Naruto: Reborn as Kakuzu, the Immortal Assassin

Kakuzu rose slowly. The wounds burned through by Fire Release techniques began to mend themselves, the black threads in his body weaving seamlessly until every trace of the injury was erased. Within seconds, he stood tall, his gaze calm and unwavering as it locked onto Gotou Tsubasa.

Gotou Tsubasa had spent most of his life as a shinobi. His combat strategy was sound, but age had dulled the sharpness of his body. While he was still on par with elite jōnin in terms of experience and tactics, his physical prowess was no match for a younger, more vital opponent like Kakuzu.

The safest way for Gotou to defeat Kakuzu would have been to overwhelm him with sheer numbers—dozens, even hundreds of shinobi striking together. And in the heart of the village, assembling such a force would have been trivial. Yet, Kakuzu had anticipated this. He subtly buried his left hand underground from the very start, lying in wait for the perfect opportunity.

Gotou Tsubasa's momentary lapse in focus was all Kakuzu needed. A faint twitch of Kakuzu's right index finger sent his buried left arm surging upward, threads constricting with deadly precision. In a heartbeat, the arm pierced through Gotou's chest, wreaking havoc inside his body.

Gotou's pupils dilated as every muscle in his body strained to maintain its final resistance. The pain was unbearable, but the man who once founded Takigakure in the chaos of the Warring States Period could not summon even a whimper. His pale face and trembling eyes told the story of his defeat.

Kakuzu's threads coiled tightly around Gotou's heart, their searing heat palpable even through the layers of flesh. It was the last sensation Gotou would ever experience.

Whip!

With a swift retraction, Kakuzu's left arm emerged, pulling Gotou's heart free. The black threads quickly enveloped the organ, integrating it into Kakuzu's body. The stitching process occurred naturally, requiring no conscious effort on his part.

A few seconds later, Kakuzu opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through his pupils. Unseen energy coursed through his body, invigorating every fiber of his being. Raising his left hand to his chest, he clenched it into a fist, savoring the surge of power.

"Heh. Village leader, you were no slouch," Kakuzu muttered, his tone laced with mockery. "Fire Release, Lightning Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, Water Release—you dabbled in them all. Fire Release was your specialty, though. Too bad they're all mine now! Hahaha!"

The ability to absorb another's strength and make it his own—that was the true, broken power of the Earth Grudge Fear technique. Comparable to the legendary energy-absorbing arts of tales, it was a system-breaking cheat in this world of shinobi.

Kakuzu's laughter echoed ominously, but it was soon interrupted by the arrival of several Takigakure shinobi. Among them was Chiba Mei, his sword sheathed at his waist and his armor reflecting the flickering light. His eyes widened in shock as they fell upon Gotou's lifeless body.

"Kakuzu! You bastard—you killed the village leader!" Mei roared.

Kakuzu ceased his laughter, his expression calm as he turned to face Mei.

"You plotted against me first," Kakuzu replied evenly. "Don't blame me for retaliating."

"Save your lies! All I know is that you're a traitor to Takigakure—a monster beyond redemption!" Mei shouted, unsheathing his sword with a sharp clang.

"Everyone, attack formation!" Mei commanded. "Take this traitor down together!"

"So, that's your answer?" Kakuzu asked, taking a single step forward.

A wave of oppressive air radiated from Kakuzu, swirling outward like a physical force. The shinobi flanking Mei felt the weight of his killing intent pressing down on them, their resolve wavering.

For a moment, memories of Kakuzu's past flashed through their minds. This wasn't just any traitor. He was once Takigakure's strongest shinobi, the commander of their Second Squad—a warrior who had slain countless enemies for the sake of their village.

The hesitation was palpable. Was he truly a traitor? Or had circumstances twisted his actions into something unrecognizable?

Their doubts, however, were short-lived as Mei launched forward, his body a blur of motion.

"Water Release: Three Moons of Clarity!" Mei cried.

Chakra surged into his blade, encasing it in spiraling currents of water. As he swung, multiple shimmering afterimages of the sword appeared, making it impossible to discern the real strike from the fakes. The technique, though rooted in ninjutsu, combined elements of taijutsu, its speed and precision meant to overwhelm the opponent's senses.

To most, this move would be a nightmare to counter. But to Kakuzu, it was a minor inconvenience.

In his sharp eyes, the trajectory of every blade—real or illusory—was perfectly clear.

Clang!

With a decisive motion, Kakuzu brought his palms together, trapping the real blade between them just inches from his throat.

Chiba Mei's sharp gaze locked onto his target, his hands gripping the hilt of his blade tightly. With a deliberate motion, he began rotating the hilt counterclockwise, intending to alter the trajectory of the blade. However—screech… screech screech…—a piercing, grating sound echoed from the blade, like the mournful wails of steel crying out in resistance.

Chiba Mei's expression darkened, his furrowed brow deepening as tension weighed heavily upon him. The plan had been simple: a quick shift in the blade's position to injure Kakuzu. But reality proved otherwise. Kakuzu had already activated partial hardening of his body. His hands were coated in a black, iron-like layer, making his arms appear as unyielding as steel. No matter how Chiba Mei twisted and turned his blade, it failed to make even the smallest dent.

"Had enough fun?" Kakuzu sneered, his lips curling into a mocking smile. The disdain in his tone was palpable, mirrored in his eyes, which shone with an unparalleled arrogance.

Chiba Mei was no ordinary shinobi—he was one of the few elite jonin of the small Takigakure. Yet, this was the stark gap between him and Kakuzu. As a member of the noble Chiba clan, Mei had grown used to looking down on others like Kakuzu, a shinobi not from the clan. But in the brutal world of ninja combat, titles and lineage meant nothing when faced with overwhelming power.

"Damn it!" Mei hissed through gritted teeth, his eyes burning with frustration. If the blade couldn't harm Kakuzu, then...

Without hesitation, Chiba Mei shifted tactics. He abruptly pulled his blade back with a heavy swing, leaping backward several meters to create distance between himself and Kakuzu. He landed roughly five or six meters away, his breathing slightly unsteady. It had been only half a minute since their exchange began, but the surrounding area was now filled with over a dozen additional shinobi.

"Kakuzu has assassinated the village leader and betrayed Takigakure!" Mei's voice rang out, commanding and resolute. "He is guilty of heinous crimes! As Captain of Squad One and a representative of the Chiba clan, I hereby order everyone to form an attack formation and eliminate Kakuzu!"

Unable to overpower Kakuzu in direct combat, Mei shifted to strategy. His sharp gaze swept across the gathered shinobi, each one feeling an oppressive weight under his scrutiny. Among them were several loyal to the Chiba clan, who immediately responded to his call, stepping forward and forming hand seals with practiced precision.

Momentum was contagious. Seeing others take action, even the hesitant shinobi pushed aside their doubts. It was clear to all that Kakuzu stood in a precarious position—outnumbered and outflanked within the heart of Takigakure. Failing to act could brand them as traitors as well, a risk no one was willing to take.

In unison, they closed in on Kakuzu from all directions, forming a battle formation designed to overwhelm and annihilate their target. Their hands flew through hand seals, preparing techniques capable of turning the tide of war.

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon

Patreon(.)com/Jixo