Kakuzu's face, with only its two eyeballs left, stared fixedly at Sen Senju as he drew closer.
The few black threads remaining on his back flailed wildly in the air, as though making one final struggle.
But the thick vines were like giant pythons covered in suckers. They squeezed his body out of shape, making even breathing an impossible luxury.
"You... just what kind of monster are you?!"
With his chest compressed, Kakuzu's voice sounded like a broken pair of bellows being worked, harsh and grating.
"I fought Hashirama Senju! His Wood Release could never strip chakra away directly like this!"
"This isn't Wood Release at all... you..."
Sen Senju stopped less than half a meter from Kakuzu, his foot resting on a blue brick shattered in the earlier explosion.
He looked down at the old monster who had lived for over ninety years. There wasn't a trace of respect in his eyes, only utter boredom.
"Old monster, do you really think living longer means you've seen it all?"
"You fought the First? You call that a fight? I'll bet you threw a kunai from hundreds of meters away, then scrambled off in terror."
"Stop going on about ancient history. It's embarrassing just listening to you."
Sen Senju extended a finger and lightly tapped the coil of vines around Kakuzu's neck.
"What the hell do I care whether my Wood Release looks like what you've seen before?"
"All I know is that right now, you're a dead pig strapped to a roasting rack. You can't do anything but grunt."
"What's wrong? Weren't you just shouting about digging out my heart and selling it?"
"And now? Looks like you're running a little short on hearts yourself."
At last, a flicker of genuine fear appeared in Kakuzu's vivid green eyes.
He could