Clash

(80,000 words! It can be recommended now! (^▽^) I wonder what will happen once the novel gets recommended.)

A few days later

Asuma woke up. Though he had kept his life, all his chakra had vanished. He was now nothing more than an ordinary man.

Even so, Asuma showed no negative emotions. He optimistically accepted the reality, because he now had something more important than being a ninja.

After all, his wife was carrying his child.

Kakashi, Ino, Choji, and the others packed their bags and prepared to depart. Some grudges had to be settled.

On the road to the Hidden Leaf Village

Hidan and Kakuzu were once again searching for their next bounty target. It had to be said that the Akatsuki Organization was lucky to have them.

Whoever had recruited Hidan and Kakuzu was a genius. Josuke figured that much of the Akatsuki Organization's expenses had probably been covered by these two brothers, only for Konan, that spendthrift woman, to squander it all away.

And in the end, she still could not kill one enraged kid.

What use was taking one of someone else's hands?

Kakashi and the others had also set an ambush along the pair's path. At the sight of Kakuzu and Hidan, they wanted nothing more than to grind them to ashes.

Enemies were especially enraged when they met. Once the two entered the prepared ambush zone, the operation began.

Shikamaru suddenly launched two Shadow Imitation Techniques, hoping to restrain Kakuzu and Hidan.

But the two easily dodged, separating Kakuzu from Hidan.

Just then, Kakashi appeared behind Kakuzu, his Lightning Cutter piercing through Kakuzu's chest. Kakuzu was startled, but he immediately broke free from Kakashi as if nothing had happened.

He kicked Kakashi flying.

Then he took off his clothes.

Four monsters hidden beneath them were revealed. Not far away, Josuke, the sneaky opportunist, arrived right on cue.

The Immortal Duo?

Of the two, the only one Josuke truly had to fear was probably Hidan. That technique was genuinely absurd, practically conceptual in nature. Even the Sage of Six Paths would probably cripple himself if caught by it.

There was not much to say about Kakuzu. His strength and power were formidable, but his abilities were not bugged. He only had five lives, not even as impressive as Danzō's armful of Sharingan.

As if on cue, all four of Kakuzu's monsters were summoned, but one of them collapsed limply to the ground for some unknown reason.

Hidan charged at Kakashi, constantly swinging his scythe as he shouted about making a sacrifice to Jashin.

Just like in the original story, after failing to catch Kakashi, Hidan charged straight at Shikamaru. Shikamaru gradually led him toward the trap they had prepared.

On the main battlefield, Kakuzu was the only one left to deal with, but he still forced the three into a bitter struggle.

It was time for Josuke to step in. Kakuzu's clones seemed to possess endless chakra as they unleashed combined ninjutsu attacks against the three.

Making them suffer miserably.

Kakuzu looked at the three with utter disdain. The combined bounty on all three was only worth one and a half Asumas.

But no matter how small the meat, it was still meat. As long as he could eat it, that was enough.

At that moment, several kunai flew toward Kakuzu. He glanced at them disdainfully. Was that all?

It seemed the people on the other side had no more finishing moves. Did they think a few kunai could injure him?

So he increased his chakra output.

Kakashi, Ino, and Choji hid behind Kakashi's Earth-Style: Mud Wall. Outside, the combined ninjutsu of Kakuzu's four clones pressed them down so hard they could barely lift their heads.

Of the multiple Earth-Style: Mud Walls Kakashi had created, only the last layer remained.

They did not know whether it could hold until Shikamaru's plan was set into motion.

As expected, Shikamaru's plan succeeded. The scythe coated with Kakuzu's blood stabbed into Hidan's body, and Kakuzu suffered the same injury.

Kakuzu silently cursed Hidan for being an idiot.

He hurriedly retracted one of his clones into his main body.

"Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan!!!"

Josuke entered the battlefield.

He opened with an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan, pressing it directly against Kakuzu's chest and unleashing it.

The kunai thrown earlier had been Josuke's Flying Thunder God kunai. He had counted on Kakuzu underestimating them, allowing Josuke to exploit the opening.

Kakuzu lost two clones at once, enraging him beyond measure. He hurriedly called his remaining two clones back to defend him.

A combined Fire Style and Wind Style ninjutsu attack blasted toward Josuke. Unfazed, Josuke used Flying Thunder God to teleport onto a nearby branch, where he had thrown a kunai earlier.

Kakuzu was furious. After roaming the ninja world for so many years, he had never suffered such a setback. He immediately ordered his two clones to blast Josuke again.

Josuke was not worried about that.

He formed hand seals with both hands.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

A water dragon formed from a stream of water burst from Josuke's mouth and slammed into Kakuzu's clones.

The two attacks canceled each other out, creating steam that shrouded the surrounding area.

Josuke took the opportunity to flash over to Kakashi's side.

"Teacher Kakashi."

Looking at his former beloved student, Kakashi did not know what to say. After not seeing him for so many days, Josuke had grown stronger again.

"Josuke!"

Josuke's arrival had not only startled Kakashi. Ino was just as shaken, but this was not the time to reminisce.

"How is Teacher Asuma?"

Josuke had still been concerned about Orochimaru's experiment, so he asked.

"Thanks to your medicine, Teacher Asuma is fine. He has only lost his chakra, but he can still gather it again!"

Is that so? Josuke understood the side effects. He would find a time to explain them to Orochimaru and the others.

By then, the steam had gradually dissipated. Kakuzu vaguely saw everyone present and immediately used his fire clone to launch a Fire Style attack at them.

Fortunately, Kakashi blocked it with an Earth-Style: Mud Wall.

"Teacher Kakashi, what's our plan?"

Faced with such a powerful opponent, Josuke asked. After all this time, Kakuzu was the strongest enemy he had ever encountered.

He had skill and awareness.

He was a troublesome opponent. In a one-on-one fight, Josuke did not even know whether they could take each other down. The only reason he had managed to eliminate one of Kakuzu's clones earlier—

Was because Kakuzu had underestimated him, giving Josuke an opening.

But it might not work next time.

Kakashi pondered for a moment. His Kamui had only a few seconds left on its cooldown. As long as Josuke could get him close to Kakuzu, Kakashi's Kamui could twist Kakuzu's body apart.

He gave the instructions accordingly...

After hearing the battle plan, Josuke nodded. He activated Cursed Seal Stage Two, armor covering his entire body, and charged at a fire-attribute masked monster. The masked monster had never seen anything like this.

Seeing Josuke charge over to offer himself up, it was naturally happy to oblige.

It immediately unleashed a Fire Style: Great Fireball!

The blast struck Josuke's armor, kicking up a huge cloud of dust that covered the surroundings. Now was the time!!

(If you want to know what happens next, tune in next time.)