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Zabuza clutched his abdomen, fresh blood seeping through his fingers. Just moments ago, a scythe had sliced through his body, leaving a deep gash and splattering blood across the ground.
Hidan smirked, his feet coated with Zabuza's blood as he began tracing a pattern on the ground. Ignoring his injury, Zabuza lunged at Hidan like a madman.
There was only one thought in his mind: he absolutely could not let Hidan complete that cursed seal.
Kakuzu moved without hesitation, blocking Zabuza's path and deflecting his massive sword with a kunai. The force of the impact sent Kakuzu sliding back several meters.
Zabuza pressed forward, swinging his blade and severing Kakuzu's kunai-wielding arm in one clean strike. But before he could follow up, the severed arm suddenly reappeared behind him—black tendrils snaking from Kakuzu's wrist—and stabbed into Zabuza's abdomen.
"Lord Zabuza!" Haku's face paled as he swiftly formed hand signs. Countless senbon needles shot toward Kakuzu, creating an opening. Haku seized the moment to pull Zabuza to safety. "My lord, as long as I live… no one here will lay a hand on you."
"Run! Now!" Zabuza grabbed Haku's arm, but the boy shook his head.
"It's done."
Hidan's body had transformed—his skin now pitch-black like tar, save for his face and a few exposed bones. Beneath his feet was a sinister array of interlocking triangles and circles.
"Last time, you tried to ruin this seal with your Water Style. I remember that well." Hidan grinned maniacally. "This time, I won't let you have your way. Honestly, you're such a sore loser."
Some Water Style techniques were devastatingly powerful, while others covered vast areas. Zabuza had exploited this, attacking both Hidan and the seal beneath him simultaneously.
Hidan's immortality was undeniable, but the seal on the ground? That was another matter.
No matter how powerful a curse was, it still required a medium—and earth wasn't as indestructible as one might think.
Seeing Haku shield Zabuza, Hidan didn't hesitate. He drove a black spear straight through his own wrist.
Zabuza clenched his teeth, refusing to cry out—but his Kubikiribōchō slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.
"Lord Zabuza…!" Haku gasped, turning to see his master kneeling, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"How admirable. Even now, you cling to your pride." Hidan sneered. "Last time, your legs were fine, so you could still run. But now?"
He stabbed the spear through his own thigh.
Zabuza's eyes widened, his body trembling as agony shot through him. He nearly screamed—but swallowed the pain, glaring up at Hidan. "Killing me… what good will it do you?"
"Ten million ryō, that's what." Hidan shrugged. "Don't blame us. Money's a temptation no one can resist—not even us."
"Take my head. Let him go," Zabuza growled.
Hidan glanced at Kakuzu.
"I won't kill him," Kakuzu agreed flatly.
"But I refuse." Hidan grinned at Haku.
"Don't you need to lie still for thirty minutes after a kill?" Kakuzu asked.
"If I kill two people, I'll just lie down for an hour." Hidan smirked. "My math's flawless."
"And if you kill a hundred? You'd starve to death."
"You could feed me."
"Disgusting." Kakuzu grimaced. "One spoonful of rice—ten thousand ryō."
"…"
Haku subtly shifted backward, his toes brushing against the Kubikiribōchō as he inched closer to Zabuza, preparing to escape at the first opportunity.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Naughty boy." Hidan's eyes gleamed. "I saw that. As punishment… I'll grant Zabuza a quick death!"
He raised the spear high—aiming straight for his own heart.
"NO!" Haku threw himself in front of Zabuza.
BOOM!
A roaring Water Dragon jutsu erupted from the trees, slamming into Hidan and hurling him clear of the seal.
"I said… these prey are mine."
A figure emerged from the forest, his sharp gaze locked onto Hidan and Kakuzu.
"Yours?" Kakuzu scoffed. "I've tolerated you long enough, Uchiha Itachi. This isn't your playground."
"And yet, you're nothing special." Itachi's voice was ice.
Hidan shrugged. "What now? I can't beat him."
His "Dead Soul Possession" required the opponent's blood—but with Itachi's Susanoo, even getting close was impossible. Worse, Itachi's Amaterasu flames could reduce him to ashes.
Over the past year, Hidan and Kakuzu had clashed with Itachi repeatedly. They knew his strength all too well.
Respect didn't mean surrender, though.
"You think I'll back down?" Hidan spat.
"What choice do you have?" Itachi strode past him without a second glance.
Haku tensed as the young man—barely older than himself—approached. He gripped a kunai, ready to die protecting Zabuza if necessary.
"You're missing-nin from Kirigakure?" Itachi stopped a few meters away.
"Yes. What of it?" Haku's palms were slick with sweat.
Itachi's aura was suffocating—far more oppressive than Hidan's.
"I crossed paths with another Kirigakure missing-nin once." Itachi's brow furrowed. "I still don't know if he helped me… or just wasted my time."
"Another missing-nin?" Zabuza's mind raced. 'Could it be… him?'
"Where is this missing-nin now?"
"I wish I knew."
Suddenly, killing intent radiated from Itachi.
A year ago, that man—Midorima—had advised him to steal the Akatsuki's bounties. "Draw their attention, infiltrate them, and you'll find Orochimaru. Rescue Sasuke will follow."
Itachi had obeyed. He'd hunted the Akatsuki's targets relentlessly.
Now, he had a hundred million ryō—yet the Akatsuki still hadn't recruited him.
Looking back, he wasn't sure what he'd accomplished.
At least Sasuke hadn't returned to Konoha—that was some comfort. It meant his path wasn't entirely wrong.
But then again… was finding Sasuke not the only thing that mattered?
Midorima's advice had brought him both frustration and fleeting satisfaction. No major losses, but no real gains either—just endless waiting.
*****
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