Whether you're a god or mortal, anyone who stands against me will meet their end.
Kakuzu's fists hardened instantly as his Earth Grudge Fear technique activated. In a flash, his arm shot out like a missile, striking with pinpoint accuracy.
Thud! His iron fist pierced through his opponent's chest. For a moment, his sharp eyes reflected the enemy's shocked face.
It wasn't Uchiha Madara.
If Madara were still alive and wreaking havoc in the shinobi world, chaos would have already engulfed the lands.
The opponent, impaled by Kakuzu's attack, seemed to want to speak, but Kakuzu's other hand was already crackling with lightning.
"Storm Release: Thundercrack Spear!"
Storm Release, a combination of Lightning and Water chakra, balanced the speed of Lightning Release with enhanced control. The spear struck its target, and arcs of electricity tore through the enemy's body.
Even so, the victim's expression showed only a flicker of pain.
"Wait! Don't be hasty—I'm not your enemy," the man stammered.
"Shut up! Anyone behind me is an enemy!" Kakuzu roared, leaping into the air. In an instant, he loomed above the shadowy figure.
"Water Release: Mirage Lantern Technique!"
The jutsu was a simple genjutsu designed to disorient the enemy.
But the shadow, now revealed as Black Zetsu, only smirked.
"I told you, I'm not your enemy," Black Zetsu said.
"Oh, really? Then let me give you a proper greeting!"
Boom! Kakuzu's fist smashed down onto Black Zetsu's head with crushing force.
For a brief moment, Black Zetsu looked utterly stunned.
Kakuzu wasn't finished. His hand shifted into a sealing gesture, and mysterious runes spread across Black Zetsu's body like wildfire.
"Eight Trigrams Sealing Technique!"
Ten minutes later, Kakuzu stood back on solid ground, flexing his wrist. At his feet lay a pile of black, tar-like sludge. Black Zetsu's body had been practically dismantled.
Yet, he wasn't dead.
Even after being pounded into goo, Black Zetsu remained alive.
Kakuzu scowled. He'd thrown ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and even sealing techniques at this creature, but nothing could kill him.
'This thing… it's like Kaguya's leftovers. Disgusting, but indestructible,' Kakuzu muttered. The only way to deal with Black Zetsu, he realized, might be a Six Paths-level sealing technique like the Planetary Devastation.
It seemed the story of "Black Zetsu's Mission to Revive Kaguya" wasn't ending anytime soon.
"I told you—I'm your ally! I'm here to help you! Why don't you listen?" Black Zetsu whined from his puddle.
"Hah! Look at yourself. Black as coal and creepy as hell. Who'd believe you're here to help?" Kakuzu sneered.
"…Fair point."
"Fine, fine. Now, can you at least take your foot off my face so I can regenerate?" Black Zetsu grumbled.
Kakuzu eyed him warily but eventually complied, stepping back. It wasn't that Kakuzu feared Black Zetsu—far from it. The creature was weak, no better than cannon fodder.
But Kakuzu knew better than to fight without reason. If Black Zetsu sought him out, it was because he wanted to use him.
And if that was the case, Kakuzu thought, why couldn't he flip the situation and use Black Zetsu instead?
"Spit it out. What's your goal?" Kakuzu demanded, cutting to the chase.
After fully regenerating, Black Zetsu brushed himself off, adopting a more composed demeanor.
"Kakuzu, I am the manifestation of the Divine Tree's will," he began. "If you don't mind, you may call me Black Zetsu."
Unlike the manipulative tactics he'd used on Uchiha Madara, Black Zetsu opted for a more straightforward approach this time.
He spoke of events from millennia past—how the Divine Tree descended upon the world, bringing divine blessings. How it was sealed away by the Sage of Six Paths, leaving only a fragment of its will behind. That fragment was him.
"Kakuzu, the Divine Tree's revival represents a new dawn for this world. When that time comes, you'll stand as the sovereign of this new era," Black Zetsu declared. "You will grant the world peace and prosperity, and in turn, you will attain true immortality by consuming the Divine Tree's fruit."
Black Zetsu's speech continued for an hour, weaving a tapestry of promises and ambitions. His ultimate goal was simple: gather the Tailed Beasts and revive the Divine Tree.
As bait, he offered Kakuzu the ultimate prize: eternal life.
It was clear Black Zetsu had been observing Kakuzu for some time, learning his desires, his skills, and his nature.
Kakuzu, however, wasn't one to fall for grandiose promises.
He opened his eyes and extended a hand toward the expectant Black Zetsu.
"Fine. You want me to help you capture the Tailed Beasts? I'll do it," Kakuzu said flatly.
Black Zetsu's face lit up. "Wonderful! I knew you—"
"But where's my payment?" Kakuzu interrupted.
"Payment?"
Black Zetsu froze, his excitement replaced by confusion.
"You expect me to risk my life stealing Tailed Beasts from the Five Great Nations… without paying me?" Kakuzu's voice rose, his temper flaring.
Slap!
The resounding smack sent Black Zetsu spinning in place.
Kakuzu grabbed him by the neck, eyes blazing with fury.
"I don't work for free. If you want my services, you pay upfront. Eternal life? That's just a pipe dream until I see the money."
Black Zetsu coughed, his plans temporarily derailed. Clearly, he hadn't prepared enough for this meeting.
But Kakuzu wasn't done.
"Remember this: I, Kakuzu, do everything based on principle. If you want me to work for you, you better have something to offer."
"You give me the money, and I'll deal with them immediately. But if you're broke and trying to freeload…" Kakuzu's hands clenched tightly. Crack! The newly regenerated Black Zetsu was once again reduced to a pile of sludge.
Since Black Zetsu wanted to stage a scene with Kakuzu, Kakuzu was determined to play his part convincingly. For now, he was playing the role of a "normal person" unaware of the truth. A normal person encountering Black Zetsu for the first time wouldn't trust him outright. That would be truly abnormal.
After finishing his performance, Kakuzu turned and left without a second glance. The puddle of sludge that was Black Zetsu began to slowly reform itself.
"Damn it…" Black Zetsu muttered. His body, connected to the earth, could heal at will, but the pain from Kakuzu's relentless attacks lingered. That guy was unbelievably violent—breaking his body apart twice upon their first meeting. It was utterly disrespectful.
Adjusting his head back into place, Black Zetsu glanced in the direction Kakuzu had left, his lips curling into a sinister grin. Earlier, he had caught a brief moment of hesitation in Kakuzu's eyes when he mentioned immortality. That split second of doubt confirmed that his words had left an impression.
"My 'eternal life' claim got to him, huh?" Black Zetsu chuckled darkly. "He's such a money-grubbing bastard… but I can work with that."
"Being chosen by me should be considered an honor," he mused. "Now, hurry up and contribute to my mother's resurrection."
A new plan was already forming in Black Zetsu's mind. But there was no rush—he had waited millennia, and a little more time was insignificant. For now, it was best to avoid appearing too frequently in front of Kakuzu. Pushing his luck could only lead to Kakuzu's irritation.
Black Zetsu's body slowly sank into the earth, disappearing without a trace.
Not long after, Kakuzu returned to White Tree Town. Whether Black Zetsu's sudden appearance was a blessing or a curse was hard to say, but it was ultimately a minor interlude. Kakuzu's primary focus remained on increasing his strength. For now, he would concentrate on merging his bloodlines.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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