When Shikamaru Nara defeated Hidan, he used a pre-set trap of wire-bound explosive tags to tear the immortal's body into pieces.
Ren Uchiha had no explosive tags—he had exhausted his supply during the slaughter at the castle walls.
But he had something else: wire. And he possessed a level of wire manipulation that bordered on the divine. By channeling chakra to make the wires as rigid and sharp as steel, he could cleave through flesh as easily as a butcher's knife.
In the original history, Hidan's immortality had a fatal flaw: once the body was dismembered, it stayed that way. Ren had no intention of a long, drawn-out battle.
His first move was a killing stroke.
This sudden ferocity caught Hayato Dōgō completely off guard.
His version of immortality was imperfect; it required the constant sacrifice of others to maintain. As a Jonin of the Hidden Hot Springs, his combat power relied heavily on his hands. If his fingers were severed, he would be unable to weave signs, turning him into nothing more than a lamb for the slaughter.
Outside the barrier, the Uchiha squad watched with wide eyes.
As masters of the Sharingan, they saw the lethal intent hidden beneath Ren's dancing, spinning movements. Even Fugaku Uchiha was stunned. He had already respected Ren's shurikenjutsu from the wreckage above, but seeing it in motion was breathtaking.
This boy... his basic taijutsu has flaws, but his throwing angles and wire control are perfect, Fugaku thought. Only Great Elder Setsuna can command wires like this. Is this kid the Elder's secret grandson?
In the arena, Hayato realized he was no match for a 2-Tomoe Uchiha in pure Taijutsu.
As the wire blades closed in, he abandoned his spears and wove signs in a blur.
"Earth Style: Earth-Based Subterranean Voyage!"
Hayato sank into the ground, turning the solid earth into liquid to escape the shredding wires. Ren's eyes tracked the mass of chakra moving beneath the surface. He slid across the blood-slicked floor, pulling his last kunai and weaving his own signs.
Rabbit-Ram-Snake!
"Water Style: Water Fang Blade!"
A swirling vortex of water solidified into a blade in Ren's hands. He leaped, driving the water blade directly into the earth where Hayato was swimming.
The blade pierced through the ground and straight into Hayato's skull—tearing through his jaw and erupting from his cheek.
"You little brat... you're forcing my hand!" Hayato roared, bursting from the ground, his face a mask of blood.
Ren didn't waste breath on words. He twisted his body, delivering a brutal downward slash aimed at Hayato's neck.
Hayato ducked and dodged, showcasing the refined reflexes of a Jonin. He danced around Ren's water blade while weaving new signs mid-motion.
The sight of the swordplay, however, made the Uchiha squad on the ceiling groan.
"Who taught this kid kenjutsu? It's terrible," one member muttered.
"If he used the Uchiha Style, that Jonin would be dead by now."
Fugaku nodded in agreement. "His fundamentals are weak. He doesn't understand why he's swinging the blade. It looks like he just copied some moves with his Sharingan—a bit of Cloud Style here, some basic academy moves there—and mixed it with street brawling."
Fugaku's brow furrowed. "If he doesn't change his rhythm, he's in danger."
Hayato finished his signs.
"Water Style: Water Encampment Wall!"
A massive wave of water erupted from his mouth, slamming into Ren with enough force to push him back across the plaza. Hayato didn't stop. He transitioned into a final seal.
"Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!"
A brilliant crackle of electricity surged through the water, striking Ren's body. Ren's movements stiffened as paralysis took hold.
Seeing his opening, Hayato drew two black spears and hurled them with all his might.
SHING! SHING!
One spear pierced Ren's chest; the other pinned his leg to the ground. Ren was nailed to the floor. Hayato finally took a ragged breath.
"Now... stay dead," he hissed. But a lingering unease remained. He wove signs again.
"Lightning Style: Four-Pillar Bind!"
Four stone pillars erupted around Ren, lashing him with continuous bolts of lightning. Finally, Hayato drew one last spear and aimed it squarely at Ren's forehead. He threw it—a killing blow aimed at the brain.
The Uchiha ninjas on the ceiling prepared to jump in, but Fugaku's hand shot out, stopping them.
"Wait," Fugaku commanded, his voice cold.
"Captain! He's being skewered! We can't just watch!"
"Look," Fugaku repeated, his Sharingan fixed on the boy below.
In the center of the lightning storm, the black spear tore through the air and drove straight through Ren's brow, exiting the back of his skull.
It was a wound that meant certain death.
Yet, in that final moment, Ren's eyes snapped open.
Under the shocked gaze of everyone present, Ren reached up and pulled the spear out of his own brain. He stood up, mızraks still jutting from his chest and leg, and let out a savage, bloody grin at Hayato.
"I told you... your 'immortality' is a fake, girlish imitation," Ren rasped. "Running around like a kicked dog... what a joke."
Ren ripped the remaining spears from his body. As the metal left his flesh, the holes in his skull, chest, and leg closed instantly. Flesh knit together, skin regrew, and within seconds, not even a scar remained.
Ren let out a wild laugh, his eyes burning with madness as he lunged forward.
"My turn now!"