A practiced hand

"Was that... Tobirama Senju's technique?"

Kakuzu had, after all, lived a very long time. He was familiar with many people and events in the Shinobi World.

He had ambushed the First Hokage back then, and naturally had also had contact with the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Tobirama Senju had been hailed as the fastest ninja in the Shinobi World. Although a brat from the younger generation was close to taking that title, Kakuzu could not forget any of it.

Aside from his mysterious Flying Thunder God Technique, Tobirama Senju had excelled most at using Water Release and secret techniques.

His Water Release, in particular, had left an indelible impression on the world!

There was little to say about basic Water Release, but the Water Release techniques he had developed himself were outrageously powerful.

His Water Release also emphasized one particular trait: extreme compression produced extremely high penetration and cutting power, resulting in the utmost destructive force!

Water Release like that had rarely been seen since Tobirama Senju's death, but the techniques were so distinctive that Kakuzu recognized this brat's move the moment he made it.

Since it was the Second Hokage's ninjutsu, Kakuzu could not afford to be careless. He immediately stirred his chakra, and at the same time, the color of his entire body deepened.

Powerful Earth Release chakra gathered over his body, and as he completed the technique, Xia Yan's Water Blade Slash landed on him.

Clang!

A sound like metal striking metal rang through the forest. Kakuzu had blocked Xia Yan's technique with only a slight lift of his right arm, even stopping his Ninja Blade from pressing down any farther!

The wildly spinning Water Release kept coursing over his blade, while sparks flew where the Ninja Blade met Kakuzu's arm.

This guy's use of Earth Release is a little too ridiculous!

Xia Yan felt his arm going slightly numb, making his eyelids twitch.

In the thirteen years since he had transmigrated, he had spent at least half his time growing basic attribute fruits. Though the process had been something of a rip-off, the results had been very good.

He had mostly grown physical coordination, movement speed, and reaction speed, but he had planted quite a few strength seeds as well.

Fast movement, quick reactions, and good physical coordination were indicators of whether a ninja possessed excellent taijutsu skills.

Besides, Xia Yan had fantasized about the Flying Thunder God Technique as a child, so naturally, he had made preparations along those lines.

The Senju Clan had declined, but it had still left behind plenty of good things. Even those handed over to Konoha had copies kept by the clan.

Though he had given strength slightly less attention, he was certainly no weaker than an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old.

Otherwise, he could not possibly have possessed the strength of a jonin at thirteen, with his bloodline barely developed and his chakra still so lacking.

But now, even with ninjutsu, he had been stopped outright. Even going all out, he could not cut through this guy's Earth Release defense. Wasn't that a little too much?

Xia Yan had no time to dwell on it, however, because out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a slight movement from the fist whose threads he had severed earlier.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately used the Body Flicker Technique. The instant he vanished, that fist suddenly shot up from the ground and smashed toward the spot he had just occupied!

It really is Earth Grudge Fear. I sensed some chakra underground earlier. This guy really is sneaky.

Xia Yan cursed inwardly. By the time he landed firmly on the ground, his hands had already finished forming hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

Xia Yan forcefully spat out a straight jet of ultra-high-pressure water. Just like before, the jet was compressed tightly together, becoming a sharp blade of water.

At the sight, Kakuzu could now be absolutely certain that this white-haired brat had some connection to Tobirama Senju. The techniques the brat used were the very ones that had made Tobirama Senju famous back then!

A descendant? Or did his talent lead Konoha to give him special training?

Kakuzu considered it silently, but he did not take it too seriously. Though this technique was somewhat troublesome, it was not enough to break through his defenses!

Not only this white-haired brat's techniques, but even those of the brat behind him, who should be Kakashi, were unlikely to pierce his defenses.

It's rare to find something this entertaining. I'll have some fun first, then deal with that Kakashi. That'll be another sizable bounty.

Kakuzu did not move at all, and what happened next went more or less as he had expected.

Xia Yan's Water Release was indeed quite powerful, but he had not activated Sage Mode, and his strength was only at the jonin level. He was unlikely to break through Kakuzu's defenses.

In fact, things went more or less as he had thought. His Water Severing Wave once again sliced through the black threads connecting Kakuzu's hand to his body, then slammed into Kakuzu.

This time, Kakuzu's body shifted back slightly, and some cracks appeared on his chest, but that was all.

Ninjas lacked durability, but Earth Release ninjas invariably developed defensive ninjutsu, especially defensive techniques that worked on their own bodies.

A man like Kakuzu, who had lived for who knew how many years, was certainly thorough when it came to defending and protecting himself.

In the original story, after losing his Earth Release heart, he had barely been able to put up much resistance. A hit could kill him just the same.

Besides, in the original story, it was Kakashi's Lightning Release that destroyed your strongest defensive heart.

Looking at Kakuzu, who was clearly treating this as nothing more than a game, Xia Yan suddenly smiled, because Kakashi was in position!

Suddenly, Kakuzu frowned. He sensed that something was wrong.

But Xia Yan abruptly cut off his ninjutsu, then closed in with another Body Flicker Technique without hesitation, leaving Kakuzu no chance to look for Kakashi.

"Hm!"

Kakuzu's eyes suddenly widened.

Amid the piercing chirping, the sharp pain in his chest, and the numbness that followed the pain, he lowered his head in disbelief to look at the hand that had pierced his chest.

"You..."

Kakuzu knew he had been careless. These two brats did have some skill as Anbu ninjas.

Though he would be perfectly fine, losing an Earth Release heart still made him somewhat angry. But with his entire body numb, there was nothing he could do for the moment.

At the sight, Xia Yan immediately changed direction, abandoning his approach toward Kakuzu.

He reached the corpse on the ground almost instantly, then cut off its head with a single stroke.

He did it all in one fluid motion. Clearly, this was not his first encounter with such trouble, nor was it the first time he had taken such measures.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xia Yan gave Kakashi a tactical hand signal, then grabbed the head, turned, and ran, leaving only the sight of his retreating black-clad figure.

Both Kakashi and Kakuzu froze at the sight.

Kakashi fared better. He immediately reacted, pulled his hand out of Kakuzu's chest, and swiftly followed Xia Yan.

Kakuzu, however, was utterly bewildered. The numbness in his body meant that even if he switched hearts, he could not give chase right away.

Only after the two had vanished completely from sight did he recover.

"Where... where the hell did that bastard come from?"