whether it was a ten-pull or exchanging points for rewards, Qingyun always drew silver and gold. At first, he thought they were useless, but later he realized that if he used this money to accomplish things, he would surely have better prospects.

"Are you serious? I just tried to kill you," Kakuzu stopped in his tracks and looked back at Qingyun.

"Of course I'm serious. I want to bring peace to the world, end war, and ensure every poor person can have a full meal. Even people like you could sleep soundly. The capable should do more, though I believe your goal is still money and sparring with experts, right?"

"Fine, I'll consider it," Kakuzu said before leaving the area.

Qingyun knew Kakuzu was tempted. He was still just a kid for now, but if he became Hokage in the future, none of this would be an issue.

"Where am I?" At this moment, the unconscious Kushina Uzumaki woke up.

"Minato? Did you save me?" Kushina Uzumaki asked.

Minato blushed slightly and said, "I came to save you, but the enemy was too strong. In the end, Qingyun and Yoshihime saved us."

"Qingyun? Yoshihime?" Kushina Uzumaki looked up at Qingyun and Yoshihime and immediately thanked them.

"Alright, it should be safe from here on out. You should head back to Konoha immediately," Qingyun said.

"Aren't you coming back with us?" everyone asked, surprised.

"I'm going to the Underground Bounty Station! Tell everyone else that I was killed by a man named Kakuzu, and tell Sarutobi-sensei privately that I went to the bounty station." Qingyun trusted that the old man would understand; otherwise, he wouldn't be his teacher.

The reason Qingyun wasn't returning to Konoha was, naturally, to enter the Underground Bounty Station and find the person who had placed the bounty on his head.

If there were any evidence to prove that Danzo was the one behind this, he could return and file a formal complaint against him.

It might not be of much use, but suppressing that old man's arrogance was still quite necessary.

Minato and the others had no choice but to return to Konoha first.

Meanwhile, Qingyun followed Kakuzu.

Because he had defeated Kakuzu, Qingyun earned a chance to draw a prize, so he chose to draw immediately.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host! You have obtained the ninjutsu: Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Qingyun nodded; this move was incredibly fierce! In the later stages of the original work, when Uchiha Madara fought against the Allied Shinobi Forces, he used this very technique, and it took countless ninjas using Water Release to hold it back.

"Alright, I'll learn it when I have time. The most important thing right now is to find the Underground Bounty Station."

Qingyun followed Kakuzu, and it wasn't long before Kakuzu discovered him.

"What is it, kid? Are you going back on your word?"

"Here to kill me? Be my guest!" Kakuzu sneered at Qingyun.