Battles change in the blink of an eye!

Kakuzu's face was expressionless; even though success was imminent, there was not a trace of complacency.

Suddenly, Kakuzu's pupils shrank violently, and a powerful whip kick suddenly hit empty air!

Ichimaru Gin's figure actually turned into an afterimage and disappeared on the spot.

A sudden chill ran down Kakuzu's spine.

Ichimaru Gin's snake-like tone came from behind him.

"It's over, of course I was tricking you…"

As a Shinigami, how could he possibly fail to sense the fluctuations of a person's soul within their body?

Just now, he was merely putting on an act to cooperate with Kakuzu.

Ichimaru Gin revealed his snake-like smile once again, raising Kamishini no Yari to his chest.

Kakuzu's pupils shrank sharply, and he quickly shifted his body.

But he was still a step too slow!

"Kamishini no Yari: Butō!"

Hum!!

Ichimaru Gin unleashed a point-blank attack, and Kakuzu finally saw the strike of Kamishini no Yari clearly!

An off-white pillar of light flashed past, and a hole was blown through Kakuzu's body once again.

The good news was that Kakuzu's previous movement had some effect.

At least he had moved the position of his heart away.

Kakuzu let out a sigh of relief, his back already soaked in cold sweat at some point.

Just a little bit more!

He was about to lose another heart!

Kakuzu quickly calmed down and smashed a heavy tentacle fist toward Ichimaru Gin.

Ichimaru Gin was slightly surprised, then raised Kamishini no Yari to block!

Clang——

So heavy.

The force on Ichimaru Gin's blade sank heavily, and he had no intention of clashing head-on with Kakuzu.

Following Kakuzu's force, he quickly widened the distance.

Seeing this, Kakuzu had no choice but to withdraw his fist.

Ichimaru Gin's expression was calm; only then did he notice Kakuzu's bodily condition.

Having suffered such heavy injuries, he was acting as if nothing had happened.

There's something strange!

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore an astonished expression as he watched Kakuzu stand back up and even launch an attack.

He could survive even with his heart pierced through?

And still be this active?!

He looked just like he hadn't been injured at all.

Truly a Ninja from the same era as First Hokage-sama!

But how on earth did Kakuzu survive?

Not only could Hiruzen Sarutobi not figure out this question, but others couldn't either.

Clearly his heart was hollowed out, how could he still be alive?

Soon, Kakuzu's changes gave them the answer.

They saw the hollow places on Kakuzu's body suddenly wriggle, and strings of black thread filled and sewed up the cavities of his heart and abdomen.

This scene gave everyone present a chill.

But Kakuzu's transformation was not over yet.

He took off his clothes, revealing a body full of stitches.

On his back, four bizarre masks were even sewn on!

Suddenly, Kakuzu's back swelled up like a balloon.

With a rip sound.

Kakuzu's back instantly split open, and monsters formed from black threads beneath the four masks stood behind Kakuzu, quietly staring at Ichimaru Gin.

"How disgusting!"

People who saw Kakuzu's transformation through the projection hell butterfly couldn't help exclaiming out loud.

Their gazes looking at Kakuzu were as if they were looking at a pervert.

"What… kind of secret technique is this?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was secretly shocked.

The Shinobi World actually had such a bizarre secret technique.

But the basic effect of this secret technique was still not quite clear; let's keep watching.

Ichimaru Gin still narrowed his eyes, raised Kamishini no Yari once again, and pierced Kakuzu through once more with a Butō.

But unlike before, this time, even when Kakuzu saw Ichimaru Gin's action, there was no sign of dodging whatsoever.

He merely manipulated the black threads inside his body to sew up the pierced spot.

Ichimaru Gin spoke: "I see, Immortality, huh…"

Ichimaru Gin's words were transmitted into the ears of everyone in the Shinobi World through the projection, instantly causing an uproar.

"Immortality? What does that mean?!"

"Could it mean he can't be killed?!"

"Hiss—— Could there really be Immortality?!"

"Come to my Jashin religion, as long as you believe in Jashin, you can obtain the same Immortality as that person inside the projection!"

Kakuzu: "……"

"Can you settle the advertisement fee?"

"Immortality?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened; was it really Immortality?

"Immortality?!"

"Hiss——"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his cigarette, forcefully suppressing the shock in his heart.

However, with that being said, the reason why Kakuzu was still alive even though his heart was empty now made sense.

"Immortality……"

If this Immortality was real…

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were deep; he was not young anymore, but he still wanted to dedicate another hundred years to Konoha!

"Immortality?"

Ōnoki of the Two Scales looked at Kakuzu's appearance and shook his head.

Although he was someone with one foot in the grave, Kakuzu's Immortality held no temptation for him.

Just for the sake of Immortality, turning oneself into this ghost-like state that was neither human nor monster?

When you're old, you should retire when it's time to retire.

The future of the Shinobi World belongs to the young.

As for the Third Kazekage, he was even less interested.

He was still young.

Ichimaru Gin's word "Immortality" stirred up waves in the Shinobi World once again.

The higher-ups of Takigakure glared at Kakuzu through gritted teeth, saying hatefully: "This is the secret technique of our Takigakure! Kakuzu, you traitor!"

Land of Whirlpools, Seireitei...

Even though the effect of Immortality was guessed, there was not a trace of panic on Kakuzu's face.

The effect of Immortality would be exposed sooner or later, and Kakuzu had already thought it through long ago.

As long as the secret of Earth Grudge Fear wasn't discovered, it would be fine.

Kakuzu's gaze sank as he stared at Ichimaru Gin.