"Run!"
Mingye helplessly made a slight, disdainful pout, then flashed away and merged into the pitch-black forest. Torifu Akimichi knelt on one knee, stared at the black-clad figure, and shouted excitedly.
"Today, I'll make all of you pay the price!"
Crack.
A pill shattered in his mouth. Yellow chakra enveloped his entire body, erupting into an appearance identical to a Tailed Beast Cloak. The black-clad figure merely paused for a moment before attacking. Its petrified arm swung with full force, but Torifu Akimichi clasped his fists together and smashed it directly into the ground. A monstrous mask tore free from the black-clad man's back and flew out, firing two blasts of chakra at Torifu Akimichi.
Torifu Akimichi hurriedly dodged and bit down on another pill. His opponent had no intention of subduing him—they simply wanted to kill him. Their strength was at least a full level above his own, and Torifu Akimichi could clearly sense the bone-deep killing intent emanating from them. To give Mingye more time to get away, Torifu Akimichi completely abandoned any concern for conserving his strength and decided to perish with his enemy.
Multicolored wings unfurled like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The previously chubby Torifu Akimichi transformed into a handsome, lean, muscular young man. Kakuzu frowned slightly, not because he was worried about Torifu Akimichi's sudden increase in strength, but because he had turned to look in Konoha's direction. Though Torifu Akimichi had transformed, he had not made a single attacking move, because at that moment, a terribly familiar chakra tore apart his heart from behind.
"Wu... you!"
"I told you, I really am strong, but you always thought I was lying. Of course, while I can create all of this, I really was telling the truth. Look at you—this is what happens when