Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template

The previous attack had indeed pierced Kakuzu's heart. He was sent flying through the air, and before he could even register what had happened, his heart was shattered. A deep sense of discomfort washed over him.

"Hidan, we were ambushed...!" Kakuzu cursed loudly mid-air. Countless black tendrils erupted from his chest, quickly filling the massive hole in his torso.

Even Hidan, as reckless as he was, realized their group was under attack. A normal person would have immediately sought cover, considering the enemy was hidden while they were out in the open. The logical course of action was to locate the enemy first.

But Hidan had always been brash, and with his immortal body negating most threats, he never cared about tactics. It was akin to someone receiving an overpowered buff in a fighting game—most would rush in blindly, throwing caution to the wind. That was precisely Hidan's mindset.

"Bastard! Who dares attack me?!" he roared, roughly tossing aside the two unconscious individuals he had been carrying. He pulled out his signature scythe and started drawing a ritual circle on the ground. His body darkened, intricate white lines forming across his skin.

Zixu didn't waste time exchanging words. Since Hidan couldn't be killed easily, he would deal with the more troublesome one first.

A kunai, wrapped with an explosive tag, appeared in Zixu's hand. Activating the tag, he hurled it with immense force, sending it slicing through the air toward Hidan like a shooting star.

Thanks to Kakuzu's earlier warning, Hidan reacted just as the kunai entered his five-meter range.

"Tch, mere child's play." He twirled his scythe, knocking the kunai away effortlessly. However, the explosive tag detonated upon contact.

A massive fireball erupted, engulfing Hidan in flames and smoke.

"He's still alive? These two are troublesome." Zixu stood at a distance, carefully observing their chakra flow. Both Kakuzu and Hidan remained active, but the Two-Tails Jinchūriki's chakra flickered like a dying flame—it wouldn't last much longer.

"Fighting these two is going to be difficult. A battle between shinobi is a battle of intellect. Understanding the opponent's abilities is half the victory."

Zixu analyzed their techniques and searched for an opening.

On the other side, Hidan staggered out of the smoke, his body charred black, howling in pain.

"Arghhh! Damn it! That hurt, you bastard! I'm going to skin you alive!"

Hidan stormed toward Zixu's location in a fit of rage, while Kakuzu, having repaired his body, grabbed the two unconscious individuals. He had no interest in continuing this fight. Completing the mission was the priority, and the last thing he wanted was to risk encountering the Raikage, who might already be on his way.

"Hidan! We're leaving! The mission is more important—don't forget why we're here!" Kakuzu called out from a distance, but Hidan paid no heed.

Of course, Hidan didn't hear him. The kunai Zixu had thrown carried a silencing effect, ensuring that the two would be separated.

"I need to deploy my Silence Clone soon. Its compatibility with me is terrible, and I still haven't found a way to separate it..." Zixu muttered, sighing before picking up the pace. He closed the distance between himself and Kakuzu, ignoring Hidan for the moment. A few clones would be enough to distract the idiot while he handled the real target.

His objective remained unchanged—recover the Two-Tails. If he had the Jinchūriki in his hands, the Raikage would be forced to reconsider any aggressive moves against Uzushiogakure.

Return the Two-Tails to Kumogakure? Why? They failed to protect it in the first place. Why should Uzushiogakure return it after taking it from the Akatsuki at great risk? If they wanted it back, they would have to pay.

Kakuzu's expression darkened as he noticed Hidan's lack of response. That fool never listened, but now of all times? Fine. If he wanted to stay, that was his problem.

With that thought, Kakuzu bolted. Without Hidan weighing him down, he moved with astonishing speed, vanishing into the distance.

"Nigerundayo~"

Zixu blinked.

"What the hell? That old bastard runs fast for a walking corpse!"

He immediately pursued, forming wind spheres mid-air and launching them at Kakuzu to slow him down.

But Kakuzu had learned from earlier mistakes. His black tendrils spread out, forming a thick barrier. The wind spheres struck but failed to do any damage.

"Damn, how is he so skilled at survival techniques?" Zixu muttered, impressed by Kakuzu's escape prowess. This guy was no amateur.

Kakuzu smirked. He could sense the attacks slowing. Did they really think they could catch him? He had once fought Hashirama Senju and survived. Compared to that, these small fry were nothing.

Zixu clicked his tongue. This was getting annoying. If Kakuzu got away now, it would be near impossible to catch him again.

With a flash, he transformed into a bolt of lightning, streaking toward the fleeing shinobi.

Kakuzu had just begun to feel relieved when—

CRACK!

The sound of breaking bones and snapping tendrils echoed through the air. Zixu's foot connected brutally with Kakuzu's spine.

The force should have left him crippled. Yet, somehow, Kakuzu remained standing. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"What the hell? Did I just inherit Kaidō's passive ability to not kill people? No way... That kick should've turned him into a corpse!"

From the dust, Kakuzu emerged. His Akatsuki robe had been discarded, his veil and hair undone. Black tendrils protruded from every part of his body, and his skin was covered in stitch-like scars. The corners of his mouth had been sewn together, giving him an eerie, monstrous look.

Four masks were embedded in his back—but two had already been shattered. The remaining two, controlled by his tendrils, hovered behind him.

A stitched-together, humanoid abomination.

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