Slayer: Look directly at the Seraph, standing on the sun

Chapter 812 Shield

At the same time, Aburame Shiki reacted quickly. He spread his arms, and a large number of black insects surged out from all over his body, densely gathering together to form a thick insect shield, attempting to block the incoming flames.

However, Kakuzu's composite ninjutsu was far more powerful than anyone could have imagined. The blazing flames crashed against the insect shield like a tsunami, instantly reducing the black insects to ashes before they could even scream. The flames, undiminished in their force, slammed into Hyuga Hizashi's Heavenly Rotation.

"boom!"

With a deafening roar, the Kaiten trembled violently. The flames were temporarily blocked, but the scorching heat penetrated the chakra barrier, mercilessly scorching Hyuga Hizashi within the Kaiten. His hair was instantly curled, waves of burning pain surged through his skin, and he could even smell the burning.

At this critical moment, a dark figure rushed out like a ghost.

Zhang Hai's expression turned solemn. He suddenly drew the Unintentional Blade from his back. The pitch-black blade traced an eerie arc in the air, making no sound, yet carrying an aura of deathly stillness.

"Sword Drawing Technique!"

With a soft shout from Zhang Hai, his figure seemed to merge with the blade, transforming into a bolt of lightning that flashed and disappeared in mid-air. This strike seemed to instantly suck away the surrounding air, creating a vacuum zone. Wherever that deathly, annihilating aura passed, the raging flames were forcibly pierced, revealing a narrow passage.

Zhang Hai's figure left a series of overlapping afterimages in the air, and the Unintentional Blade, with extreme speed, stabbed Kakuzu's body with precision and ruthlessness.

"Pfft!"

A soft thud sounded as flesh was being penetrated.

"break!"

Zhang Hai gave another soft shout, and his unintentional blade struck a vital point with pinpoint accuracy. Almost simultaneously, he and Kakuzu's figures plummeted from mid-air like two falling leaves.

Kakuzu crashed heavily to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with resentment. He stared wide-eyed at Zhang Hai and the other two, unable to close them.

Zhang Hai drew his Wuyi Blade expressionlessly, the blood droplet on the tip of the blade arcing through the air before he sheathed it with swift and decisive movements.

Hyuga Hizashi and Aburame Shiki slowly walked to Zhang Hai's side. Looking at Kakuzu on the ground with his eyes wide open and dead, both of them were filled with shock.

"This...this is Uchiha Shokai's swordsmanship?" Hyuga Hizashi muttered to himself, cold sweat beading on his forehead. In that instant, Shokai's man and sword became one; the speed and the exquisite skill of his swordsmanship completely exceeded his imagination. If it were him facing that strike, he would likely have no choice but to surrender and die without a fight.

Although Aburame Shiki wasn't good with words, his eyes also revealed the same shock. He knew that the power of Zhang Hai's strike just now was far beyond what ordinary taijutsu or ninjutsu could match.

"Zhang Haijun, now that the mission is complete, shouldn't we bring Kakuzu's body back to Konoha?" Hyuga Hizashi asked respectfully, his tone tinged with caution.

However, just as Hyuga Hizashi finished speaking, Kakuzu, who was supposed to be "dead," suddenly trembled. His bloodshot eyes suddenly flashed with a frenzied resentment, and as if in a final burst of energy, he trembled and pulled an explosive tag from his pocket.

"Bastards... Don't even think about... Don't even think about taking my body!!" Kakuzu roared, his voice hoarse and twisted, "Since we're going to die anyway... let's go to hell together!"

Hyuga Hizashi's expression changed drastically; he never expected Kakuzu to have such a backup plan! He reflexively gathered chakra again and used "Rotation" for absolute defense.

"boom!"

The explosive tag detonated instantly, and a deafening roar echoed through the valley. The powerful blast wave kicked up a cloud of dust, completely engulfing the area where Kakuzu was standing. A deep crater was blasted into the ground, and charred marks spread outwards.

Once the dust settled, the three emerged from the shock of the explosion and gazed at the ground that had been reduced to ruins.

The oil-woman Zhiwei immediately released some small black insects, which quickly flew towards the center of the explosion to investigate. Moments later, the insects returned to Zhiwei's side with feedback.

“Kakuzu’s body… is completely destroyed, with no intact parts left,” Aburame Shiki said in a low voice.

Hyuga Hizashi sighed, a complex expression on his face: "I didn't expect Kakuzu to be so resolute, preferring to self-destruct rather than leave behind a corpse. What a dangerous guy."

Zhang Hai's expression didn't change much; he seemed to have anticipated this outcome. He calmly said, "Now that Kakuzu is dead, the pursuit mission is complete. As per the Hokage's orders, I will proceed directly to the Iwagakure battlefield to provide support."

"Senior Rishiya, Senior Shiwei, farewell." Zhang Hai nodded slightly to the two and turned to leave.

"Take care, Zhang Haijun," Hyuga Hizashi said, bowing slightly.

Yu Nu Zhiwei nodded slightly, as if to say goodbye.

Zhang Hai said nothing more, and with a flash, disappeared from their sight. He wasn't actually heading to the Hidden Rock Battlefield, but rather, according to his previous plan, he went straight to a nearby stream.

When he reached the riverbank, he indeed saw a familiar figure. Kakuzu was shirtless, his body covered in eerie black lines like spiderwebs—a characteristic of his "Earth Grudge Fear" technique. In his hand, he held a tattered mask, the container he used to store his heart.

"Uncle, I didn't expect you to solve it so quickly." Zhang Hai stepped forward, a smile appearing on his lips.

Kakuzu turned his head, his eyes, hidden in the black lines, staring at Zhang Hai, a hint of surprise flashing in them: "Your swordsmanship... is stronger than before. I originally thought it would take at least more of my strength."

"Uncle, you flatter me. It was just a fluke," Zhang Hai said modestly, but he knew in his heart that the strike he had just made had indeed reached the pinnacle of his current swordsmanship.

“Now that you’re wearing a shattered mask, it seems you need to get your heart replaced,” Zhang Hai said.

"Hmph, those Konoha idiots, they thought I was really dead." Kakuzu sneered, tossing the shattered mask aside. "Let's go find a lone guy, I need a new heart."

The two immediately set off. Not long after, they discovered a lone Earth Release ninja in the forest. The ninja was clearly a scout from Iwagakure, highly vigilant, but utterly powerless against the combined attack of Zhang Hai and Kakuzu.

Zhang Hai did not make a direct move, but instead let Kakuzu deal with the ninja on his own. Kakuzu's "Earth Grudge Fear" secret technique was activated instantly, black lines surged from his body, wrapped around the ninja like tentacles, and then mercilessly snatched his heart.

After receiving a new heart, Kakuzu's aura became noticeably stronger.

“Now, let’s go to Sunagakure.” Zhang Hai took out an eagle puppet, which he had prepared beforehand. “We’ll ride this.”