Chapter 57: Facing Death with a Smile

Tsunade stood up tremblingly, but in Kazuki's Sharingan, the chakra in her body was extremely disordered, and she did not have the conditions for her usual use of Chakra Enhanced Strength.

Even if she managed to summon Katsuyu, Kakuzu would only need to shed some blood in front of her to win the battle.

Tsunade actually understood this truth.

But what can be done?

No matter how talented Kazuki is, he can't resist an old monster of Kage level...

Asuma and Rin are just a burden.

Rin looked at Tsunade worriedly. As a medical-nin, she knew very well that Tsunade suffered from a serious psychological illness that prevented her from fighting.

Asuma also looked at Tsunade worriedly.

Tsunade smiled reluctantly and was about to say something to Kazuki who was frowning, but her pupils suddenly dilated.

Kazuki slowly cut open his finger with Muramasa and placed the red finger in front of Tsunade.

Staring at the blood-red, Tsunade suffocated again and shook all over.

Asuma looked at Kazuki in amazement, and Rin also had a shocked expression.

Kazuki shook his head slowly and sighed heavily. "In this state, letting Tsunade-sensei fight against Kakuzu, isn't it sending her to her death?"

Asuma was stunned for a moment, and after understanding, he nodded heavily.

What Kazuki said was right, but...

There was another problem that urgently needed to be solved.

What were they supposed to do in this situation? Tsunade couldn't fight, Kazuki was no match for Kakuzu, and both he and Rin were just a burden.

Were they really destined to die there?

At that moment, at the edge of the pine forest, a fire began to rise that seemed to set even the clouds in the sky on fire.

Asuma's pupils shrank suddenly, and he murmured: "He's found us! He's burning down the forest to catch us!"

But Kazuki, instead of being alarmed, smiled as if he had suddenly understood something. He called everyone and spoke calmly: "The situation is very simple now, Asuma, Rin, Tsunade-sensei, we must have one person stay as the bait, and delay time for the others as much as possible."

"Otherwise, we will all die here."

"So, now there is only one last question, who will be this person?"

Kazuki glanced at his companions present.

Nohara Rin was at a loss, not to mention whether he had the courage, but what could she do?

The same was true for Asuma, he was willing to cover for Kazuki, but the question was, would his covering be meaningful and valuable?

Tsunade was silent, too. The blood on Kazuki's finger could defeat her fighting spirit...

"Asuma, Rin, Tsunade-sensei, this candidate can only be me, no need to argue..."

Kazuki even laughed and said slowly: "Today, I will practice the will of fire!"

Asuma hurriedly shouted: "Kazuki, this is too dangerous, there must be other ways!"

However, when Kazuki looked at him, Asuma immediately fell silent.

What alternative could he propose?

Stay with Kazuki? This is certainly feasible...

But, seeing Kazuki's firm gaze, Asuma felt a tremor in his hands. His mouth filled with sticky saliva that sealed his lips like glue.

He couldn't say anything.

His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. He hated himself for his cowardice, but then he saw Kazuki stand up.

Asuma stared at him, taking in his determined profile, completely lost for a moment.

"No, Kazuki, I want to stay with you!" Asuma stood up suddenly, as if he was out of control, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Kazuki's eyes suddenly became stern, staring at Asuma.

"Asuma, look inside yourself first and stay calm. If you continue acting like this, you will only endanger your comrades."

"At your current age and strength, it is not your time to make this kind of sacrifice. That day will come, but not today."

"Before that, keep your life and remember the agreement between you and me!"

Kazuki's words seemed to have an invisible power, which instantly fixed Asuma in place.

"If I can't come back, Asuma, then you must remain dormant and continue to observe, find those shinobi who truly have the will of fire in their hearts, and let yourself and them become people who can be entrusted and build a new era!"

Asuma's tears welled up in his eyes.

[From the target Sarutobi Asuma: You get an unbreakable bond (Asuma)!]

[Unbreakable bond (Asuma): Your actions have left a deep impression on Asuma, creating a bond that is unique in the world. He will always be inclined to side with you in his decisions.]

Kazuki wiped the blood off his fingertips, turned to look at Tsunade, and said with a smile: "Tsunade-sensei, you should drink less alcohol and more hen soup in the future, take care of your body, and if it is convenient, help me take care of Shisui, he is still very young."

"By the way, please remember to help Asuma, he is the true inheritor of the will of fire..."

Tsunade was motionless, staring at Kazuki, as if to engrave this scene in her heart.

[A strong feeling of appreciation has been detected from Tsunade towards the host. A bond has been established.]

[A strong feeling of appreciation has been detected from Nohara Rin towards the host. A bond has been established.]

"Okay, I've said what I should say!"

Kazuki put away his smile, waved his hand suddenly, and shouted to the members of Tsunade's team: "Don't look back, run!"

Asuma stood up, gritting his teeth, while Rin and Tsunade watched Kazuki's back as he turned around. Everyone felt an emptiness in their hearts, but his words pushed them forward.

Kazuki had already made the greatest sacrifice possible. If they hesitated any longer and squandered this precious opportunity, they would never forgive themselves.

The fire in the forest became more and more fierce, and Kakuzu's chakra gradually approached Kazuki's position at this moment.

And Tobirama, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke at this time: "Kazuki, you..."

"Tobirama, you forgot to call me 'little brat'. If you don't, it doesn't sound right to me." Kazuki replied with a smile, as he unsheathed his Muramasa sword, looking at Kakuzu's silhouette among the flames. "Why, was what I said wrong just now?"

"You, who got a zero on the Will of Fire test, are you going to teach me, who got a perfect score, something?"

Tobirama was silent for a moment but laughed. "No, today, you have earned a perfect score..."

