Kakuzu and Hidan, after finishing off Chiriku of the Fire Temple with Chiriku's corpse, arrived at the nearest public restroom.
Inside the restroom, there was a hidden door. Kakuzu went in with the corpse to exchange it for money, while Hidan, finding it too smelly to enter, sat outside waiting for Kakuzu to emerge.
"Seriously, in a place full of excrement like this, my clothes will start to smell after a while. Kakuzu, that guy, he'll do anything for money, how disgusting!"
"I just don't get it, what do they want with this kind of corpse? It's not a woman's body. Can an old monk's corpse really be worth money? I just don't understand!"
Hidan, bored while waiting outside, muttered to himself on the steps, like a madman practicing rap in front of a toilet. kuAiδugg
Suddenly, a bearded middle-aged man appeared behind Hidan. Without a word, he threw several shuriken at Hidan.
"Too slow, Kakuzu..." Hidan thought it was Kakuzu and was about to complain when he realized a Leaf ninja was throwing shuriken at him.
Hidan lightly pulled his scythe, swung his arm quickly, and the shuriken were easily knocked down.
"Huh? What's going on? You, wanna fight?" Hidan looked up, speaking through his nostrils at Asuma, with a rolled 'r' at the end of his last sentence.
"I'm sorry, I have nothing to say to the Akatsuki organization!"
Asuma took out two specially made weapons, blades that could be infused with chakra properties. Asuma possessed wind-style chakra, which, combined with his chakra blades, made him even more formidable. Asuma's strength earned him the title of one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi of the Land of Fire.
"It's as I suspected. The Akatsuki took Chiriku's body to exchange it for money. Teacher Asuma, be careful. I'll assist you. Shizune Izumo, Kotetsu Hagane, you two quickly call for another squad. Then, support from the rear, find an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow, and also prevent this guy from escaping."
As the squad's strategist, Shikamaru naturally took command. The current plan was for Asuma to be the main attacker, with Shikamaru assisting in combat using his Shadow Imitation Technique.
"Hey, hey! You little brats over there! Is it okay to be planning right in front of me? I can hear everything you're saying!" Hidan slung his scythe over his shoulder and loudly taunted Shikamaru.
But before the other party could reply, Asuma was already in front of Hidan, wielding his chakra blades. Hidan leaped back to create distance and flung his scythe at Asuma with one hand.
Seeing the distance created, Asuma forcefully threw one of his chakra blades at Hidan, forcing Hidan to recall his scythe to block the incoming blade.
But just as Hidan successfully blocked the chakra blade, the ground beneath him suddenly turned black, and his entire body became immobilized.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Shadow Imitation Technique, successful!"
Shikamaru made the hand seals for the Shadow Imitation Technique and then slowly controlled Hidan's hands, making him drop his scythe and raise his hands high.
Seizing this opportunity, Shizune Izumo and Kotetsu Hagane simultaneously flashed to Hidan's sides and plunged their weapons into his chest.
Asuma smirked, "One down!"
"Ah! That hurts, you guys!" Hidan was annoyed and glared at Shizune Izumo and Kotetsu Hagane beside him.
Seeing Hidan, who had been struck in a vital spot, acting as if nothing had happened, everyone was shocked: "This guy, he was hit in a vital spot, but shows no reaction? Is he immortal? Why does the Akatsuki always have such troublesome individuals?"
"Did you see that? Who are you guys? Attacking me right from the start." Hidan, immobilized by the Shadow Imitation Technique, could only speak. He had no choice but to stall for time until Kakuzu came out.
"We are Leaf ninja. We received a mission to eliminate you. We originally intended to deal with you first, then the other one. We never expected you to have such an ability."
Asuma charged at Hidan with his chakra blades, explaining his identity as he ran. Regardless of whether Hidan was immortal, he would decapitate him first.
Hearing this, Hidan laughed, believing that these Leaf ninja couldn't possibly defeat him. "Sorry, your order is wrong!"
As soon as Hidan finished speaking, Kakuzu, who had just emerged from the restroom, instantly appeared before Shikamaru and punched towards Shikamaru's head. Fortunately, Asuma reacted in time, changing direction to force Kakuzu back. However, Kakuzu's other hand sent Shizune Izumo and Kotetsu Hagane flying.
After Kakuzu's blow, Hidan felt a sense of lightness. He could move again. He pulled his scythe back into his hand and, while still bleeding, Hidan stepped in his own blood to draw the ritual array for "Shiji Hyōketsu" (Blood Release Ritual).
"Kakuzu, don't intervene. I'll use them for the ritual. As for the money, it's yours!"
"I couldn't ask for more. But don't be careless. Your opponent is also one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi, Asuma Sarutobi. His bounty is five million Ryo higher than Chiriku's."
Hidan ignored Kakuzu's words and raised his scythe, preparing to attack. "You bastards who can't empathize with others' pain will face divine retribution!"
"Shadow Stitch!"
While Hidan was speaking, Shikamaru had already begun his attack. Several waving shadows extended towards Hidan's shadow.
Hidan had already been hit by this move and understood Shikamaru's abilities. He constantly dodged the shadows with his footwork, while simultaneously attacking Asuma.
"Raikō: Senju Satsu!"
A golden thousand-armed Kannon appeared behind Asuma. As soon as the arms appeared, they unhesitatingly extended and slammed towards Hidan.
"That old monk's move? Too bad the old monk died by my hand." Hidan sneered inwardly. Such an attack was useless except for its sheer power. He then quickly swung his scythe, severing the golden hands one by one.
Afterward, Hidan threw a black spear. Asuma dodged to the side, but this sidestep gave Hidan an opening. When Asuma turned his head, Hidan's elongated scythe was already at Asuma's face.
"No! The spear was just to make me turn my head, and then attack from my blind spot!" Asuma had no time to think. He retreated slightly and quickly used a chakra blade to block the scythe.
However, Hidan swung the elongated scythe with all his might. The force was greater than when he fought up close. Asuma's chakra blade was knocked away by the scythe, and a gash was also made across Asuma's face.
Seeing his attack succeed, Hidan immediately retracted his scythe, but by then, Shikamaru's Shadow Imitation Technique had reached Hidan.
"Too slow! Brat!"
Hidan flashed an evil grin, backflipped easily to evade, extended his tongue in mid-air to lick the blood from his scythe, and then landed steadily within the ritual formation that had already been drawn.
…………