Reconcile

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

The terrifying explosions from the collision of lightning and fire spread wildly.

The once lush forest was blasted into vast stretches of barren emptiness by the continuous shockwaves.

The enormous crater at the center was especially conspicuous. Flames and arcs of electricity still flickered over the broken tree roots within it.

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

There was no visible change in Kakuzu's appearance, but his heaving chest and quickened breathing showed that he had not emerged unscathed.

At the other end, Kamizuki's hands were charred black as though scorched by fire. Dark red seeped through the cracks in his skin like flowing lava.

"Kamizuki..."

Sakumo watched with a grave expression. If anyone else had suffered such injuries, their hands would certainly have been ruined.

Kamizuki had displayed inhuman physical strength before. Since he had dared to use that move, the consequences should not be too severe, right?

"A powerful attack, but..."

"You've emptied yourself out, haven't you?"

Kakuzu breathed lightly and said coldly, "I'm genuinely surprised that you can use Earth Grudge Fear so soon."

"I know better than anyone how much Chakra that heart contains."

"I have to admit that compared with talented shinobi from great villages blessed by heaven like you, my talent is far inferior."

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

"What a pity..."

"The reason you'll die is that you came looking for me too early!"

The dangling black tendrils began to writhe again, poised to strike!

"Let's reconcile, Kakuzu."

Kamizuki spoke expressionlessly.

Kakuzu thought something was wrong with his ears.

Reconcile?

At a time like this, how could he say those two words!

Was he relying on being young to say something so childish!

He was completely insane!!

"What kind of joke is this?!"

Kakuzu spread his arms and roared furiously, "Do you think—"

"Do you think you'll definitely win?"

Kamizuki cut off Kakuzu's roar. "We've expended a great deal, but how much Chakra do you have left?"

He raised two fingers. "How long has the battle even lasted? You've already lost two hearts. You have three chances left."

"Three chances are enough!"

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

"You're afraid we'll grow up and take revenge on you?"

Kamizuki suddenly smiled. "Why would we take revenge? You're the one who lost out, not us."

"Look on the bright side. You only lost part of your Earth Grudge Fear. You can still grow it back with time. Do you really need to fight us to the death?"

"I do! I can't look on the bright side!"

Kakuzu had completely lost the calmness expected of an older-generation shinobi. "Do you know how long that would take?! Why should I waste time recovering something I can get back by killing you!"

"Time is money!!"

"That's right. Time is money."

Kamizuki smiled and raised another finger. "Three minutes."

"What... do you mean?"

"Senility really is frightening..."

Kamizuki's smile gradually turned dangerous. "Did you forget... whose territory you're in?"

Kakuzu leaned halfway forward, intending to attack no matter what Kamizuki said...

Then he stopped.

"This is the Land of Fire."

"You caused such a huge disturbance. Do you think Konoha shinobi from the nearby outposts won't come?"

"At most, three minutes."

"Can you escape after killing us?"

"Don't dream!"

"I just don't want you to get beaten to death by a crowd, you stupid old man!"

Heh... childish.

Kakuzu's expression sharpened.

He had heard enough nonsense. Whether things would go as Kamizuki wished, they would find out by trying!

Good. At least one hand had regained its feeling...

Clang—

Kamizuki switched the sword to his other hand, his gaze indifferent. "Have you made your decision? Then come."

"If you won't run, I have even less reason to."

After a pause,

Kakuzu slowly straightened up.

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

"Living has meaning. Living has value. Living..."

After a moment,

"The White Fang of Konoha can't stop me. Those mediocre fools who couldn't even notice my approach are even less worth mentioning."

"Letting you go is a losing deal I can't accept..."

"Originally... that was how it was."

He picked up the Takigakure rogue shinobi forehead protector that had fallen nearby.

"This time... consider it repayment."

He had never been willing to admit that he had survived because Hashirama Senju had shown mercy, always claiming that he had escaped through his own strength.

Because...

Back then, he had told the village that he had not run. Even if he had died, he would not have run.

No one believed him.

"Make yourselves worth more before we meet again. Don't make me come all this way for nothing."

With that, Kakuzu vanished in an instant.

"A shinobi from the First's era who can still retain such strength is truly remarkable..."

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

Earlier, he had remained absolutely focused, ready to deal with Kakuzu's attacks and protect Kamizuki.

After a while,

When he saw shinobi in Konoha flak jackets racing over from afar, Sakumo finally relaxed completely, and exhaustion instantly washed over him.

He slumped onto the ground and tapped Kamizuki's calf. "How did you know reinforcements would come? We didn't inform the shinobi at the nearby outposts about our operation, did we?"

"I didn't know. I was just making it up."

"I only wanted to talk for a bit and recover some strength. My recovery rate is insanely fast."

He had not expected Kakuzu to actually leave.

Kamizuki looked at the approaching shinobi and said quietly, "You're letting your guard down too much."

"You're the one who's too tense. Those people are just like you and me..."

Sakumo smiled. "They're Konoha comrades we can entrust our backs to!"

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

"Go graduate already when we get back. Stop bullying them at the Ninja Academy."

You see them as comrades, but they might not see you that way...

A reminder was enough. Kamizuki did not expect a few words from him to change Sakumo's way of thinking.

Seeing Kamizuki remain silent, Sakumo, who had been holding it in until now, could not help continuing.

"What did he mean by what he said at the end?"

"You know so much about him. Do you know why?"

Kamizuki thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Who cares? Next time we meet, he just needs to have my Earth Grudge Fear raised properly."

"I'll bet a thousand ryo that if he heard that, he'd turn around and butcher you."

"You're underage. I won't bet with you."

Sakumo pushed himself up with a hand on his knee and smiled. "Earth Grudge Fear really is an incredible secret technique. It can actually let you use ninjutsu!"

"That move earlier had decent power, but the force was too scattered. If you could concentrate it more and aim it..."

"Really? Has your Chakra deficiency been cured?"

Lulu, the ninja cat responsible for lighting the Explosive Tags before fleeing far from the battlefield, had now returned.

Her round eyes saw Kamizuki covered in wounds, with his right hand in an especially terrible state, faintly glistening.

The black cat tilted her head and gave a soft snort. "Then this young lady won't come out with you next time. It's tiring and sleepy, and that stinky white-haired brat is unbelievably annoying!"

"Mm. You're indeed useless now. 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, could you have dealt with that stinking old zombie?!"

"Apologize to me now! You bastard!!"

Kamizuki turned to look at the mask pressed against the back of his shoulder, his eyes darkening slightly as he completely ignored the bristling black cat.