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"Surrender?!"
With a cold laugh, Kakuzu lunged forward, his figure blurring as he charged straight at Qin Yi. His plan was clear— capture the QinKage, and escape would naturally follow.
He moved with blistering speed, closing the distance in an instant. His expression twisted into a fierce snarl as he zeroed in on the man wearing the QinKage's hat.
"I think it's you who should surrender!"
With a low growl, Kakuzu's right hand shot forward, a dark-lustered kunai slicing through the air.
But just as the blade was about to reach its mark, his expression shifted drastically. His pupils constricted. Qin Yi's figure bent unnaturally, dodging the kunai at an impossible angle. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Kakuzu, his speed even faster than the rogue shinobi's own.
"Rasengan!"
A massive surge of chakra burst forth, slamming directly into Kakuzu's back. The force sent him hurtling through the air, crashing violently into a thick tree trunk. The impact cratered the bark, and his body folded inward like a broken marionette.
The sheer force would have left most opponents gravely injured—if not dead.
"This guy...!"
Kakuzu's wide eyes locked on Qin Yi. He felt it instantly— one of his hearts had burst. Just like that, without even a chance to retaliate, a piece of his life force was gone.
At the same time, the rest of his team faced a similar fate. Qin Yi's guards swiftly overwhelmed them. In mere moments, the proud shinobi of the Waterfall Hidden Village were reduced to Kakuzu alone.
"Crack!"
A chilling sound echoed as his body stirred. To the astonishment of the surrounding shinobi, his grievous wounds began to mend, flesh knitting together unnaturally. One heart down, but Kakuzu lived on.
Qin Yi's gaze sharpened. Without a word, he stepped forward, his figure vanishing in a flicker.
"That Body Flicker Technique...!"
Kakuzu's heart pounded. His eyes darted, but Qin Yi was already gone from view.
"Thud!"
A muted sound drew his gaze downward. There, embedded in his chest, was another kunai— piercing yet another heart.
"Too fast!"
"And those eyes...?!"
Kakuzu's thoughts spiraled. For a fleeting moment, his gaze met Qin Yi's. Crimson eyes gleamed, carrying an eerie, commanding presence. The King's Dignity emanated in waves, drowning Kakuzu in an oppressive force.
"Genjutsu: Royal Hall Technique!"
In an instant, the battlefield vanished.
Kakuzu found himself kneeling on a grand crimson carpet, stretching endlessly ahead. Towering stone pillars coiled with carved dragons lined the hall, their intricate scales gleaming like blood-streaked jade.
Ahead, massive white jade steps ascended to a throne unlike any other— a golden seat of absolute authority, resting beneath the heavens.
Upon that throne sat a figure clad in a black dragon robe. A curtain of jade beads obscured his face, but the crushing majesty that radiated from him was undeniable. His presence loomed, like a god judging the mortal world.
Kakuzu's body trembled involuntarily. He wanted to rise, but the weight of that gaze pinned him in place.
"Kakuzu."
The voice rang out like thunder, reverberating through the vast hall.
"Do you know your crime?"
His instinct was to submit— to bow and confess. But realization struck in a flash.
"A Genjutsu?!"
The illusion was flawless, overwhelming. Yet, despite the recognition, it was too late.
Back in the real world, Qin Yi stood with Kakuzu pinned beneath his foot. Without a moment's hesitation, his short blade flashed, a series of afterimages slicing through the air.
Two more hearts were pierced.
Kakuzu's body twitched. The rogue shinobi's strength slipped away, his defiance crushed beneath the king's will.
When Kakuzu regained consciousness, a cold blade was already pressed against his neck. His eyes widened in shock.
Sweat trickled down his forehead. Though he had managed to break free from the bizarre Genjutsu, the oppressive weight of the King's Dignity still lingered, leaving his spirit shaken and his mind dazed.
"Take him down," Qin Yi ordered coolly.
Without hesitation, the surrounding soldiers surged forward, forcefully subduing Kakuzu. Resistance only earned him a series of ruthless blows, further aggravating his injuries.
Qin Yi watched in silence, his eyes sharp and unreadable. Only when Kakuzu's body slumped and his eyes turned vacant did he step forward.
"Plunder."
With those two words, Kakuzu's soul was abruptly pulled from his body. Ethereal and trembling, it hovered in midair. The intricate details of his techniques, including his infamous Earth Grudge Fear, unfolded like ancient manuscripts, laid bare before Qin Yi's eyes.
Without a shred of hesitation, Qin Yi began extracting those powers, absorbing each one.
"Five Chakra natures," He murmured, a flicker of satisfaction in his gaze. "I was missing two. Now it's complete."
Lightning and Water. The final pieces had fallen into place.
After scanning through the remainder of Kakuzu's skills and finding nothing of further value, Qin Yi withdrew. The remnants of Kakuzu's soul scattered like dust.
"Lock him up. Interrogate him daily until he agrees to serve the Nation of Qin."
Qin Yi's voice was calm, yet resolute. A warrior of Kakuzu's caliber was not someone to be discarded. Despite being rendered powerless against him, Kakuzu's strength was undeniable— a true Kage-level shinobi.
Satisfied, Qin Yi turned and left.
Back in his office, the toll of the Plundering Technique became apparent. While Gandalf had warned him of no severe side effects, the lingering pain gnawed at his spirit like a relentless hammer blow. Few could endure such torment.
He rubbed his temples, the ache slowly dulling with time. An hour passed before the discomfort finally subsided. Only then did his thoughts return to the two newly acquired Chakra natures.
"Three attributes create Kekkei Tōta… which is already a terrifying force."
"But what if all five Chakra natures are fused? What kind of power would emerge?"
"Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Ball )?"
The possibility gleamed within his mind. The Truth-Seeking Ball, the pinnacle of Chakra manipulation. If he could master it now, the advantages would be immeasurable.
Determination lit his gaze. Qin Yi crossed his legs and closed his eyes, focusing entirely on the task ahead.
"Five attributes— merge!"
Instantly, the five distinct Chakras surged within him. Unlike the intricate balance of Jinton, which fused three natures, this attempt was exponentially more difficult. Colors flickered within his body, energies colliding and melding, their essence intertwining.
"It's difficult!"
The strain was immense, far greater than anticipated. Each pulse of Chakra devoured his reserves. Just the thought of the monstrous consumption required made Jinton pale in comparison. The Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Ball ) was no mere technique— it was a symbol of ultimate power.
An hour crawled by. The five natures, though reluctantly, began to converge. A minuscule speck emerged, no larger than a needle tip. Despite its size, it pulsed with a profound, enigmatic energy. The vibrant hues dimmed, coalescing into a single, ominous black point.
Sweat drenched Qin Yi's face as he opened his eyes. Before him, suspended in the air, was the fledgling form of a Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Ball ).
"Success?"
The tiny black sphere hovered, its presence radiating a quiet but undeniable force.
Qin Yi's lips curled into a faint smile. The path to mastering the Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Ball ) had only just begun.
(End of Chapter)