"We're Konoha ninja. Our orders are to capture or kill members of the Akatsuki. Unfortunately for you, we won't back down," Asuma declared firmly, raising the blade in his hand.
"Hahaha!" Hidan burst out laughing. "Hey, Kakuzu, what now? You don't want to make money, but they don't want to let us go."
Kakuzu frowned. If you're bent on getting yourselves killed, don't blame me for not showing that brat any consideration.
"Do it."
At those words, Hidan raised his scythe, his face alight with excitement. "Stay out of this, Kakuzu. Let me handle it myself. More offerings for Lord Jashin!"
Kakuzu stood to one side and said coldly, "Don't get careless. I won't save you."
"Don't worry!" Hidan roared and charged.
Anyo and Orochimaru chatted along the way, reaching Kirigakure's gates before they knew it. This time, Anyo's strength was far beyond what it had once been. He had undergone a complete transformation and slipped inside with ease, without Haku's help.
Genji, who was fishing, paused. Vaguely sensing something, he opened his eyes in puzzlement, then tugged his fishing rod. A fish had taken the bait.
Anyo activated Mount Myōboku Sage Mode, pushing his sensory ability to its limit. Yet after scanning the entire village, he failed to detect even a trace of the Six-Tails' presence, leaving him puzzled.
"Why isn't it here? Could Sasori's intelligence be wrong?"
Orochimaru replied, "There's nothing wrong with the intelligence. According to my intelligence network, the Six-Tails is indeed in Kirigakure. But this information came far too easily, almost as though Kirigakure deliberately leaked it for fear we wouldn't know."
Anyo asked, "Why would Kirigakure do that?"
After a moment's thought, Orochimaru said, "As weapons of war, tailed beasts hold great strategic importance in every village. I think it's highly likely that the