Amidst the smoke-filled scorched earth, Hidan stood on tiptoe.
His arm, severed earlier by Ino's explosive tag, was still bleeding, so there was no need to find other paint at the moment.
He swiftly used the blood on his body to draw the curse ritual's seal on the ground, then stuck out his tongue to lick the blood Kakuzu had brought back.
Cursed Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood!
"It's coming, it's coming!"
Hidan, with his arms spread wide, wore a ferocious expression. Under the ritual's enhancement, the Chakra Flow in his body shifted in a bizarre direction.
"Not good! That's the dangerous technique mentioned in the village's intel! Stop him!"
In the distance, Shikamaru forced himself up, quickly analyzing the enemy's tactics in his mind.
According to the intel, they still had a chance to disrupt the technique's success before the opponent's body turned black and white. Otherwise, Sakura would be in danger!
"Multi-Size Technique!"
Choji, as the vanguard, didn't hesitate at all, pouring all his Chakra into this attack.
His body swelled several times, and his limbs retracted into his torso like a mollusk.
"Ino!"
"Coming!"
Her hands marked by numerous cuts from quickly weaving wire, Ino threw out a string of bloodstained wire-wrapped kunai, firmly entangling Choji.
"Ninja Art: Meat Tank Spiked Chariot!"
The prepared Choji began rolling rapidly, using his weight and rotational force to make the kunai spin along, transforming into a meat grinder that roared with dangerous sounds, charging towards Hidan and Kakuzu in the distance.
However, faced with this ferocious, killing-intent-laden strike, the two Akatsuki's members showed no desire to dodge.
They simply stood calmly in place, even seeming somewhat amused.
Seeing this abnormal behavior, Shikamaru frowned deeply.
'Why aren't they dodging? Shouldn't they be waiting for the technique to activate... Wait, technique activation!'
His thoughts racing, he stood up in shock. "Stop, Choji!!!"
"Hahaha! Realized it, did you? But too late!"
Hidan laughed maniacally. Under the ritual's enhancement, his entire body turned black with white, skeleton-like patterns.
He dropped his defenses against the charging Human Bullet Spiked Tank, fearlessly exposing all his vital points to the attack.
He wanted to see the regretful expressions on these Konoha's Ninjas' faces after they killed their own comrade.
"Come, experience this fascinating pain with me!"
His purple eyes, filled with bloodshot veins, watched as needles and blades aimed for his body, his look of pleasure growing more evident.
Clang Clang Clang...!
Rapid, dense sounds of steel scraping rang out. Shrapnel of kunai, senbon, shuriken, and wire flew, hitting Hidan and Kakuzu.
The massive Human Bullet Tank crashed against his body's surface but couldn't budge him an inch.
Hidan's smile seemed to get stuck in his throat. Stiffly, he picked up a black needle and stabbed it forcefully towards his own heart.
Another crisp sound of steel clashing rang out. The black needle snapped upon impact, falling to the ground with a clear ting.
Hidan's current mood was as 'wonderful' as his words. If not for the risk of offending Jashin, he would be cursing vehemently by now.
After exhausting all schemes and strength to complete the technique, this was the final result. How could one accept it?
Seemingly having lost all means and strength, Hidan knelt weakly on the ground.
Kakuzu also looked back at the girl riding atop the giant beast, her smile radiant.
"Jashin-sama is truly fair, isn't he?"
The phantom light of a Space-Time Ninjutsu flashed, and Sakura had already stepped into the ritual circle Hidan had drawn.
The wound on her waist had long since healed completely, revealing flawless skin under the torn clothing.
"Flying Thunder God..."
Kakuzu let out a bitter laugh, only now realizing what an absurd choice he had made.
Against a Ninja with Space-Time Ninjutsu who didn't cling to battle, there was no way he could have obtained her blood.
Years of seamless cooperation with Hidan had subconsciously made him choose to trust Hidan over his own Earth Grudge Fear.
That's why, at the critical moment, he abandoned the only weapon in his hand that could match hers, turning and running further down the wrong path.
"Bastard! Don't you dare blaspheme Jashin-sama!"
Hidan on the ground suddenly leaped up, thrusting his last scythe straight at Sakura's eyes.
Crunch!
Five fingers flowing with Armament Haki spread open and lightly grasped the scythe.
Amidst the clear shattering sound, the blood-red giant scythe broke into pieces scattered on the ground.
Simultaneously, Hidan's body was bound by dozens of black thread-like blood vessels, restrained, and swallowed whole by the wooden-masked behemoth behind him.
"Hmm, research specimen, get~!"
Taking a few sealing technique talismans from her pocket, Sakura rolled them up and flicked them into the giant beast behind her, transforming it into a massive sealing field.
"Well, it seems we've lost."
Kakuzu sighed helplessly. It looked like the Immortal Duo would meet their end today. "But, you're really quite twisted. You clearly had the ability but didn't kill us right away."
"That would have been too boring!"
The fighting spirit on her body slowly receded. The girl's emerald-green eyes looked at him. "Allowing every opponent to exert their full strength… that's my respect for all the strong who cross blades with me."
"Haha, then that's really... an honor!"
Kakuzu's words rang out alongside the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh.
The destruction of his last heart caused his Earth Grudge Fear technique to dissolve.
Thus, this Missing-Nin who had roamed the Ninja World for over sixty years exited the stage on this nameless ground.
"Sakura!"
Ino's forceful shout came. Carried by a gentle breeze, she rushed over and hugged Sakura tightly.
The hand pressed against Sakura's back was bleeding, making Sakura's heart ache as she took Ino's hand to treat it.
"Really, if you had the ability to handle them, you should have said so sooner! You worried us to death!"
Shikamaru walked towards the two girls, hands in his pockets.
When he reached them, he lifted his heavily scarred legs, hoping to get a bit of treatment too.
"Mhmm, mhmm!"
Choji, who had practically crawled to join them, nodded in agreement with Shikamaru, voicing his complaint.
After treating Ino, Sakura pressed her palms together in apology. "Sorry, sorry! I won't do it again next time!"
"You think there'll be a next time?!" x3
…
As Team 10 returned with their mission target, elsewhere in the Land of Fire.
"Kakuzu and Hidan have both failed..."
The wandering monk leaning against the palace wall of the capital took the intelligence delivered by White Zetsu, murmuring thoughtfully.
In the grand hall behind him, Kazuma, once one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, knelt on one knee before the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
"Your Highness, such an opportunity comes once in a thousand years! Do you not wish to surpass your ancestors and seize all power in the Land of Fire?"
Hearing these words, the man sitting on the Daimyo's seat showed a hesitant expression.
"But that wouldn't be right, would it? I and the Hokage are the twin jewels of the Land of Fire. Not to mention, Tsunade is a princess with the bloodline of the Uzushiogakure's Daimyo!"
Hearing the Daimyo's reply, disappointment flashed in Kazuma's eyes.
'The previous Daimyo was like this, and the current one is still the same.'
'The Daimyo's line of the Land of Fire truly is hopeless.'
"Since Your Highness lacks such resolve..."
Kazuma stood up, killing intent seeping from the blade in his hand.
"...allow this subject to assist you!!!"