"This is bad… it's Uchiha Itachi!"
For a moment, Might Guy, Kurenai, and the others became tense.
Although Itachi had nearly been killed by Chen Xing three years ago, no one underestimated him. They still remembered the terrifying power of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Hmph. Let me see how powerful the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan really is."
Before anyone could react, a white figure flashed forward and appeared directly in front of Itachi and Kakuzu.
"!"
Jun Ma Lu attacked first.
Kakuzu instantly hardened his arms with the Earth Release: Earth Spear technique to block Jun Ma Lu's punch.
At the same time, Itachi's body scattered into a flock of crows and disappeared.
"Dance of the Larch!"
Without hesitation, Jun Ma Lu's body erupted with sharp white bone spikes.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed in surprise as he leapt backward, barely avoiding the attack. Even so, one of the bone blades sliced through his sleeve and left a shallow cut on his arm.
"My bones…"
Kakasi, Guy, and the others stared at Jun Ma Lu in shock.
None of them expected this calm young man to possess the Shikotsumyaku, the Kekkei Genkai of the Kaguya Clan.
Naruto blinked in confusion.
"What's Shikotsumyaku?"
Might Guy answered seriously.
"It's a rare Kekkei Genkai once possessed by the Kaguya Clan. By manipulating their bone structure and osteoblasts, they can freely create weapons from their skeletons. Their bones are harder than steel and can be used for both offense and defense."
Jun Ma Lu ignored the conversation and kept his eyes on Itachi and Kakuzu.
"You go ahead," he said calmly. "Leave these two to me."
Karin immediately sensed their chakra and spoke to Kakasi.
"Kakuzu's body is strange. He isn't normal. But Jun Ma Lu can hold them off."
Smel nodded as well. They both knew how strong Jun Ma Lu truly was.
After a brief hesitation, Kakasi agreed.
"Understood. We'll continue forward."
They couldn't afford to waste time. Every moment delayed increased the danger to Gaara.
---– One Against Two
"Move!"
Kakasi led the rescue team deeper into the forest.
"You're not going anywhere."
Kakuzu formed hand seals and prepared to attack the retreating group.
But before he could move—
"!"
A white blur appeared in front of him.
Jun Ma Lu's leg swept toward Kakuzu with explosive force.
Boom!
The massive tree behind Kakuzu shattered as he narrowly dodged the kick.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
At the same moment, Itachi unleashed a massive fireball toward Naruto and the others.
Jun Ma Lu stepped forward instantly.
Boom!
To everyone's shock, he smashed straight through the flames with a single punch.
"Go," Jun Ma Lu said coldly without turning around. "I'll handle them."
He rushed toward Itachi, bone blades extending from both palms.
Boom!
The figure he struck exploded into another swarm of crows.
A clone again.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu leapt onto another tree branch and prepared another attack aimed at the escaping rescue squad.
"You're fighting me."
Jun Ma Lu suddenly appeared beside him and drove a kick into Kakuzu's abdomen.
Bang!
Kakuzu was sent crashing through several trees before stopping himself.
---
The forest fell silent after Kakasi and the others disappeared from sight.
Kakuzu's expression darkened.
Itachi silently watched Jun Ma Lu with his Sharingan spinning slowly.
"I didn't expect a survivor of the Kaguya Clan."
Jun Ma Lu looked at the two Akatsuki members indifferently.
"If you're done talking, I'll finish this quickly."
Kakuzu sneered.
"What arrogance from a brat."
Jun Ma Lu remained expressionless.
"You can test my strength yourself."
Kakuzu's eyes turned cold as he formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work!"
A massive sea of flames surged toward Jun Ma Lu, engulfing the forest in blazing heat.