Kakuzu's hoarse voice echoed through the silent courtyard, every word like rusty abacus beads being flicked.
"Hide, keep them busy for now. I'm going to ask that daimyo if he can pay me a little more."
Naruto Uzumaki looked at him. There was no desire to fight in those murky green eyes, only the greed of someone appraising an item's value.
A man who loved money more than life itself. Naruto instantly made his judgment. People like that worshipped money; every action revolved around costs and returns. Fear and honor meant nothing to them, but losses did.
A playful curve touched Naruto's lips.
"Your employer is already dead," he said in a matter-of-fact tone. "You won't get a single coin from a deal with a dead man."
"What did you say?" For the first time, Kakuzu's voice wavered slightly.
"Ha! Why waste words on these people? If you want money, talk after we're done fighting!"
Hidan could no longer stand the boredom of this standoff. Laughing wildly, he swung the Triple-Bladed Scythe resting on his shoulder, carving a bleak silver arc through the moonlight as he shot toward Naruto like a cannonball.
"Become offerings to Lord Chaos God!"
Naruto did not move. He did not even glance at him.
Whoosh!
A stream of water surged from the ground, turning into a sharp blade that precisely blocked the scythe's edge. Hozuki Suigetsu emerged from the watery shadow, casually blowing a whistle.
Almost at the same moment, Sasuke appeared like a ghost at Hidan's flank. The barrel of the customized Bolter in his hand glowed with dim blue lightning.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three bullets sealed off every one of Hidan's escape routes in a triangular formation. Hidan let out a strange cry and could only raise his scythe to block. The tremendous