Chapter 254: Otsutsuki Hamura

Storm Release: Raging Sea Shark—this wasn't the Storm Release that was considered a Kekkei Genkai. It was similar to Madara's Storm Release: Light Fang and the Yin Release: Lightning Dispatch. All of these fell under the category of Yin-Yang Release techniques.

Kakuzu's right arm rose, forming what appeared to be a water blade. However, this wasn't just ordinary Water Release, the blade also carried elements of Lightning Release and even Fire Release. More importantly, it was infused with Yin-Yang Release, making it an unparalleled weapon—sharp beyond measure, capable of slicing through anything.

With a single slash, the blade came crashing down toward Otsutsuki Jinichi.

"Aaaahhh!!!" Jinichi let out a scream, his teeth clenched in agony. His expression was a mix of resentment and unwillingness as he glared at Kakuzu. If he could turn back time, he would never have brought his son to this place. But now, regrets were meaningless.

His body was no longer under his control. Like a kite with a broken string, he plummeted from the sky, falling rapidly toward the earth. In Kakuzu's eyes, he quickly shrank into a mere black dot against the ground.

Retracting his water blade, Kakuzu looked down.

"I didn't cut him in half, but I did tear open a massive wound at his waist. Even if he doesn't die instantly, he'll bleed out soon enough." His voice was calm, analyzing the situation rationally.

Yin-Yang Release—if it merely grazed someone, they'd be injured, if it struck directly, death was certain. However, given that Jinichi was an Otsutsuki, the extent of the damage was still uncertain.

Following his principle of "dead or alive, the body must be found," Kakuzu swiftly descended.

As his vision neared the ground, he suddenly frowned.

"Did he escape?"

Scanning the area, he found no trace of Otsutsuki Jinichi. Not even a drop of blood.

"Even if he fled, he couldn't have gotten far."

Kakuzu activated both his Byakugan and Rinnegan. Under his triple vision, nothing in the surroundings could hide. If Jinichi had not used some special technique to vanish, Kakuzu would definitely find him.

But as he continued his search, something even more intriguing caught his attention.

"That is…"

He slowly retracted his Byakugan, taking measured steps toward a certain spot. Pushing aside layers of foliage, he revealed a small, sunken cavern.

The entrance wasn't large—only the size of a boulder—but from within, an unusual chakra radiated outward. This chakra was incredibly rare, even across the entire shinobi world.

"I was wondering why Otsutsuki Jinichi lured me here. It turns out this place holds the protection of his ancestors…"

Kakuzu took a step back, widening the distance between himself and the cave.

"Byakugan, activate!"

The veins around his eyes bulged as he infused his Byakugan's chakra into the cavern. Slowly, the gathered chakra within the cave began to coalesce.

A greenish glow emerged, gradually taking the shape of a human figure. Clad in a white robe adorned with black tomoe, holding a black monk's staff, and possessing unmistakable Byakugan eyes—

Otsutsuki Hamura.

Neither spoke immediately upon seeing the other. Instead, they observed one another in silence.

After about ten seconds, Hamura was the first to break the quiet.

"Young one, I can sense my pure bloodline flowing within you."

"But I am certain that your Byakugan was not inherited naturally."

Kakuzu merely chuckled, neither confirming nor denying it.

Hamura, being an ancient figure of the shinobi world, could undoubtedly see through Kakuzu's secrets. Rather than feigning ignorance, Kakuzu simply admitted it outright and spoke frankly.

"Your descendants have completely misinterpreted your legacy. Not only do they wish to destroy this world, but they even set their sights on my daughter. I am currently hunting one of them down. If he has fled to you, I ask that you hand him over."

Kakuzu's words were blunt and firm.

And why not?

It wasn't just because the entity before him was merely a lingering chakra remnant of Otsutsuki Hamura. Even if Hamura himself stood here in the flesh, Kakuzu would still speak with the same unshakable confidence.

He had already prepared techniques powerful enough to deal with Madara. What did he have to fear?

Strength was the source of his confidence.

Yet, upon hearing this, Hamura did not react with hostility or coldness. Instead, he let out a sigh and gazed at Kakuzu.

"So many years have passed… I no longer know what has become of this world. But from what I can see, it hasn't fallen into complete ruin. A thousand years ago, in order to uphold the peace and stability that my brother established, I once personally visited this planet. In doing so, I uncovered many secrets… and also realized that I might have made a grave mistake."

Kakuzu listened, though Hamura's words felt distant—like remnants of a long-forgotten past.

"The bloodline you left behind on this planet still thrives," Kakuzu noted. "And in great numbers."

"Oh? Is that so? Young one, would you care to tell me more?" Hamura's eyes gleamed with interest. The idea that his lineage had survived for a thousand years brought him a rare sense of satisfaction.

"After leaving descendants both on this world and on the moon…" Kakuzu began explaining, though in the back of his mind, he found it ironic.

Hamura, despite his noble stature, was something of a wanderer. Unlike the Sage of Six Paths, who had only two sons, Hamura had left his bloodline on both the moon and earth. Otherwise, how could the Byakugan have been passed down through generations?

The conversation continued for some time until Kakuzu suddenly halted, his gaze shifting elsewhere.

"You don't need to ask me any further. Your descendant has arrived."

At his words, Hamura also turned his eyes in that direction.

The moment Hinata stepped into view, her pure Byakugan eyes made Hamura's expression soften, as if he were smiling. It was a rare moment—his spirit and his descendant sharing an encounter across time.

But then his gaze fell upon the person Hinata was carrying, and his expression turned bewildered.

"Uh… this…"

Hinata ignored Hamura's confusion. Holding Otsutsuki Toneri firmly, she walked up to Kakuzu.

"Otou-san, I've captured the bad guy."

Kakuzu looked at her in slight surprise before nodding approvingly.

"Hinata… I have to say, this is unexpected. But I won't deny it—you've done well. You're a strong kunoichi."

As he patted her head, Hinata smiled shyly.

"Otou-san, actually… that's not entirely true. After he flew away, I couldn't catch him. Nagato-san helped me midway."

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