Obito nodded. "I've brought you in. We'll split up shortly. Don't forget to deal with the other monks."
"Right. Leave it to me."
Hearing Kakuzu's agreement, Obito activated his Kamui and warped himself into his dimension.
Kakuzu watched Obito's method of departure, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.
He then turned his gaze toward the Fire Temple's complex. A strange bulge formed on his back as the Jiongu threads imbued with water and lightning chakra burst from his body. Two of the creatures tunneled silently through the earth, stopping just at the edge of the main gate.
Meanwhile, the masks of his wind and fire Jiongu manifested on his shoulders. The two masks opened their mouths wide, and energy began to gather rapidly.
Kakuzu locked his sights on the grand hall at the center of the Fire Temple.
Combination Jutsu: Blazing Gale Rampage!
Boom!
A torrent of scorching flames erupted from the fire Jiongu's mouth, accompanied by a howling gale that swept through the temple grounds. In an instant, a colossal wave of fire descended like a cloud of pure immolation, crashing directly into the central hall.
The Fire Temple erupted into chaos as the scattered, frantic shouts of monks filled the air.
"What's happening!?"
"There's a fire!"
"We're under attack!"
"Quickly, go get Lord Chiriku!"
Within the temple walls, fire and wind intertwined, instantly making the Fire Temple live up to its name.
Although the monks of the Fire Temple were all trained in ninjutsu, most were of mediocre skill. Faced with such a ferocious inferno, many of them were utterly helpless.
The monks scrambled toward the main gate in a desperate attempt to escape, only to find the lightning Jiongu suddenly emerge before them. Its massive jaws snapped open, unleashing a blinding flash of blue electricity. An entire group of monks was electrocuted, collapsing to the ground.
"What is that thing!?"
Amid the pandemonium, Chiriku finally arrived.
"Do not panic! Forget the fire; the enemy is our priority," he commanded, his voice steady. "Be wary of the smoke and gather around me."
Following Chiriku's orders, the monks seemed to find their resolve, slowly assembling behind him. But Chiriku's expression was grim. He had been delayed searching for Sora, only to find his room empty. Sora's disappearance was a mystery, and the man standing before him was the prime suspect.
"Who are you!?" Chiriku demanded.
The moment Kakuzu saw him, he matched the monk's face with the image on the bounty poster. Information about Chiriku flooded his mind.
He was a master of a special power known as Sage Talent, and he was once chosen to be one of the personal guards for the Land of Fire's Daimyo. An elite ninja among the Twelve Guardian Ninja. His trademark was the sash around his waist, embroidered with the emblem of the Land of Fire.
Bounty: thirty million ryo!
A wicked grin spread across Kakuzu's face. "The one who's come to take your life!"
Before the words had even faded, the lightning Jiongu opened its mouth again. A bolt of lightning shot straight for Chiriku.
Time itself seemed to slow around Chiriku. He placed his right fist at his hip and formed a hand seal with his left. The roar of the surrounding flames abruptly ceased.
A low chant echoed on the wind as the ethereal image of a Kannon materialized in the air behind him, a thousand arms fanning out from its back, each forming a unique seal. The Kannon's eyes were half-closed, a look of profound compassion hidden within them.
The instant the lightning was about to strike, the Kannon transformed into a Crimson Wisdom King, bathing the area in a red glow. A fist of chakra, burning as red as the sun, shot forward and smashed into the Lightning Style: False Darkness.
With a sharp crack, the bolt of lightning dissipated.
Immediately after, countless red fists flew out from the void. The lightning Jiongu was struck and slammed to the ground. It dodged left and right, but it could not escape the endless barrage of fists materializing out of thin air.
"What kind of power is this?"
It was the first time Kakuzu had ever encountered such a bizarre technique. So this was the Sage Talent?
His lightning Jiongu was reduced to desperately evading. Kakuzu hardened his entire body, preparing to engage Chiriku in close combat.
Chiriku's eyes blazed with fury. "I am Chiriku of the Fire Temple! I will not lose to the likes of you heretics!"
Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder!
With a furious roar, the hands of the Kannon behind Chiriku extended and multiplied. A rain of golden chakra fists descended at incredible speed. Kakuzu used his hardening jutsu to weather the storm, closing the distance between them.
But the closer he got to Chiriku, the more intense the barrage of golden fists became.
Finally, his strength gave out. Kakuzu was sent flying, crashing through a perimeter wall and shattering it on impact.
The monks behind Chiriku erupted in cheers.
"Yeah!"
"Lord Chiriku is amazing!"
