Chapter 73

In Kakuzu's heart, he also wanted to bring this battle to a swift end.

A bounty of 100 million ryo was enough to stir even his cold, mercenary blood.

"Earth Style: Earth Spear!"

Kakuzu stepped forward abruptly, throwing a punch. A metallic sheen spread across his sallow skin.

This jutsu utilized the earth nature chakra circulating through his body to harden his flesh, drastically boosting defense while simultaneously amplifying the destructive power of his taijutsu.

A perfect blend of offense and defense—turning the body into something as hard as diamond and just as deadly.

"An Earth Release technique that fortifies the body?"

Facing the charging Kakuzu, Tian Yu's expression didn't show concern. In fact, his interest only grew deeper.

Seeing this combination of enhanced Earth Style and hardened physique, this rogue ninja of near-Kage level deserved attention.

Tian Yu grinned. "Perfect. I love hammering hard objects. Let's see—your skin or my hammer, which is tougher?"

BOOM!

As his words fell, Tian Yu hefted the blacksmith's hammer in his grip—simple, dark, and unadorned.

He didn't evade.

Instead, he directly clashed with Kakuzu's fist, now fortified like iron with Earth Spear.

Hammer met fist.

A shockwave blasted out.

The clangor of colliding metal rang sharply through the air.

The invisible wave of pressure burst out from the impact, rippling through the air like a thunderclap. The surrounding ninjas stared in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.

---

"That hammer… it's not normal!"

The moment their blows connected, Kakuzu felt it—a monstrous surge of force slammed into him like a tidal wave.

Even with his Earth Spear jutsu hardening his entire body, pain shot through his fist.

"What? That power—!"

Kakuzu's eyes widened in disbelief. The boy's strength was simply not human.

"You look surprised," Tian Yu said calmly, with a smirk. "That was only 30% of my strength. You're not already at your limit, are you?"

Standing confidently with his hammer, Tian Yu's tone was both mocking and cold.

"Hmph! Arrogant brat!"

Kakuzu growled.

"You think a few strong ninja tools make you fearless in front of me?!"

Suddenly, black threads burst from Kakuzu's body.

His form began to unravel.

Like a grotesque puppet being disassembled, joints disconnected and black tendrils erupted from beneath his skin.

Earth Grudge Fear!

In Tian Yu's eyes, caution finally stirred.

This was the feared kinjutsu of Takigakure—Kakuzu's most lethal trump card. Many had died under this technique.

"Go!"

Kakuzu snarled.

Eight thick black threads—each the width of an arm—snaked out like tentacles, attacking from all directions.

Hands, legs, waist, back—and even his weapon.

The threads wrapped around Tian Yu and his hammer, completely sealing off his mobility.

"What are those black lines? Could the captain be in danger?" Qing asked anxiously from the sidelines, face pale.

"Don't panic," Haidao replied calmly. "Captain Mingyu never fights without preparation. If he's taking this seriously, he has a plan. Trust him."

Haidao had worked under Tian Yu long enough to understand his nature. Tian Yu always struck only when he was certain. That he had called for Lady Tsunade's support before meant the three of them alone were not enough.

Their mission now was simple: stay out of his way and protect themselves.

"Sunflower, aren't you worried? This is the first time I've seen you so calm during battle," Qing asked, glancing at the girl beside her.

"I—I'm not worried!" Sunflower pouted, arms crossed. "Captain Mingyu isn't someone who can be caught so easily. Hmph!"

She paused, frowning. "Wait a minute... Doesn't this look familiar?"

"Familiar?" Qing blinked. "We've never seen this jutsu before."

"Oh! I remember now!"

Sunflower clapped her hands. "When Captain Mingyu sparred with Captain Yamato, he was wrapped in vines from Wood Release too!"

Realization dawned.

"Yes!" Qing's eyes widened. "But back then, he wasn't being drained—he was draining Yamato's chakra!"

They had seen it clearly during the spar. Tian Yu had deliberately allowed himself to be restrained.

His explosive speed was unmatched—no thread or vine could realistically contain him.

Which meant...

He let himself get caught. Again.

Why?

Only one person knew the answer—Tian Yu, who now stood tightly cocooned like a dumpling by those black threads.

Just then, the system's voice echoed in his mind.

> [Ding! Mission Complete: Devour the Tentacles]

Reward: Puppet Silk Thread Forging Blueprint

> [Ding! New Mission: Obtain Complete Earth Grudge Fear Specimen]

Reward: Puppet Doll Forging Blueprint

"Hoh?"

The system issued a new mission right after he completed the last one?

A doll-forging blueprint… sounds intriguing.

He didn't know its exact use, but anything rewarded by the system was bound to be extraordinary.

Step one: Kill Kakuzu.

Only then could he extract the Earth Grudge Fear to complete the mission.

"Hmph! Caught like a rat—are you finally out of strength?" Kakuzu sneered beneath his stitched mask, staring down at the immobilized Tian Yu.

But in the next instant, his eyes bulged.

With a sudden surge of force, Tian Yu burst out of the cocoon of threads, black tendrils snapping and scattering to the ground like cut vines.

Before Kakuzu could react, Tian Yu had already closed the gap.

"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"

"Earth Grudge Fear: Armor Form!"

Black threads erupted again to defend, but as Tian Yu's right leg came crashing down—

His body twisted unnaturally mid-air. His leg reversed momentum. The real strike hadn't landed yet.

Instead, his body coiled around Kakuzu's arm like a chain.

"What?!" Kakuzu's pupils contracted.

It had been a feint all along.

Before he could react, Tian Yu anchored himself with Kakuzu's wrist and pivoted mid-air—his whole body swinging like a hammer in motion.

He lifted his right foot again—

Straight into Kakuzu's chest.

"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"

BOOM!

A gut-wrenching thud echoed.

Kakuzu had heard legends of the Blue Beast of Konoha—Might Guy's overwhelming taijutsu.

But this—this was something different.

This was the Black Reaper of Konoha.

And the kick had pierced his Earth Spear chest—shattering the heart hidden beneath.