Hyuuga Nen VS Kakuzu

Hyuuga Nen leaped to a nearby tree trunk, dodging the incoming fist, but Kakuzu's fist suddenly made a sharp turn in mid-air, rapidly striking toward Hyuuga Nen's back.

Hyuuga Nen drew his katana and parried Kakuzu's fist. With a slight exertion of force, he deflected the fist from its original trajectory. The chakra-infused blade slashed directly into the black threads connecting the palm to the arm.

With two "hissing" sounds, the black threads linking Kakuzu's body to his palm were severed by Hyuuga Nen, and the hand fell to the forest floor.

To Hyuuga Nen's surprise, even after being severed, the black threads continued to attack. They rapidly coiled around the hand holding the katana, tightened, and yanked Hyuuga Nen toward the ground with immense force.

Hyuuga Nen concentrated chakra into his arm and released it instantly from his pressure points. With two "pops," he broke free from the black threads.

The technique Hyuuga Nen had just used was the Gentle Fist Art: One Body Strike. Any member of the Hyuga Clan capable of performing Rotation could use this move, and Hyuuga Nen had mastered Rotation long ago.

As soon as Hyuuga Nen landed, Kakuzu's other hand burst from the ground, reaching for his throat.

Hyuuga Nen once again blocked the attack with his katana, attempting to sever these threads as well.

However, at that moment, the hand Kakuzu had previously lost had already reattached itself. Controlling the arm, Kakuzu grabbed the katana, his palm glowing with a dark light.

With two "cracking" sounds, the force from Kakuzu's black-clad palm shattered the ordinary steel of the katana.

Seizing the opportunity, Hyuuga Nen released the hilt, dodged the other fist, leaped backward, and fled toward the distance.

"Don't think you can escape!" Kakuzu shouted, giving chase.

I need to shake him off with everything I've got. I don't want to get entangled with him here, Hyuuga Nen thought as he ran.

After pursuing for a while, Kakuzu realized he couldn't keep up with Hyuuga Nen's top speed. He stopped, ripped off his cloak, threw it to the ground, and hunched forward.

Four mask-like objects were visible on Kakuzu's exposed back. Following a strange cry from Kakuzu, two of the masks detached from his body, transforming into two black, masked monsters that hovered in the air.

"Heh heh, you can't escape." Having said that, Kakuzu resumed his pursuit.

After running for some distance, just as Hyuuga Nen thought he had shaken off the pursuit, he heard two whistling sounds behind him. He turned his head to see the two black masked monsters flying through the air.

Are these the monsters created by Earth Grudge Fear? They're so fast! the thought flashed through Hyuuga Nen's mind.

He saw one of the black monsters open its mouth, where wind-style chakra was already gathering.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom."

Air bullets were fired one after another from the monster's mouth. They struck the trees and the ground, blasting deep holes through them, a testament to the power of the ninjutsu.

While Hyuuga Nen dodged the air bullets, the other masked monster opened its mouth, and fireballs began flying toward him as well.

Amidst the constant explosions, Hyuuga Nen dodged the attacks with all his might. Taking advantage of this opening, Kakuzu caught up, and together with the two monsters, they surrounded Hyuuga Nen in a triangle.

"You run fast, but can you still get away now?" Kakuzu let out a triumphant laugh, eyeing Hyuuga Nen with a mocking gaze.

Damn it, these monsters are faster than me. I can't run now. Seeing the situation spiral into the worst-case scenario, Hyuuga Nen cursed Kakuzu viciously in his heart.

"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"

Kakuzu quickly formed hand seals. Powerful lightning-attribute chakra gathered in his mouth, condensing into a sharp spear of electricity that shot toward Hyuuga Nen at blinding speed.

Hyuuga Nen dodged the ninjutsu clumsily. Looking at the deeply gouged ground, he widened his eyes. The power of this technique is immense, and its speed is unexpectedly fast. If I get hit, I'm done for, he thought, feeling a surge of tension.

He tried to find obstacles for cover, but with the two monsters assisting, Kakuzu easily tracked his movements.

After a long while, Kakuzu's assault finally ceased. By now, Hyuuga Nen's arm bore a long gash from the lightning, and his face was covered in small scratches from flying debris caused by the explosions.

Just as Hyuuga Nen caught his breath, the two monsters moved again, gathering chakra simultaneously to close in on him from both sides.

Fire and wind techniques were unleashed at once; a swirling, high-pressure wind sphere and a sea of flames surged toward him from two directions.

Damn it, I can't dodge this. I have no choice but to use that move. It seems my identity is about to be exposed, Hyuuga Nen sighed inwardly.

"Rotation!"

Hyuuga Nen planted one foot firmly, using the other to generate force. Power surged from his sole through his hips, waist, and shoulders to his entire body. In an instant, he began to spin at high speed.

As he rotated, he released chakra from all his pressure points simultaneously. Following his spin, a brilliant blue sphere of chakra acted like a whirlwind, blocking all of Kakuzu's attacks.

Seeing the technique, Kakuzu's eyes widened. "Hey, hey, hey, you've got to be kidding me? Is that the Hyuga Clan's Rotation?"

As Kakuzu spoke, Hyuuga Nen, who had come to a stop, felt black markings appear on his face. With a "poof" and a cloud of smoke, he revealed his true appearance, along with his pure white eyes.

Because he had exerted his chakra to the limit, he could no longer maintain the Transformation Technique, and the seal on his Byakugan had shattered due to the violent flow of chakra.

For the first time in front of an outsider, Hyuuga Nen revealed his true self.

"Could it be that you are from the Hyuga Clan's main house?" Kakuzu looked at Hyuuga Nen's smooth, headband-less forehead with a suspicious gaze.

"No, you aren't from the main house. A member of the Hyuga main house wouldn't spend two years working as a bounty hunter."

Kakuzu paused, seemingly in thought, before continuing:

"Haha, I see. You are neither main house nor branch house. This situation of yours is truly interesting. If I were to sell your information to the black market, I wonder how many people would hunt you down?"

Kakuzu looked at Hyuuga Nen with an amused expression.

Hyuuga Nen glared at him with a grim face. He didn't refute Kakuzu, because what he said was the truth.

"You look quite pale, but I won't be leaking your information. After all, you're going to die here today, and I'll get a pair of Byakugan in the process."

Kakuzu looked at Hyuuga Nen with malicious intent.

Hyuuga Nen stared at him in silence.

Kill you! Then my secret won't be exposed! Hyuuga Nen vowed fiercely in his heart.