Blazing showdown! Sasuke Uchiha vs. the immortal duo!

"Hidan, help me!!"

Faced with the surging forest, Kakuzu called for his partner's help. At the same time, the black threads of Earth Grudge Fear flowed across his body, drawing the wind, fire, and lightning masks together onto his right arm!

Against the threat of Deep Forest Emergence... the only answer he could think of was Earth Grudge Fear's most powerful ultimate technique!!

—Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot!!

Whoosh!

Chakra of all three natures—wind, fire, and lightning—became a terrifying blast from a Chakra Cannon, sweeping forward...!!!

Rumble...!

Boom! Amid the turbulent explosions, the leading trees were destroyed, only for the forest behind them to surge forward!!

By then, Hidan had tossed aside the cash case and charged in unencumbered. Wielding his blood-red, triple-bladed scythe, he rushed in front of Kakuzu and hacked madly at the trees that kept coming!

Given a chance to breathe, Kakuzu gathered his Chakra again and fired another Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot. Only then... did he finally destroy the forest!

"Whew..."

His dark green eyes glanced sideways at the cash case Hidan had casually thrown into the distance. "Just this once, I'll forgive your desecration of money!"

Hidan rested his scythe on his shoulder, still lost in his own world. "Watching you two fight nearly constipated me. This isn't like you, Kakuzu!"

Kakuzu had completely set aside his prejudice against Sasuke. "I hate to admit it, but that brat's power is exceptional. And despite being an Uchiha, he hasn't even used his Sharingan yet. I don't know whether something's preventing him from using it or he's deliberately holding back. Either way, we have to kill him together!!!"

Hidan spoke with bloodthirsty excitement. "I've been itching to make him an offering to Lord Jashin!!"

Poof! Kakuzu took out a Scroll and summoned a broad-bladed sword from it.

"I'll handle the feint this time!"

Whoosh! Kakuzu charged at Sasuke first, with Hidan dragging his scythe close behind!

"So those two finally decided to work together..."

Shing! Sasuke raised his Kusanagi Sword and engaged them both with his practiced swordsmanship!!

Clang, clang, clang!!

Blades flashed and crossed. Sasuke held his own against both opponents!

The longer they fought, the deeper his doubts became.

If you looked at it from a somewhat superstitious angle, whenever people operated in pairs, the one who acted later was usually stronger.

But this Hidan guy... other than swinging that scythe with barely passable taijutsu, there was nothing remarkable about him at all...

Could there be something strange about that scythe... like a coating of deadly poison?

Seeing that even their combined assault failed to bring Sasuke down, Kakuzu was secretly alarmed. His taijutsu and swordsmanship are both this good? This guy's a freak. Expecting Hidan to draw blood on his own would be pure fantasy. Fine. Now that things have come this far, I have to create an opening by any means necessary!!

Whoosh!

Just then, Earth Grudge Fear's black threads twisted toward Sasuke, but trees sprouted from his shoulder and blocked them outright!

Kakuzu's eyes flashed. As he sprang backward, his arm shot out!

—Earth Grudge Fear: Tentacle Fist!

Already prepared, Sasuke snapped off the trees on his shoulder and shifted his body to the side!!

Whoosh...!!

The Tentacle Fist swept past Sasuke... but clenched in its hand was a Ninja Smoke Bomb!

Sasuke was startled. "You're pulling that...!?"

Crack!

The smoke bomb burst. While Sasuke was momentarily distracted, Hidan lunged forward and swung his scythe!

Sasuke evaded the blade... but its extended hook still scored a shallow cut across his cheek!

Hidan exclaimed, "Got him!"

An almost imperceptible smile crossed Kakuzu's face. "The most crucial step is complete. The rest is up to you, Hidan!!"

Among the observers on both sides, everyone's expression shifted subtly except Karin's!

Whoosh!

Dragging his scythe, Hidan swiftly withdrew from the fight!

"!?" Sensing something wrong, Sasuke pursued with his sword raised, but Kakuzu charged straight in and blocked his path!

Clang, clang, clang!

Their swords clashed several times in an instant.

Hiss, hiss!

The cut on Sasuke's cheek healed amid rising steam, but a faint unease lingered in his heart—the instinct he had developed through countless battles!

That Hidan guy must be planning something!!!

Sasuke accelerated his offensive, but Kakuzu fought him recklessly, not even caring when he left his hearts exposed!

"!!" Sasuke's unease grew ever stronger!!

Outside the fighting, Hidan grinned viciously and licked the blood from his scythe. His skin turned a glossy, metallic black!

Shing! He drew a red spike from the bottom of his scythe and slit his wrist, letting blood flow beside his feet. Then he used his foot to trace a mysterious ritual circle on the ground!

