Chapter 49: Burst the Heart, Ignite the Soul's Fire!
The spiraling water blade shrieked through the air!
Before it even reached Kakuzu, he felt every hair on his body stand on end.
Tsukasa's lightning-fast assault completely caught Kakuzu off guard, striking at his greatest vulnerability.
True, Kakuzu possessed near-immortality—as long as all five of his hearts weren't destroyed, he could continue fighting.
But even so, the head held special significance.
Severing it would severely weaken his control over Earth Grudge Fear, creating a critical opening.
Tsukasa would then have a brief window to strike at the five hearts attached to his body.
This was something Kakuzu absolutely could not allow!
A sense of mortal danger—unseen in decades—erupted in this instant!
"As if I'd let you succeed!"
Kakuzu's eyes widened, his teeth grinding as he roared. He formed the Snake seal with both hands, his skin instantly turning jet black.
This was Earth Release: Earth Spear.
Despite its name, Earth Spear was primarily a defensive technique. It hardened the skin to diamond-like consistency, offering both immense offensive power—capable of easily smashing through walls—and defensive capability that could block explosive tag detonations.
However, this jutsu had a significant drawback: after activation, the body became rigid due to the hardening.
This prevented Kakuzu from using the fluid taijutsu techniques he'd employed to demolish Tsukasa earlier.
Tsukasa's eyes narrowed, his lips curling. The water blade that had been spiraling toward Kakuzu's neck suddenly dispersed, leaving only the kunai in his hand.
He then reversed his grip and thrust the kunai directly into the Wind Release Earth Grudge Fear mask perched on Kakuzu's left shoulder!
CRACK!
The sharp blade pierced through!
The Wind Release mask shattered, barely missing the heart within!
"What?!" Kakuzu gasped, his dark green eyes filled with disbelief.
The hardened skin had deflected Tsukasa's water blade, and just as he thought he'd succeeded—Tsukasa had unexpectedly switched targets.
It was as if he knew complete intelligence about Kakuzu's abilities!
In panic, Kakuzu immediately twisted his shoulder to dodge while using his secret technique to control the Fire Release Earth Grudge Fear mask on his right shoulder.
The mask's mouth gaped wide and suddenly unleashed a blazing fireball at the approaching Tsukasa!
Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work!
Once ignited, it would transform into a devastating sea of flames!
However, facing this lethal ninjutsu—his crimson Sharingan reflecting the fireball about to strike his face—Tsukasa's eyes remained utterly calm.
He hooked his index fingers, and dark threads suddenly appeared on the ground!
With his fingertips wound and pulled, his hands yanked the wires hard.
Tsukasa was thrust downward, slipping beneath Kakuzu's stance. With a twist of his body, he launched onto Kakuzu's back and stabbed at the Water Release Earth Grudge Fear mask with his kunai.
The fireball shot past, crashing into the barrier with a thunderous explosion of dazzling fireworks!
Kakuzu's expression darkened, veins bulging on his forehead.
"That unreasonable intuition again! This kid's body reacts faster than conscious thought!"
"Damn it, he's like an annoying mosquito!"
At this thought, Kakuzu's eyes hardened as he brought his hands together.
The four masks on his back twisted as the pitch-black Earth Grudge Fear bodies half-emerged, then opened their maws at Tsukasa—
Wind Release: Pressure Damage!
Lightning Release: False Darkness!
Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work!
Water Release: Water Encampment Wall!
Like a rapid-fire barrage, the four masks unleashed ninjutsu upon Tsukasa!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Water spheres splashed, whirlwinds danced, lightning streaked, and flames blazed!
Tsukasa grinned fiercely upon seeing this and hooked his fingers to pull the ninja wire again.
His entire body became like a sharp arrow—spinning, leaping, eyes closed, letting his body flow with pure instinct!
When he opened his eyes again, he had slipped through the gaps between all four techniques and landed on Kakuzu's back once more.
Then, Tsukasa stepped off Kakuzu's back and jumped high, executing a full 360-degree rotation in mid-air.
Bringing his hands together, he swung his arms straight above his head—and then pulled all the wire threads at once!
The ninja wire on the ground suddenly went taut, cutting through the earth and whipping around Kakuzu through sheer momentum and inertia.
His limbs, chest, abdomen, head, and even the Earth Grudge Fear bodies with their masks on his back—all were tightly bound! Pulling! Constricting! Tightening!
CREAK—
A tooth-grinding sound echoed continuously.
"What is this?!" Kakuzu's pupils contracted sharply as he realized he was entangled in his own Earth Grudge Fear threads.
He immediately struggled with all his might.
However, bound by multiple layers of the threads, the more he struggled, the tighter they became. Only his body strengthened by Earth Release: Earth Spear could forcibly tear through some of the wires.
But it was clear he would need at least several seconds to break free.
Yet even these few seconds of restraint were more than enough for Tsukasa!
He took a deep breath, formed hand seals, and drew his kunai.
Rabbit-Sheep-Snake!
The Water Release: Water Fang Blade spiraled in his hands once more!
Then, with fierce determination burning in his eyes, Tsukasa clenched his teeth hard.
"HSSSS—"
Cold air was drawn into his chest, transforming into fuel, creating sparks between his grinding teeth!
Even his crimson eyes in that moment became a blazing color like raging flames!
"This is the moment!"
"This is what I've been seeking!"
Tsukasa's eyes flashed with intensity as he slammed his hand against his chest and surged forward!
Fire Release: Chakra Mode, activate!
Blazing fire-attribute chakra erupted through Tsukasa's entire body!
"Burning soul!"
"Surpass all limits!"
The power emanating from his heart instantly flooded every corner of his being!
In an instant, flames surged—illuminating the entire cliff face, the castle, and the refugee camp below.
Countless Hot Water refugees raised their heads, squinting at the barrier extending from the cliff.
Within the barrier, a miniature sun had risen!
Its blinding radiance shattered the darkness of night, heralding the arrival of dawn itself!
"Tsukasa, what are you doing?!" Mei Terumi and Hidan exclaimed, their eyes wide with shock.
Shinnō, who had been watching silently from the cliff face, finally lost his composure and stared at the scene in disbelief.
"He'll die using that kind of technique with that kind of power!"
"Even if he copied the Forbidden Technique: Physical Regeneration from me, he'll still die!"
"Is he insane?! Has he lost his mind?!"
"For such a fleeting bond? For two so-called 'friends' he's only known for less than a day?!"
"Someone like this..." Shinnō clenched his fists, staring in shock at Tsukasa within the barrier.
His dried, withered heart seemed to be rekindled by that rising sun.
A sudden surge of jealousy and tangled longing rose within him.
If... if I had a friend like this... when the Sky Ninja Village was destroyed... would I have chosen to live and die together... or, like now, gnash my teeth in shame and live this miserable existence—a fate worse than death itself?
Within the barrier...
"HAHAHAHA!"
Tsukasa's eyes were bloodshot.
He could barely control his explosive surge of power and could only roar to release the pressure!
He gripped the blade with both hands as fire chakra madly poured into the Water Fang Blade, causing the spiraling water to suddenly evaporate.
From the hilt, a blazing sword over six feet long burst forth!
Wielding the flame blade forcibly transformed through his chakra, Tsukasa's eyes flashed crimson as he swung, unleashing a dazzling stream of fire!
He shouted furiously at the now-sweating Kakuzu:
"Just a moment ago, weren't you enjoying beating me down?"
"Now—"
"IT'S MY TURN!!"