Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 143: Subha Trimurti Invocation

Tonari's expression darkened as he muttered a single name.

"Kakuzu."

Hearing this, Kakuzu's eyebrows twitched.

"You know me?"

"I know more about you than you might think," Tonari replied coldly. "A bounty hunter abusing the secret art of the Hidden Waterfall Village, the Earth Grudge Fear. A man who worships money above all else. What do you think would happen if I exposed the details of your abilities to the world?

"What if your enemies learned that you rely on five hearts to survive? It wouldn't matter how strong you are. Once they understand your secrets, they'll set traps for you. Even with five hearts, you can still die if the method is right!"

Tonari's words were a gamble. He wasn't sure he could defeat Kakuzu, but intimidation might work in his favor.

Kakuzu's face darkened further at Tonari's remarks. He had assumed Tonari was unaware of his true identity and abilities, and he had planned to kill him swiftly to prevent any leaks. But now, it seemed the boy knew far too much.

For the first time in years, doubt crept into Kakuzu's mind.

Seeing Kakuzu hesitate, Tonari felt a glimmer of hope. If he could scare Kakuzu into retreating, he might survive this encounter.

But just as Tonari's tension began to ease, Kakuzu suddenly moved.

Sparks of lightning chakra enveloped his body, increasing his speed exponentially. His killing intent was clear—this boy, who knew too much, had to die.

Kakuzu realized that sparing Tonari could lead to devastating consequences for his operations in the bounty hunter world. Even if it meant inciting the wrath of Konoha's elites, he was confident he could lay low until the heat died down.

The moment of hesitation was gone. Kakuzu's resolve was solidified.

---

With renewed determination, Kakuzu's two shoulder-mounted masks—one for fire release, the other for wind—began spewing devastating jutsu.

"Wind Release: Pressure Damage!"

"Fire Release: Head Burning Jutsu!"

The combined attack amplified the power of both elements, creating an overwhelming inferno.

Tonari reacted swiftly, forming hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A barrier of water rose to intercept the attack, but it was no match for the enhanced firepower. The water evaporated almost instantly, forcing Tonari to retreat.

The relentless assault left him with little room to maneuver. Kakuzu's masks continued to unleash jutsu, and his enhanced speed made him a constant threat.

Tonari's own attacks, such as his Mouse Tail Ball, were swiftly countered. The sheer frequency and power of Kakuzu's techniques overwhelmed him, leaving him with no opportunity to counterattack effectively.

"Damn it," Tonari muttered under his breath. "At this rate, I won't last a minute."

His mind raced for a solution. Even with his enhanced reflexes and the Two-Tails' chakra cloak, the gap between them was immense.

As Kakuzu closed the distance, his shoulder-mounted lightning mask launched a piercing Lightning Release: False Darkness attack.

Tonari barely dodged, but the attack left a massive crater in its wake. It was clear Kakuzu was holding nothing back.

---

Tonari's desperation grew as Kakuzu pressed the attack. Finally, he decided to take a risk. Reaching into his pouch, he retrieved a blue-purple pill—an enhanced stimulant for lightning chakra.

"This better work," Tonari muttered. He swallowed the pill without hesitation.

The effect was immediate. Bolts of lightning erupted from his body, surging with uncontrollable intensity. The pain was excruciating—his skin turned crimson, and his body felt like it was being cooked alive.

Even Kakuzu was momentarily forced to retreat from the sheer power emanating from Tonari.

"Unbelievable," Kakuzu muttered. "He's still getting stronger."

Despite the agony, Tonari grinned. His body screamed in protest, but the sudden surge of power gave him a newfound advantage.

"Let's see if you can keep up now," Tonari said, his voice low and menacing.

In an instant, Tonari vanished, his speed boosted to unprecedented levels by the lightning chakra.

---

Kakuzu wasn't caught off guard, though. His experience allowed him to predict Tonari's movements. The masks on his back split off, each unleashing powerful elemental jutsu to cover all angles.

For a moment, it seemed Tonari couldn't break through. Kakuzu's defense was airtight, bolstered by the countless black threads of his Earth Grudge Fear technique.

But Tonari wasn't finished yet.

He began forming a long sequence of hand seals, channeling the last of his Two-Tails chakra. A mystical formation appeared in the air above him, glowing with an otherworldly light.

"Secret Art: Subha Trimurti Invocation!"

From the formation, three spirit beasts emerged—representing the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird. Each beast was adorned with a distinctive white mask, their presence exuding an overwhelming aura of power.

"What... is this?" Kakuzu muttered, his green eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.

The masked beasts immediately took action, engaging Kakuzu's masks in a fierce battle. The Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird dominated the skies, while the White Tiger prowled on land.

For the first time, Kakuzu found himself evenly matched.

---

With his spirit beasts occupying Kakuzu's masks, Tonari turned his attention to Kakuzu himself. Though his own chakra reserves were nearly depleted, he pushed forward, using his enhanced speed and the remaining energy from the stimulant pill.

Their blades clashed, sparks flying as lightning and black threads intertwined in a deadly dance.

"You... what are you?" Kakuzu demanded, his voice tinged with frustration.

Tonari smirked through his exhaustion. "Just a special Jōnin from Konoha."

Kakuzu clenched his fists. He had underestimated this "Chūnin" from the beginning, and it had cost him dearly. The loss of two hearts—one to Tonari's initial surprise attack and another to the relentless assault of the Subha Trimurti Invocation—was a significant blow.

But Kakuzu wasn't done yet.

His remaining masks returned to his side, and his body bristled with black threads. The battle was far from over.

---

As Tonari stood ready to face Kakuzu's next move, blood dripping from his wounds, he clenched his blade tightly. His chest burned where Kakuzu's lightning attack had grazed him, and his vision blurred from exhaustion.

But he wasn't giving up.

Not yet.

End of Chapter

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