At the same time.
Just then, a black, rope-like thing from who knew where suddenly wrapped around Asuma's ankle.
His evading figure was restrained for an instant.
But just as he tried to break free in his own way,
more black ropes, as though they had long been lying in wait, wrapped tightly around Asuma in the blink of an eye.
Then he felt a pulling force.
Turning his head, he saw that these strange things were clearly emerging from Kakuzu's body.
As Kakuzu exerted himself, Asuma's entire body was dragged toward him.
As the distance closed, Asuma sensed something was wrong. He tried to break free, but he seemed to have underestimated these things.
Yet Kakuzu appeared to be fully focused on dealing with Asuma, leaving him unable to make any other moves.
By all rights, this should have turned into a stalemate.
But there were more than just the two of them here.
When only about a meter remained between them,
Asuma immediately heard Hidan's crazed voice.
At the same time came an all-too-familiar whistling through the air. It was Hidan's weapon; Asuma naturally recognized it.
He knew the attack was aimed at him. If he failed to dodge, he would undoubtedly be cut in half.
He could not simply give up. At this point, his will to survive frantically urged him to unleash everything he had.
Perhaps his potential responded to that desperate call. At the very last instant, his strength suddenly erupted, and he successfully shifted his direction.
Hidan's weapon barely grazed his body, scattering a few drops of blood.
But because of Asuma's sudden burst, Hidan's attack met no resistance and struck Kakuzu directly. The sharp scythe swept through him.
Kakuzu was cut in two by a single blow.
As a result, the Earth Grudge