Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

As Kirito's blade pierced his chest, Kakuzu's mind raced, piecing together the grim realization.

"This guy… he knows exactly where to strike…"

Kirito's attacks were calculated, targeting the vital hearts Kakuzu relied on to prolong his life. The sharp pain spread, his strength waning as he mustered a final, desperate move.

"Wind Style: Crush!"

A powerful gust erupted, pushing Kirito back and granting Kakuzu a brief reprieve. Gasping for air, he manipulated the red-masked heart to replace the destroyed one. As the new heart began to beat, Kakuzu's vitality returned—but only partially.

From a distance, Shikamaru observed with a mix of awe and disbelief. "He's still alive?"

"Is he immortal too?" Asuma muttered, recalling Hidan's unyielding resilience.

"No," Izumo interjected, shaking his head. "If he were truly immortal, he wouldn't need to replace his heart."

"Immortal or not, his power is terrifying," Kotetsu added, his voice tense.

The battlefield remained engulfed in flames, remnants of Kakuzu's Fire-Wind Chaos Wave. The inferno forced the group to retreat further, reducing them to onlookers in the deadly encounter.

"Even if we wanted to help, we'd only get in the way," Shikamaru said with a frustrated sigh.

His gaze locked onto Kakuzu as he pieced together a theory. "The masks. Every time Kirito lands a decisive hit, one of his masks disappears."

"The masks are linked to his lives," Asuma surmised, nodding as the realization dawned.

Shikamaru's sharp eyes narrowed. "Exactly. Kirito knows this. He's been precise in every strike, targeting only the hearts tied to the masks."

Kirito extinguished the golden lightning on his spear, refraining from detonating it. Kakuzu's combat experience and resilience made him a valuable adversary to test his skills against. Instead, Kirito summoned a black rod, which transformed into a short blade as he advanced slowly, deliberately.

"Is he playing with me?" Kakuzu thought bitterly, rage boiling beneath his calm exterior.

Years ago, pride might have driven Kakuzu to fight to the death. But his instincts screamed otherwise now.

"I need to escape. Fighting him any longer is suicide."

Kakuzu scanned the battlefield, searching for an opening. The Byakugan complicated his plans, but movement in the nearby forest caught his attention.

Ino, Choji, and their team, led by Aoba Yamashiro, approached the scene, drawn by the distress signal. Spotting Kirito locked in combat, they moved closer, inadvertently exposing themselves.

"Ino! Choji! Get back!" Shikamaru yelled, panic in his voice.

"Ino, retreat now!" Choji bellowed, stepping in front of her as Kakuzu lunged toward the group.

"Too late!" Kakuzu growled, propelling himself forward with a gust from his blue mask.

Aoba and his team reacted swiftly. Crows swarmed Kakuzu, and a poisoned blade flashed toward him, but his black tendrils erupted from the ground, ensnaring the attackers.

"Partial Expansion Jutsu!" Choji's massive arms swung toward Kakuzu.

Kakuzu intercepted with ease, retaliating with a powerful blow that sent Choji sprawling. Tendrils wrapped around Ino, lifting her into the air as she struggled to free herself.

"Ino!" Shikamaru shouted, rushing forward, only to be blocked by Kakuzu's tendrils.

"Move, and this girl dies," Kakuzu threatened, tightening his grip around Ino's neck.

Shikamaru froze, his mind racing for a solution. "Damn it… I should have anticipated this."

Despite his apparent advantage, Kakuzu's eyes darted nervously toward Kirito. Even with a hostage, he couldn't shake the unease brought on by Kirito's unflinching gaze.

"Earth Style will buy me enough time to escape," Kakuzu planned, his mind already focused on the future. "Next time, I'll be prepared. His heart will fetch a fortune."

A sharp pain pierced Kakuzu's chest, jolting him from his thoughts.

"What?" he gasped, looking down to see Ino had vanished, replaced by Kirito. The short blade in Kirito's hand drove into his final heart.

"When… how?" Kakuzu stammered, his strength fading. "Genjutsu…?"

Kirito's cold, emotionless voice echoed. "Zero."

Kakuzu's body crumpled, lifeless, as his final heart ceased to beat.

The battlefield fell silent, the tension dissipating as Kakuzu collapsed. Kirito withdrew his weapon, its golden glow fading into nothingness.

"Ino! Are you alright?" Shikamaru called, rushing to her side.

"I'm fine," Ino replied, her voice shaken but steady.

Asuma, Izumo, and Kotetsu approached cautiously, their expressions a mixture of awe and relief.

"It's over," Shikamaru said, his voice heavy with finality as he stared at Kakuzu's remains.

Kirito turned to the group, his calm demeanor unwavering. "Prepare to report back to Konoha. The Akatsuki members have been neutralized."

(End of Chapter)

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