Outside a hidden underground bounty exchange somewhere in the Land of Fire.
It looked like nothing more than an ordinary abandoned restroom, but only those who knew the ropes knew that the real entrance was hidden below.
At that moment, Hidan sat on a rock outside the restroom, utterly bored and cursing:
"Kakuzu is taking forever! He's just collecting some money. Does it really take this long?"
"I'm bored to death! Lord Jashin must be getting impatient too!"
As Hidan complained, he noticed nothing amiss.
A black shadow silently stretched across the ground behind him and instantly connected with his shadow!
"Huh?!" Hidan felt his body stiffen. Looking down, he flew into a rage. "When did you do that?!"
"Now!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
With a low shout, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, who had been lying in ambush on either side, sprang into action together!
Both held weapons resembling enormous awls, which they drove viciously through Hidan's shadow-bound body from the left and right at the same time!
Shlk! Shlk!
The sound of weapons piercing flesh rang out clearly!
We did it! Izumo and Kotetsu rejoiced inwardly!
However-
"Heh heh heh... that hurts, you bastards!"
Despite having two weapons driven through vital parts of his body, Hidan not only survived but let out a deranged laugh.
"You think that's enough to kill me, a believer in Lord Jashin?! How naive!"
"What?! He's still alive?!" Having never seen anything like this before, the two were stunned!
The instant Hidan's immortality shocked and distracted them, a dark figure darted like a phantom from the entrance to the underground bounty exchange.
Kakuzu had finished his transaction and emerged just in time to see his companion being ambushed.
He curled his fingers into claws and struck straight at Shikamaru Nara's back, aiming for his heart!
"Shikamaru! Look out!"
Asuma cried out, but it was already too late to come to his aid!
Just as Kakuzu's sneak attack was about to strike Shikamaru-
Clang!!!
A clear metallic clash rang out!
At some point, a black-haired figure had stepped in front of Shikamaru, blocking the rock-piercing claws with a pristine white katana!
It was Ye Chuan!
"Your opponent is me."
Ye Chuan stared coldly at the old monster before him, whose entire body exuded an air of decay.
"You?!"
Seeing Ye Chuan standing in front of Shikamaru, a flicker of horror still crossed Kakuzu's eyes, which had weathered a century of hardship.
"Damn it! It's you again, brat!!"
Meanwhile, Hidan, immobilized by the Shadow Possession Jutsu, also recognized Ye Chuan and let out an even angrier roar.
Last time, at the border of the Land of Rivers, this brat had suddenly appeared, not only defeating them with ease but also snatching away the Two-Tails Jinchūriki they had nearly secured!
That humiliation and defeat had continued to rankle both Hidan and Kakuzu!
"Looks like the lesson I gave you last time wasn't harsh enough." Ye Chuan's voice was icy as he faced Kakuzu, sword in hand.
He had already told Asuma's team about the Immortal Duo's abilities, as well as Kakuzu's proficiency in multiple types of elemental jutsu.
Thus, although Shikamaru and the others were shocked by Hidan's immortality, they all instinctively kept their distance, preventing his bizarre scythe from cutting them and taking their blood.
Asuma also wore a grave expression as he shielded Shikamaru, watching warily for Kakuzu's next move.
"Last time, out there, I couldn't go all out for fear of attracting unnecessary trouble."
Ye Chuan's gaze sharpened, and an aura far stronger than before slowly radiated from him.
"But this is deep within the Land of Fire, not far from Konoha. I can let loose a little... and go all out for once!"
His first target was Hidan, who was still arrogantly hurling abuse.
This fellow's immortality and curse ritual were far too bizarre. He had to be dealt with first!
Ye Chuan blurred, leaving a Shadow Clone behind to contend with Kakuzu, while his real body appeared before Hidan like a phantom!
"Die, you brat... huh?!"
Hidan was about to keep cursing, only to find that Ye Chuan moved too fast for him to react at all!
Shing-!!!
A slash coated in pitch-black Armament Haki struck Hidan with overwhelming force!
This time, Ye Chuan held nothing back!
With a teeth-grating crunch of shattering bone, Ye Chuan's blade cleaved Hidan's supposedly immortal body clean in two at the waist!!
His upper and lower halves separated, spilling blood and entrails across the ground! The sight was gruesome and horrifying!
"Aaaaargh! It hurts! You bastard! How dare you cut me in half! Lord Jashin won't let you get away with this!!"
Even so, Hidan's upper body continued cursing vigorously on the ground, his tenacity for life outrageous.
"That's half taken care of."
Without so much as looking at Hidan's upper body, which was still cursing on the ground, Ye Chuan said to Asuma and the others beside him,
"Asuma-sensei, Shikamaru, this guy can't die, but he's not much of a threat once he's split apart."
"Restrain his remains. Don't give him a chance to be put back together."
"...Right!"
Suppressing their shock and discomfort, Asuma and the others immediately stepped forward and used Earth Release and other restraints to firmly secure Hidan's upper and lower halves separately.
With the nuisance that was Hidan dealt with, Ye Chuan focused all his attention on Kakuzu.
"Your turn, old monster."
"Brat... now you've truly angered me!"
Seeing his companion dismembered so easily and sensing the increasingly powerful pressure emanating from Ye Chuan, Kakuzu finally became truly enraged!
In his nearly hundred years of life, he had never been pushed this far by someone so young!
"Earth Release: Earth Spear!"
With Kakuzu's low shout, his skin instantly turned dark and rock-hard, giving off a metallic sheen!
This was his strongest defensive Ninjutsu, capable of withstanding most physical and Ninjutsu attacks!
He was confident that no matter how skilled his opponent was with a sword, he could never break through his Earth Spear defense!
Yet as Ye Chuan looked at Kakuzu's body, which seemed clad in black armor, a cold smile curled his lips.
"Earth Release? Perfect... lightning counters earth!"
Crackle-!!!
Violent blue Lightning Release Chakra once again coated the blade of Wado Ichimonji!
The blade scraped against the air with an ear-piercing shriek!
The next instant, Ye Chuan vanished from where he stood!
[Soru]!
He appeared before Kakuzu in an instant, the lightning blade in his hand thrusting straight toward Kakuzu's heart like a bolt of lightning tearing through the darkness!
Kakuzu's pupils contracted, and he tried to block with his hardened arm!
Shing-!!!
A teeth-grating sound rang out!
Coated in Armament Haki and Lightning Release Chakra, Wado Ichimonji easily tore through Kakuzu's prized Earth Spear defense as though slicing tofu!
"Shlk!"
The tip pierced Kakuzu's chest without resistance, precisely skewering the first heart inside his body!
The powerful Lightning Release Chakra erupted instantly, destroying it completely!
Before you continue