Uchiha Yujin didn't give up.
His attacks became even fiercer.
Feathers from his Wing Kagune spread like raindrops, shooting toward the Wind Release: Earth Grudge monster.
"Shhh shhh shhh shhh!"
The feathers pierced through the creature's body, but it was like throwing darts at a waterfall.
In the blink of an eye, the Wind Release: Earth Grudge's body had healed again.
Uchiha Yujin narrowed his eyes at the monster's blue Wind Release mask.
He gritted his teeth and charged forward, swinging the sharp hook on his tail with all his might.
If he could just destroy the mask…
"Smack!"
A powerful pull from the tail yanked him back like a hydrogen balloon caught in a gust of wind.
The hook didn't land, and he almost tore his tail off!
Suddenly, he looked back.
A humanoid monster with green eyes and a mask stared at him expressionlessly.
It was none other than Kakuzu of the Akatsuki!
"Impressive little brat," Kakuzu said.
"At this age, you almost destroyed a Heart of the Earth Grudge. If you grow a few more years, you could become a serious threat!"
"But… this tail," Kakuzu looked down at the tail Kagune had been standing on, frowning slightly.
At that moment, the tail jabbed toward Kakuzu's eyes!
It had grown three centimeters longer!
"Thwack!"
The tip of the tail pierced Kakuzu's arm, which he had raised to block the attack.
The clash of metal sent a jolt through Uchiha Yujin's body.
It was Kakuzu's own technique—Earth Spear!
Its effect was stronger than iron, capable of withstanding explosive tags!
High attack, high defense, incredible mobility, and five lives.
Even within the Akatsuki, Kakuzu ranked among the top in strength.
A true Kage-level powerhouse.
Under special situations, it wasn't impossible for him to be labelled a Super-Kage!
Uchiha Yujin, though feeling a wave of despair as his tail was stepped on, did not simply wait to die.
His hands quickly formed hand signs!
Snake—Goat—Monkey!
The moment he completed the three signs, he was suddenly yanked by Kakuzu's steel-like hands, interrupting the sequence!
A smile lingered at the corner of Kakuzu's mouth as he reached toward Uchiha Yujin's chest.
Suddenly! Kakuzu's expression darkened. He clutched his chest with both hands and fell backward!
From a distance, a sharp, piercing sound rang out, illuminating half the sky!
The sound belonged to the legendary technique of Konoha's first technician—Chidori!
Cold sweat streamed down Kakuzu's face, his mind filled with terror!
The Jonin he had looked down upon had actually broken through his Water Release: Earth Grudge!
"Perfect timing!"
Kakuzu steadied himself and shouted, "You can use Water Release, then I'll use you to complete my new Water heart!"
On the dark battlefield, Kakuzu's figure loomed like a massive mountain—steady, imposing, and threatening.
For caution, he absorbed the Wind Release mask into his body. On his left shoulder appeared the Wind Release: Earth Grudge mask.
Black lines flowed across his body, giving him a terrifying, monstrous appearance.
"Tentacle Fist!" Kakuzu roared, launching his fist toward Uchiha Yujin. The power of the black Earth Grudge surged with it, rushing straight at him!
The punch hit like a beast's strike, brimming with immense chakra, shaking the very air around it!
With the aid of his Sharingan, Uchiha Yujin quickly tracked the trajectory of Kakuzu's attack.
His body reacted instantly, dodging with all his agility and leaping to the side.
At this moment, his tail also came into play. The thick tail acted like a solid pillar, meeting Kakuzu's fist head-on!
"Bang!"
With a tremendous impact, Uchiha Yujin's tail collided with Kakuzu's Tentacle Fist. The sheer force sent vibrations through his body, almost knocking him back.
But he did not retreat. He quickly adjusted his stance, trying to repel the punch.
Yet the attack of the Tentacle Fist did not end there.
Kakuzu's ability made the fist act like a homing missile. The black lines twisted and slithered through the air, quickly wrapping around Uchiha Yujin's body.
Uchiha Yujin felt a suffocating grip as he was ensnared by the Black Strings of the Earth Grudge! He couldn't move!
"Damn it!" Uchiha Yujin cursed in his heart. The Gene Lock awakened the bloodthirsty ghoul persona buried deep within him. He opened his mouth and bit down on the Earth Grudge Creature!
His teeth tore at it, his tongue working with all its strength! At this moment, Uchiha Yujin's will to survive reached its peak!
He had to devour the Earth Grudge Creature! Only then could he break free from the binding!
Kakuzu watched Uchiha Yujin struggle desperately, feeling a strange sense of absurdity.
He had never seen someone so desperate to survive that they would try to bite through the black strings of the Earth Grudge Creature with their teeth. Yet the strings were incredibly resilient, far beyond what teeth could destroy.
Step by step, Kakuzu approached the tightly bound Uchiha Yujin. His movements were steady and slow, a clear sign of his absolute control over the situation.
The black strings of the Earth Grudge Creature on his body moved like living creatures, binding Uchiha Yujin tightly until he could not move at all.
Amid the coils, Kakuzu precisely opened a gap in the black strings, revealing the location of Uchiha Yujin's heart.
There was no mercy in Kakuzu's eyes, only focus on the new heart he was about to claim.
Uchiha Yujin's heart pounded wildly in his chest. He knew he was facing a moment between life and death.
His Sharingan spun rapidly, searching for any possible escape.
Even though his body was restrained, his will did not falter. His heart burned with a desperate desire to live and a longing for freedom.
Kakuzu reached out, ready to seize Uchiha Yujin's heart, a satisfied expression forming on his face.
But just as his hand was about to touch Uchiha Yujin's chest, a powerful surge of chakra erupted from Uchiha Yujin's body!
"This… this is—!"
Kakuzu suddenly realized that the Earth Grudge Creature on him was being forcibly drawn away!
Looking again at Uchiha Yujin, still wrapped in the black strings, he was gradually breaking free from the restraints!
And where the black strings had penetrated, Kakuzu's pupils constricted in shock, as if he had seen a ghost!
Uchiha Yujin held a sharp shuriken and opened a large hole in his own chest.
With incredible speed, he began sewing the black threads of the Earth Grudge Fear into his body.
Kakuzu immediately sensed something was wrong.
He tore the Earth Grudge Fear apart and kicked Uchiha Yujin away with a powerful strike.
"Bang!"
Uchiha Yujin crashed into a large tree.
Dust filled the air, making it almost impossible for Kakuzu to see him clearly.
"Cough… cough!"
Uchiha Yujin spat out blood, and Kakuzu let out a relieved breath.
That recent, almost supernatural experience left Kakuzu feeling uneasy.
He knew that the Earth Grudge Fear was the source of his power.
If something like this could be taken from him…
At that moment, as the dust began to settle, Kakuzu's body tensed.
Uchiha Yujin quickly formed the hand seals for a massive fireball.
But the jutsu he shouted made cold sweat break out on Kakuzu's forehead.
"Combined Ninjutsu: Flame Wind Chaos Wave!"
****
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