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Kakuzu hadn’t even resorted to his ultimate secret techniques yet. Using only his powerful taijutsu and so basic ninjutsu, he had already reduced Utatane to such a miserable state.
When he saw the Executioner’s Blade in the distance, Kakuzu imdiately realized that Juzo had been defeated.
A mont later, Kazuki erged, carrying Juzo’s lifeless body.
"Kakashi, Shisui! The elder is injured and needs imdiate dical attention!"
Hearing this, both Kakashi and Shisui, still engaged in their respective battles, were startled. Without hesitation, they broke away from their opponents and rushed toward Kazuki.
Upon seeing Utatane’s condition—a gaping hole in her chest—they both paled. The situation had just beco much more complicated.
anwhile, Dai, who was breathing heavily, and Sasori, who was still controlling his puppet, regrouped with Kakuzu.
Sasori showed little reaction to the sight of Juzo’s corpse.
However, Dai, still new to the Akatsuki and under evaluation, was visibly shocked.
He hadn’t expected Juzo to fall to Kazuki in such a short amount of ti.
Still, their side wasn’t without gains—Konoha’s elder was in critical condition. Without imdiate dical attention, her survival was unlikely, and there was no such help available.
Neither Kazuki, Shisui, nor Kakashi had any dical ninjutsu expertise, leaving them helpless as they watched Utatane’s life fade away.
"Take the elder to the Land of Iron for treatnt imdiately. Shisui, protect the transport team and escort them to the Land of Iron. I’ll hold them off," Kazuki commanded.
"Yes," Shisui replied without hesitation. He grabbed Juzo’s corpse and headed back toward the transport team.
Kakashi picked up Utatane, hesitation written all over his face.
The Akatsuki mbers weren’t weak. Even with Juzo gone, Kakuzu, Sasori, and the powerful Dai were still formidable opponents. Could Kazuki really handle them all alone?
"Go!" Kazuki barked.
"Yes!"
Prompted by Kazuki, Kakashi carried Utatane and ran toward the Land of Iron without looking back.
"You think I’ll let you leave?"
Kakuzu wasn’t about to let his payday slip away. Utatane’s head was as good as his.
Just as he was about to strike, Kakuzu’s eyelid twitched. Turning abruptly, he saw Kazuki’s Sharingan begin to spin rapidly.
"Boom!"
A surge of chakra erupted, splitting the ground and sending cracks rippling outward. A golden, flaming skeletal structure surrounded Kazuki, its massive form radiating power.
The golden skeletal hand swiped down at the Akatsuki trio.
’What the hell is this thing?’
Kakuzu, well-versed in the ninja arts, imdiately recognized the phenonon—it was disturbingly familiar.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand!"
Sasori manipulated the Third Kazekage puppet to summon a massive wall of iron sand. The thick barrier shielded the trio, eting the giant hand of the ’Susanoo’.
"Boom!"
The ground quaked violently, debris and dust flying in all directions.
"That’s ’Susanoo’! Retreat!"
Kakuzu’s voice carried an edge of urgency. He hadn’t expected Kazuki to possess the Mangekyo Sharingan, let alone wield ’Susanoo’ so proficiently.
Kakuzu knew what ’Susanoo’ was—he had lived through the era of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
Even the legendary Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, had a worthy rival in Madara, whose ’Susanoo’ was infamous.
Testing the power of ’Susanoo’ was the last thing Kakuzu wanted, even with his multiple hearts. It wasn’t worth the risk.
A failed mission wasn’t the end of the world. Losing his life, on the other hand, was.
Juzo’s death wasn’t anyone’s problem but his own. Kakuzu, ruthless even toward teammates, had no sympathy to spare.
Sasori glanced at the damaged arm of his puppet, quietly retracted it, and followed Kakuzu.
Dai, still rattled from the encounter, quickly trailed behind.
’They just ran?’
Watching the Akatsuki retreat, Kazuki had no intention of pursuing them.
What puzzled him, though, was how decisively they had withdrawn. He had hoped to test the limits of ’Susanoo’, but the Akatsuki trio refused to play along. -
Kazuki notified the transport team to take an alternate route to the Land of Iron. Shisui, still concerned, decided to double back.
Returning just in ti, Shisui saw Kazuki use ’Susanoo’ to drive the Akatsuki away.
"So, the elder has the sa eyes," Shisui murmured, his expression complicated.
Shisui had always known Kazuki was strong, but he hadn’t realized Kazuki possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Kazuki responded with a knowing look.
"I awakened it later than you did. Besides, a trump card is best kept hidden. You’ve been too careless in that regard."
Shisui’s face turned sheepish.
There were things in his past he regretted, but it was too late to change them now.
"While ’Susanoo’ is powerful, it drains a lot of chakra. Unless necessary, avoid overusing your Mangekyo abilities—especially ’Kotoamatsukami’."
"Yes," Shisui replied solemnly.
Kazuki and Shisui rejoined the transport team and escorted them toward the Land of Iron, where they caught up with Kakashi.
Kakashi was kneeling on the ground, Utatane’s lifeless body lying before him.
Despite their best efforts, Utatane had succumbed to her injuries shortly after entering the Land of Iron.
A gaping hole in her chest was a death sentence. Even Tsunade herself might not have been able to save her in ti. After all, Dan Kato had died in much the sa way.
Kazuki approached, glanced at Utatane’s body, and patted Kakashi on the shoulder.
"This wasn’t your fault. No one could have predicted we’d run into the Akatsuki."
A brief word of consolation was all Kazuki offered. How long it would take Kakashi to recover was no longer Kazuki’s concern.
"The transport team will proceed as planned to deliver the dical supplies to the Land of Iron. Shisui, send a ssage to the village imdiately about our encounter with Akatsuki."
Shisui summoned a crow, attaching a scroll detailing the events to its leg. The bird took off, flying swiftly toward Konoha. It would take about two hours for the ssage to reach the village.
anwhile, in Konoha, Tsunade had just finished dealing with a mountain of tasks and was finally enjoying a mont of peace. Reclining in her chair with a cup of tea brewed by Shizune, she considered finding a way to let loose.
Her idea of unwinding was different from Jiraiya’s.
While Jiraiya chased won, Tsunade preferred a good gamble.
Despite her position as Hokage, she hadn’t lost her reputation as the "Legendary Sucker" of the gambling world.
"Hokage-sama, even if you’re taking a break, gambling is out of the question. I’ve already put your money away," Shizune said preemptively, sensing Tsunade’s intentions.
"What? You think I’m that kind of person?" Tsunade said, feigning innocence.
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