Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

Strange phenomena suddenly occurred on the battlefield.

……

Sasuke felt the sensation from the Chidori Sharp Spear.

The fact that the Chidori spear had struck Kakuzu's heart was clearly conveyed to Sasuke through touch.

However, Kakuzu's chakra from his Sharingan still permeated his entire body.

The conclusion is that even if the bullet pierces his heart, Kakuzu will still not die.

Sasuke felt troubled by Kakuzu's abilities, which had not yet been fully revealed.

The Sharingan detected another massive amount of chakra shooting towards Kakuzu.

Sasuke seized the opportunity to use Chidori Sharp Spear, thanks to Kakuzu's genjutsu control that lasted less than a second.

Naruto had been waiting for an opportunity to strike.

The Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, spinning and flying like a shuriken, struck Kakuzu, who was unable to sense or dodge it at that moment.

Sasuke also witnessed the full power of Wind Release: Rasenshuriken using his Sharingan.

Wind Release: Rasenshuriken compensates for the Rasengan's weakness of only being usable in close combat.

The Rasenshuriken, incorporating wind-related properties, not only inherits the destructive power of the Rasengan, but can even be said to surpass it.

Sasuke's Sharingan could see that the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken began to spin rapidly upon contact with Kakuzu's body, the wind like piercing needles, destroying Kakuzu's body from the cellular level.

By the time Kakuzu's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken chakra was exhausted, his body had become mangled and broken.

In terms of power alone, Sasuke was well aware that Naruto's move surpassed the ninjutsu he had developed over the past three years, which involved various transformations of Chidori.

Only that lightning ninjutsu used against Itachi... might have comparable destructive power to Naruto's wind jutsu: Rasenshuriken.

Kakuzu, who was hit by the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, was finally considered dead this time, thanks to Sasuke's Sharingan.

With Kakuzu's confirmed death.

Kakuzu's corpse suddenly swelled up, and countless black lines broke free from his body.

Then these black lines coalesced into four tall, strange "creatures".

Each of the four groups of "creatures" uses an animal mask as their face.

Three masks were covered in cracks, and one mask was broken with a hole through it.

These strange "creatures" let out mournful cries before they "died," turning into a ball of pitch-black thread.

So that's how it is... He has more than one heart.

Sasuke finally understood why Kakuzu didn't die even after his heart was pierced.

Naruto's Wind Release: Rasenshuriken destroyed Kakuzu's entire heart in one strike.

"That ninjutsu..."

The Sound Four, who were with Sasuke, also put aside their previous contempt for Naruto.

Naruto didn't care about their attitude towards him.

For Sasuke, who was fighting while probing for Kakuzu's information, it was already his limit to take down one of Kakuzu's five hearts in the first battle.

At least compared to those so-called Jonin of Konoha—like Sarutobi Asuma, who is right here.

Sasuke's ninjutsu and tactics, and even his teamwork with his teammates, are what make him worthy of the title of a ninja.

But Sasuke is different from Naruto; he doesn't know Kakuzu's ultimate secret technique.

If left unattended, Kakuzu, having broken free from the illusion's shackles, will inevitably enter the state of "Earth Grudge".

Sasuke's appearance has made things simpler.

Naruto doesn't want things to develop the way they did in the original story, which would make things complicated.

"Sasuke."

Naruto suddenly took the initiative to call out to Sasuke.

"what?"

Sasuke's response was not enthusiastic; in fact, he was quite indifferent to Naruto.

But at least there was a response.

If there is a response, then... information exchange can take place.

"You consider Akatsuki your enemy because of Itachi Uchiha?"

"It seems you gathered some good intelligence during your three-year absence."

Sasuke did not deny it, nor did he ask Naruto why he was also there to attack Akatsuki.

Whether it was Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, the Akatsuki duo who appeared in Konoha three years ago, or Orochimaru, who unilaterally broke away from Akatsuki and became a traitor, both made Sasuke understand Akatsuki's obsession with the Tailed Beasts.

As the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Naruto was naturally at odds with Akatsuki, making it only natural that they became enemies.

