White Fang - One Strike, Certain Kill!

"A mere Uchiha, even back in the day..."

Clang—

Kaminazuki flicked his wrist, the scabbard spinning lightly, making the eerie red patterns on the silver blade appear even more dreamlike under the moonlight.

"Crimson Blade, the strongest weapon ever forged by the most brilliant bladesmith in the history of the Uchiha clan."

"Consider it an honor to be the first person cut down by this blade, Kakuzu."

Forget it, there is no point in talking to such a brainless, arrogant brat.

I hope this corpse can make up for my losses... No, a live one might sell for even more.

Whoosh—!!

Countless black threads whistled out from Kakuzu's wrists, surging like a swarm of black snakes.

Swish—

The moment the blade light ignited, the air was sliced in two.

The tentacles that approached first were severed, their cross-sections as smooth as mirrors.

Kaminazuki charged into the web of black threads, his footsteps as light as if he were walking on water, yet after every landing, he instantly appeared three meters away.

A desolate, vivid crimson moon-wheel rippled outward with his swings, leaving black fragments scattered all over the ground.

--

Crimson Moon Walk: Interstice.

By slashing at extreme speeds, a seamless formation of blades is created within a range, possessing immense destructive power!

Kakuzu's eyes darted rapidly, attempting to predict Kaminazuki's next landing spot.

It was difficult; the brat's movements were too fast.

Still no chakra fluctuations—this wasn't a Body Flicker Technique, but pure taijutsu...

He's being far too arrogant, refusing to even use ninjutsu!

Dealing with a brat, Kakuzu still possessed a shred of pride as a veteran; using ninjutsu first felt somewhat beneath him.

Especially since this guy was an Uchiha...

Both of you are losers at the hands of the Senju clan, what do you have to be so smug about!

More black tentacles surged from Kakuzu's body, writhing slowly, waiting for Kaminazuki to get just a little closer so he could launch an omnidirectional, inescapable attack.

But Kaminazuki suddenly retreated, reaching out to grab something and pulling.

Riiip—

Steel wires wove through the forest, creating a faint sound of breaking air; under the moonlight, these threads were nearly invisible.

In an instant, the steel wires tightened abruptly, carving countless indentations into Kakuzu's body; the tough wires were something even the Earth Grudge Fear tentacles couldn't break free from immediately.

A wire trap... children's games!

A smirk tugged at the corner of Kakuzu's mouth, and as he prepared to break the wires, he intended to throw out a mocking remark.

Suddenly, A small figure darted out from nowhere, leaping through the wire mesh; wherever the snow-white cat paws stepped, bright flames ignited with a sizzling sound.

Kakuzu's pupils shrank violently as he saw the explosive tags being flicked aside by the cat paws.

Hundreds of points of light flared up.

Not good!!

Amidst his shock and rage, Kakuzu couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Chakra-triggered explosive tags, even the cheapest ones cost thousands of ryo, and prices had recently risen due to the war.

That's hundreds of thousands of ryo right there! You wasteful bastard!

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!!!!!!

The explosions continued, and a massive mushroom cloud rose within the forest.

Kaminazuki was still attempting to search for Kakuzu within the smoke—

BANG!!!

The ground beneath his feet exploded, and countless tentacles gathered into a black hand, lunging for Kaminazuki's face.

He dared not be arrogant enough to be caught by Kakuzu; his upper body folded nearly ninety degrees in an inhuman posture to dodge, simultaneously swinging his blade to strike at the tentacles.

A shrill red radiance flashed, and the black tentacles were severed on impact.

The metal used to forge the Crimson Blade was a rare ore the clan had preserved for years, and combined with his father's exceptional craftsmanship, its sharpness and durability surpassed even some Kusanagi swords.

If not for his own existence, Mikoto would likely have passed it down to her child in the future.

In other words...

According to the original timeline, this blade was very likely the murder weapon Itachi Uchiha would later wield to slaughter his entire clan!

As for why it never appeared afterward...

How could Itachi Uchiha possibly keep such a blade, stained with the blood of his kin, by his side?

