The Second Girls journey in Naruto

Kakuzu's brow twitched as realization dawned on him.

A mirage?

He had been stabbing at thin air this entire time?

The anger in his chest burned hotter, but he forced himself to stay calm. He wasn't some fool who would keep making the same mistake over and over.

Sakiya grinned, twirling her massive club in her hands. "Figured it out yet, old man?"

Kakuzu narrowed his eyes.

"It's just an illusion of positioning… but it won't work forever."

The next instant, his body blurred—vanishing.

Sakiya's grin wavered.

—Above?!

She barely had time to look up before Kakuzu came crashing down with an overhead strike, black tendrils lashing out in every direction.

BOOM!

The ground shattered, sending debris flying as a massive impact crater formed beneath him.

The mist—disturbed.

The deception—weakened.

Kakuzu smirked.

"Let's see how well you hide now."

Smack!

A sharp, resounding slap echoed across the battlefield.

The sheer force of the slap sent Kakuzu flying backward, his own face acting as the fulcrum.

He soared five meters through the air… and crashed onto the ground with a dull thud.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring lifelessly at the sky, his soul seemingly leaving his body.

His mask had been completely slapped off, revealing his scarred and ugly face—now marked by a small, red handprint.

He looked defeated.

He looked done.

He looked like a man who no longer wished to play this game.

Sakiya strolled over, grabbed a small branch, and poked his unmoving body.

Kakuzu swatted her hand away, annoyed.

"I'm not playing anymore!" he grumbled.

Sakiya nodded, completely serious.

"Alright! Then I'll seal you up."

Kakuzu lay there, mentally checking his chakra reserves. He had spent most of the fight recklessly spamming jutsu and maintaining his grudge-form.

Now? He was running on fumes.

He sighed, unconcerned.

"Go ahead. Seal me all you want~"

"Okay!" Sakiya chirped.

She pulled out a small backpack from… somewhere, rummaging through it enthusiastically.

Kakuzu's eyes narrowed.

Wait a minute… that backpack…

She physically pulled it out!

That meant… she had a real body!

A flaw!

His chance!

In an instant, he sprang up, delivering a precise hand chop straight to Sakiya's neck.

A perfect, clean strike—swift and lethal.

Or at least… it should have been.

Because instead of hitting flesh—his hand passed straight through her.

Kakuzu froze, staring at his own hand in shock.

Sakiya, meanwhile, had finally found what she was looking for.

She held up a thick talisman, covered in tiny magical seals and strange runes.

With a big grin, she slapped it right onto Kakuzu's forehead.

Kakuzu looked utterly defeated, allowing Sakiya to press the talisman onto his forehead without resistance.

"Alright! You're sealed now! No moving, Dark Big Devil!" Sakiya clapped her hands, satisfied with her work.

Then, she casually hoisted Kakuzu over her shoulder and waved to Kakashi and Chihiro.

"I've sealed the Great Dark Devil! You can come over now."

Kakashi and Chihiro exchanged uneasy glances. A strange rune-covered talisman was now stuck to Kakuzu's forehead, and neither of them knew how to react.

Should they really go over? Or maybe… they should just stay put?

Meanwhile, Kakuzu carefully assessed the talisman. He didn't feel any discomfort. His chakra was still flowing as usual.

So… this kid was still playing games?

Annoyed, Kakuzu exhaled sharply.

Fine. If she wasn't going to kill him, then there was no reason to stick around.

Without hesitation, he launched himself into the air, making his escape.

Hearing the sudden movement, Sakiya froze, then turned around in shock.

"Hey! You can't leave! The Dark Big Devil is sealed!"

Kakuzu scoffed at her words.

"This weird kid is too caught up in her own fantasy…"

He clenched his fists as he soared through the sky.

"What an arrogant brat."

He reached up to rip off the useless talisman

—

But it wouldn't budge.

His expression darkened.

…Why was this thing so sticky?

Before he could process what was happening, the talisman began to burn.

His pupils shrank.

"…A DETONATION TALISMAN?!"

BOOM!

A deafening explosion echoed through the sky.

On the ground, Sakiya looked up at the slowly rising mushroom cloud.

She dusted off her hands and smiled.

"I told you—you're sealed. The Big Devil can't run away~"