Sasuke's expression changed sharply. That body, and that ritual... so he really is about to use some kind of jutsu? This is bad. I have an extremely ominous feeling!!!!!

Shing!!!

Sasuke drove his Kusanagi Sword straight through the Earth Grudge Fear heart on Kakuzu's shoulder. Shing...! With a forceful slash, he sent Kakuzu's entire left arm flying!!!

Having broken through... Sasuke charged straight at Hidan!!

Kakuzu watched Sasuke's retreating back as though he were already a corpse headed for a bounty exchange's cold storage. "It's useless. Whatever you do, it's too late..."

In the forest, Orochimaru clenched his hand tightly and said in a low voice, "Kabuto, hold Karin down in a moment..."

Kabuto Yakushi's heart was in his throat. "I'll... do my best..."

Karin's heart pounded. What's going on? Orochimaru's and Kabuto's Chakra suddenly became tense and anxious, but the enemies' Chakra is brimming with confidence. Could Sasuke... be in danger!!!

—"I'll offer your blood to Lord Jashin!!"

Standing inside the completed ritual circle, Hidan raised his spike in exhilaration and plunged it into his own heart!!!

—Sacrifice: Death Controlling Possessed Blood!!!

Crack...!

Thud! Sasuke collapsed heavily in mid-stride. Clutching his chest, he grimaced so hard that his features twisted!!

"This feeling... it's been so... long... could it be... urgh!!!"

He spat out a great mouthful of blood. More blood gushed from his chest, pooling beneath him!!!

"So that's... how it works."

He finally understood why Orochimaru had personally chosen Hidan and Kakuzu, two men whose combat strength seemed unremarkable, as his opponents for the Second Match!

Kakuzu's immortality was merely bait. Hidan was the Akatsuki's most deeply concealed trump card. Without advance knowledge of his abilities, even the strongest ninja could lose his life!

"So this is... the Second Match's true... test of life and death!"

With his heart grievously wounded... Sasuke's consciousness began to fade!!

"Sasuke's Chakra is draining rapidly! This is bad!!!"

Karin rushed forward without a thought for her own safety, only for Kabuto Yakushi to pin her hard to the ground. "Karin... this is the challenge Sasuke has to face. He forbade any of us from intervening!!!"

Karin's face contorted fiercely. "That's your problem! All I know is that if I don't go over there, Sasuke will die! With my healing ability, there's still time! Let me go!!!!"

Kabuto Yakushi's voice trembled. "Be reasonable! Do you think Sasuke-kun would accept your help as he is now!!!"

Karin grabbed Kabuto Yakushi's arm and bit down hard!!!

"Arghhh...!!"

Kabuto Yakushi released her in pain. Karin was about to rush off when Orochimaru's snake hands coiled around her body!

"Karin, this is an ordeal Sasuke-kun must overcome. Even you can't save him. His only chance of survival is to repair his heart with the White Cursed Seal's power before the enemy finishes him off..."

"Finally dealt with him..."

Kakuzu stood back up and used Earth Grudge Fear to stitch his severed arm back on.

"Hidan, he has Hashirama cells. I doubt he can repair a fatal wound to the heart, but to be safe, stab yourself a few more times..."

"Hahahahaha! That's exactly what Lord Jashin wants!"

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Hidan raised his spike and stabbed wildly into his own chest!

White Zetsu said, "Oh dear, what a truly heart-wrenching sight..."

Black Zetsu said, "Heh heh, so this is as far as he goes..."

Beneath his mask, Obito's gaze darkened. Orochimaru actually didn't tell Sasuke about Hidan's abilities. Does that mean his goal wasn't to hunt down Akatsuki members? Then what exactly is he after...?

Crack! Only when... not a single part of his chest remained intact did Hidan toss away the spike and sit on the ground, panting with exhilaration.

As Karin gazed at her beloved Sasuke, his whole body stained red with blood, two trails of bloody tears ran down her face.

"Why? Why do you insist on fighting... even at such a cost?"

Kakuzu approached Sasuke, who had already fallen utterly silent.

"Looks like your heart can no longer serve as a replacement for mine. As compensation, I'll collect those Uchiha eyes of yours instead..."

He bent down and reached toward Sasuke's closed eyes.

But just then... Sasuke's bloodstained lips suddenly moved, voicing a pointed question.

—"Kakuzu, do you really think... a ninja's worth can be measured in money?"

"Don't tell me you...!!!" Kakuzu's dark green pupils abruptly constricted.

Whoosh...!!

The White Cursed Seal covering Sasuke's entire body surged inward!!!