On a secluded cliff far from the battlefield at Kumogakure, the members of the Akatsuki had watched every moment of the brief but heart-stopping battle.
Hidan rested his oversized, bloodstained Triple-Bladed Scythe on his shoulder, idly flicking its shaft with his fingers to produce soft metallic chimes. He muttered to himself, but his eyes remained fixed on the strange object in the distance that Naruto carried effortlessly on his shoulder as it vanished with the flash of Flying Thunder God.
"Tsk, tsk, that coffin..."
Hidan licked his slightly cracked lips, an odd mixture of fanaticism and envy gleaming in his eyes.
"It looks pretty nice. Hexagonal, clean, solid lines, and that wood grain has real texture. Looks like a luxury sleeping coffin."
He lowered his voice, his longing almost reverent.
"I bet you could get a really, really good night's sleep in there."
"I'm honestly jealous of the Raikage. Sure, he got captured, but at least he gets to enjoy such amazing bedding."
Hidan's logic was as erratic and bizarre as ever. He had somehow interpreted the sealing Wooden Coffin imprisoning the Raikage as a luxury coffin and found himself yearning for one.
He twisted his neck with a crack, his tone growing eager.
"Hey, are we going to make a move or what? I can barely wait anymore!"
"That blond kid fought with a coffin on his shoulder. He must've burned through plenty of energy. And that Uchiha chick's splitting her attention to control the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki, so she's probably drained too."
"This is the perfect chance for a sneak attack! Kick them while they're down! Sacrifice them all to Lord Jashin!"
Hidan brandished his bloodstained Triple-Bladed Scythe, itching to get started.
The others, however, showed little enthusiasm for his suggestion.
Sasori continued to operate Hiruko in silence, observing