From Naruto onwards, I've become a dreamer.

Chapter 121: Creeping Hunger

While the Earthly Vengeance can replenish the heart, it cannot regenerate a severed head.

After all, this is the Naruto world, not a world of gods and demons, where there are no spells like rebirth from a drop of blood or head growing back after being severed.

Kakuzu's eyes were filled with astonishment and confusion. A line of blood appeared on his neck, and then his head fell to the ground with a thud. The cut of his neck was as smooth as a mirror, as if his body had not yet reacted. It wasn't until a second or two later that a high fountain of blood gushed out from his neck.

Perhaps it is because of the resentment of the earth.

Although his head was cut off, Kakuzu was not dead immediately and was still clinging to life.

"Why?"

Kakuzu's head rolled to his feet, his eyes still wide open in death, as he asked with his last remaining strength.

He couldn't understand why he had already admitted defeat and was even willing to submit to the other party. Moreover, he had lived for so long and possessed a great deal of secrets, including ninjutsu and intelligence. It seemed that from any perspective, his value in living was much greater than his value in dying.

But Uchiha Munetsuki still chopped off his head without hesitation.

"I...I'm still valuable to you." Kakuzu was still unwilling to give up. Although his head had been cut off, he could still find a way to reattach it in time. So he pleaded, "I can be your subordinate and gather intelligence for you. I am immortal and can go to any dangerous place!"

In the shortest possible time, he frantically touted his advantages, hoping to attract Uchiha Muneki's attention.

He knew very well that at a time like this, he absolutely could not utter any nonsense.

If he keeps making things mysterious and drags things out, the other person might get annoyed, and he'll be out of luck.

"You may not know this, but the effects of Earth Grudge Fear go far beyond this!" Kakuzu said with a fawning smile, "It can steal other people's hearts and absorb their chakra nature along with them. As long as the head is not destroyed, even if the heart is shattered, it can be used to revive the person. Moreover, it can also grant the ninja a long lifespan!"

"I am willing to offer you the ninjutsu of Earth Grudge Fear, I only beg you to spare my life, Lord Munetsuki!"

In order to survive, Kakuzu completely abandoned his dignity and did not hesitate to sacrifice the ninjutsu he valued most.

The longer one lives, the more one cherishes life. He had walked alone through the long years, witnessing the rise and fall of the ninja world, and was even more unwilling to die here in obscurity.

"Are you done talking nonsense?"

Uchiha Muneki was busy taking things out and didn't have time to pay attention to the incessant chatter of Kakuzu.

"Uh?"

Kakuzu had been talking until his throat was dry, but he was disappointed to find that the other party hadn't listened to him at all. The other party even pulled out a pair of transparent gloves that looked like they were made of human skin from his pocket.

The translucent glove made of human skin seemed to writhe as if it were alive, emanating an ominous aura.

Staring at the glove, Kakuzu suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, fear filling his pupils: "What are you going to do?"

"Relax, take a deep breath, and don't stress."

Uchiha Munezuki elegantly put on his gloves, crossed his arms, and said calmly, "This is everyone's first time. This is your first time dying, and this is my first time using it. Let's cooperate and finish this quickly."

Listen, is this human talk?

What do you mean by saying this is your first time dying? It's like you're saying anyone can die twice!
"Wait, I have an important use for you!"

Even with only his head remaining, Kakuzu still tried to struggle desperately.

"Don't move!"

Uchiha Munetsu reached out and grabbed Kakuzu's head, silently activating his 'wriggling hunger'.

The icy touch caused goosebumps to appear on Kakuzu's scalp, and an uncontrollable chill surged to his forehead. If he still had a respiratory system, he would have even wanted to gasp for air.

Unfortunately, with his neck severed, he could no longer do that.

"Swallow!"

Uchiha Muneki silently recited in his heart. The writhing hunger cheered and leaped, and his spirituality kept praising the great 'True Creator' in his ears.

"Uhhhhhh-"

Suddenly, a strong and twisting suction force erupted.

Kakuzu suddenly felt dizzy, as if his soul was being forcibly dragged out of his head by that suction force.

"No! Stop!" Kakuzu immediately realized that the other party intended to extract his soul. His face showed a look of terror, and he screamed, "Please, don't do this!"

Unfortunately, his pleas went unheard by Uchiha Muneki.

Soon, a nearly translucent spirit was forcibly dragged out of Kakuzu's head, bit by bit. The writhing, hungry creature devoured it with relish, like a wild beast, fiercely tearing and gnawing at the spirit, slowly swallowing it whole.

The spirits consumed by 'wriggling hunger' not only suffer pain during the process, but also experience endless torment when they are herded afterward.

Of course, Uchiha Muneki was not soft-hearted, after all, no matter how you looked at it, Kakuzu was not a good person.

Upon first 'devouring' Kakuzu's spirit, he was able to sense the feedback.

Now, the writhing hunger has only four remaining slots for devouring, and it seems to instinctively know how to 'herd' souls.

"By the way, how do I level up like Little K?"

Uchiha Muneki fell into deep thought. Where could he find a Sequence 5 shepherd?

After much deliberation, he decided to give up for the time being and instead try out the spirit he had just acquired. He wondered how his luck would be on his first use.

"grazing!"

As his voice faded, his 'herding' ability became apparent.

Suddenly, four Earthly Grudges, resembling clusters of black threads, appeared near him.

"Tsk, is there only one kind?"

Uchiha Munetsuki was not very satisfied. It was his first time using it, and it was so unhelpful, only getting one ability randomly.

However, he immediately fell into thought: "Speaking of which, does Kakuzu have any other abilities besides Earth Grudge Fear?"

It seems, it appears, it should be... that only Di Yuan Yu is there?
As he pondered, Uchiha Muneki felt a throbbing headache and his stable spirituality gradually became restless. The voice praising the true creator in his mind seemed to become clearer and clearer. His eyes sharpened instantly, and he quickly pulled off the writhing hunger and threw it back into the system space.

"Wow, these side effects are pretty severe."

After calming down his spirit with soothing words, Uchiha Muneki frowned and said, "I don't have the gray mist suppression. I should try to use this thing less often in the future."

He had to admit that he was a little envious of Little K at this moment; the gray fog was simply a magical artifact!

After Kakuzu's disturbance, Uchiha Muneki decided not to rest anymore. After quickly packing up, he planned to return directly to Konoha.

I wonder what interesting things have happened in Konoha since I left.

When talking about Konoha, one person must be mentioned.

Danzo has been driven crazy by Hiruzen Sarutobi these past few days. That old man inexplicably keeps calling her in to discuss important matters.

When she arrived, after only a few words of discussion, she insisted on taking her to catch up with her old classmate, saying that they had been classmates for so many years.

Either soaking in hot springs or drinking alcohol
Even at the very end, the way Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo made the Root ninja feel a strange sense of fear.

Is he... uh, no, is she really that charming?

(End of this chapter)