Search, strike, retreat

Having already fallen for that trick once, Hidan was prepared. A layer of bone membrane formed over his cochleas and nostrils, and a white bone mask formed over his face to keep the gold dust from invading his body again.

The injuries caused by the gold dust rampaging through his body had already begun to heal slowly under his powerful regenerative ability.

"Keep him here, whatever the cost! The secret of this man's body could be of tremendous help to Sunagakure!" Rasa roared, his expression dark.

Chiyo and Ebizo slowly nodded.

Although they usually disagreed with Rasa on political matters, they could still present a united front when Sunagakure's fundamental interests were at stake.

If they could unravel the secret of this man's body, Sunagakure's strength and standing would undergo a dramatic transformation.

Even if they could not, turning him into a Human Puppet would give Sunagakure a major trump card against outsiders in the future.

They might have to put their lives on the line this time.

"All right, that's enough fun and games."

Just as Rasa was about to order all the ninja to swarm Hidan and wear him down through sheer numbers—

A mocking voice suddenly rang out across the battlefield.

Kabuto slowly emerged from beneath the desert, also wearing an Akatsuki cloak.

Their matching outfits made it clear that they belonged to the same organization.

What sent Rasa's and Chiyo's blood pressure soaring was the young boy wrapped in the coils of a snake extending from the newly arrived Akatsuki member's robes.

"You bastards!"

Seeing his village's jinchuriki being abducted, Rasa almost went red with rage.

It was the first time he had lost his composure in front of his subordinates.

No wonder it had felt so strange that a lone enemy would dare attack Sunagakure.