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"Hidan, help me!"
Facing the surging sea of trees, Kakuzu called out to his partner. At the same time, the black threads of his Earth Grudge Fear writhed across his body. Three masks—wind, fire, and lightning—converged along the seething threads onto his right arm.
Against the threat of the Deep Forest Emergence, he could only answer with the strongest technique his Earth Grudge Fear could muster.
—Earth Grudge Fear: Final Shot!
Whoosh!
The chakra of three natures fused into a terrifying beam of energy, sweeping forward…!
BOOM—!
The leading wave of the forest was obliterated in the blast. More wood surged in from behind.
Hidan seized the moment, throwing aside the money chest. Unburdened, he gripped his three-bladed scythe and lunged in front of Kakuzu, wildly hacking apart the oncoming trees.
Kakuzu finally caught his breath. He gathered his chakra again, unleashed another Final Shot, and at last… the wooden onslaught was dissolved.
"Hah…"
Kakuzu's gaze flicked toward the money chest Hidan had casually tossed aside. "Just this once," he said, "I'll forgive your sacrilege against money."
Hidan slung his scythe over his shoulder, still lost in his own world. "Watching you two fight was giving me constipation! Not like you, Kakuzu!"
Kakuzu had completely set aside his earlier prejudice. "As much as I hate to admit it, that brat's power is extraordinary. And for an Uchiha, he hasn't even used his Sharingan yet. I don't know if he can't, or if he's holding back. Regardless, we take him down together!"
Hidan's bloodlust surged. "I've been dying to offer him to Lord Jashin!"
Poof! Kakuzu produced a scroll and summoned a broad-bladed sword from it.
"This time, I'll be the distraction!"
Swoosh! Kakuzu charged first, hurtling toward Sasuke. Hidan dragged his scythe, following close behind.
"So, they've finally decided to team up…"
Shing! Sasuke raised his Kusanagi Sword, meeting them with polished swordsmanship.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Blades crossed in a whirlwind. Sasuke held his own, one against two.
The longer the fight went on, the deeper his confusion grew.
Metaphysically speaking, in any duo, the one who acts second is usually stronger.
But this Hidan… besides swinging that scythe with passable taijutsu, there's nothing special about him.
Is it the scythe, then? A poisoned blade, maybe?
Even together, they couldn't break through. Kakuzu was inwardly shaken. His taijutsu and swordsmanship are this good? What a freak. Getting Hidan to draw blood alone would be impossible. Fine. At this point, I'll create the chance by any means necessary!
Swoosh!
Black threads shot out to ensnare him. Wood sprouted from Sasuke's shoulder, blocking them.
Kakuzu's eyes flashed. As he leaped back, his arm shot out—
—Earth Grudge Fear: Tentacle Fist!
Sasuke, already wary, snapped the wood on his shoulder and twisted aside.
Whoosh—!
The tentacle fist flew past him… but clutched in its grip was a ninja smoke bomb.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "That trick…!?"
Puff!
Smoke exploded. In the momentary distraction, Hidan closed the distance with a single step, his scythe slashing down.
Sasuke dodged the main blow… but the scythe's extended hook still nicked his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
Hidan grinned. "Got it!"
A faint, triumphant smile touched Kakuzu's lips. The most crucial step is complete. Now, the stage is yours, Hidan.
Everyone watching, except Karin, felt the atmosphere shift subtly.
Swoosh!
Hidan dragged his scythe, disengaging rapidly from the fight.
"!?" Sasuke sensed the danger and lunged after him, blade raised. Kakuzu surged forward, blocking his path.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their swords met a dozen times in a flash.
Hiss…
The cut on Sasuke's face healed with a wisp of steam, but an uneasy feeling coiled in his gut—an instinct honed through countless battles.
That Hidan… he's planning something!
Sasuke attacked faster, harder. But Kakuzu fought back with reckless abandon, ignoring even the openings that left his hearts exposed.
"!!" Sasuke's unease sharpened into alarm.
Out in the clearing, Hidan grinned maniacally. He licked the blood from his scythe. His entire skin took on a metallic, black sheen.
Shick! He pulled a red, sharpened rod from the base of his scythe, sliced his own wrist, and let the blood pool at his feet. Then, with his foot, he began tracing a strange, ritualistic circle on the ground.
