Having unleashed such a wide-ranging and powerful Water Release in the desert, Naoki Senju had only defeated Guren through Wood Release and poison, was now completely convinced.
If Guren had witnessed the complete Deep Forest Emergence upon Shikkotsu Forest, she probably wouldn't have even the slightest thought of resentment.
There are differences between people, and some people have gone further and further down the path of being inhuman.
If the battle between Naoki Senju and Kakuzu was already a one-sided affair, then the battle between Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi was undoubtedly at a stalemate.
" Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."
A massive Great Fireball, over five meters in diameter, hurtled straight towards Orochimaru's body. Orochimaru, however, effortlessly manipulated the Third Kazekage, using the Third Kazekage's Iron Sand to block the attack.
"Itachi, your Fire Style techniques seem a bit weak. What about the Sharingan, the pride of the Uchiha Clan? Come, let me learn more about it!"
However, Uchiha Itachi was not affected by Orochimaru's Orochimaru at all. His bewitching Mangekyō Sharingan rotated leisurely as he calmly observed the battlefield, noticing that the structure of the Iron Sand that had been attacked by Fire Style seemed to have loosened a bit.
After knocking Senbon several Iron Sand with Kunai, Uchiha Itachi threw several Shuriken from tricky angles, once again smoothly and silkily Hand Seals.
In terms of sheer visual appeal during the hand Hand Seals, no one can surpass Weasel.
" Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson."
After unleashing a Fire Release Ninjutsu, Uchiha Itachi didn't pause at all and completed the Hand Seals for the next Ninjutsu.
" Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique."
Although the two Fire Style did not produce the amplification effect of a combined Ninjutsu, their power and effect were greatly enhanced. The scorching fireballs enveloped the Shuriken, followed by the roaring Great Dragon Fire Technique.
Orochimaru neither dodged nor evaded, but instead manipulated the Third Kazekage to form a Iron Sand Iron Sand Wall to directly confront the Fire Style. The Third Kazekage's Iron Sand had an extremely high melting point, so Orochimaru was not worried at all about the Iron Sand being melted by the Fire Style Release.
The next moment, the flames and the Iron Sand collided violently, and the terrifying heat wave caused the Black Zetsu and White Zetsu who were watching from the sidelines to retreat dozens of meters.
"This is such a nasty feeling, Black Zetsu. Don't call me for the next mission to monitor Uchiha Itachi, and don't call me for the desert mission either..."
Black Zetsu completely ignored White Zetsu's White Zetsu complaining and sentenced it to death, deciding to replace it with a quieter White Zetsu when they got back... It seemed there wasn't a quiet and reserved White Zetsu...
After calming himself down with unwavering conviction, Black Zetsu turned his gaze to the towering waterspouts.
" Wood Release has reappeared. Could it be Asura? If so, where will Indra's reincarnation appear?"
Black Zetsu's tone was full of uncertainty, because the range of Naoki Senju's Ninjutsu was too wide, and Black Zetsu had no chance to get close enough to be sure. He could only guess based on his past experience.
However, Kakuzu, who was able to fight Naoki Senju in close combat, was now filled with rage and wanted nothing more than to kill all of Akatsuki's intelligence agents.
You call this an ordinary Senju Clan with 'no' fighting power? Not only did they awaken Wood Release, but their Water Release Ninjutsu is also incredibly advanced. Shouldn't such a target require the leader to personally take action?
Naoki Senju couldn't hear Kakuzu's complaints. Seeing Kakuzu struggling like a cockroach in the water tornado, he increased his Chakra output once again.
Within the waterspout, the rapidly spinning water blades, replenished with Chakra, increased in speed and power once more.
Covered in slash marks and barely able to stay connected to his Kakuzu by black tentacles, Kakuzu resembled a rag doll, on the verge of being completely shredded at any moment. But even in those last few moments, Kakuzu managed to hold on for a minute amidst the Hard Vortex Water Blade.
Faced with the increased power of the water blade, Kakuzu's alertness instantly spiked, but in the water, especially in his severely injured state, Kakuzu had no time to dodge.
Clang~
The water blade and the black tentacles produced a metallic clang, but Kakuzu couldn't hold out for long. The extremely sharp water blade severed the tentacles one by one, leaving a horrific wound in Kakuzu's abdomen, revealing his beating heart.
"Not good!"
Kakuzu sensed something was wrong. His Multiple Hardening Technique had actually been pierced by Water Release. Most Lightning Release Wind Release couldn't penetrate his Hardening Technique, but Water Release had managed to do it!
After the initial shock, Kakuzu hurriedly mobilized his Chakra, and black tentacles began to writhe, attempting to repair the wound on his abdomen.
But Naoki wouldn't give Kakuzu a chance to heal himself. He Water Blade Slash, leaving no opening, and thoroughly humiliated Kakuzu.
When the fourth strike landed, what appeared within the waterspout was not a shattered black tentacle, but a vibrant red.
This means that Kakuzu has lost another heart. In addition to the already destroyed lightning and water-attribute hearts, Kakuzu has two usable hearts left.
While Naoki was quite satisfied with the power of the Hard Vortex Water Blade, the Chakra consumption was terrifyingly high, almost comparable to the Deep Forest Emergence. Moreover, there were other Ninjutsu that needed to be tested...
The waterspout that stretched from the sky to the ground dissipated, Kakuzu fell to the ground with a thud. Although his limbs were broken and his breath was weak, Naoki Senju was certain that Kakuzu was still alive.
The ugly-looking wind-attribute Earth Grudge Fear crawled out of Kakuzu's body, but the next moment, the black tentacles inside Kakuzu's body seemed to come alive, rushing out of Kakuzu's body and tightly binding the wind-attribute Earth Grudge Fear, frantically plundering the black tentacles inside the Earth Grudge Fear.
After the looting was completed, a cracked mask and a shrunken heart fell to the ground, while the tentacle monster merged into one, nearly doubling in size.
The black tentacle monster burrowed back into Kakuzu's body, Kakuzu's broken limbs were repaired and quickly reconnected to his body. After struggling for a few moments, the weak Kakuzu also got up from the ground.
With a pair of small, beady eyes filled with anger and bloodlust, Kakuzu said in a deep, rumbling voice:
"To actually push me to this point, you're the second person besides the ancestor of the Senju Clan to do so. But after using such a powerful Water Release Ninjutsu in the desert, how much Chakra do you have left?"
"This is a difference in combat experience, so I'll accept this heart from the Senju Clan."
Kakuzu stomped heavily on the sand and charged forward, but halfway there, Kakuzu suddenly stopped. His right hand separated from his body and was controlled by a black tentacle, aiming straight for Naoki Senju's heart.
Although Kakuzu's change of tactics was indeed sudden, Naoki already knew Kakuzu's abilities and was on guard, so Kakuzu's "Divine Hand" Tentacle Fist became full of flaws.
He grabbed the black tentacle and pulled hard. An unstoppable force traveled along the tentacle to Kakuzu, and in Kakuzu's horrified eyes, the fist the size of a sandbag grew infinitely larger.
"Super Strength Fist!"