Chapter 556: Setback

"You damned monster, if you've got the guts, don't run!"

An angry roar spread across the battlefield.

A clattering chain sound, clear and pleasant, echoed in everyone's hearts.

Roar!

A beast's dying wail came; a figure wearing a red mask, its body entirely made of vein-like monsters, collapsed to the ground.

"Heh, the sealing technique of the Whirlpool Clan, I've also heard of it. If you don't run, are you just going to stay put and wait to die?"

He shifted his body, made a few slick steps, then nimbly leapt, relying on his rich experience to dodge the golden chains that suddenly burst from the ground beneath his feet.

His green eyes scanned around, locked onto a direction, and like a predatory beast, he charged toward a distant selected target.

The Whirlpool woman behind him is truly troublesome, especially her chains—not only are they astonishingly powerful, but more terrifyingly, they can suppress chakra.

If it weren't for his Earth Resentment, which is also weird and unfathomable, he would probably die again right now.

"It's you!"

Looking at the ninja before him, who had become fearful and uneasy due to his imposing aura, Kakuzu furrowed his brows.

Just an elite Chunin.

Too weak.

But now, with the situation urgent, he couldn't worry about that.

"Being able to merge with me is your honor!"

He swayed his body to the right, and when the opponent was about to defend, he suddenly changed direction, causing the elite Chunin's defensive stance to falter.

Kakuzu seized the opponent's opening, thrust forward, and grabbed their throat in one motion.

"Really persistent!"

Dragging the guy whose eyes were already rolling back, dodging the chains attacking from behind, Kakuzu, while evading, sent clusters of black tendrils surging toward the captive's chest.

"I… I'll slaughter you!"

Watching helplessly as another allied ninja had his heart taken by that guy, Kushina's bright red hair, due to her anger, began to float upward.

Just like the red octopus on her head—not hair—wildly waving its tentacles.

No, it's nine claws!

Swish!

A sharp sound of air being ripped apart, mixed with a gust of wind blowing in his face, scattered Kakuzu's long hair and drastically changed his expression.

"Hmph, you're the real monster!"

After dodging Kushina's astonishingly fast assault again, Kakuzu casually tossed aside the lifeless, useless burden.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the gold-red afterimage behind him, feeling the terrifying chakra emanating from the opponent, and his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Could this chakra be that of a Nine-Tails jinchuriki?

Boom!

Mmm~

One Earth Resentment clone was destroyed.

He grunted; though he felt no pain, Kakuzu still felt dizzy. Fortunately, his earth-attributed heart was still there, and his hardening technique was easy to use; otherwise, this punch would have cost him more than just a heart.

"Really troublesome—just a moment's distraction, and you seized the chance to shatter this newly acquired heart."

"But it's fine; this place is my hunting ground, I can replenish anytime."

Still wary, Kakuzu stepped back two steps, looked at Kushina still in her rage, turned, and charged toward the distant allied forces.

As an old man who has 'survived' since the Warring States period, he knows who can be provoked and who cannot.

As for fleeing, that goes without saying.

"Don't even think about escaping!"

Gold-red chakra erupted again; the enraged Kushina, with six golden chains behind her, together with her own chakra, transformed into a sky-full of tendrils that attacked the agilely dodging Kakuzu.

But this damned guy, each time, could calmly dodge—or rather, anticipate—her attacks.

This made the repeatedly failing Kushina grow increasingly irritable.

Especially after seeing this guy kill another allied ninja once more, her irritation peaked.

"Nine Lama!"

Deep inside, Kushina shouted at the crimson fox in the cage; the meaning went without saying.

"Hmph, without my help, you can't even handle a foot soldier; you really disgrace me. As for the other half, the Eight-Tails would probably die laughing."

Lying still in the cage, the Nine-Tails' huge eyes opened a narrow slit, revealing a scarlet, blinding light, speaking with mockery.

Even if it can suppress me, needing help for such a trivial matter… truly, one thing subdues another!

"Enough talk—just say whether you'll help or not!"

Kushina had no choice; Kakuzu's abilities were too strange, and his survival methods were varied.

Apart from sealing techniques, all she could bring to bear was her massive chakra and the Diamond Seal behind her.

She's quite adept at dealing with straightforward blade and spear attacks, but against an opponent whose experience is perverse and whose methods are varied, she finds herself somewhat overwhelmed.

Especially since the opponent also seems to understand sealing techniques and Whirlpool secret arts, having foiled several of her ambushes.

"Heh, is this your attitude when asking for help?"

Seeing Kushina's annoyed look, the Nine-Tails' nine tails rose and began to sway unconsciously, seeming quite pleased.

"That corpse, even I find it unpleasant." After a pause, the Nine-Tails continued: "Considering our many years of acquaintance, I'll grudgingly help you."

Sigh.

Hearing the Nine-Tails agree to help, Kushina was visibly stunned, took a moment to react, and even thought she'd misheard.

"Really?"

She originally thought the Nine-Tails would sternly refuse and then properly mock herself.

"Really… a hypocritical guy!"

The corners of her mouth lifted, her eyes and brows curved into a lovely arc, and Kushina laughed very happily.

"Nonsense!"

Just like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, its fur all standing on end, the Nine-Tails suddenly rose up and let out an angry roar.

"The life or death of you humans has nothing to do with this old man."

"I just don't want to lose face in front of the Eight-Tails and another one before me!"

"Yes yes yes!"

She pursed her lips; Kushina was already used to the Nine-Tails' fur standing on end.

"Please take care of the rest!"

As soon as her words fell, she disappeared into the sealed space, while the external Kushina, wearing the golden‑red Nine‑Tails Mode, began to change rapidly.

"This time, let's see where you run!"

With the expansion of chakra, a huge Nine-Tails made entirely of chakra appeared on the battlefield.

This is also why she called upon the Nine-Tails; if she merely used the Nine-Tails' chakra, she could do it without the Nine-Tails' consent.

But if she wanted to achieve a tailed beast transformation, without the other party's cooperation, she alone could not possibly do it.