Black threads sewn with gold forge this vessel,

Five hearts entwine to gamble with the heavens.

Do not speak of the Yama's ledger being cold

Among all desires, none surpass the lust for immortality.

"Your combat experience is leagues beneath mine."

Kakuzu's black tendrils slid from Ao's chest like venomous serpents, dragging with them a spray of blood.

The elite of the Hidden Mist's upper ranks froze, pupils losing all light, like a lantern snuffed out.

Thud.

Ao's body fell heavily into the mud, splattering red onto the hem of Kakuzu's robe.

The immortal who had roamed the shinobi world for ninety years didn't spare his fallen opponent a glance. He simply raised his thread-wrapped arm and crooked a finger toward the main camp of the Allied Shinobi Forces.

"Come."

"Next."

His hoarse voice, carried on chakra, rolled across the battlefield.

The Hidden Rain shinobi erupted in cheers beneath the downpour, shouting that Lord Kakuzu was unmatched under heaven.

Beneath the sunlight on the coalition's side, the mood turned grim. The opening clash had been lost, morale shaken. Ao was no ordinary fighter his name carried weight across the ninja world.

At that moment, Kakuzu stood as the undisputed centerpiece of the battlefield.

Mei Terumī's nails dug into her palms. She had been too slow to intervene Ao hadn't just failed to win, he'd been felled in only a handful of exchanges by a fully committed Kakuzu.

This was in full view of nearly all the alliance leadership save for the supreme commander Hiruzen Sarutobi, currently back at headquarters managing logistics.

Yet their so-called allies stood idle. Mei could understand herself, a ninjutsu specialist, being caught too far to react but what about the brawny Cloud shinobi? Were they too slow as well?

Hearing Kakuzu's arrogant provocation, her fury only deepened. She was about to step forward herself to avenge Ao when her Hidden Mist retainers seized her arms, urgently pleading:

"Lady Mizukage, you mustn't take such a risk!"

"Please, think twice you cannot be injured."

"You have to command the Mist!"

The trusted veteran who had helped her restore order to the village had been struck down in moments. Mei struggled to accept it.

Just last night, he had promised her We will win.

Then came the whispers from other villages' shinobi, slithering into her ears like snakes:

"The Mist really has fallen."

"If it were one of our elites…"

"I heard Ao's Byakugan was stolen anyway…"

A bitter loss, and not only did their allies fail to console them they added insult to injury.

This so-called five-nation alliance… perhaps it was already doomed.

The Mist's prestige hadn't just failed to rise it had plummeted.

Mei's head swam.

Old man Ōnoki snorted in disdain. "The Mist volunteered for this fight, and that's all you've got? Your famed jōnin Ao might not even measure up to my granddaughter Kurotsuchi."

From the Sand, Chiyo busied herself with polishing a nearby puppet, as if it had nothing to do with her.

The Cloud's Killer B adjusted his sunglasses and sang in his usual rhyming cadence, "Yesterday we wanted to take the stage, yeah The Mist just had to snatch it away, yeah~"

You've got some nerve to sing your own village's in shambles.

Mei, who'd actually enjoyed B's music the day before, now snapped and shouted: "Then why don't you go up now! Go fight! And you, old man Ōnoki send your granddaughter and see if she's stronger than Ao!"

"Shame my granddaughter isn't at the front today," Ōnoki replied with a smug grin from midair, "or Kakuzu's head would be rolling."

B just kept singing: "Morning mist ain't gone, Ao's Byakugan's done Ōnoki floats above, talkin' like it's fun~"

"That's it you've got no shame!" Mei roared. "If your Cloud has even a shred of honor, go fight them now!"

B's smile faded into a serious tone. "If the commander orders it, the Cloud will fight Akatsuki to the death right this moment."

Strong words but his arms stayed folded.

The young Mizukage was learning her lesson today. Pointing at the Cloud, then at the Stone, her hand trembled with rage. "Fine. I'll go to headquarters right now and get the order for your Cloud to move."

She turned and stormed off with her Mist bodyguards in tow.

Ōnoki chuckled aloud. Too young, far too young. Is there no one left in the Mist?

Out of the corner of his eye, he studied Killer B. And what exactly is that stubborn fool from the Cloud thinking?

On the Leaf's side, with the Hokage and Jiraiya both absent from the front, Kakashi held command.

Seeing Ao fall, Yamato prepared to step forward to make his mark.

Guy moved to back him up after Ao's fate, it seemed wiser to keep the support close.

But Kakashi, at the very front, laid a hand on Yamato's shoulder and shook his head slightly. His voice was low: "Wait a little longer. The time isn't right yet."

In the center of the field, Kakuzu's mouth curled beneath his black mask. He casually pressed Ao's corpse to a bounty slip and tossed it over his shoulder without a glance.

"Catch."

Hidan snagged the body one-handed, his scythe spinning lazily before he complained, "You're making money even in the middle of a war, huh? Better hope you live long enough to spend it."

"Hmph. None of them are my match."

A green glint lit Kakuzu's eyes. "When I fought the First Hokage, their grandfathers hadn't even been born."

Hidan clicked his tongue, letting the boast slide. This fight had been impressive Ao was no pushover, and Kakuzu's tricks were mostly exposed, yet the man had crushed him with a relentless storm of all five elemental styles.

Ao had barely shouted, "I've seen through you Water Style: Water Dragon Palm!" before Kakuzu answered with a feinting Dark Earth technique, flooding the field with his five elemental masks.

While Ao reeled, the main body circled behind. One stab over.

High above, Deidara lounged on his clay bird, one hand propping his head, the other idly kneading clay. "Hmm… not bad, Kakuzu. Wonder when I'll get my turn."

Kakuzu's gaze swept the coalition lines, pride swelling. Truly, I am a man of both brains and brawn. That Nagato was blessed to recruit me.

He called out again, "So this is all the great Allied Forces have to offer?"

From a tall spire at the battlefield's edge, Sasori looked down, his eyes narrowing past Kakuzu to fix on an old woman in the coalition ranks.

At his side stood what passed for the Rain's finest shinobi picked from the small nation's best.

They were ecstatic at Kakuzu's victory. A small nation defeating a great power such a thing hadn't been seen since Hanzo's era.

Now, with "God" and "Angel" at their helm, the Rain's glory was returning.

Perhaps one day, they might even rise to become the sixth great nation.

They couldn't help asking, "Lord Sasori, when will we join the battle?"

Sasori's voice was flat and cold. "Wait a little longer. The time isn't right yet."

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