Kakuzu moved with extreme speed. While still airborne, he drew back his right fist and brought it crashing down towards Tatsuya's head. Tatsuya could clearly see the tell-tale signs of Earth Release: Hardening Technique reinforcing Kakuzu's fist.
Reacting instantly, Tatsuya leaped backward while his hands blurred through seals.
BOOM!
The large tree where Tatsuya had been standing moments before was splintered and destroyed by the force of Kakuzu's punch.
Poof! Poof!
Two plumes of white smoke erupted as Tatsuya summoned two shadow clones, positioning them to his left and right. As soon as they appeared, both clones produced sealing scrolls, unleashing a barrage of kunai and shuriken towards Kakuzu.
Tatsuya had no desire to engage a 'tentacle monster' like Kakuzu in close-quarters combat. One wrong move, and he could easily get entangled in those bizarre Earth Grudge Fear threads.
Faced with the incoming storm of blades from both sides, Kakuzu's form abruptly accelerated, becoming a blur in mid-air as he effortlessly evaded the attack.
While the shadow clones kept Kakuzu momentarily occupied, Tatsuya's main body rapidly formed the seals for another technique.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A roaring dragon formed of flames surged forth, perfectly timed to intercept Kakuzu.
Having just dodged the kunai and shuriken, Kakuzu's expression shifted slightly; there was no time to evade this. His hands flew through a different set of seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
A solid wall of earth erupted from the ground beneath Kakuzu.
CRASH!
The fire dragon collided violently with the earthen wall, triggering a massive explosion. Thick smoke and dust billowed outwards.
Before the sound of the impact faded, Kakuzu's figure shot out from the dispersing smoke, appearing instantly before one of Tatsuya's shadow clones. A vicious punch struck the clone's vital point. Simultaneously, the black threads composing Kakuzu's left arm unraveled, lashing out like tendrils towards the other shadow clone.
In an instant, both shadow clones dissipated under Kakuzu's assault.
With the clones eliminated, Kakuzu continued his charge without pause, targeting Tatsuya's real body.
This time, Tatsuya didn't retreat. His right fist instantly swelled in size as he met Kakuzu's charge head-on.
BAM!
A heavy impact resounded. Kakuzu's body was sent flying backward, crashing through two large trees before coming to a stop.
Pressing his advantage, Tatsuya didn't hesitate.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive sphere of fire erupted from Tatsuya's mouth, scorching a trench in the ground as it hurtled towards Kakuzu.
BOOM!
Amidst the roaring explosion of flames, Kakuzu's figure was engulfed.
Swish!
From within the inferno, countless black threads suddenly shot out, wrapping around a nearby tree. They contracted instantly, pulling Kakuzu's body clear of the flames.
Kakuzu no longer possessed his earlier composure. Large sections of his Akatsuki cloak were burned away, and several stitches on his body had ripped open, revealing the dense network of black threads beneath – a sight unnerving enough to make one's scalp crawl.
Standing on a tree branch, Kakuzu glared down at Tatsuya, his expression grim. Tatsuya's swift and powerful counter-punch had caught him slightly off guard, dealing minor damage. To be put in such a state after a mere probing exchange… Akimichi Tatsuya, the secret technique user from Konoha, truly lives up to his reputation, Kakuzu thought, a flicker of caution entering his mind.
Across from him, Tatsuya watched Kakuzu emerge relatively unharmed and couldn't help but grimace inwardly. Truly an undying monster! It seemed defeating him would indeed be difficult without a ninjutsu capable of wide-range, lethal damage.
Since he had gained the upper hand in the brief exchange, Tatsuya didn't press his attack recklessly.
"Akimichi Tatsuya," Kakuzu called out from the treetop after observing Tatsuya for a moment. "I'll let you keep your head for now. I'll be back for it later!" With that parting threat, he turned and leaped away.
Tatsuya watched Kakuzu depart with a calm expression, making no move to pursue. Looks like I've caught Akatsuki's attention now. This encounter was likely just Kakuzu testing the waters after happening upon him by chance.
Tatsuya remained where he was for a few moments, confirming Kakuzu had truly left, before turning and continuing on his way.
Not long after Tatsuya departed, from a dense thicket some distance away from the battle site, another figure slowly emerged. It was a woman with a slender build, dressed in a form-fitting shinobi outfit.
It was Uchiha Misuke.
She, too, happened to be returning to Konoha. She had coincidentally encountered Tatsuya at the underground black market the previous night. At the time, however, Tatsuya's attention had been entirely focused on Kakuzu, and he hadn't noticed her presence. But Misuke had recognized Tatsuya immediately.
Today, after leaving Yamagen Town, Misuke had discreetly followed both individuals from afar. Relying on the keen perception of her Sharingan, she had witnessed their brief but intense skirmish.
Where did that ninja come from? He's incredibly strong! Misuke thought, staring grimly in the direction Kakuzu had disappeared. Anyone capable of making Akimichi Tatsuya act so cautiously was definitely no ordinary shinobi. The sheer chakra fluctuations and the intensity of their probing attacks hinted at their power.
"Akimichi Tatsuya..." Misuke murmured, her gaze shifting towards the direction Tatsuya had taken. After a moment, her form flickered, and she followed him.
Her trip to the Land of Fields had been brief and ultimately fruitless. Stationed in Yamanashi Castle, she had worked with the Uchiha clan's local assets to covertly investigate Ansei Hall from top to bottom but had found nothing substantial. The only prevalent thing was the widespread rumor about Uchiha Madara. Ansei Hall seemed unfazed by external scrutiny, operating openly. Aside from matters concerning their formulas and physicians, they allowed inquiries into most other aspects of their business. Consequently, Misuke quickly ran out of leads. Unable to gather any useful intelligence, she had decided to return to the village, unexpectedly crossing paths with Tatsuya along the way.
Misuke trailed Tatsuya from a distance. They were now quite close to Konoha. Suddenly, as she followed, Misuke froze.
"Are you a member of the village's ANBU?"
From the shadows nearby, Tatsuya stepped out, studying Misuke intently for a moment.
Misuke turned to face him, her eyes locking onto his. Her expression was a complex, unreadable mixture – gravity, hatred, and yet, a measure of admiration and respect flickered within them.
"You're not ANBU," Tatsuya observed, frowning slightly. "Who are you?"
After a moment of silence, Misuke finally spoke, her voice chillingly calm. "Did you truly kill Uchiha Teru?"
Hearing her question, realization dawned on Tatsuya. His eyelids lowered slightly as he responded in a low voice, "You're from the Uchiha clan?" The woman before him possessed a mature beauty tinged with a warrior's spirit. A shame, he thought. It seems she's destined to stand against me.
He didn't deny it! Seeing Tatsuya's reaction, Misuke's body trembled slightly as the implication struck her.
"Then die!" she suddenly hissed, her voice laced with ice. The various emotions warring in her eyes resolved into cold fury.
In the next instant, Misuke vanished. Using the Body Flicker Technique, she reappeared directly in front of Tatsuya, her eyes blazing with the crimson glow of the fully activated three-tomoe Sharingan.