The Wind Mask released a fierce gust of wind, but it was instantly overwhelmed and shredded by Naruto's even more ferocious Wind Dragon and the perfectly linked elemental barrage behind it.
The Fire Mask's blazing wall of flames was drowned by Naruto's Water Dragon, then torn apart by the lightning-charged steam and the crushing force of the Earth Dragon.
The Lightning Mask launched a violent thunder beam, but Naruto's Thunder Dragon roared back with equal ferocity, neutralizing most of it and absorbing the remaining current into the combined technique, making it even stronger.
Kakuzu's own stone wall defense crumbled as Naruto's massive Earth Dragon, reinforced by slicing wind and crackling lightning, smashed into it frontally, followed by countless wind blades and electric surges ripping through every gap.
Kakuzu could wield five elements thanks to Earth Grudge Fear, but he was nowhere near the Third Hokage's mastery of elemental synergy. Hiruzen Sarutobi, known across the shinobi world as the Professor, understood how every elemental property interacted.
And everything Naruto learned from the Third Hokage now paid off.
The elemental combinations opened Naruto's path to something greater. He could feel it. He was already close to advanced elemental fusion, ready to merge all seven natures he had mastered.
"Arrrgh!"
Kakuzu's scream was filled with pain and disbelief.
Naruto's overwhelming attack obliterated the three remaining masks in an instant before swallowing Kakuzu himself.
Steam from boiling water and fire erupted into the air. Thunder crackled wildly. Earth and stone disintegrated into dust. Invisible wind blades cut through everything.
The Five-Element Barrage displayed its true, destructive brilliance.
When the explosion finally faded and the roaring energy quieted, only a giant blackened crater remained. White smoke drifted upward. Stray arcs of lightning flickered in the air.
Kakuzu was nowhere to be seen. Only a few scattered pieces of Earth Grudge Fear threads lay twitching feebly inside the crater.
Naruto's attack had consumed him completely.
Might Guy finally exhaled, unclenching his fists.
Kurenai, supporting a pale but stable Asuma, looked toward Naruto with deep gratitude and lingering shock.
Naruto stood at the edge of the battlefield, shaking out his hand as a clear, crisp sound echoed.
He raised his right arm. A Rasengan spun into existence, instantly transforming into a Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
"I forgot to tell you. My sensory abilities are also very good."
He flung the Rasenshuriken toward a seemingly empty patch of ground.
After gaining experience throwing it in Sage Mode, Naruto could now throw the jutsu even without sage chakra.
The Rasenshuriken spun across the ground and detonated violently.
"Even if you burrow underground using Earth Style at the last second… you can't hide from me."
Just as Naruto finished speaking, the Rasenshuriken transformed midair into a massive sphere of microscopic blades. It didn't strike the ground directly. Instead, it expanded several feet above the surface, blooming into a field of invisible, lethal wind blades that shredded everything beneath it.
A guttural, agonized scream erupted from underground.
Kakuzu.
The ancient monster had survived Naruto's Five-Element Barrage by using Earth Style to desperately burrow beneath the battlefield in the final moment. Almost anyone else would have let him escape.
But not Naruto.
The Rasenshuriken's micro-wind blades ignored the earth's protection entirely, slicing downward and invading the underground cavity Kakuzu hid in. The destruction was microscopic and absolute. Every cell, every piece of muscle, every Earth Grudge Fear thread was cut apart beyond repair.
Earth Grudge Fear writhed desperately, trying to regenerate, but it was futile. The disintegration was too deep, too fast. The black threads snapped, dissolved, and turned to lifeless dust.
The ground stopped shaking. Silence returned.
Naruto jumped into the crater and confirmed Kakuzu's mutilated remains. Only then did he disperse the chakra lingering on his fingertips.
After all, with Orochimaru's existence, Naruto had learned to never underestimate the survival tricks of old shinobi.
But it seemed that only Orochimaru could escape him now.
"One down." Naruto murmured, dragging Kakuzu's body up and tossing it aside. He turned toward Asuma, Guy, and Kurenai with a warm, relieved expression.
He hurried forward.
"Guy-sensei, Kurenai-sensei, Asuma-sensei, are you all okay?!"
Guy beamed his dazzling smile, giving Naruto a thumbs-up.
"Incredible, Naruto. Flames of Youth are burning brighter within you!"
Kurenai held the recovering Asuma tightly, her gaze full of gratitude. If Naruto hadn't arrived when he did, Asuma would have died to Hidan's curse. Kakuzu alone could have easily wiped them all out.
Hidan, still impaled by wooden spikes, stared in stunned disbelief. Even he, immortal as he was, knew the battle had completely turned.
Naruto's shadow clones continued healing the three, but Naruto found medical ninjutsu too slow.
He entered Sage Mode and used Sage Art: Yang Release Healing, instantly accelerating their recovery.
By the time he finished, Asuma and Guy were fully healed, color returning to their faces.
Yang Release truly lived up to its overwhelming reputation.
Naruto couldn't wait for the day his Yang Release reached the First Hokage's legendary level.
"Naruto."
Shikamaru, having regained some strength, slowly approached.
"Thank you."
His voice was firm, sincere.
If Naruto hadn't arrived, Asuma would have died right in front of him.
He didn't know what that would have done to him.
Naruto rested a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder.
"We're brothers. You don't need to thank me. Asuma-sensei is the Third Hokage's son, and he's our senior. Protecting him is what I should do."