Display! Jashin's Curse

"In that case, Hidan, your codename shall be 'Santai.' Deidara, you will inherit the codename 'Kuchin' from the defected Orochimaru. How does that sound?"

Neither of them had any objections.

The other members reacted with varying expressions to the news of Orochimaru's defection.

Kakuzu and Sasori appeared surprised.

Uchiha Ye and Uchiha Itachi remained as composed as ever.

Pain Deva Path and Konan, however, were filled with immense rage.

Zetsu, who rarely made his presence felt, remained calm.

"Therefore, a very important mission now lies before us!"

Pain Deva Path's expression was icy. "Hunt down Orochimaru."

"We cannot allow someone who possesses the organization's secrets to remain alive. Furthermore, the organization does not tolerate traitors!"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Ye spoke with exaggerated surprise: "I never expected Orochimaru to defect; it's truly shocking. It seems he never intended to stay long when he first joined."

Kakuzu spoke up: "However, that guy Orochimaru is no weakling. Unless you, Leader, take action yourself, the others don't seem capable of taking him down."

Sasori of the Red Sand snorted, disagreeing with Kakuzu: "He's just a slippery snake with a few decent survival tricks, but he's not impossible to kill."

Uchiha Itachi said calmly: "Do you require my intervention, Leader?"

Deidara was quite excited: "Take me, take me! I'd love to test my skills against one of the legendary Sannin!"

Hearing this, Pain Deva Path was satisfied, then turned his gaze toward Sasori of the Red Sand and Uchiha Ye: "I will entrust this mission to the two of you."

"Your combined strength is the most balanced in the organization right now, aside from myself and 'Byakko' Konan. No matter how strong Orochimaru is, he should be no match for you two."

"Does anyone else have any objections?"

Hearing this, no one opposed.

Deidara and Hidan, being newcomers, were unaware of the full situation. While they felt it a pity to miss out on a hunt of this caliber, they did not voice their dissatisfaction.

Uchiha Itachi was glad he didn't have to exert himself; after all, every bit of ocular power spent was one less he had.

Seeing that Uchiha Itachi remained silent, Biwa Juzo naturally said nothing either.

As for Kakuzu...

He had no desire to face Orochimaru in the first place.

"Since that is settled, I shall assign the teams."

Nagato, operating from behind the scenes as Pain Deva Path, felt a surge of excitement as he looked at the nearly full roster.

He knew it was time to set certain plans into motion.

For instance, capturing the Tailed Beasts.

"Santai (Hidan), you will team up with Hokuto (Kakuzu)."

"Kuchin (Deidara), you will team up with Genbu (Zetsu)."

He then fixed his gaze on Hidan and Deidara: "Do you have any objections?"

Deidara grinned. "It doesn't matter. I can team up with anyone, as long as they don't interfere with my art!"

At these words, Sasori of the Red Sand, hidden within Hiruko, felt his eyes light up. He muttered to himself, audible only to him: "Art? Interesting. I didn't expect to encounter someone else in this organization who believes in art."

"It seems I should have a chat with him about art later. Hmph, he surely must agree that eternal art is the only true art!"

Hidan had no complaints about the grouping either, though he turned to Kakuzu with a sinister grin: "Partner, don't you go dragging me down. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to offer you to Lord Jashin."

Kakuzu snorted, his gaze cold. "You certainly have a big mouth, junior."

His expression hardened. "Let me see where you get the confidence to be so arrogant!"

"Kid, do you dare to fight?"

He hadn't had the chance to put Uchiha Ye in his place earlier.

Surely, this Hidan wouldn't make him look like a fool.

Besides!

Based on Sasori's description of the earlier scuffle, Hidan had lost to Uchiha Ye in just a few moves, so he clearly wasn't some powerhouse.

Hidan licked his lips in excitement. "Heh heh heh, that's exactly what I was hoping for. Old man, don't go dying on me too quickly!"

The surrounding members couldn't help but look on in astonishment.

Even Uchiha Itachi was surprised.

Kakuzu's strength was not to be underestimated; even he wouldn't dare claim he could easily kill Kakuzu.

He was curious to see what gave Hidan the confidence to make such bold claims.

Since there was nothing else to do, he might as well watch for entertainment.

You couldn't even beat Uchiha Ye, and Uchiha Ye and Kakuzu are evenly matched at best. I wonder where you get the confidence to say you can take down Mr. Kakuzu?

Biwa Juzo thought to himself, feeling a measure of disdain for Hidan's arrogance.

There is never a shortage of people in this world who fail to see themselves clearly.

In his eyes, Hidan was exactly that kind of person.

Uchiha Ye leaned in toward Hiruko and whispered, "Brother Sasori, the ability you wanted to see earlier is about to appear!"

Sasori responded, "I am looking forward to it!"

Amegakure!

Deep within an underground chamber.

"Come on, junior!"

After Kakuzu and Hidan took their positions, Kakuzu walked toward Hidan with an indifferent gaze. "Show me your strength. Let's see if it's enough to back up the bold words you just spoke!"

Hidan merely gripped his scythe, his eyes locked onto Kakuzu like a hawk.

When the distance between them closed to just two or three meters, Hidan's scythe suddenly swept forward like a crescent moon, moving with a speed that would leave even a jonin struggling to react in time.

Yet, Kakuzu leaped backward with calm composure.

Seeing this, Hidan pressed his attack without losing momentum, his large scythe flashing like a silver moon as he aimed for every one of Kakuzu's vital points.

"Swish!"

"Swish!"

Facing Hidan's relentless pursuit, Kakuzu dodged with absolute ease.

No matter how tricky the angles of Hidan's attacks were, he couldn't even graze a sleeve of Kakuzu's cloak.

His decades of combat experience were on full display in this moment.

He used the simplest movements to make the most appropriate responses, moving with a grace that was as pleasing to the eye as a dance.

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Ye both activated their Sharingan simultaneously, watching quietly and imprinting Kakuzu's movements into their minds, waiting to digest and absorb them into their own insights.

"Hahaha, what's the matter? Is all you can do is run?"

Seeing Kakuzu continue to evade, Hidan couldn't help but arrogantly shout, "Don't think you can keep running!"

He leaped high into the air, gripping his scythe with both hands as he brought it down in a heavy slash.

Kakuzu stopped in his tracks, his gaze sharpening. He whipped his right arm out; it shot forward like a rocket, connected by black threads, and ruthlessly pierced through Hidan's chest.

"Ugh!"

Hidan's eyes widened as he collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

"Is this... the end?"

The onlookers were all left somewhat bewildered by the sight.

That was it?

He had just been talking about taking down Kakuzu.

And yet he was this pathetic?

Getting one-shot by Kakuzu?

However, Sasori, who had already witnessed Hidan's immortality once before, felt a stir in his heart and couldn't help but anticipate, "It seems he is about to reveal the ability Ye mentioned, 'Jashin's Curse'!"

"I wonder what kind of skill it will be? To make someone like Ye—who can ignore sharp weapon attacks and possesses such rapid reflexes—so wary!"