Hidan let out a furious shriek.
"You don't need to remind me, Kakuzu!"
"I'm not an idiot!"
Kakuzu snorted coldly and replied with obvious sarcasm.
"Hmph. The fact that you think that proves you have no self-awareness."
Hidan ignored him and turned his attention back to Naruto and the others. A cruel grin spread across his face, yet there wasn't the slightest trace of fear in his eyes.
"A bunch of brats daring to disrespect Lord Jashin!"
"I'll kill every one of you and offer your corpses as sacrifices to atone for my sins!"
With a roar, he swung his bloodstained triple-bladed scythe and charged directly at Naruto.
But things were different now.
After countless battles and training sessions, Naruto's strength had increased tremendously. His taijutsu had become sharper, faster, and far more refined than before.
The instant Hidan attacked, Naruto sidestepped the scythe with perfect timing.
Whoosh!
The blade missed by mere inches.
Without wasting a second, Naruto lunged forward and slammed his hand toward the ground.
"Sealing Technique: Single-Strand Light Formation!"
Buzz!
Countless sealing formulas erupted beneath Naruto's feet.
The glowing symbols spread rapidly across the ground like living chains, rushing straight toward Hidan.
"A sealing technique?!"
Although Hidan was reckless, he knew his weaknesses better than anyone.
Cold sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.
If he was sealed, even his immortality would become meaningless.
Without hesitation, he leaped backward repeatedly, avoiding the approaching seal formulas while simultaneously distancing himself from the blood ritual circle that empowered his curse technique.
At the time, Team 7 didn't realize how important that movement was.
However, Sasuke noticed the opening immediately.
His crimson eyes narrowed.
"Sharingan!"
"Activate!"
Buzz!
The three tomoe within his eyes spun rapidly.
The blood-red pupils locked onto Hidan's gaze.
A simple hypnotic genjutsu was unleashed.
Although it was one of the most basic illusion techniques, it remained effective against opponents with poor resistance to genjutsu.
Hidan froze instantly.
His body became rigid.
"Damn it!"
"What's happening?!"
"I can't move!"
"Is this genjutsu?!"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"It worked!"
Hinata didn't hesitate.
"For safety, I'll seal his chakra points!"
In an instant, she dashed forward.
"Gentle Fist!"
"Eight Trigrams Palm!"
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
A flurry of palm strikes landed across Hidan's body.
Because she feared hurting Fū through the curse connection, Hinata deliberately held back her power.
The strikes caused almost no physical damage.
Instead, they focused entirely on disrupting Hidan's chakra flow.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
One chakra point after another was sealed.
Soon, Hidan's chakra circulation became chaotic and restricted.
His body, already immobilized by genjutsu, became even more helpless.
"Damn it!"
"What kind of monsters are these kids?!"
"Kakuzu!"
"Help me!"
Kakuzu folded his arms.
"Didn't you say you didn't need my help?"
"If you want me to interfere, beg me."
The members of Team 7 exchanged glances.
Despite the dangerous situation, the two Akatsuki members were still arguing with each other.
That made their job significantly easier.
Meanwhile, Hinata noticed something important.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Fū!"
"Did you feel any pain from my Gentle Fist attacks?"
Fū's face was pale.
His breathing was weak.
The light in his eyes was fading as exhaustion overtook him.
Still, he managed a slight shake of his head.
"No…"
Hinata's heartbeat quickened.
"I understand now!"
Everyone looked at her.
"Even though I held back, my attacks should have caused at least some discomfort."
"But Fū didn't feel anything."
"That means the curse's damage-sharing effect has been disrupted!"
Naruto immediately understood.
His face brightened.
"Then let's test it!"
"Fū, endure it a little longer!"
Naruto drew the Kusanagi Sword.
The blade gleamed sharply in the sunlight.
With incredible speed, he rushed toward the immobilized Hidan.
Because he still worried about harming Fū, Naruto carefully avoided any vital areas.
Instead, he aimed for Hidan's arm.
Slash!
The Kusanagi Sword sliced through flesh.
A thin line of blood appeared on Hidan's arm.
Everyone instantly turned toward Fū.
Nothing happened.
No wounds appeared.
No pain crossed his face.
The curse connection had truly been severed.
Hope immediately filled the hearts of everyone present.
Hinata could hardly contain her excitement.
"It worked!"
"The effect is gone!"
"His chakra points are sealed, and his chakra flow has been completely disrupted."
"He can't reactivate his technique!"
Naruto's eyes flashed.
"In that case…"
"If he's really immortal…"
"Let's see if he can survive this!"
His grip tightened around the Kusanagi Sword.
"The easiest solution is simple."
"Cut off his head!"
Under the influence of Sasuke's genjutsu and Hinata's chakra-point sealing, Hidan was completely helpless.
For the first time in years, the self-proclaimed immortal found himself unable to move.
Fear crept into his eyes.
"Kakuzu!"
"Help me!"
Kakuzu remained indifferent.
"Beg."
Hidan nearly exploded with rage.
"You bastard—!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Naruto moved.
The Kusanagi Sword descended like a bolt of lightning.
Slash!
The legendary blade's sharpness was terrifying.
Combined with Naruto's explosive strength, it sliced cleanly through Hidan's neck.
A head flew into the air.
Roll...
Roll...
Roll...
Hidan's severed head bounced across the ground before finally coming to a stop.
Silence filled the battlefield.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then relief washed over everyone.
The surviving villagers of Takigakure nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
"We're saved…"
"Thank you, Naruto!"
Even Naruto finally relaxed.
"That guy was terrifying."
"What a ridiculous ability."
"But at least it's over."
Or so he thought.
Suddenly—
Hidan's severed head opened its eyes.
"YOU BASTARD, KAKUZU!"
"I TOLD YOU TO HELP ME!"
Everyone froze.
Their expressions turned blank with shock.
"What?!"
"He's still alive?!"
"No way!"
"Is he really immortal?!"
Even Naruto's jaw nearly dropped.
Kakuzu merely sighed.
"I told you to beg."
Cold sweat covered Hidan's face.
At this point, pride was meaningless.
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Kakuzu, please!"
"I'm begging you!"
"Help me put my head back on!"
"I was wrong!"
"My attitude was terrible!"
"Please!"
Kakuzu finally nodded.
"That's better."
He slowly formed a series of hand seals.
The next moment—
Crack!
The skin on his back split open.
The seams that stitched his body together loosened.
Countless black tendrils erupted outward like living creatures.
The sight was horrifying.
"What is that thing?!"
Naruto instinctively stepped backward.
Sasuke's Sharingan narrowed.
Hinata's Byakugan focused completely on Kakuzu.
Even Might Guy's expression became serious.
Kakuzu's lips curled upward.
"The battle…"
"…is only beginning."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)