Sasuke's face paled. "That body… that ritual… He's activating some kind of jutsu! Damn it, I have a really bad feeling about this!"
CRACK!
Sasuke drove the Kusanagi Sword straight through one of the hearts on Kakuzu's shoulder. With a brutal wrench—Shrrrip!—Kakuzu's entire left arm flew into the air.
Breaking through, Sasuke charged straight for Hidan.
Kakuzu watched Sasuke's back like he was watching a corpse headed for the morgue cooler. "Useless. It's already too late…"
In the forest, Orochimaru clenched his fist tightly, his voice low. "Kabuto… hold Karin back in a moment."
Kabuto's heart was in his throat. "I… I'll try."
Karin's heart hammered against her ribs. What's happening? Orochimaru and Kabuto's chakra just turned tense and restless. The enemies' chakra is brimming with certainty. Does that mean… Sasuke's in danger?!
"With your blood, I make an offering to Lord Jashin!"
Within the finished circle, Hidan raised the rod high, eyes alight with fervor, and stabbed it violently into his own heart!
—Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood!
Crunch…!
Thud! Sasuke, mid-sprint, crashed heavily to the ground. He clutched his own chest, his face contorted in agony.
"This… this feeling, it's been so long… Could it be… GUAAAH—!"
A torrent of blood erupted from his mouth. More gushed from the wound over his heart, pooling beneath him into a crimson lake.
So… that's how it is.
He finally understood why Hidan and Kakuzu—this duo with seemingly mediocre power—had been chosen by Orochimaru for the second trial.
Kakuzu's immortality was just the bait. Hidan… was the Akatsuki's deepest-hidden trump card. Without prior intelligence, any shinobi, no matter how powerful, could meet their end.
This… is the true life-or-death trial!
The devastation to his heart… Sasuke's consciousness began to fray.
"Sasuke's chakra is dropping fast! No!"
Karin threw herself forward, but Kabuto grabbed her and slammed her down. "Karin! This is Sasuke's challenge. He forbade any of us from interfering!"
Karin snarled, her face twisted. "That's your problem! All I know is if I don't go, Sasuke will die! My healing can still save him! Let me go!"
Kabuto's voice trembled. "Be reasonable! Do you think the Sasuke of today would accept your help?!"
Karin grabbed Kabuto's arm and bit down, hard.
"Aghhh…!"
Kabuto recoiled in pain, his grip loosening. Karin scrambled to her feet, only for Orochimaru's snake-like arm to coil around her body.
"Karin, this is a tribulation Sasuke must face. You cannot save him. His only path to survival is to use the power of the White Curse Mark to repair his heart… before his enemy finishes the job."
"Well, that's settled…"
Kakuzu stood up, using his threads to reattach his severed arm.
"Hidan, he has Hashirama cells. I doubt he can heal a fatal heart wound, but just to be safe… stab him a few more times."
"HAHAHAHAHA! Lord Jashin demands it!"
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Hidan raised the rod and plunged it into his own chest again and again.
White Zetsu: "My, my, that looks agonizing…"
Black Zetsu: "Heh. So it ends here…"
Obito's gaze beneath the mask was deep and thoughtful. Orochimaru… didn't give Sasuke intel on Hidan. So his goal isn't to 'hunt' Akatsuki members after all? Then what is his true purpose…?
Crack! Only when his chest was a ruined mess did Hidan finally toss the rod aside, sitting down to pant with exhilarated exhaustion.
Watching the love of her life, now completely drenched in his own blood, two trails of crimson tears streamed down Karin's cheeks.
"Why…? Why fight so desperately…?"
Kakuzu walked over to Sasuke's motionless form.
"Seems your heart is no longer suitable as a replacement. As compensation… I'll take your Uchiha eyes instead."
He bent down, reaching for Sasuke's closed eyelids.
Then… Sasuke's bloodied lips twitched, and a hoarse question escaped.
"Kakuzu… do you truly believe a shinobi's worth can be measured in money?"
"Don't tell me you…!" Kakuzu's dark green pupils constricted to pinpoints.
Whoosh…!
The White Curse Mark covering Sasuke's entire body began to recede, flowing inward into his flesh.
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