Chapter 206: Chapter 206
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Kakuzu's combat instincts and timing were impeccable, honed over many years of experience.
Moreover, he was in peak condition, waiting in ambush for Sakumo, ready and energized for battle. His combat state was perfect.
With the addition of the power provided by his Earth Grudge Fear, he was holding his own against Sakumo.
Kakuzu was giving his all, but Sakumo was not famous for nothing. Otherwise, how would he have gained such a renowned reputation?
Sizzle
Lightning chakra surged through his body, rapidly undergoing nature transformation and shape transformation, channeling through his hands into the White Fang blade. At the same time, it activated the lightning chakra crystal embedded in the hilt of the White Fang.
This was the new White Fang short blade, reforged and upgraded by the ninja cat clan artisans using materials provided by Kyomu.
It made no sense for Kakashi's Yukihime to have an upgrade but not Sakumo's White Fang.
Though the new White Fang maintained the same blade length and weight, the added lightning chakra crystal significantly enhanced its quality.
When activated, the lightning energy within the crystal combined perfectly with the lightning chakra Sakumo outputted, resulting in attacks three times stronger than before.
Undoubtedly, the current White Fang, like Kakashi's Yukihime, served as a powerful amplifier for lightning-style ninja techniques, greatly boosting the combat capabilities of both father and son.
Swish!
A lightning pillar as thick as a thigh was held by Sakumo, who swung it downward with both arms, using the force of his descent. The lightning pillar, dozens of meters long, fell.
Against the incoming combined lightning and water ninjutsu, it sliced through effortlessly, splitting it in half.
Without elemental restraint, the power of the lightning pillar was fully unleashed.
Kakuzu's pupils contracted as he quickly retreated at an angle to avoid the long lightning pillar.
The lightning pillar crashed to the ground, shattering the earth, leaving a narrow trench where Kakuzu had stood.
Despite the impact, there was no significant explosion; the only evidence of its power was the sparse dust and minimal shockwaves.
This wasn't a sign of weak attack power. Rather, it showed Sakumo's mastery in channeling chakra through his blade. Random explosions were seen as a waste of chakra in his eyes.
This control demonstrated Sakumo's precision with lightning chakra, using minimal effort for maximum effect.
One word: Exquisite!
Compared to Kyomu, Sakumo's meticulous approach lacked the overwhelming presence of grandiose moves but excelled in flexibility and single-target damage.
The lightning pillar extending from the White Fang blade didn't dissipate after the initial strike. With a twist of his wrist, Sakumo swept the pillar horizontally, targeting Kakuzu who was dodging to the side.
From a distance, Sakumo, standing at 1.75 meters, appeared to be wielding a 70-meter-long blue-glowing blade, sweeping through the area with remarkable flexibility and continuous killing intent—his combat style to the core.
Once in close quarters with him, weaker opponents were doomed, and even stronger ones would suffer greatly!
Sakumo had already pinpointed the location of Kakuzu's hearts in the second exchange.
Kakuzu's pupils shrank to pinpoints, and his earth-attribute heart pounded like a drum, as did the other four.
With all five hearts pumping furiously, Earth Grudge Fear maximized Kakuzu's speed.
A man with five hearts, just like a man with five kidneys, could unleash incredible potential when in danger.
Kakuzu ducked low, narrowly avoiding the sweeping lightning blade that grazed his head.
Sakumo wasn't surprised, a smile playing at his lips.
If he could keep the lightning pillar intact upon hitting the ground, he could also make it explode anytime, unleashing the hidden destructive power and shockwave within.
Boom!
The lightning pillar exploded as it grazed Kakuzu, creating a narrow, ten-meter-long zone of electric destruction. Lightning crackled, creating a high-temperature, steam-filled area.
Sakumo retreated cautiously, waiting for the lightning storm to clear before scanning for Kakuzu.
All he saw were charred ground and occasional electric arcs—no sign of Kakuzu.
Could he be dead with nothing left?
Sakumo didn't believe it.
Suddenly, he noticed a black fist emerging from the ground and blocked it with White Fang.
The immense force sent Sakumo flying. While spinning mid-air, another fist shot up, aiming to sandwich him.
Sizzle.
Lightning chakra surged through Sakumo, granting him explosive speed and allowing him to evade sideways, narrowly escaping the attack. He retaliated with two swift strikes.