“My enemy is also ‘Akatsuki,’ so perhaps we can cooperate.”

Before Sasuke could react, Naruto raised his hand and stretched it out—his hand was holding Hidan's head.

"Damn it! Stop pulling my hair!"

Hidan, with only his head remaining, is still alive.

As if annoyed by Hidan's incessant chatter, Naruto tossed Hidan's head toward Sasuke.

Sasuke, however, had no intention of taking over.

Just as Hidan's head was about to smash down in front of Sasuke, Tayuya reached out and caught Hidan's head.

She also grabbed Hidan's hair with the same precision.

"Your genjutsu worked on this guy, didn't it? Maybe he can tell you information about Itachi Uchiha."

"How dare you look down on me like that! You arrogant brats, the gods will surely curse you...!"

Whether it's Naruto or Sasuke, Hidan always seems unable to control his mouth.

But unlike Naruto, Sasuke has a way of silencing Hidan.

Sasuke's red eyes shifted downwards, looking into Hidan's eyes.

With just a casual glance, the unlearned Hidan once again fell under the control of the Sharingan's genjutsu.

Sasuke didn't seem to take Naruto's suggestion to cooperate against Akatsuki seriously at all.

His purpose in appearing here has been achieved: to weaken Akatsuki's strength and prevent them from stopping his revenge against Itachi.

"Let's go."

Sensing the familiar chakra approaching, Sasuke gave orders to the Sound Four beside him.

Sakon and Ukon, who hadn't participated in the previous battle with Akatsuki, formed hand seals, and Sasuke and the Sound Four transformed into a wisp of white smoke, drifting away in the wind.

"Naruto, there are several streams of chakra approaching here."

Karin also whispered a reminder to Naruto.

But Naruto made the exact opposite choice to Sasuke.

He stayed there, waiting for the familiar faces to arrive.

Chapter 33 Luring the Enemy

The ninjas who came to help were all familiar faces to Naruto.

One of the chakra energies belonged to Choji, who had left the group to seek help instead of coming with Ino and Sakura.

Naruto didn't leave because he sensed the presence of Kakashi Hatake, the Jonin who led Team 7 among the ninjas who came to provide support.

The first to arrive was Puck, the pug that Kakashi most often summons among the ninja dogs he has contracted.

Then, the third team consisted of Might Guy, Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten;

Kakashi Hatake and Choji Akimichi also landed at the same time.

They stood in front of Asmaban.

They faced Naruto and Karin with a battle-ready stance.

Naruto, on the other hand, looked on with a relaxed and interested expression as he watched Choji and the three members of Team 3.

The clothing and appearance of these four Konoha Twelve when they were sixteen or seventeen years old three years later were not much different from those in the original work.

However, Naruto and Team 3 are not familiar with each other now. Naruto and they only met once three years ago during the Chunin Selection Exams—when Rock Lee started "picking fights" first.

While Naruto was observing them, they were also observing Naruto, who had disappeared for three years after defecting from Konoha.

Although Sasuke's whereabouts were difficult to find, Konoha at least knew that Sasuke was by Orochimaru's side.

Naruto completely disappeared, only to suddenly reappear three years later.

"Sakura, where's Sasuke?"

Choji's plea for help had already alerted Kakashi, who was on his way to reunite with Team 3, to Sasuke's presence.

As for Naruto, Pakkun had already sensed Naruto's presence.

Therefore, Kakashi wasn't too surprised by Naruto's appearance.

Kakashi's gaze briefly fell on Kakuzu and Hidan, who had already become corpses.

Wearing black robes adorned with red auspicious clouds, the two men's identities as "Xiao" were easily recognizable.

"Sasuke has left."

Sakura's answer made Kakashi frown.

However, Kakashi didn't have time to guess why Sasuke left while Naruto stayed.

Kakashi had already drawn a shuriken from his ninja tool bag at lightning speed and shot it out, blocking the kunai flying towards him.

The shuriken and kunai collided in mid-air and landed together at the distance between Kakashi and Naruto.

"Naruto, you don't need to be in such a hurry to express how much you've missed me over the past three years."