Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

Although the arrows fired at this moment lacked the enhancement of lethality from the curse mark.

This move was still infused with a large amount of chakra by Kidomaru, making its power not to be underestimated.

As expected, Kakuzu also chose to avoid the arrows!

The chakra attached to the bow and arrow is definitely not the kind of precise point attack that ordinary bows and arrows can deliver, but rather an area-of-effect attack!

boom!

The arrow struck the spot where Kakuzu had been hiding, and sure enough, it produced a huge, wide-ranging explosion.

And Kakuzu's actions of retreating and moving his position.

This also affected Kakuzu's attack on Jirobo.

Kakuzu withdrew his hand that had been attacking Jirobo.

Before Kakuzu withdrew his hand, Sasuke's Sharingan also noticed a subtle pause in Kakuzu's hand.

That pause was like pulling a ball of yarn on a rolling bamboo skewer until it was pulled to the end.

Is this the maximum distance his black lines can extend?!

This was a feint attack by the Sound Ninja, bringing Sasuke the first piece of information about Kakuzu's ninjutsu.

Kakuzu was also observing the Sound Ninja.

These guys have a very high level of coordination in ninjutsu!

This was Kakuzu's first impression of the Sound Ninja.

After Jirobo and Kidomaru's detailed attack, the next one is that woman named Tayuya!

Kakuzu has now created a considerable distance between himself and Tayuya.

Tayuya is still standing in the same spot, showing no signs of moving.

Is she a ninja who attacks from a distance?

Kakuzu squinted, speculating on how Tayuya would launch her "feigned attack" on him next.

However, it was not Tayuya who made the move.

It's Sasuke!

Several kunai attacked Kakuzu while he was observing Tayuya.

Kakuzu dodged the attacks of these hidden weapons and subconsciously turned his head to look in the direction from which the kunai had been shot.

Kakuzu's combat instincts allow him to recognize the dangers lurking in the midst of battle.

Kakuzu never expected that the one who shot the kunai was Sasuke.

Sasuke's kimono attire couldn't conceal his ninja tools, nor did he carry any storage tools like a ninja tool pouch.

Especially when Sasuke used that Lightning Release ninjutsu that makes a thousand birds cry to stop Kakuzu from attacking Naruto.

Kakuzu also paid special attention to Sasuke's loose sleeves of his kimono, which were designed to conceal items.

Although Kakuzu didn't possess the terrifying insight of the Sharingan, he was certain that Sasuke wasn't hiding anything in his sleeve.

Only her forearms were wrapped in thick white bandages.

bandage?!

Kakuzu didn't initially notice the bandage on Sasuke's forearm.

The Kusanagi sword that Sasuke carries at his waist indicates that he is skilled in swordsmanship.

Although weapons are used, swordsmanship can also be classified as a physical skill.

Both involve fighting with the physical body, just presented in different ways.

It is quite common to see taijutsu ninjas with bandages wrapped around their bodies.

Bandages can help to tighten the body and prevent joint sprains and tendon injuries.

But what if the bandages on Sasuke's forearms also have a "hidden" function?

For example, one could wrap a ninja tool scroll around their forearm and then cover it with a bandage.

Kakuzu only realized what was happening when Sasuke threw a kunai out of nowhere.

Since it was a case of realizing something only after the fact, there is naturally the phrase "it was too late" to contrast with it.

If Kakuzu had been warned in advance that Sasuke possessed the talent for space-time ninjutsu, he would have been wary of the Sharingan and would have suppressed his fighting instincts, preventing himself from shifting his gaze unnecessarily.

But it's too late now.

Kakuzu, who had been wary of the Sharingan, was led by Sasuke to look directly into Sasuke's Sharingan due to this slight mistake.

The eye technique, a genjutsu, began to activate the moment Kakuzu and Sasuke's eyes met.

However, Kakuzuka, who has survived from the Warring States period to the present day and has rich combat experience, is different from "young" guys like Hidan.

The moment Kakuzu realized he couldn't avoid making eye contact with the Sharingan, he began preparing to resist and break the Sharingan's genjutsu.

However, between Sasuke and Kakuzu, it was a battle of genjutsu and how to break genjutsu.

It was just a feint by Sasuke.

Besides the visual aspect.

Hearing can also be used to create illusions!

Kakuzu finally knows Tayuya's attack methods.

A short, sharp flute note was played by Duoyou.

Kakuzu, who was concentrating on resisting the Sharingan's illusion techniques, was caught off guard by Tayuya's flute music.

Kakuzu suddenly froze on the spot.

How long did Tayuya's sound illusion control Kakuzu?

One second?

Or less than a second.

But that was enough for the Sharingan to perceive and seize this fleeting opportunity to strike.

The Thousand Bird Spear once again materialized in Sasuke's hand and thrust towards Kakuzu from a distance.

A blue, spear-like bolt of lightning pierced through Kakuzu's chest and into his heart.

The sound of lightning is like the piercing cry of a thousand birds.

It seems as if they are weeping for the "death" of Kakuzu's heart.

Chapter 32 An Invitation to Cooperation

"What an amazing teamwork."

Asuma, whose burns had been effectively relieved by Sakura's treatment, also watched as Sasuke pierced Kakuzu's heart with the Chidori Spear.

In such a short time, they were able to probe Kakuzu's intelligence through cooperation and make decisive decisions. Even if their intelligence on Kakuzu was incomplete, they were able to use the enemy's actions to change tactics from the original feint attack and pull the enemy into their own battle rhythm.

Asuma couldn't help but recall the battle between Sasuke and Gaara during the Chunin Selection Exams finals three years prior.

Sasuke now possesses not only exceptional ninjutsu skills, but also outstanding tactical abilities.

"Ino, Sakura, who is your captain?"

Asma suddenly asked.

The threat from Akatsuki has subsided, but the Konoha ninja are still in danger.

Whether it's Sasuke or Naruto.

Both of them were rogue ninja who escaped from Konoha.

The two, who had disappeared for three years, unexpectedly reappeared here.

Naruto and Sasuke's motives are unclear, coupled with their status as rogue ninja.

Perhaps Asmaban will soon have to fight them.

That's why Asuma asked Ino and Sakura who their team leader was.

Regarding the mission involving Akatsuki, of the three teams dispatched by the Fifth Hokage, Asuma's team was the first to carry out the mission.

Asuma only knew that the Fifth Hokage would arrange for two ninja teams to provide assistance later.

However, the specific personnel composition is unknown.

"Sakura, Choji, and I are led by Kakashi-sensei. The other team is Guy-sensei's Team 3, and I've already sent Choji to ask for backup!"

After all, Ino had been the Jonin who had guided her since childhood, so she could guess some of Asuma's thoughts.

Hearing Ino's answer, Asuma visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Kai and Kakashi.

Asuma had great confidence in the abilities of his two Jonin colleagues.

"Is that so? Then you two will join Asuma's team first, and then..."

Asuma glanced at Naruto and Sasuke again: "Next, we might have to fight Naruto and Sasuke."

Asuma's words surprised both Ino and Sakura.

"But... Asuma-sensei, didn't you just say that Naruto appeared in time and stopped that guy named Hidan from killing you with curse magic?... I think..."

Ino expressed her opinion.

The fact that Sasuke and Naruto were fighting in place of the Konoha ninja and the immortal duo of Akatsuki at this moment was also a reason why Ino developed some more emotional perspectives.

"Right, Sakura?"

Worried that she couldn't persuade Asuma on her own, Ino sought out her only helper at that moment.

Sakura looked at Ino, and of course she understood why Ino had said those things.

"I--"

Sakura was about to respond, but she only opened her mouth once.