Uchiha Yusuke's expression shifted slightly.
He had expected something more… dramatic.
Instead—
This was Kakuzu's trump card?
A three-nature fusion cannon.
Impressive.
But not enough.
He had already endured the Fourth Raikage A's full-force Lightning Release assault.
He had taken Killer B's Tailed Beast Bomb head-on.
Compared to those—
Kakuzu's technique simply did not reach that level.
Yusuke quickly lost interest.
As a sparring partner for Kakashi, Guy, and Kurenai—
Kakuzu was useful.
As Yusuke's opponent?
He was insufficient.
Yusuke tilted his head slightly.
"Wind, fire, and water combined…"
"Aren't you worried you'll destabilize your own balance?"
A flicker of irritation passed through Kakuzu's eyes.
Yusuke wasn't entirely wrong.
Normally, he used Lightning and Earth chakra to stabilize the fusion.
But two of his hearts had already been destroyed.
That only made his fury worse.
Two hearts gone—
And not a single coin earned.
Kakuzu had never made such a bad deal.
He roared.
"Earth Grudge Fear — Ultimate Art: Final Shot!"
The fused chakra cannon erupted forward like a raging sea.
It swallowed Uchiha Yusuke whole.
Kakuzu sneered.
No dodge.
No defense.
Just standing there?
Arrogant fool.
Even Pain would not take such a strike head-on without caution.
Before Kakuzu could celebrate—
A calm voice echoed from within the smoke.
"So this is your ultimate move?"
"Feels like soaking in a hot spring."
Kakuzu's pupils shrank violently.
Impossible.
The smoke cleared.
Yusuke stood completely unharmed.
Fire Release Chakra Mode still cloaked his body.
Kakuzu's expression changed rapidly.
Then realization struck him.
"Don't tell me…"
"You're the Flame Oni of Konoha — Uchiha Yusuke?"
Yusuke nodded lightly.
"Your strength is average."
"But your eyesight is decent."
Kakuzu's face darkened.
He knew the name.
Veteran of the Third Great Ninja War.
Young Uchiha Clan Head.
Defeated Yugito Nii.
Overpowered the Cloud's A–B duo.
Destroyed Danzō.
Compared to Yusuke—
Even the Copy Ninja Kakashi seemed dim.
Three Konoha jōnin were already difficult.
Adding Yusuke—
This was no longer a profitable situation.
Money mattered.
But only if you lived long enough to spend it.
Kakuzu made his decision instantly.
Retreat.
He threw a smoke bomb.
The battlefield clouded.
He vanished into the haze.
Kakashi and Kurenai reacted immediately.
"After all that—"
"You think you're leaving?"
Kakashi's Lightning Cutter crackled.
Kurenai formed genjutsu seals.
They pursued.
Kakuzu ran straight toward Might Guy's position.
Kakashi hesitated.
Was he trying to regroup?
Yusuke remained calm.
Kakuzu saving a teammate?
Unlikely.
Unless that teammate was a billionaire.
Guy saw Kakuzu rushing toward him and grinned.
"Perfect!"
"Face the Blue Beast of Konoha!"
Guy kicked forward.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Kakuzu evaded smoothly.
He slid past Guy mid-air—
Then formed seals instantly.
Kakashi's Sharingan caught it.
"Guy—careful!"
Too late.
Kakuzu launched an indiscriminate blast behind him—
Without regard for friend or foe.
The explosion consumed the area.
When the dust settled—
Kakuzu was gone.
He had used his partner as cover.
The faceless Akatsuki member—
Already critically injured—
Died under the aftermath.
Yusuke clicked his tongue slightly.
Unfortunate.
Capturing an Akatsuki member alive would have been better.
Still—
The Yamanaka clan could extract information from a corpse.
The mission was successful.
After clearing the battlefield, Yusuke prepared to depart.
Then—
Sharp gusts cut through the air.
Dozens of figures surrounded them instantly.
Mist ANBU.
Kakashi's expression darkened.
Hunter-nin?
Had the battle drawn attention?
Yusuke remained composed.
"If you've come, show yourselves."
A small figure stepped forward.
Karatachi Yagura.
The Fourth Mizukage.
"Hokage Advisor Uchiha Yusuke."
"What business brings you into the Land of Water?"
Kakashi and Kurenai stiffened.
The Mizukage himself?
Yusuke answered evenly.
"By the Hokage's order, I am investigating rogue shinobi activity."
"I crossed the border without notice."
"My apologies."
Neither submissive nor arrogant.
Just calm.
In the shinobi world—
Strength dictated tone.
Yagura studied him coldly.
Yusuke observed in return.
Through the Sharingan—
He confirmed something important.
Yagura was not under genjutsu control.
Obito had not yet made his move.
Yagura's eyes hardened.
"You think an apology is enough?"
"Do you find that reasonable?"
The air tightened.
Unauthorized border crossing could ignite war.
Yusuke smiled faintly.
Saying nothing.
That irritated Yagura more.
Young.
Arrogant.
Too confident.
Yagura raised his coral staff.
"If you insist on disrespect—"
"Don't blame me for being rude."
Yusuke drew his sword smoothly.
"Exactly what I wanted."
"I've long wished to test the Fourth Mizukage."
ANBU and Konoha's jōnin withdrew.
This was a clash between Kage-level fighters.
Not a battlefield for them.
Yagura moved first.
Wind Release boosted his acceleration.
The coral staff thrust toward Yusuke's throat.
Yusuke responded with a flying slash.
The blade cleaved cleanly through Yagura's body.
But—
It dissolved into water.
A Water Clone.
Before anyone reacted—
Yagura appeared behind Yusuke.
The coral staff pierced forward.
It passed straight through Yusuke's chest—
And exploded into flame.
A Fire Clone.
In the next instant—
The real Yusuke appeared behind Yagura.
Sword pressed to his neck.
"Your tricks don't work on me."
"It's over."
Mist ANBU froze.
But Yagura laughed.
"Who's trapped isn't decided yet."
He dissolved again.
The real Yagura struck from behind—
Cloaked in Three-Tails chakra.
"Secret Technique: Coral Palm!"
Without turning—
Yusuke swung backward.
"Uchiha Style: Sword-Leaping Flame!"
The flying slash shattered the coral before it formed.
Yagura retreated under pressure.
Yusuke smirked.
"I told you."
Yagura's expression tightened.
Sneak attacks were ineffective against the Sharingan.
Fine.
Then head-on.
He began forming seals rapidly.
If deception failed—
Power would decide.
He was a perfect jinchūriki.
In chakra reserves—
He would not lose.
He drew on the Three-Tails' chakra.
Red energy cloaked his body.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Yusuke answered calmly.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Yagura frowned.
Fire against water?
Elementary mistake.
He intensified his attack.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Yusuke responded.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Fire and water collided violently.
Steam engulfed the battlefield.
Yet—
Yusuke's flames pushed forward.
Yagura's eyes narrowed.
He added Wind Release to reinforce the water.
Only then did he block the assault.
Even so—
He had the elemental advantage.
And still—
He was suppressed.
That fact unsettled him deeply.
Yagura's aura shifted.
If water could not win—
Then tailed-beast chakra would.
Red chakra erupted again.
He entered a deeper state.
"You will taste this power!"
He charged.
Close combat resumed.
Yagura struck like a miniature tailed beast.
Shockwaves erupted with every blow.
Yusuke met him head-on.
Sword clashed against coral staff.
Flying slashes cut into the chakra cloak—
Only to be partially regenerated.
Evenly matched.
Yagura activated another technique.
"Water Release: Water Mirror Technique!"
A mirror formed.
From it stepped a perfect replica of Yusuke.
The clone used the same Flame Slash.
The attacks canceled.
Yusuke's eyes gleamed with interest.
Using an opponent's strength against them.
Interesting.
As long as chakra held—
This technique was troublesome.
Yagura pressed his advantage.
Ninjutsu chained relentlessly.
Yusuke reentered Fire Release Chakra Mode.
Water and wind could not extinguish his flames.
Yagura grew frustrated.
Fine.
If ninjutsu and taijutsu were insufficient—
Then he would escalate.
Stage Two.
Three tails formed behind him.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
He began gathering massive chakra.
A dark sphere condensed.
A Tailed Beast Bomb.
Yusuke lifted his sword horizontally.
This was what he had waited for.
The last time he blocked one—
It was forced.
This time—
He would test himself.
Yagura sneered.
Trying to counter a Tailed Beast Bomb with a blade?
Suicide.
Mist ANBU murmured in disbelief.
But Kurenai smiled faintly.
"You don't understand Yusuke's strength."
The Tailed Beast Bomb finished charging.
Yagura roared.
"Tailed Beast Bomb!"
The crimson blast surged forward.
Yusuke swung.
"One-Sword Style: Rending Sky Slash!"
The crescent slash warped the air itself.
It collided with the Tailed Beast Bomb—
And split it cleanly in two.
But—
The slash slowed.
Yagura poured in more chakra.
He would not lose.
The slash continued forward—
Relentless.
Yagura's composure cracked.
For the first time—
True fear flickered in his eyes.
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