A fine blade.

It seems this guy wasn't just boasting; it could even easily sever the hardened tentacles of Earth Grudge Fear.

However...

Fury surged in the eyes of Kakuzu as he broke through the soil.

You brat, still not using ninjutsu? You're looking down on me too much!!

Fine, it's no big deal if I use mine first.

Clack-clack—

Kakuzu's shoulders bulged as black tentacles grew wildly, tearing through his clothes to reveal two hideous masks.

One mask had a grinning red-lipped face, while the other was a weeping blue face.

Earth Grudge Fear Secret Technique—Fire Style: Searing Migraine!

Earth Grudge Fear Secret Technique—Wind Style: Pressure Damage!

"It's over, brat!"

A high-pressure gale erupted from the blue mask, causing the air to distort violently!

A scorching fireball gathered in the mouth of the Fire Style mask; it would be best if Pressure Damage could end the fight alone.

The power of Searing Migraine was too great, and he feared damaging that blade, which looked quite valuable.

BOOM!!!

The terrifying wind pressure slammed into Kaminazuki, but after half a year of training under Orochimaru, he wasn't so easily blown away.

Most importantly...

Now!!!

Slash!!!

A white shadow streaked through the air like a thunderbolt, tearing through the night like a fang.

"Lightning Style—White Fang Instant Kill!!"

BOOM----!!

The electric light shot out from Kakuzu's blind spot, instantly piercing the Wind Style mask.

After a brief stagnation—

The blue mask shattered, the heart encased within it exploded, and the meridians withered and disintegrated in an instant, turning into a pile of debris.

Kakuzu's pupils contracted sharply.

Impossible to detect before the strike, impossible to react once detected...

It was completely unreasonable speed!!

Who is this person!!?

"Young Master Kaminazuki is obsessed with frontal assaults, but I still prefer sneak attacks."

"We are ninjas, after all, wouldn't you agree, Kakuzu-san?"

With that sunny, boyish face, it was hard for Kakuzu to associate him with the man who had just one-shotted his Wind Style heart.

Though the situation had taken an unexpected turn, Kakuzu did not lose his cool, actively creating distance between them.

"That face..."

"I remember now, you have a bounty."

"The youngest Jonin of Konoha, White Fang Hatake Sakumo, bounty twelve million ryo..."

"Too low," Kakuzu evaluated strictly.

That single blow alone was worth at least twenty million!

"Something like that should be kept low."

Sakumo stood beside Kaminazuki, holding the White Fang short sword, arcs of electricity still flickering on the blade.

"Lightning Style... your speed surpasses Kumogakure's, your mastery is quite high."

Kakuzu narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Wait for an opportunity, first defeat the Wind Style Mask that counters you... it's not a coincidence, is it?"

With a simple review, Kakuzu understood the series of events that had just occurred were all aimed at forcing him to use a large-scale ninjutsu.

At the same time the mask was attacked, the tendrils connected to his hearts were also destroyed.

He realized...

The information about Earth Grudge Fear was completely known by the person in front of him!

"Heh heh... someone from Takigakure still remembers me..."

Kakuzu rarely had prolonged contact with anyone; everyone who had seen Earth Grudge Fear was dead. Only Takigakure might have information on Earth Grudge Fear.

Takigakure hired a Konoha ninja to hunt me... how ugly and weak.

The only thing he couldn't figure out was, why did that Uchiha brat need to avoid using ninjutsu?

Moreover...

A body that could withstand wind pressure, terrifying monstrous strength, extreme speed...

If you don't show me your Sharingan, I'd think you were a young Hashirama.

"Sorry, I cannot reveal my employer's information. It's a ninja's code of conduct..."

Before Sakumo could finish, Kaminazuki charged forward with his blade.

"Why waste words with him, attack!"

Whoosh--!!

The black and red figure intertwined with silver-white lightning, charging out.

Kakuzu spread his hands, and as countless black tendrils shot out, the Fire Style mask on his shoulder completed its charge.

Fire Style - Searing Migraine!!

A sea of fire that burned everything, descended with a roar!!