White Fang's blade, an excellent conductor of chakra, sent out crescent-shaped lightning chakra waves, severing the two black fists connected by Earth Grudge Fear threads.
The lightning arcs continued to travel, cutting the ground and leaving electric currents in the soil.
Sakumo landed smoothly but took two more steps back, slightly out of breath.
That was close.
Kakuzu resurfaced, looking worse for wear.
"You truly live up to your name, Sakumo. Fighting you is the ultimate thrill."
Kakuzu's upper body was exposed, revealing his muscular, stitched-together form. His left shoulder's water-attribute mask was shattered, its heart destroyed.
Kakuzu remained unfazed, with four hearts and chakra attributes left, allowing for some banter.
Sakumo didn't respond. He launched himself forward, the ground behind him rising like dominoes, demonstrating his full speed and power.
Even at a distance, Kakuzu, with his high-level reflexes, could react and counter.
As Sakumo closed in, Kakuzu had already prepared a hidden attack, masking it with conversation to buy time.
But Sakumo wouldn't fall for such a basic trick.
Energy fully charged.
The three masks on Kakuzu's back merged into his right arm, combining wind, fire, and lightning chakras into a formidable attack.
With a sudden movement, a blue beam of light appeared before his fist.
Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot!
Boom!
The cannon-like recoil pushed Kakuzu back five meters, carving deep trenches in the ground.
The unstable, powerful chakra cannon, formed by the three elements, shot towards Sakumo in an instant.
With no time to dodge, Sakumo raised his blade to block.
Boom, boom, boom!
The chakra cannon struck Sakumo's chest, pushing him back and leaving sonic booms in its wake.
Terrifying speed!
Then.
A spherical energy wave rose in the distance, creating a second sun on the ground with blinding light and immense destructive power.
The stark contrast in brightness darkened the distant land, casting long shadows and leaving Kakuzu slightly brighter than his shadow.
In that area, only light and dark remained.
"Who's fighting?!"
Residents of the border town of Dragon Country finally reacted. Despite the distance, the rising mushroom cloud, trembling ground, and subsequent explosions were impossible to ignore.
Shielding their eyes, the curious townspeople peered out, showing no fear, only curiosity.
Scared? In the past, they would have fled. But now?
In the town center, four Dragon Ninja stood—Uchiha, no less. Their presence was the townspeople's assurance.
The Uchiha name had always been synonymous with strength.
With them around, why panic or flee?
"It must be Sakumo," one Uchiha said, activating his Sharingan. "The commotion suggests a strong enemy."
"What should we…"
"Don't disturb Sakumo. Our job is to prevent any ambush while he's occupied."
The others nodded, Sharingan activated, spreading out in three directions.
Even with their Sharingan, interfering in such a high-level fight could be counterproductive.
Scene change.
As the dust settled, the area around Kakuzu was flattened by the blast's shockwave and wind pressure.
Even after multiple layers of attenuation, the blast's force still bent the grass flat, showing the chakra cannon's devastating power.
"Even Aragami Kyomu wouldn't survive this. Your head is mine, Sakumo!"
Kakuzu confidently advanced but remained vigilant.
Without seeing Sakumo's body, he stayed alert. This posture was to mislead a possibly alive Sakumo.
Tap, tap, tap.
Approaching footsteps grew lighter, more cautious.
"Could he be reduced to nothing?" Kakuzu mused, regretting the potential loss of a valuable bounty.
His words were met with only the sound of the wind. At the edge of a large crater, there was no sign of Sakumo.
Suddenly, a black shadow flickered, and Kakuzu retreated swiftly.
Thud.
A lightning pillar as thick as a fist shot from the crater, piercing Kakuzu's chest and destroying his wind-attribute heart.
With this heart gone, Kakuzu lost his counter to Sakumo's lightning chakra, and his composite jutsu were no longer viable.
Kakuzu was shocked, but before he could react, he knelt, paralyzed by electric arcs.
Sakumo finally revealed himself, his shadow clone disappearing. Though injured, he was still combat-ready.
Kakuzu, now down two hearts, had lost half his power, especially without his water and wind hearts for composite jutsu.
This was Sakumo's deliberate strategy.
Kakuzu panicked, but it was too late. Silent, Sakumo attacked again.
Once Sakumo engaged, it was a fight to the death.
Shine
White Fang gleamed, a crescent-shaped lightning chakra arc rapidly closing in on Kakuzu's third heart.
(End of Chapter)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone