Despite his mocking tone, Hidan did not dare look directly at Chen Xing.
Defeating and capturing the Fourth Kazekage was no small feat. Among shinobi, it was common knowledge that a Kage of the Five Great Villages stood above ordinary leaders. Killing one was difficult—but capturing one alive was far harder.
Only a handful in the entire shinobi world could accomplish that.
"Sharingan?" Hidan blurted out in disbelief.
"But his eyes are normal right now… Can he deactivate it freely?"
That alone was enough to shake him. Chen Xing was not an Uchiha, yet intelligence confirmed he possessed the dōjutsu and could control it perfectly. If that information spread, the shinobi world would erupt.
Kakuzu remained calm.
"Peacock King," he said flatly,
"Will you hand over the Kirigakure envoy behind you?"
Chen Xing smiled faintly.
"If this were any other time, maybe," he replied.
"But they're guests of Celestial Shadow Village. Killing them would complicate diplomacy."
Ao's Byakugan was already active. His face was pale.
"Celestial Shadow-sama," he said quietly,
"That masked man… his body contains multiple chakra cores. He's not human."
Chen Xing nodded.
Kakuzu raised his hands.
"Then I'll collect you instead."
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
A compressed blast of wind detonated forward like a cannon.
The pressure distorted the air itself.
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Wall!"
Five thick earthen walls erupted in succession.
The wind blast shattered the first three instantly, cracked the fourth, and finally stopped at the fifth, which collapsed under the force.
Dust filled the valley.
"Handle the other one," Chen Xing said calmly to Ao and the others.
"This one is mine."
Before Kakuzu could react, Chen Xing vanished.
"So fast—!"
Chen Xing appeared in front of him, fist already descending.
Kakuzu crossed his arms.
Bang!
The impact shook the ground. Kakuzu slid back several meters, boots carving trenches into the stone.
"Earth Spear…" Chen Xing narrowed his eyes, noticing Kakuzu's stone-hardened limbs.
Black tendrils erupted from Kakuzu's arm.
"Good eye," Kakuzu replied coldly.
"Try this."
A reinforced punch shot forward.
Chen Xing met it head-on.
Boom!
The shockwave split the ground beneath them.
Chen Xing stepped back once. Kakuzu retracted his arm, eyes dark.
"Pure physical strength?" Kakuzu muttered.
"…Interesting."
Lightning suddenly screamed through the air.
Chen Xing's chakra surged violently.
"Chidori."
Blue lightning pierced forward like a spear.
Kakuzu's eyes widened.
"Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work!"
A massive fire blast erupted, engulfing Chen Xing completely.
The heat warped the air.
Then—
Crack!
Lightning tore through the flames.
Chen Xing burst out, his attack piercing straight through Kakuzu's chest.
A heart was crushed in his hand.
"First one," Chen Xing said calmly.
Black threads surged, sealing the wound as Kakuzu stepped back—still standing.
"…Five hearts," Kakuzu said with a thin smile.
"You noticed quickly."
Chen Xing tossed the destroyed heart aside.
"Surviving Chidori with regeneration," he replied coldly.
"You're the first."
In the distance, Ao stared in shock.
"He's still alive…?"
"Five hearts," Ao whispered.
"No wonder he's immortal."
The battle had only begun.
---