[Akatsuki Hideout]
Hidan's face instantly turned ugly.
Although he didn't like using his brain, he wasn't stupid. As the screen said, the key to his ability was catching opponents off guard—a first-encounter kill. Once they were hit upon meeting, the ritual would begin, and if he stabbed himself, the opponent would drop dead on the spot.
Now that those key details had been leaked, how was he supposed to catch people off guard?
And the only people he needed to kill by using his Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possession Blood were troublesome opponents to begin with—ordinary shinobi weren't even worth his time.
But now if those troublesome opponents knew what was coming, they'd be on guard. And if he couldn't get their blood, the ritual couldn't start—and his killing move would be nearly impossible to pull off.
Could it be that he really had to go find some kind of mosquito summon?
But where on earth was he even supposed to find something like that?
---
Meanwhile, in other Shinobi World timelines, some people noticed that the screen had once again brought up Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
From Ōtsutsuki Toneri, to Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, to Ōtsutsuki Kaguya—and especially the last one, was appearing more and more frequently. And based on the Sky Screen's implication, she might even be the strongest person in the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
Otherwise, why would the screen say it was uncertain if Hidan obtaining Kaguya's blood would even be useful?
Six Paths-level!
And not just an ordinary one either.
It wasn't that they looked down on Hidan—but the gap between Kage and Six Paths was probably as vast as sky and earth. So under those circumstances, what good would even a so-called cursed technique do?
Of course, as for the screen's disrespectful joke about Kaguya, Black Zetsu, hiding underground, was furious. He eerily poked his head out from the ground, his face twisted with rage.
Just then, the screen switched to a new scene.
It showed Hidan sitting on some steps, with a tall building behind him.
Kakuzu at the Akatsuki hideout immediately recognized it—a bounty exchange station he frequently visited.
At that moment, footsteps echoed. Hidan heard them but didn't fully turn back, assuming it was Kakuzu returning after collecting the bounty. Irritated, he said:
"Took you long enough, Kakuzu!"
But the expected reply didn't come. Instead of Kakuzu's voice, he heard the sound of something cutting through the air.
He reacted instantly, grabbing his scythe and easily deflecting the incoming Shuriken. Then he swung the scythe—the handle extending like a rope, the blade arcing through the air to slam heavily toward his attacker, Sarutobi Asuma.
Already prepared, Asuma dodged to the side with practiced ease. While the scythe grazed his jacket and struck the ground, sending rubble flying.
Just then, two more figures dressed in Konoha vests lunged from the shadows, long swords in hand—one from each side, moving in perfect coordination, attacking Hidan from both sides simultaneously.
Hidan glanced at them from the corner of his eye; they didn't seem all that strong. And just as he was about to leap away—he found his body pinned to the ground. He couldn't lift his feet, and even his fingers felt as heavy as lead.
Looking down, he saw a long shadow on the ground connected to the soles of his feet, binding him tightly.
"Too slow." Shikamaru's figure appeared on a nearby wall, manipulating the shadow that held Hidan in place.
Squelch! x2
Izumo and Kotetsu thrust their long swords into Hidan from both sides. And for a moment, the Konoha group present thought the battle was over.
[Speaking of which, the enduring "Gatekeeper Duo" of Konoha, Izumo and Kotetsu, are also quite interesting. Like twin stars, they are a fixture of Konoha, having worked together as security guards, jailers, patrolmen, and even handymen—a wealth of experience.]
[And although they are only Chunin, even Pain chose not to force his way through the gate they guarded, opting instead to bypass it. Furthermore, although their growth in power isn't as fast as the main characters, it's not bad either.]
[In their first battle against Kakuzu, they were easily defeated. Later, when Kakuzu was reincarnated via Edo Tensei, he was defeated by the two of them. And finally, they even became Kakashi's shadow guards, which can be considered the best conclusion for their diligent work.]
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Konoha's main gate]
The gatekeeper duo was slacking off, as usual.
Both wore Konoha flak jackets and forehead protectors—looking ordinary and unremarkable in appearance.
They had been thrilled just to see themselves on the screen, but after hearing the special praise directed at them, it made them feel even more extraordinary.
The two instantly perked up as if injected with adrenaline—chests out, backs straight, chins raised high, basking in the glances and compliments coming from all directions.
Passing shinobis looked over one after another; some couldn't help but chuckle, but most gave friendly nods.
Meanwhile, on the screen, Hidan's blood splattered across his face and body, yet he spoke with utter nonchalance:
"That hurts... What's wrong with you jerks?"
His tone didn't sound like someone who had been stabbed twice, but more like someone who had been bitten by ants.
Instantly, the four Konoha shinobis were stunned.
"What's going on? We clearly pierced his vital spots!" Izumo and Kotetsu, refusing to believe it, pressed their swords down harder, the tips sinking deeper into Hidan's body.
"Don't twist the blades! That really hurts, you know." Feeling their movements, Hidan's tone carried a hint of annoyance.
Only then did the people watching across the timelines of the Shinobi World begin to grasp what his "immortality" truly meant.
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Location of Team 10]
Asuma took a sharp breath, smoke drifting from the corner of his mouth and swirling before his eyes, but his hand was trembling slightly.
How the hell could anyone fight this guy without prior intel?
Never mind that Curse Technique—just this immortality alone was a major problem.
Even Shikamaru's expression had turned solemn.
"Anyway… who are you guys?" Hidan asked, genuinely puzzled.
He stopped paying attention to Izumo and Kotetsu and looked up at Asuma. Spotting the familiar "Fire" emblem on his clothing, he suddenly realized.
"That mark—if I remember correctly, it's from the Guardian Shinobi or something..."
"Are you kidding me? Do I have to go back inside that smelly Collection Office again?"
Hearing Hidan's words, and perhaps because he couldn't take Hidan down for the moment, Asuma patiently explained the identities and purpose of the four of them.
And while they talked, Kakuzu's figure suddenly appeared behind Shikamaru and threw a heavy punch.
Fortunately, Shikamaru reacted in time and dodged. Kakuzu's fist only struck the wall—but the shadow binding Hidan instantly vanished.
"The jutsu's been broken!" Hidan said cheerfully.
Seeing this, Izumo and Kotetsu immediately pulled back from Hidan's side, and the four Konoha shinobi regrouped, warily looking at Hidan and Kakuzu.
And upon seeing Asuma, Kakuzu quipped to Hidan, "This is a first, you being interested in money, Hidan."
"Kakuzu, you stay out of this. I'm going to use these guys for my ritual—all the money's yours!"
[In Kakuzu's eyes, Asuma wasn't an Elite Jōnin of Konoha or the Third Hokage's son—he was 35 million ryō on legs.]
[And it was from here on that, just as Kakashi became a unit of measurement for Chakra, Asuma also became a unit of measurement for money. '1 Asuma equals 35 million Ryo' became deeply rooted in people's minds.]
---
Kakashi and Asuma, watching the Sky Screen, were instantly left speechless.
The corner of Kakashi's mouth kept twitching.
A unit of measurement for Chakra? Since when did he become a measurement unit? And why did the screen always have to bring up his Chakra reserves?
Though… just how much chakra was "1 Kakashi" anyway?
Meanwhile, Asuma with a cigarette in mouth, had a face as black as a pot.
1 Asuma equals 35 million ryō? What kind of nonsense was that?
That was just the underground exchange's bounty value.
He was worth way more than that!
*****
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