Three days later,
Jūgo, having mostly recovered, was once again mercilessly drained by Orochimaru.
"Kakuzu," Orochimaru said, twisting his neck a full 180 degrees to look back at him.
Damn it!
Kakuzu approached with the air of a man walking to his execution.
It's just a bite. Nothing to worry about, he told himself.
"Ugh!" Sage Chakra surged into him, and his body began to swell just like Hidan's had during his experiment. But Kakuzu was immortal, as long as his hearts were intact, his body could endure almost any destruction.
Half an hour later, Kakuzu's skin had darkened to the earthen hue of a cursed seal transformation. Wings sprouted from his back, much like Jūgo's.
"Orochimaru, why don't you spar with me?" Kakuzu said, singling out Orochimaru with deliberate intent. Whether it was payback for the earlier bite remained unclear.
"Of course." Orochimaru didn't refuse. This time, they stepped outside the base, knowing their jutsu were too destructive for any training ground.
Kakuzu bent forward slightly, his back splitting open as five heart-beasts emerged. Unlike before, they had also entered a cursed seal state, each sporting a pair of wings.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!" One of Kakuzu's go-to Fire techniques erupted, its power amplified more than twice over, easily reducing Orochimaru's summoned white snakes to ash.
"Impressive," Orochimaru said, licking his lips. Forming hand seals, he countered: "Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" A towering wall rose, effortlessly blocking Orochimaru's attack.
At the same time, the Lightning heart-beast opened its mouth.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Zzt!
A surge of lightning engulfed Orochimaru, but he calmly opened his mouth, and a new body slithered out, shedding the electrified skin like a snake's molt.
"Ten Thousand Snakes Wave!" A torrent of white snakes surged toward Kakuzu.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The fire-wind combo jutsu created an all-encompassing blaze, forcing even Deidara and Hidan, who were watching nearby, to retreat.
"Well done," Orochimaru remarked, assessing Kakuzu's transformation. "It seems you've grown significantly stronger."
Kakuzu laughed heartily. "Finally, I've risen again."
"Not yet—I have one more move to show you." Perhaps spurred by the countless humiliations he had recently endured, Kakuzu's desire to prove himself burned bright.
The Fire heart-beast began gathering chakra, its form emanating a different energy entirely.
"Sage Mode?"
"Sage Mode?" Orochimaru and Deidara both noticed it. Not only had Kakuzu's power been enhanced by the cursed seal, but he had also managed to access Sage Chakra.
It made sense. The cursed seals they bore weren't ordinary—they contained pure Sage energy extracted directly from Jūgo. Mastery of Sage techniques was a natural progression for those capable of wielding it.
"Sage Art: Searing Migraine!"
Kakuzu unleashed the technique toward the ocean. Instantly, the horizon transformed into a sea of flames, steam rising as far as the eye could see.
When the flames subsided, the onlookers stared in awe. The technique had evaporated so much water that the sea level had dropped nearly half a meter.
Kakuzu reabsorbed his heart-beasts and stood with a cold expression. Deidara approached, his face lit with feigned astonishment.
"Incredible! I, Deidara, acknowledge you as the strongest in Fire Release!"
"Hmph."
"There's always someone stronger," Kakuzu said with a hint of humility. "Deidara, I may have grown stronger, but I wouldn't call myself the strongest. Remember, a ninja must always maintain a humble heart."
"Cut the act, Kakuzu," Hidan quipped, scythe slung over his shoulder. "Say that without smirking, and maybe I'll believe you."
...
Meanwhile, in a city within the Land of Fire,
A blonde woman had once again gambled away her savings and was fleeing her creditors.
Suddenly, a man with a cane and bandages covering his right arm and eye appeared before her.
"Tsunade, Konoha needs you," Danzo said, his expression unreadable.
Tsunade glared at him, her disdain evident. "Konoha's problems are no concern of mine."
Danzo's face darkened, and his visible eye grew cold.
"As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, a Senju, and the Princess of Konoha, you bear a responsibility to this village. Yet you shirk your duties and wallow in self-pity. You've brought shame to your clan and to Konoha."
"Save your lectures!" Tsunade snapped, her voice brimming with contempt.
"It seems words alone won't suffice," Danzo said, his tone icy. "Then submit to my will."
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "What are you—"
Her words cut off as her expression went blank. Then, after a moment, she nodded.
"Yes, Lord Danzo. I will obey your will."
"Good. Come, let's return to Konoha. With your grandfather's cells, you will restore the Senju Clan and bring glory back to Konoha."
From a distance, Shizune, carrying groceries, witnessed the exchange.
"Lady Tsunade!" she thought, alarmed, though she dared not make a sound. Something was terribly wrong—Tsunade's sudden change in demeanor was unnatural.
What should I do? she wondered. She couldn't take on Danzo and his forces alone.
Her first thought was to seek out Jiraiya, but then doubt crept in.
What if he's under Danzo's control too? Walking into Konoha could be a trap.
Shizune paced anxiously before deciding.
I'll go to Orochimaru. He might be our only chance.
As she made her decision, Danzo paused just outside the city.
"You have a companion, don't you? Shizune, Kato Dan's niece."
"Yes," Tsunade replied.
"Dispose of her," Danzo ordered two Root operatives at his side. "She may cause trouble if left unchecked."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she said nothing.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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