"As a reward, I can lend you my power!"

"No, I don't need it..."

Kazuki smiled slightly, rejecting Tobirama's offer with a joking but firm tone, and said seriously: "My decision to cover the rear is because of the Will of Fire. If I use your power, wouldn't it be a betrayal of what I just said?"

"I want to experience what it truly means to practice the Will of Fire, sacrificing myself for my comrades…"

"Even if there is a risk of death, I will accept it."

Senju Tobirama frowned. He didn't expect Kazuki to reject his power...

Besides, why did this kid start talking nonsense?

"Tobirama, tell me, if I really die, will Tsunade's hemophobia get better?"

"Asuma's Will of Fire may burn brightly because of my death, and become a good Hokage..."

Kazuki scoffed at himself with a carefree smile, but Tobirama couldn't help but frown even deeper, his thoughts churning. "Damn Uchiha Izuna! His chakra is affecting Kazuki!"

"Otherwise, Kazuki would never reject my power or lock himself into these absurd ideas like a stubborn Uchiha…"

"The will of fire is flexible. It seems that I need to find an opportunity to teach Kazuki how to adapt..."

"At the critical moment, even if this kid doesn't want my power, I'll make sure he gets it!"

After Kakuzu appeared.

Tobirama remained silent, carefully observing Kazuki's every move in the midst of the crisis. Only in these critical moments is a person's true character revealed.

So far, Kazuki had impressed Tobirama. And the words he exchanged with Asuma as they parted made him show a smile.

Who does Kazuki look like?

One hundred percent like him!

The calm posture, the sharp thinking, the words that encouraged his companions, and that ironclad Will of Fire! It was almost identical to how he himself had covered the retreat for Hiruzen, Danzo, and the others in their youth.

Even the words were almost the same.

The youngest son of the Monkey family was stunned by what Kazuki said, which reminded Tobirama of Hiruzen and Danzo when they were young.

They were brave, but also fearful.

However, one could not expect too much from a young man in such a critical situation...

The only regret is that Kazuki rejected his power, which made Senju Tobirama feel a little uncomfortable.

It's quite strange.

If Kazuki had used him as a trump card from the beginning and asked for his power when he met Kakuzu, then Senju Tobirama would have felt that Kazuki's mind was not pure, and the words just now might be to buy people's hearts with his power…

But when faced with Kakuzu, Kazuki never once asked for his help. Even when Tobirama offered, he was firmly rejected.

This made Tobirama wonder: Is Kazuki's Will of Fire too pure, or is Uchiha Izuna's chakra already starting to influence him?

Either way, after listening to Kazuki's speech, Tobirama made a decision.

If Kazuki ever wants to use his power, as long as he doesn't endanger Konoha, even if he acts somewhat arrogantly, Tobirama would allow it…

And if Kazuki was ever in danger, Tobirama planned to tell him: This power, whether you want it or not, you will use it!

Kakuzu walked over, looking at Kazuki, who was holding Muramasa with a calm expression. He coldly commented: "Little one, you've been left behind like a disposable pawn."

"A son of the Hokage, the student of the Hokage. Even though you are a ninja from a powerful clan like the Uchiha, you are now nothing more than his meat shield to slow me down a bit..."

"But don't worry, I'll take care of killing them all. I won't let you make this journey alone."

Black threads emerged from Kakuzu's body, concentrating overwhelming chakra.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

Bursts of lightning descended like a storm, shattering rows of pine trees in their wake.

Kazuki's figure moved like a specter, dodging the attacks with precision. At breakneck speed, with Muramasa in hand, he charged straight towards Kakuzu.

Kakuzu stared at the katana in Kazuki's hand and sneered. "An Uchiha who is good at close combat?"

For Kakuzu, this was a classic Uchiha strategy. But Kakuzu was not afraid. Any physical attack was ineffective for him.

Her green eyes stared directly at Kazuki's three tomoe, while the black threads fluttered, trying to capture his figure.

But Kazuki was moving too fast, and the clumsy black lines couldn't keep up with him.

With the blessing of the Body Flicker Technique, Kazuki's speed became increasingly faster, and Muramasa slashed Kakuzu at tricky angles.

Kakuzu raised his arm, hardening it until it turned black, stopping Muramasa's blade with his bare hands.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"

The clash of the sword and the hardened arm resonated with a metallic sound.

"Physical attacks are ineffective against me, kid!" Kakuzu said with a smirk, trying to catch the sword.

But Kazuki was faster, withdrawing the blade just in time and reappearing behind Kakuzu.

Kakuzu didn't flinch. He didn't turn around, but a cruel smile appeared on his face.

He deliberately exposed his back to Kazuki.

His hardening technique covered his entire body, not just his arms. If Kazuki attacked his back, the sword would bounce off, and the masked monsters would ambush him from the sides.

And so the fight would end…

"Kazuki, your Earth Spear technique can harden your entire body, not just your arms!"

Senju Tobirama said quickly: "Use Lightning Release to break it or try the Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!"

But Kazuki didn't seem to hear him, continuing to brandish the Muramasa sword.

However, this was no ordinary slash…

A large amount of chakra was wrapped around Kazuki's arm, and the Chakra Enhanced Strength was released to the extreme at this moment, along with the blade of the Muramasa sword that was covered in a fierce flame.

But in an instant, those overflowing flames were intensely compressed, condensing on the blade of the sword.

The imposing blade of the Muramasa sword, at that moment harbored a terrifyingly high temperature...

If Kazuki had not mastered Uchiha Izuna's kenjutsu and was proficient in Uchiha Madara's fire release techniques, it would have been difficult to reach this level. This was a manifestation of the ultimate mastery of kenjutsu and fire release...

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