Let's Reconcile

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

The terrifying explosion of lightning and fire collided, spreading wildly.

The once lush forest was leveled into a vast, empty clearing by the relentless shockwaves of the blasts.

The deep crater at the center was particularly striking; flames and arcs of electricity still flickered upon the shattered tree roots within the pit.

The thick smoke was blown away by the wind, revealing the figures at either end of the crater.

Kakuzu's outward appearance showed no change, but the heaving of his chest and his rapid, ragged breathing proved he was not as unaffected as he looked.

At the other end, Kaminazuki's hands were charred black as if burned by fire, and the dark red glow within his cracked skin looked like flowing magma.

"Kaminazuki..."

Sakumo watched with a grave expression; such injuries would have rendered anyone else's hands completely useless.

Kaminazuki had previously displayed inhuman physical resilience, so since he dared to use them this way, there shouldn't be any overly severe consequences, right?

"A very strong strike, but..."

"You've emptied your reserves, haven't you?"

Kakuzu panted lightly, his voice cold: "That you could utilize Earth Grudge Fear so quickly truly surprises me."

"I know the Chakra contained within that heart better than anyone."

"I have to admit, compared to you geniuses from the great ninja villages favored by the heavens, my talent is far inferior."

"Perhaps in ten years, or even a few years from now, I would only be able to flee in defeat if I encountered you."

"It is a pity..."

"The reason for your deaths is that you sought me out too early!"

The black tentacles hanging down danced once more, poised and ready!

"Let's reconcile, Kakuzu."

Kaminazuki said, his face expressionless.

Kakuzu thought his ears were playing tricks on him.

Reconcile?

At this point in time, how could you even say those two words!

Are you spouting such childish nonsense just because you are young!

You are absolutely insane!!

"What kind of joke is this!!"

Kakuzu threw his arms wide, roaring in anger: "Do you think—"

"Do you think you are guaranteed to win?"

Kaminazuki interrupted Kakuzu's roar: "We have expended a great deal, but how much Chakra do you have left?"

He held up two fingers: "How long has the battle been going on? You have already lost two hearts; you have three left."

"Three is enough!"

Kakuzu sneered: "If I don't kill you both now, I won't be able to sleep in peace!!"

"Are you afraid that we will grow up and take revenge on you?"

Kaminazuki suddenly smiled: "Why would we take revenge? You are the one who suffered the loss, not us."

"Look on the bright side, you only lost a portion of your Earth Grudge Fear; you can grow it back if you spend the time. Is it really worth fighting us to the death over this?"

"It is worth it! I can't look on the bright side!"

Kakuzu completely lost the composure of an old-school ninja: "Do you know how much time that takes! Why should I waste time recovering when I can just kill you and take it back!"

"Time is money!!"

"That's right, time is money."

Kaminazuki smiled and raised another finger: "Three minutes."

"What... do you mean?"

"As expected, you've gone senile..."

Kaminazuki's smile gradually turned dangerous: "Have you forgotten... whose territory you are standing on?"

Kakuzu leaned forward halfway, intending to attack regardless of what Kaminazuki said...

He paused.

"This is the Land of Fire."

"With such a massive commotion, do you really think the Konoha ninja from the nearby outposts won't come rushing over?"

"Three minutes, at most."

"Do you think you can escape after killing us?"

"Stop dreaming!"

"I'm just trying to keep you from being swarmed to death, you old fool!"

Heh... naive.

Kakuzu's expression sharpened.

I've heard enough nonsense; whether things go as you wish, let's just put it to the test!

Good, at least the sensation in one hand has returned...

Clang—

Kaminazuki switched his blade to his other hand, his gaze indifferent: "Have you decided? Then come."

"If you aren't running, I have even less reason to flee."

After a pause, Kakuzu's body slowly straightened.

"Why say there is no reason? Is it shameful to run in order to survive?"

"Only by living is there meaning, only by living is there value, only by living..."

A moment later, "The White Fang of Konoha could not stop me; those mediocrities who couldn't even detect my approach here are even less worth mentioning."

"Letting you go is a losing business deal I cannot accept..."

"Originally... that was the case."

He picked up the discarded Takigakure missing-nin forehead protector.

"This time... consider it a repayment."

He never wanted to admit that he survived because Hashirama Senju showed mercy, always claiming he escaped through his own strength.

Because...

Back then, he told his village he hadn't run, that he hadn't fled even when faced with death.

No one believed him.

"Next time we meet, make yourself worth more. Don't make me waste my time."

With those words, Kakuzu vanished using a Body Flicker.

"A ninja from the era of the First Hokage, to still maintain such combat power... truly remarkable."

Only after confirming that Kakuzu had truly left did Sakumo dare to speak.

Until now, he had maintained absolute mental focus to counter Kakuzu's offensive and protect Kaminazuki.

A while later, Seeing the ninja in Konoha flak jackets sprinting toward them from the distance, Sakumo's nerves finally relaxed completely, and a wave of exhaustion surged over him.

Collapsing onto the ground, Sakumo tapped Kaminazuki's calf: "How were you so sure reinforcements would come? We didn't notify the ninja at the nearby outposts, did we?"

"I wasn't sure. I was just bluffing."

"I just needed to chat for a bit to recover some stamina; my recovery is super fast."

He hadn't expected that Kakuzu would actually leave.

Kaminazuki watched the approaching ninja and whispered: "You are too relaxed."

"It's you who are too tense. Those are just like you and me..."

Sakumo smiled and said, "A Konoha comrade who can entrust their back to you!"

"Haha! Strictly speaking, you aren't a comrade yet; you're a student who needs my protection!"

"Hurry up and graduate, stop bullying the others at the Ninja Academy."

You treat them as comrades, but they might not feel the same...

A reminder was enough; Kaminazuki didn't expect his few words to change Sakumo's mindset.

Seeing Kaminazuki remain silent, Sakumo, who had been holding it in, couldn't help but continue.

"What did he mean by that at the end?"

"You have so much intel on him—do you know the reason?"

Kaminazuki thought for a moment and shook his head: "Who cares about him? Just make sure my Earth Grudge Fear is better nourished by the next time we meet."

"I bet a thousand ryo that if he heard you say that, he'd definitely turn around and slaughter you."

"I'm not of age, I'm not betting with you."

Sakumo braced his knees to stand up and laughed: "Earth Grudge Fear really is a miraculous secret technique. To think it actually allows you to use ninjutsu!"

"The power of that move just now was impressive, but the force was too scattered. If you could concentrate it more and aim..."

"Are you really okay? Has your zero-chakra condition been cured?"

Lulu, the ninja cat who had fled the battlefield after igniting the Explosive Tag, returned to the scene.

Her round eyes took in Kaminazuki's scarred body, especially his right hand, which looked ghastly and somewhat crystalline.

The black cat tilted her head and gave a soft huff: "Then this young lady won't come out with you next time. I'm tired and sleepy, and this stinky white-haired brat is so annoying!"

"Mm, you really are useless. Go back to Cat Village."

"Meow!!"

"Damn it! You should be begging me to stay and help you! If it weren't for me this time, would you have been able to handle that stinky old man who smelled like a corpse?!"

"Apologize to me right now! You jerk!!"

Kaminazuki turned his head to look at the mask stuck to his shoulder, his eyes darkening as he completely ignored the bristling black cat.