Hidan was shocked to find that the young Sand Ninja in front of him had skillfully dodged his wild, frenzied attacks. The ninja slipped through the gaps in Hidan's scythe and got close to his body.
Ziluo let out a loud shout.
"Seven Heavens Breathing Technique."
The heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys correspond to the five elements of fire, wood, earth, metal, and water; added to that are the crown and the dantian, representing the balance of yin and yang, making up the Seven Heavens. Each breath corresponds to a different energy within the body.
"Water Breathing."
"First Form: Surface Slash."
Ziluo crossed his arms, delivering a powerful strike that landed on Hidan's ribs with a loud crack.
Two of Hidan's ribs were broken, and he cried out in pain, his eyes widening in disbelief.
But Ziluo didn't let up.
Mufeng always emphasized to his students the importance of hitting hard in combat—never stopping to speak until the opponent was either dead or completely incapacitated.
"Fourth Form: Tidal Impact."
Ziluo's iron palm struck Hidan's abdomen with the force of a raging tide.
Hidan coughed up bile as he was sent flying, crashing into several trees before finally coming to a stop, buried beneath the broken trunks.
Ziluo didn't pursue. Any normal person would be either dead or severely injured from such an assault.
He began reflecting on how his symbiote, Earth Grudge Fear, had performed within his body.
"Visual nerves enhanced."
"Dynamic vision improved."
"Pain sensation reduced."
"Blood circulation accelerated."
...
He, too, was a test subject, analyzing the performance of his symbiote, Earth Grudge Fear, and would later compile a report for the researchers.
As Ziluo was deep in thought, there was a sudden explosion.
The trees around where Hidan had fallen were blown away as Hidan's scythe spun wildly, shredding the debris around him. He stood up, his injuries completely healed.
With a malicious and menacing glare, Hidan looked at Ziluo. Ziluo was stunned.
How is this guy still alive?
No. Not only is he alive, but it's as if nothing had happened!
How is this possible?
Ziluo frowned, his pupils shrinking, and his expression became serious. He realized that this opponent wasn't going to be easy.
Hidan ripped off his Akatsuki cloak, tying it around his waist, and exposed his upper body.
Seeing Ziluo's astonished expression, Hidan laughed arrogantly.
"Ha, surprised?"
"I'm blessed by the great Jashin. I'm immortal!"
Ziluo wasn't one to believe in immortality.
"Hmph, even if you are immortal, I'll beat you to death one strike at a time."
"Then come on!"
With a mad grin, Hidan leaped toward Ziluo, swinging his scythe wildly.
"I hope you can kill me! If not, I'll kill you!"
Hidan's deranged expression made Ziluo feel uneasy.
This ninja clearly had some serious mental issues.
Fine, I'll just beat some sense into you.
Sensing Ziluo's intent, his symbiote, Earth Grudge Fear, resumed its work.
Now empowered, Ziluo charged at Hidan.
Hidan swung his scythe in front of him like a spinning wheel, making it hard for Ziluo to get close.
Time to switch breathing techniques.
Ziluo quickly retreated, narrowly dodging the tip of the scythe as it grazed his nose. He executed a swift flip, stepping on the scythe's blade.
Hidan yanked the scythe, preparing to strike.
Ziluo pushed off the scythe and leaped into the air.
"Fire Breathing."
His heart pumped rapidly, fueling his strength.
"Second Form: Flame Train."
With a powerful strike, Ziluo's palm came crashing down like a speeding train, striking Hidan square on the neck.
Crack.
Hidan's neck snapped, and his head was sent flying, crashing into a tree before rolling onto the ground.
With his head knocked off, Hidan's body went still, frozen in place.
Ziluo finally relaxed. With his head gone, the man was surely dead.
Just as Ziluo landed, however, Hidan's body suddenly swung its scythe at him.
Ziluo, who had just let his guard down, had no idea that someone could still attack after losing their head.
Fortunately, the symbiote, Earth Grudge Fear, enhanced his reaction speed and physical agility. As the scythe came for his neck, Ziluo twisted his waist in an almost unnatural way, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike. However, the blade still managed to nick his neck, drawing blood.
"Ha ha."
"Ha ha ha."
Hidan's severed head burst into maniacal laughter.
"Kid, I told you, I'm immortal."
With that, his body walked over, picked up his head, and reattached it to his neck with a sickening crack.
Once again, Hidan was completely whole.
He looked at Ziluo and taunted, "Kid, still alive, huh?"
Ziluo twisted his waist, snapping his upper body back into place with the sound of cracking joints.
Hidan's eyes lit up with interest.
"I didn't expect you to be a monster too!"
Ziluo had just dodged the scythe in an almost impossible U-shaped bend, his entire spine bending at a ninety-degree angle. A normal person would have had their spine broken or been paralyzed, if not killed.
But thanks to his symbiote, Earth Grudge Fear, the tendrils repaired his damaged spine, reconnecting the bones and healing the injury.
Though the pain was intense, Ziluo gritted his teeth and endured it, glaring coldly at Hidan.
"It seems you weren't lying."
"You really are immortal."
Hidan laughed uproariously.
"Now you finally understand, but it's too late."
"I'm going to sacrifice you to the great Jashin."
Hidan licked the blood from his scythe.
Cursed Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood.
Hidan's body became covered in black-and-white skeletal markings, and a circular symbol with a triangle appeared at his feet.
He pulled out a black spear from his robe.
"Die!"
Excitement gleamed in his eyes as he thrust the spear toward his own heart.