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Midorima never considered "one-on-one" duels to be something to be proud of.
When you clearly have the advantage in numbers, why foolishly insist on a fair fight?
Of course, cannon fodder was an exception.
If the opponent were Obito or Madara, Midorima probably wouldn't have let Jūgo join. Jūgo couldn't influence the outcome of such a battle anyway.
But now, fighting Kakuzu, Jūgo wasn't cannon fodder; he was a "target" to divert Kakuzu's attention.
Midorima used the Shadow Clone Technique, creating four clones that charged towards Kakuzu.
Kakuzu had difficulty distinguishing real from fake in that instant. The massive, bare-skinned Jūgo became his primary target.
Eliminate one—whomever it might be—and he would still have the leeway to maneuver.
After that, he could find an opportunity to escape, then dig up Hidan. That way, the crisis would be resolved.
That was Kakuzu's plan.
The three Earth Grudge Fear mask-creatures—Wind, Fire, and Lightning—coalesced around Kakuzu's right arm. Vast amounts of chakra gradually gathered, forming a terrifying chakra fluctuation.
"Want to kill me? You're not worthy!"
Kakuzu raised his arm, aiming the "cannon" at the charging Midorima and Jūgo.
Including his original body, there were five Midorimas moving along different trajectories. Seeing Kakuzu raise his arm, they immediately scattered in all directions, leaving only Jūgo facing him directly.
Jūgo, still sprinting forward, watched the increasing chakra mass gathering on Kakuzu's arm, feeling a sense of dread. "Sir, we should... Huh? Sir, where are you?"
In an instant, within a five-meter radius, he was alone.
"...Earth Grudge Fear, Final Shot!"
A terrifying beam of chakra shot from Kakuzu's right arm. Though the diameter of the beam seemed small, the accompanying shockwave seemed to pierce through the air itself. Even trees or other objects not directly hit, but merely near the beam's path, instantly vaporized. The beam blasted beyond the forest, eventually becoming a distant point of light.
After using this technique, Kakuzu felt as if his chakra reserves had been completely drained. Before him, there was no sign of anyone, only a swath of forest devastated by the chakra cannon and scorched earth from which white smoke continuously rose.
"Phew..." Kakuzu let out a long breath. He refused to believe that a jutsu packed with this much chakra couldn't kill even one person.
The next thing to do was flee.
He needed to quickly find where Hidan was buried and dig him out.
Just as Kakuzu was about to turn, a sudden surge of chakra came from behind.
Damn it...
Before he could even turn around, a figure struck him from behind, piercing through his body.
"Chidori!" Midorima unleashed Kakashi's signature move.
"Cough... I knew I couldn't kill you. But do you think you've already won, Midorima?" Kakuzu grabbed the hand Midorima had thrust through his body. At the same time, numerous black tendrils emerged from the pierced area, crawling up Midorima's arm, enveloping him.
"I've always wanted to kill you, to take your heart, but never had the chance. You're too cunning. Now... give me your heart!" Kakuzu roared. The black tendrils entered through Midorima's mouth, just about to extract his heart, when suddenly he heard a *crack*. Midorima's body, completely enveloped by the tendrils, snapped in half.
"No need to be so forceful with a wooden clone, is there?" A voice sounded in Kakuzu's ear.
His eyes widened. Four Midorimas stood before him. Three of them were continuously kneading chakra balls into the hands of the fourth, the ball growing larger and larger until it became a massive sphere.
"Let me show you the power of the 'Great Ball Rasengan'!" Midorima shouted.
Opportunities to destroy three of his hearts at once were rare. But after using "Final Shot," Kakuzu's three hearts had been clustered together.
Struck by the Great Ball Rasengan, Kakuzu flew like a kite with a broken string, blasted over ten meters away. The three hearts on his arm were subsequently destroyed.
Confirming Kakuzu was now a corpse, Midorima let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Killing two Akatsuki members in one go, even with clever tactics, wasn't easy for Midorima. Both had incredibly strong life forces. To be safe, Midorima had to resort to using "Sage Mode."
"Sir, I really... didn't help much." Jūgo walked over, supported by Makoto.
Earlier, Jūgo had been directly facing the "Final Shot." Under normal circumstances, dodging would have been very difficult. But Makoto had used Ice Release to create an ice field, using the ultra-fast slide speed across the ice to drag him out of the "Final Shot's" range of effect.
"No, without you drawing his attention, it wouldn't have been so easy to kill him." Midorima waved his hand, then asked, "Are either of you still injured?"
Both shook their heads.
"Next, the enemies we face will be extremely dangerous. Anyway, I hope you're prepared." Midorima warned.
"Are they the 'Akatsuki'... Is the 'Akatsuki' here too?" Makoto asked uneasily.
Their operation had not accounted for the "Akatsuki."
"If it were just these two, that might be okay, but I'm afraid..." Midorima shook his head.
The chain of conflicts erupting in other ninja villages indicated the "Akatsuki" was constantly making moves. Against this backdrop, them appearing in Kirigakure made Midorima intensely nervous.
"By the way, Hōzuki Mangetsu said Igawa Bu captured some Jinchūriki from outside..." Makoto recalled.
"What!?" Midorima was startled.
The only Jinchūriki Kirigakure needed to capture from outside was the Six-Tails.
Now, Kirigakure possessed two Tailed Beasts, and the "Akatsuki" just happened to appear here? Wasn't that too much of a coincidence?
Seeing Midorima fall into silence, Makoto didn't dare speak, patiently waiting.
As Midorima sorted through his thoughts, his mood grew increasingly grim.
If their target was two Tailed Beasts, relying solely on Hidan and Kakuzu definitely wouldn't be enough. Those two Jinchūriki were still inside the village; causing trouble from within would be difficult.
Could it be that besides them, other Akatsuki members had also come?
Who?
Please don't let it be Pain...
A chill ran down Midorima's spine. "You chose a really bad time."
"Mangetsu said we couldn't let Igawa possess two Tailed Beasts..."
"He's not wrong, but that's only if the 'Akatsuki' doesn't interfere. Otherwise..."
Pain was more dangerous than the Tailed Beasts.
"We need to hurry. Otherwise, it might be too late." Ignoring whatever Jūgo and Makoto thought, Midorima sprinted towards Kirigakure.
Obito stood on a rooftop, watching the fading glow of the chakra cannon disappear into the night, a sense of unease growing within him.
"That should be Kakuzu's jutsu, supposedly his ultimate technique. Why use it there? Could something have gone wrong? But on this island, who could possibly defeat Kakuzu?"