"Just how much fire can that lousy mask of yours spit out? Did you put every last ounce of strength into that one?"
"Old lady Tsunade gave me these clothes. If you scorch them, she'll come after me."
Kakuzu's little green eyes locked onto Sen Senju, and his shriveled lips moved.
"Wood Release..."
"When I fought the First all those years ago, his Wood Release was indeed formidable."
"But how come your wood can absorb chakra, brat?"
Kakuzu had lived for over ninety years and was shrewd even by a veteran's standards. He spotted the trick at once.
That combined ninjutsu attack hadn't blown apart those lousy pieces of wood. Instead, they had soaked it all up like a sponge absorbing water.
This wasn't defense. It was a bottomless pit.
"You've got a pretty good memory, old monster. Even bringing up the First, huh?"
Sen Senju picked at his ear, his face full of disdain.
"But don't flatter yourself. With your level of skill, you probably just threw a shuriken from a safe distance and ran away, didn't you?"
"All right, then. Today, I'll show you what real Wood Release looks like."
Hidan, who had been sent flying by a slap, finally climbed out of the rubble.
He shook his head. His skull-like face had been knocked crooked, and he bared his teeth in pain.
"Kakuzu! Why haven't you made a move yet, you old bastard?!"
"This brat dared to slap me! I'm going to sacrifice him to Lord Jashin!"
Hidan screamed curses at the top of his lungs, his enormous Triple-Bladed Scythe scraping across the ground with an ear-piercing screech.
Without waiting for Kakuzu's response, he flung out his scythe and lunged at Sen Senju again, whipping up a fierce gust.
Sen Senju stood his ground without even trying