For an ordinary ninja, every single use of the Shadow Clone Jutsu evenly divides their total Chakra, drastically weakening the main body's combat ability.
Therefore, in a high-stakes battle, spamming Shadow Clones was usually a fatal hindrance. They were mostly used sparingly for reconnaissance or quick diversions.
"There's only one kind of fool in this world, Kakuzu," Mishu's voice echoed from the trees. "And that's a dead one! Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
The real Mishu dropped from the canopy directly behind Kakuzu, spitting out a roaring sphere of flames.
Kakuzu didn't even bother turning around. Instead, a massive cluster of black threads violently erupted from his back, carrying a strange, green-striped mask.
The black threads slammed into the ground, weaving together to form a grotesque, humanoid monster. The masked creature opened its mouth and spewed a high-pressure torrent of water.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wall!"
The water crashed into the fireball, generating a massive cloud of hissing steam.
Is this his Earth Grudge Fear technique? Mishu thought, narrowing his eyes. It's even more ferocious in person than in the anime.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Mishu's hands blurred through seals. In an instant, dozens of Shadow Clones materialized on the grass, in the branches, and atop the rocks, surrounding the immortal bounty hunter.
"Old man," the clones spoke in perfect, eerie unison, "your death star is shining brightly tonight!"
The clones drew their short swords as one. The synchronized ring of steel unsheathing filled the air. A sudden, suffocating murderous aura erupted from the boy, silencing the insects and birds in the forest.
Kakuzu finally turned around, his cold green eyes sweeping over the army of clones. "Things are actually getting interesting."
"Kill him!"
The Shadow Clones charged forward, one after another, moving with absolute resolve. Short swords struck at Kakuzu's heart, neck, limbs, and vital organs from every conceivable angle.
"A useless effort," Kakuzu stated flatly.
Countless black threads burst from Kakuzu's body, transforming into a storm of razor-sharp spears that shot out in all directions. The threads pierced the clones with sickening ease, destroying them one after another.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Strike!"
As the smoke from a shattered clone cleared, two surviving clones perfectly synchronized a combination Ninjutsu. An electrified Water Dragon roared toward Kakuzu, its jaws wide open.
"A combination Ninjutsu?" Kakuzu raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed.
Choosing not to resist the elemental reaction head-on, he leaped backward into the air to dodge.
"Body Flicker Technique!"
A Shadow Clone flashed directly behind the airborne Kakuzu, its short sword thrusting straight for his exposed spine.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Without missing a beat, the water-masked monster spat out a second Water Dragon. It intercepted the clone mid-air, shattering it to protect Kakuzu as he landed safely on his feet.
"Your Chakra is remarkably abundant," Kakuzu noted, brushing dust off his cloak. "I'm starting to look forward to this."
After fighting at this intensity, Mishu had used multiple Shadow Clones and high-level Ninjutsu, yet he showed absolutely zero signs of Chakra depletion. To Kakuzu, this indicated that the boy's heart was of exceptional quality.
Mishu, meanwhile, was actually enjoying himself.
A few days ago, he had been hunted by Cloud Ninja, hiding like a terrified rat. Later, he had been practically flattened by Ay and brutally tormented. Mishu had been harboring a deep, suffocating sense of frustration ever since.
After testing the waters, Mishu had already confirmed he was absolutely not Kakuzu's opponent. However, although Kakuzu was a monster, Mishu was extremely confident in his ability to escape.
Heh heh, this opponent is just right, Mishu thought, his lips curling into a wild grin. In the Hidden Mist, I had to be cautious. Against Ay, I had no power to fight back at all. But here? Now? I can finally fight without reservations and completely vent this pressure!
Thinking of this, Mishu couldn't help but chuckle. The chuckle quickly evolved into a dark, echoing laugh.
"Heh heh heh... Kakuzu! Let's see what you've got! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The forest exploded with smoke. Over a hundred Shadow Clones appeared, densely packing the clearing and surrounding Kakuzu entirely.
"It seems I need to get serious as well," Kakuzu muttered.
Two more masses of writhing black threads tore through Kakuzu's cloak, dropping to the ground to form two new masked monsters. This time, they didn't wait to defend. They actively launched an assault.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"
One monster spewed flames as vast and fierce as a tidal wave, while the other spat out a highly compressed, rapidly spinning hurricane.
