Defeated by Two Rasengans

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

A sharp, grating hum suddenly rang out.

Qin Yu emerged slowly from the fading sea of flames.

In his hand, a Wind Style: Rasenshuriken spun rapidly, like a miniature comet.

Kakuzu's expression changed drastically.

"W-what kind of Wind Release Ninjutsu is this? Its shape transformation and nature transformation have been refined to such an incredible degree."

"I absolutely can't let it hit me, or I'll probably die!"

A jumble of thoughts flashed through Kakuzu's mind.

But as he looked at Qin Yu, a greedy glint appeared in his eyes.

He sensed an unusual purity in that chakra. If he could claim Qin Yu's heart for himself—

Would he be able to learn this powerful jutsu, too?

The greedy thought had barely taken shape when Kakuzu's pupils suddenly contracted.

The ground beneath Qin Yu's feet ruptured with a roar, sinking like a spiderweb.

Kakuzu's vision blurred. A streak of lightning was already hurtling toward him.

By the time he could see clearly again, the attack was right in front of him.

"Your Rasengan delivery has arrived. Please sign for it!" Qin Yu said with an amused smile.

He slammed the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken in his hand straight into Kakuzu's chest.

Hum!

The sharp vibration of the air paused for an instant.

Then an immensely powerful gale erupted.

As a piercing sonic boom rang out, the surging shock wave shot skyward.

Everything within a hundred meters, from rocks to trees, was instantly shredded.

At that moment, Kakuzu felt as though countless sharp blades were slicing into his entire body.

If he hadn't had an Earth Release heart to strengthen his body's defenses, ordinary attacks wouldn't have been able to pierce him.

He would probably have been dead by now.

All he had to do was sacrifice one heart and endure this wave of attacks. Once he was presumed dead, he could wait for a chance to strike from the shadows.

With the element of surprise, he could kill this strange kid.

But the moment that thought crossed his mind, what he saw next nearly made Kakuzu spit blood.

He stared at the orb in Qin Yu's hand, lightning raging around it, and felt his scalp go numb.

One Wind Style: Rasengan had already made him question his entire existence.

And now Qin Yu had another Lightning Release: Rasenshuriken.

His Earth Release body probably couldn't withstand it at all.

What's more, he was caught in the attack and couldn't move. He was nothing but a sitting duck.

Even while he was playing dead, Qin Yu still wanted to keep attacking him. That level of caution, combined with such a powerful, unexpected technique—

For the first time, Kakuzu wondered if his obsession with money had been a mistake.

"N-no, don't kill me! Have you forgotten our wager? I can serve under you!" Kakuzu hurriedly came out of his feigned death.

Qin Yu smiled knowingly. "I'm the one calling the shots now."

"Try a Lightning Release Rasengan!"

As he spoke, Qin Yu didn't hesitate. He drew back his arm and hurled the Lightning Release: Rasenshuriken, its arcs of electricity swirling like a ball of lightning.

No!

Kakuzu let out a shriek.

The Lightning Release: Rasenshuriken collided with the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.

Lightning surged like a raging tide, swallowing Kakuzu whole.

Countless tightly compressed lightning arcs pierced his body like a storm of fine needles.

With lightning countering earth nature transformation, Kakuzu's defenses were completely useless.

Boom!

The thunderous explosion continued for well over half a minute before finally fading away.

Looking at the devastated ruins and the riddled body lying there like a torn rag, Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao were dumbfounded.

Was this really the S-Class rogue ninja who struck fear into everyone's hearts?

Was this really the monstrous figure who had slaughtered all the top officials of Takigakure?

He'd appeared, used two jutsu, and then been taken out by Qin Yu's two Rasengans.

It was almost too shocking to believe.

"Kid, y-you broke your promise." In the ruins, Kakuzu struggled to lift his head.

The four masks on his back had shattered. That proved that enduring those two Rasengans had cost him four lives.

Even the last mask had developed a crack.

If the attacks had continued for another seven or eight seconds, Kakuzu would probably have met his end in the Ninja World.

"What's wrong? Still not giving up?" Qin Yu smiled warmly.

Kakuzu froze, then roared in anger.

"Kid, go to hell!"

The earth beneath Qin Yu's feet suddenly opened up. Hundreds of blood vessels formed from Kakuzu's two arms.

Like countless outstretched hands, they shot straight toward Qin Yu.

The attack came at close range and from every direction, making it seem impossible to dodge.

Yet Qin Yu acted as though none of it concerned him. His smile only grew wider.

A translucent, blood-red figure instantly enveloped him.

The hundreds of blood vessels struck it like rain hitting banana leaves.

They were all sent flying by Susanoo.

At the sight of the godlike figure that had suddenly appeared, Kakuzu's expression froze.

"Come to think of it, I haven't made Water Release, Earth Release, or Fire Release Rasengans yet. Want to try them?" Qin Yu asked with an amused smile.

If Danzo could see the trump card he'd placed such high hopes in—the one meant to kill Qin Yu—being toyed with like a baby, he'd probably feel just as ready to die as Kakuzu did.

"No! Kill me! Just kill me!" Kakuzu roared, his face twisted with rage.

"Danzo, I knew you were up to no good."

Uzuki Yugao and Gekko Hayate couldn't help freezing.

They'd suspected that this assassination might have something to do with Konoha.

But it was also possible that, after suffering heavy losses at Qin Yu's hands, Kirigakure or Kumogakure had put a bounty on him in the black market and sent Kakuzu to kill him.

Now that Kakuzu had named Danzo himself, everything was different.

They wouldn't fear an assassination attempt from an outsider, no matter who came after them.

But this attack had come from Konoha.

It was a knife in the back.

How could that not chill them to the bone?

"Heh. You're a good boy if you tell me everything," Qin Yu said with a dry laugh. "Don't worry. I won't kill you."

"You're a rare strong fighter. The Ninja World would be a little less colorful without you. Besides, I like your money-loving nature."

As he spoke, Susanoo surrounding Qin Yu instantly dissipated.

He acted as though the hundreds of blood vessels still glaring at him from outside posed no threat at all.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Kakuzu couldn't help asking.

Qin Yu smiled knowingly. "Isn't that just basic trust? Or maybe I just don't think you can kill me."

Kakuzu froze.

If anyone else had said that, he would have refused to accept it.

But he'd seen Qin Yu's strength with his own eyes.

An S-Class rogue ninja like himself had been defeated by two Rasengans.

It was a complete nightmare.

"I concede." After a long silence, Kakuzu finally gave his answer.

The blood vessels hidden beneath the soil were quickly withdrawn.

Seeing the mighty S-Class rogue ninja actually surrender, Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao stood there, utterly stunned.

The leap from attempting an assassination to surrendering was far too great.