When Intelligence Is Lacking

The Hokage's Office.

After listening to Hinata and Kakashi's description, Tsunade turned serious, her brows furrowed. After only a moment's hesitation, she ordered, "Hinata, Kakashi! You two go immediately to support Asuma's team... Shizune!"

"Yes!"

Shizune hurriedly flipped through the files on her desk and pulled out a piece of paper from a pile of messy files.

"According to the intelligence Asuma sent back yesterday, they should be lying in ambush at the Third Bounty Hunter's Guild in the Land of Fire... If I remember correctly, it should be disguised as a public toilet."

Kakashi said seriously, "Hinata, let's set off immediately!"

Hinata still found it hard to accept that she had followed Kakashi all the way out of Konoha.

Heaven knows how many excuses Hinata came up with these past few days to go and support Asuma. But none of them were perfect enough; veteran ninjas like Kakashi and Tsunade could probably spot the flaws at a glance.

If Hinata had known that 'premonitions' could be believed, she wouldn't have wasted so many brain cells.

Honestly, Konoha already has information about the Immortal Duo. A team of one Jonin and three Chunin is enough to hold one person back.

With just two small teams, they can hold off the Immortal Duo. Once the main force arrives to provide support, Kakuzu and Hidan will only face certain death.

In this situation, unless Asuma personally asks for help, it's hard to believe that Asuma would die at the hands of the Immortal Duo.

And premonitions, especially those of strong individuals, often come true.

Before the Konoha Crush Plan, the Third Hokage already sensed that something big was about to happen in Konoha. In the Original Story, when Jiraiya went to the Land of Rain to gather intelligence, Tsunade also had a bad feeling. Even when Asuma died in battle, Kurenai Yuhi felt a strange sense of unease.

This must be the connection between Chakra.

The world that the Sage of Six Paths wanted to create was based on this connection between Chakra, hoping that people could understand each other.

"By the way, Teacher Kakashi, isn't the existence of the Bounty Hunter's Guild illegal?"

Hinata found it hard to believe that Konoha would still allow such an organization to operate within the Land of Fire after knowing about the Bounty Hunter's Guild existence.

"Um... how should I put it?"

Kakashi looked slightly embarrassed, and after carefully considering his words, he explained, "Everything that already exists has its reason for existing."

"After all, we live in a time of peace."

"Oh!" Hinata understood.

Even though there are peace treaties and commercial exchanges between ninja villages, they are essentially still enemies.

Just like Konoha and Sand Village, they can tear up the peace treaty at any time if one side wants to start a war.

However, now that the peace treaty is in effect, there are some things that cannot be made public.

For example: a Sunagakure.

It was this covert conflict between ninja villages that gave rise to the gray area of the Bounty Hunter's Guild.

In front of the Bounty Hunter's Guild in the Land of Fire.

"The one in the middle is really..."

Kakuzu glanced at Hidan and said calmly, "Unexpected! You actually have a knack for money this time, Hidan!"

Hidan brandished his blood-red Triple-Bladed Scythe, shouting arrogantly, "Kakuzu, don't you dare interfere! I'm going to use them for the ritual. As for the money... you can have it!"

Kakuzu coldly replied, "I couldn't be happier... Don't be too careless, or you'll lose your life!"

"These words..."

"Ugh!"

Hidan pierced his palm, groaned as he looked up at the sky, and, stepping on the bloodstains on the ground, continued to perform the curse ritual while arrogantly shouting, "You can save that for someone else! I actually hope they'll kill me, but... that's unlikely!"

Twenty meters away from Hidan, Shikamaru, Asuma, Izumo, Kotetsu formed a swastika formation, keeping a close watch on Kakuzu while also being extremely wary of Hidan.

"Based on the intelligence, neither of these two can be killed easily!"

Shikamaru said in a low voice, "One of them has five hearts, so you have to kill him five times. As for the other one..."

Konoha doesn't yet have much information about Hidan.

Asuma said in a deep voice, "I'll go first. You find an opportunity to use 'Shadow Sewing Technique' to bind Hidan. Just one hit is enough. I'll cut off his head and leave him unable to move."

"As for that Kakuzu..."

"Although I hate to admit it, he probably won't make a move easily."

According to the intelligence gathered by Konoha, Hidan only possesses the ability to be immortal and has excellent Taijutsu. As for Hidan's curse ritual... to be honest, Konoha has no idea.

There's no other reason. When Hinata was ambushed by the Akatsuki four, Hidan wasn't even cannon fodder. He was completely crushed by Hinata before he could even make a move.

Shikamaru nodded slightly, indicating his approval of Asuma's plan.

Compared to Hidan, Chakra, who can use all five ninjutsu and has almost limitless Kakuzu actually more troublesome. At least it would be good to delay Hidan for a while before other teams arrive to provide support.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, it hurts so much!"

Hidan curled his lip and let out two disdainful screams, "You bastards who can't empathize with the pain of others, God will punish you!"

Shikamaru crouched down, his hands forming a strange hand seal, a unique seal of the Nara Clan's shadow techniques, not among the twelve basic hand seals.

Asuma and Hidan exchanged a glance, then suddenly leaped out, their Chakra blades clashing repeatedly in the air with the sound of metal striking metal.

Several black shadows extended from beneath Shikamaru's feet, constantly harassing Hidan's movements as they detached from the ground.

Shikamaru and Asuma have been working together for three years, and they are extremely familiar with each other's Ninjutsu, with excellent teamwork. Under Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique, Asuma and Hidan were locked in a stalemate for a time.

Although Hidan wasn't particularly prominent within the Akatsuki, he could still overpower even the weakest member of the Akatsuki against ninjas from other villages.

Asuma is Elite Jonin of Konoha. Even if he can't compare to Kakashi, he should be at the level of Zabuza.

However, even with Asuma and Shikamaru working together, they were still gradually forced into Hidan by Hidan.

The bloody Triple-Bladed Scythe slashed across Asuma's face, splattering blood.

Hidan pulled the scythe back, dodging Shikamaru's Shadow Jutsu, and licked the blood off the scythe with a smug look on his face.

A scratch that could only be considered a 'cut' had no effect on Asuma at all. He threw the Chakra blade into the air and quickly formed Asuma Hand Seals.

Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning

A cloud of gray smoke enveloped Hidan's location, and as Asuma activated his Ninjutsu, the area covered by the gray smoke exploded instantly.

'Boom!'

"..."

"It hurts a lot, doesn't it?"

When the smoke cleared, Hidan was half-crouched on the ground, his whole body had turned black, with white stripes on his black body.

"This is the punishment!"