Kakuzu staggered to his feet, dazed. In just a few moments, he had been struck by hundreds of punches. What a formidable jutsu. He shook his head, grateful for his hardening technique.
Chiriku remained stationary, his hands still forming a seal. He did not pursue.
Kakuzu let out a cold laugh. So that was how it was.
The wind Jiongu on his back detached itself and merged with the water Jiongu, forming a two-headed beast. Both heads opened their maws in unison as a new ninjutsu began to form.
A chill ran down Chiriku's spine. "Everyone, get behind me!"
The monks scrambled for cover behind their leader.
Chiriku let out a great shout. His hands shifted through a new series of seals, then spread outward to form the sacred vase seal.
Thousand-Armed Canon!
A brilliant light erupted from behind Chiriku as the image of the Kannon reappeared, growing larger and larger as even more hands sprouted from its back.
At that moment, Kakuzu's two Jiongu had gathered enough chakra.
Combination Jutsu: Gale-Stream Barrage!
The water mask spewed a high-pressure jet of water while the wind mask amplified its force. The wind-enhanced water cannon unleashed a torrential downpour of projectiles.
Countless hands from Chiriku's Kannon appeared and disappeared in front of the water blasts.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The projectiles were intercepted one by one, their force neutralized as they dissolved into harmless streams that rained down on the ground.
Finally, Kakuzu's Gale-Stream Barrage came to an end.
Across from him, Chiriku was panting heavily. The technique had consumed a massive amount of his chakra. But it had been worth it.
Just then, a searing pain shot through his chest. While using his Sage Talent, he was completely unable to move.
In that single instant of vulnerability, a gaping hole had appeared in his chest.
The monks behind him stared in horror. Through the bloody cavity in their master's body, they could see a pair of blood-red Sharingan on the other side.
Cough!
Chiriku's eyes widened in disbelief. The Kannon image behind him shattered and vanished into nothingness. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground, dead.
Blood gushed from the wound, staining the earth a deep crimson.
Kakuzu's heart skipped a beat, and he grumbled under his breath, "With a hole that big in his chest, what if the bounty station won't accept the body?"
Obito's voice was cold and sharp. "That's what you get for being slow. The fire is too large and has already drawn attention. People are on their way to investigate."
Obito had already captured the pseudo-Jinchuriki, Sora. With the battle here still raging, he had simply used Kamui to tear a hole through Chiriku's chest.
It also served as a warning to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu snorted, his eyes sweeping over the ash-faced monks. His Jiongu detached from his body and began their merciless slaughter.
...
After the fire at the temple began, the surrounding villages took notice. The villagers who rushed over found the Fire Temple's gates sealed shut. A newly erected Sealed Iron Wall prevented anyone from entering unless it was opened from the inside.
Soon, the sounds of battle and screams echoed from within.
The villagers wisely kept their distance. If the ninja monks of the temple couldn't handle the threat, they would only be throwing their own lives away. All they could do was watch from afar as the flames gradually consumed the temple's buildings.
At dawn, a monk who had been away on errands returned.
The fire had been reduced to smoldering embers, but the air was thick with the stench of burnt flesh. The monk released the seal and stepped inside.
The moment he saw the scene before him, his face turned sheet-white.
The bodies of the monks were piled in one place, burned beyond recognition. It was impossible to tell who was who or even how many had died. The nauseating, scorched smell emanated from this very spot.
The monk wandered aimlessly, his mind a complete blank, searching for any sign of life, but there was no one left.
What happened? Who did this...?
His thoughts were a tangled mess. He failed to notice the main gate swinging silently shut behind him.
A sharpened branch suddenly pierced through his chest. He collapsed, a look of utter disbelief on his face.
Black Zetsu lifted the monk's corpse and tossed it into the still-smoldering pyre. Then, he slowly sank back into the ground.
...
Land of Fire.
After the destruction of the Fire Temple, Obito had Kakuzu meet with the others, telling them that they would be cooperating from now on. He did not, however, specify how.
To placate Kakuzu, Obito tossed him Chiriku's body, letting him take it to the exchange station to collect the bounty.
Though Kakuzu appeared to be a lone wolf, a spore-form White Zetsu had been attached to him for surveillance.
With the massive hole in Chiriku's chest, Kakuzu had no choice but to stuff the body into a large sack and carry it on his back. The sack was stained with blood and gave off a faint odor, but Kakuzu couldn't be bothered with the stench.
He was now preoccupied with a much more pressing matter: how to break free from Obito's control.
He might seem to have his freedom, but Kakuzu was keenly aware that he was being watched. He knew Zetsu's work when he saw it.