The two Ninjutsu violently combined to form an apocalyptic composite attack—a blazing hurricane of destruction!
In an instant, everywhere Mishu looked was consumed by surging flames and rising ash, obscuring the night sky. The trees instantly ignited, the earth was scorched black, and the superheated air burned Mishu's lungs with every breath.
Dozens of Shadow Clones were directly incinerated. Only a small fraction managed to brave the sea of fire to reach Kakuzu.
What greeted them, however, was a scythe of hardened black threads. The surviving clones were instantly decimated.
At that moment, a lone clone used Earth Release to successfully burrow beneath Kakuzu. A pair of hands burst from the ground, grabbing Kakuzu's ankles.
"Headhunter Jutsu!"
With his feet caught, Kakuzu didn't even bother looking down. Hardened black threads shot directly out from his ankles, piercing straight down into the dirt with a sickening shhhk, instantly executing the clone.
The battle raged on. As a trained assassin, Mishu instinctively assessed Kakuzu's combat style, summarizing it in one word: Comprehensive.
The man was truly too comprehensive!
He possessed numerous high-level Ninjutsu and devastating Taijutsu. He could act as a heavy artillery turret for long-range combat or as a lethal close-quarters assassin using his Earth Grudge Fear threads.
He had centuries of rich combat experience and literally inhuman stamina. He could calmly assess the flow of battle, and the separate Chakra pools provided by his stolen hearts made him entirely immune to human-wave tactics and wars of attrition.
Mishu realized there were only three ways to defeat an opponent like Kakuzu.
First, overwhelming, god-like raw power. Second, a highly coordinated elite ninja squad with perfect tactical synergy. Third, possessing the protagonist's plot armor.
Mishu currently met absolutely none of these conditions.
However, what I want tonight isn't a victory. I just need catharsis! Mishu thought fiercely. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
If a hundred Shadow Clones weren't enough, then he would summon two hundred!
"Everyone, charge!"
In the charred, burning forest, a literal sea of Shadow Clones swarmed forward.
Facing the relentless tide, the three masked monsters formed a perfect, triangular defensive line, using overlapping Ninjutsu to slaughter them. Even if a clone miraculously broke through the perimeter, it was casually swatted aside by Kakuzu himself.
Kakuzu remained entirely calm. He accurately assessed Mishu's deteriorating condition and decided to use psychological warfare to break the boy's mind.
"This must be your absolute limit, right?" Kakuzu's voice carried easily over the roar of the flames. "Even if your Chakra is unnaturally abundant, can your human mind actually withstand the impact?"
Kakuzu casually impaled another clone, letting it pop.
"Besides dividing the main body's Chakra, Shadow Clones possess a fatal, secondary drawback: when a clone is violently destroyed, the memory and phantom pain of that death are transferred directly back to the main body."
Kakuzu gestured to the burning battlefield. "So many of your clones are being impaled, strangled, burned to ash, having their limbs severed, and their hearts ripped out. Can your fragile mind truly endure experiencing hundreds of horrific deaths at once?"
Of course, Mishu couldn't endure it. Otherwise, fueled by the One-Tails' Chakra, he wouldn't have just created two hundred clones—he would have summoned thousands.
As more and more Shadow Clones were slaughtered, the agonizing, overlapping phantom pains of their deaths converged in Mishu's brain, violently impacting his psyche.
I've vented enough. I actually feel much better, Mishu thought, grimacing. It's time to retreat before I give myself a brain aneurysm.
Mishu's head throbbed violently, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Just as he was about to slip away, he noticed that Kakuzu had entirely stopped attacking.
Having eliminated the last of the clones, the three masked monsters retracted back into Kakuzu's body. Kakuzu gave the panting Mishu a long, calculating look, then simply turned his back on him and began walking away.
On the charred, smoking earth, Kakuzu walked further and further away, leaving Mishu with only his retreating silhouette and a chilling parting message.
"You are exceptionally talented, kid. I look forward to the day you truly make a name for yourself in the Ninja World. By then, the bounty on your head will be astronomical... and that will be the day I return to harvest you."
Is he literally treating me like a pig to be fattened?! Mishu cursed internally, staring at the empty clearing.
"Damn it!" Mishu yelled to the night sky. "I just got completely flexed on! I'm supposed to be the edgy rogue saying arrogant lines like that!"