"Just an Uchiha. Back then, even..."
Clang—
With a twist of Kamizuki's wrist, the sheath spun lightly, and the eerie crimson patterns on the gleaming silver blade looked even more dreamlike beneath the moonlight.
"Crimson Blade, the strongest weapon forged by the greatest swordsmith in Uchiha clan history."
"As the first person to be cut down by this blade, you should feel honored, Kakuzu."
Forget it. There was nothing to say to such a brainless, arrogant brat.
Hopefully, this corpse could make up for my losses... No, a living one might sell for more.
Whoosh—!!
Countless black threads howled out from Kakuzu's wrists, surging like a tide of black serpents.
Swish—
The instant the blade flashed, the air was split in two.
The first tendrils to reach him were severed, their cuts smooth as mirrors.
Kamizuki charged into the web of black threads, his footsteps as light as if he were treading on water, yet each step carried him three meters away in an instant.
A miserable crimson moon wheel swept out with every swing, and shredded black tendrils rained across the ground.
—
Crimson Moon Walk: Interstice.
Through ultra-fast slashes, it formed a seamless killing formation within a certain range, possessing immense destructive power!
Kakuzu's eyes darted rapidly as he tried to predict Kamizuki's next foothold.
It was difficult. This brat was too fast.
There were still no Chakra fluctuations. It wasn't the Body Flicker Technique, but pure taijutsu...
Wasn't he being too arrogant? He still wasn't using ninjutsu!
Against a brat, Kakuzu still had some pride as a stronger opponent. Using ninjutsu first felt somewhat beneath him.
Especially since this fellow was an Uchiha...
All of you are defeated underlings of the Senju clan. What are you acting so smug for!
More black tendrils poured from Kakuzu's body, writhing slowly as they waited for Kamizuki to come a little closer. Then, he would unleash an all-encompassing attack without a single blind spot.
But Kamizuki suddenly retreated, reaching out to grab something and yank it.
Rrip—
Steel wires threaded through the forest, producing faint whistling sounds as they cut through the air. Under the moonlight, the threads were nearly invisible.
In an instant, the steel wires tightened, cinching Kakuzu's body into countless indentations. Even Earth Grudge Fear's tendrils could not break free from the tough wires right away.
A steel-wire formation... a child's trick!
The corner of Kakuzu's mouth curled upward. As he broke free of the wires, he was about to sneer at him.
Suddenly,
A small figure sprang out from nowhere, leaping through the steel-wire net. Bright flames flared wherever its snow-white paws stepped, crackling and hissing.
Kakuzu's pupils suddenly shrank as he saw the Explosive Tags being flicked aside by the cat's paws.
Hundreds of points of light ignited.
Not good!!
Even amid his shock and fury, Kakuzu cursed inwardly.
Chakra-triggered Explosive Tags—even the cheapest ones cost over a thousand ryo each, and prices had risen lately because of the war.
That was hundreds of thousands of ryo! Damn prodigal brat!
Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!!!!!!!
Explosions blazed without end as a massive mushroom cloud rose from the forest.
Kamizuki still tried to locate Kakuzu through the smoke—
Boom!!!
The ground beneath his feet exploded, and countless tendrils gathered into a black hand that clawed at his face.
He did not dare act so recklessly as to let Kakuzu grab him. His upper body nearly bent backward at a ninety-degree angle, dodging in an inhuman posture while slashing at the tendrils.
A fierce crimson gleam swept past, and the black tendrils snapped apart.
The metal used to forge Crimson Blade was a rare ore the clan had preserved for years. Combined with his father's exceptional craftsmanship, its sharpness and durability surpassed even some Kusanagi Swords.
If not for him, Mikoto should have given it to her own child in the future.
In other words...
According to the original timeline, this blade was very likely the 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 vicious blade—the weapon that killed his kin and annihilated his clan—at his side?
A fine blade.
It seemed this guy was not entirely bragging. It could even easily cut through solidified Earth Grudge Fear tendrils.
But...
Fury rose in the eyes of Kakuzu as he emerged from the earth.
You brat, you still won't use ninjutsu? You're looking down on me too much!!
Fine. It wasn't a big deal if he used it first.
Crack crack—
Kakuzu's shoulders swelled as black tendrils grew wildly, tearing through his clothes and revealing two savage masks.
One mask had red lips stretched into a grin, while the other was a blue crying 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 spewed from the blue mask, violently distorting the air!
A blazing fireball gathered within the Fire Style Mask's mouth. It would be best if Pressure Damage could finish the battle.
Searing Migraine was too powerful. He was afraid it might damage that sword, which looked quite valuable.
Boom!!!
The terrifying wind pressure slammed into Kamizuki. After half a year of Orochimaru's training, Kamizuki would not be blown away so easily.
Most importantly...
Now!!!
Crackle!!!
A white figure tore through the air like thunder, like fangs ripping apart the night.
"Lightning Style—White Fang Instant Kill!!"
Boom—!!
Lightning shot out from Kakuzu's blind spot and instantly pierced through the Wind Style Mask.
After a brief pause—
The blue mask exploded. The heart encased inside burst apart, its veins instantly withering and collapsing into fragments scattered across the ground.
Kakuzu's pupils contracted sharply.
Before the attack, he could not detect it. Once he detected it, he could not react...
Unreasonably fast!!
Who are you!!?
"Little Kamizuki is obsessed with frontal attacks. I still prefer sneak attacks."
"After all, we're ninjas. Don't you agree, Kakuzu-san?"
With that sunny, boyish face, Kakuzu found it difficult to connect him with the man who had instantly destroyed his Wind Style heart.
With events taking an unexpected turn, Kakuzu did not lose his composure. He took the initiative to create some distance.
"That face..."
"I remember now. There's a bounty on you."
"Konoha's youngest jonin, the White Fang, Hatake Sakumo. A bounty of twelve million ryo..."
"Too low," Kakuzu assessed sternly.
That strike alone was worth at least twenty million!
"That sort of thing is better kept low, isn't it?"
Sakumo stood beside Kamizuki, holding the White Fang short blade. Arcs of electricity still flickered across it.
"Lightning Style... Your speed is faster than even Kumogakure's. Your mastery is quite high."
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "You waited for an opportunity, first destroying the Wind Style Mask that countered you... That wasn't a coincidence, was it?"
After a simple review, Kakuzu understood that everything which had happened before was meant to force him into using wide-range ninjutsu.
When the mask was attacked, the tendrils connected to the heart were destroyed as well.
He realized...
The people before him completely understood Earth Grudge Fear's intelligence!
"Heh heh... So there are still people in Takigakure who remember me..."
Kakuzu never spent much time around others. Everyone who had witnessed Earth Grudge Fear had died, so only Takigakure could possibly possess information on it.
Takigakure hired Konoha ninja to hunt me down... How ugly and weak.
The only thing he could not understand was whether that Uchiha brat had any need to refrain from using ninjutsu.
And...
A body that could withstand wind pressure head-on, terrifying monstrous strength, ultimate speed...
If you didn't show me the Sharingan, I would think you were little Hashirama.
"Sorry, not revealing information about the employer is part of a ninja's profession..."
Before Sakumo could finish, Kamizuki charged forward with his sword.
"Why waste words on him? Attack!"
Whoosh—!!
The black-red figure and silver-white lightning intertwined as they charged out at high speed.
Kakuzu spread his hands. As countless black tendrils shot forth, the Fire Style Mask on his shoulder finished gathering power.
Fire Style—Searing Migraine!!
A sea of fire capable of burning everything descended with a roar!!
Before you continue