Why is my blood black?
A moment of confusion flashed in Kakuzu’s eyes, but he quickly reacted.
No, the Tachi is poisoned!
He looked incredulously at the young man standing before him, holding the Tachi, who was now staring at him with a half-smile.
“Oh? The gap between us seems to have narrowed.”
“You… you’re despicable!” Kakuzu said, exasperated.
Kakuzu prided himself on being a genius of Takigakure Village, having experienced countless battles, encountered numerous enemies, and used a wide variety of techniques.
This was the first time he had ever seen someone apply poison to a Tachi!
Not even the puppeteers from Hidden Sand Village, who were widely recognized as masters of poison in the Ninja World, were this evil!
Normally, the poisons used by puppeteers were things like poisoned needles or poison mist, which would immediately alert an opponent to their presence, allowing them to take precautions.
Ninja would subconsciously prepare themselves when fighting a puppeteer.
Who would have thought that the outwardly respectable young man before him would use such a underhanded attack?
The blade of that gleaming Tachi was actually poisoned!
Especially since this young man was from the Uchiha Clan!
Weren’t the Uchiha known for their arrogance?
Shouldn’t they disdain using such an attack method?
“Despicable?” Renye sneered, “Do you think being a Ninja is some noble profession?”
In Renye’s view, being a Ninja was a treacherous and cunning profession, where mission success and one’s own survival were the primary goals.
To defeat a Ninja stronger than oneself, one could only resort to insidious and cunning combat methods.
If he could kill his opponent with sneak attacks and poison, why would he fight fair?
He wasn't as fearless as Senju Hashirama.
And even if one's strength was immense, there was still a risk of death.
For example, even someone as strong as Six Paths Madara wasn't he taken down by Black Zetsu with a heart-piercing blow?
In the end, it was because the physical strength of Ninja was too low.
Renye had even specifically learned body-tempering techniques from his previous life over the years, but they were useless…
The upper limit of a Ninja’s physical strength was not high; the Third Raikage’s physical strength was already the ceiling of the Ninja World.
Hearing Renye's words, Kakuzu's face turned dark.
He didn't know if it was due to the severe poison or if he was simply angered by Renye's words.
He, of course, knew that most Ninja combat methods were not honorable.
But the young man in front of him was from the Uchiha!
It was well-known in the Ninja World that these powerful Ninja clans disdained doing such things.
Therefore, in his battle with Renye, Kakuzu had preconceived notions, believing the young man before him to be a “gentleman” who wouldn’t use such disgusting tactics.
He hadn't expected to be so wrong; he was struck down right at the beginning of the battle.
“Damn brat, you’re nothing like an Uchiha!” Kakuzu roared in anger.
He had encountered Uchiha opponents before, but they had never used such underhanded tactics.
Before he could finish speaking, he felt his vision go black, and his body uncontrollably collapsed to the ground.
Watching the young man slowly approach, Kakuzu knew he was doomed today.
“Damn the higher-ups, if there’s a next life, I’ll never let you off!” Kakuzu clenched his fists unwillingly.
But he was so severely poisoned that he didn't even have the strength to clench his fists.
There is great terror between life and death; it is extremely difficult for people to face death with equanimity.
Perhaps he had once been loyal to Takigakure Village, even willing to sacrifice his life for it.
But facing death, he inevitably resented the Village's higher-ups.
If the Village's higher-ups hadn't ordered him to assassinate Senju Hashirama, how could he have fallen to such a state?
He regretted not killing the higher-ups earlier…
While he was lost in thought, Renye had already arrived in front of Kakuzu.
This man, who would one day possess an immortal body in the Ninja World, was now twitching uncontrollably like a beached fish.
This was a sign of the poison taking effect.
Renye looked down at Kakuzu, who was convulsing and twisting, his pupils distorted by the poison, his crimson Sharingan showing no trace of pity.
“Letting you die quickly is already my mercy to you.”
With that, he flicked his wrist, positioning the Tachi blade towards Kakuzu’s carotid artery.
This one strike would undoubtedly result in decapitation.
Kakuzu trembled, trying to raise his arm to block, but he couldn't move even an inch, his eyes filled with despair.
He suddenly remembered the lives he had personally ended.
It turned out that at the moment death arrived, all the pride of the strong would shatter into the same despair.
Renye didn't hesitate for a moment, swinging his Tachi at Kakuzu.
Just then, Renye’s wrist was firmly grasped by a strong, burly hand.
He looked at the suddenly appearing Senju Hashirama in confusion, asking, “Hashirama-san, what are you doing?”
Hashirama shook his head with a solemn expression, “Little Renye, let him live.”
“But…” Renye was about to speak again when Hashirama interrupted him, “Have you forgotten our ideal?”
Renye’s mouth twitched, and he inwardly ranted.
What the hell is “our ideal”?!
From beginning to end, weren't you the only one rambling on?
“Little Renye, only when everyone is filled with love…”
Seeing Senju Hashirama about to launch into another long speech, Renye quickly said, “Hashirama-san, I think you’re right, I’ll let him go right now.”
Although he didn't want to let Kakuzu go, he certainly didn't want to listen to Hashirama's nagging.
“Good, it’s good that you understand.” Hashirama nodded with satisfaction.
He knew that Renye, this child, had perfectly inherited his ideals.
Just then, Renye's words interrupted his thoughts.
“Hashirama-san, he seems to be dying…”
Hearing this, Hashirama subconsciously looked at Kakuzu on the ground.
At this moment, Kakuzu's eyes had rolled back, and he was foaming at the mouth, clearly not long for this world.
“Little Renye, don’t you have the antidote?” Hashirama urged, “Quickly give him the antidote.”
Renye pulled out a small bottle from his Ninja tool pouch, “Hashirama-san, given his condition, I don’t know if the antidote will still work.”
“It’s fine, we just need to try our best to save him.” Hashirama snatched the bottle and poured all the antidote into Kakuzu’s mouth.
Renye watched from the side, also curious if Kakuzu could be saved.
One could only say that Kakuzu was incredibly lucky; he miraculously woke up.
Kakuzu groggily opened his eyes, staring blankly at the sky.
“Am I dead?”
He seemed to have seen his great-grandmother just now…
“Haha, you’re awake!”
Just then, Hashirama’s large face suddenly appeared in Kakuzu’s line of sight, almost scaring him to death.
Seeing this, Hashirama quickly reassured him, “Don’t be afraid, we won’t hurt you.”
Kakuzu: “…”
He struggled to sit up from the ground, looking at Senju Hashirama in confusion, “Hashirama-sama, why didn’t you kill me?”
Hashirama bent down and picked up the kunai Kakuzu had dropped, “A Ninja’s blade should not only be made to cut down enemies.”
He handed the kunai to Kakuzu, “I want you to live and see the changes in this world. Perhaps one day, you will understand that there are things more worth protecting than slaughter.”
Kakuzu looked up at Senju Hashirama’s back; at this moment, he finally understood why he was called the “Ninja God”!
From a distance, the crisp sound of Renye sheathing his Tachi drifted over, and the two figures gradually walked away.
Leaving behind only the chaotic battlefield and a “dead man” whose fate had been forcibly rewritten.
“To live?” Kakuzu murmured softly.
