"Immortality?"
Looking at Hidan's fearless expression, Uchiha Fugaku raised a brow.
Of course, he already knew about Hidan's so-called undying body—but he had his doubts.
Yes, being beheaded or having his heart pierced might not kill him.But what if his head was split clean in half?And if even that failed, what if his entire body was crushed into nothing but pulp? Could he still survive then?
By Fugaku's estimation, that was highly unlikely.
Hidan's "immortality" was more about surviving lethal wounds to vital points, not immunity to all harm.If his body were ground to mince, continuing to live should be impossible.
In Fugaku's view, the only true immortal in the shinobi world was Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself.That was why, long ago, the Sage of Six Paths and his brother had no choice but to seal her away.
Everyone else who claimed to have an "immortal body" had weaknesses. None were truly eternal.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Drawing a kunai, Fugaku infused it with wind chakra until it stretched into a glowing azure longsword.With one decisive swing, he slashed down at Hidan's head.
Slash!
Hidan's skull split cleanly from the base of his ears upward, brain tissue clearly visible within the neat cut. Blood and fluids spilled freely.
And yet—
"It's useless. I can't die!"
Even with his head split in two, Hidan's eyes still shifted toward Fugaku, his mouth moving.
"Susanoo—"
Fugaku frowned. Even that hadn't worked.
Manifesting Susanoo again, its massive hand reached down for Hidan. Fugaku intended to crush his body into paste and see if even then the man would survive.
But he stopped mid-action.
Because a better idea came to him.
"Corpse Refinement."
Canceling Susanoo, he activated the ocular power of his left eye.
A pitch-black vortex swirled into existence directly beneath Hidan's broken body.Already in three separate pieces, Hidan's remains dropped into the darkness as if falling into a bottomless pit.
The Corpse Refinement technique erased bodies until not even ash remained. Fugaku doubted Hidan's "immortality" could withstand that.
He'd never tested the jutsu on the living before—but Hidan was the perfect subject.
"What is this place—? AHHH!"
Suddenly plunged into a realm of black liquid, Hidan's eyes darted frantically, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
But before curiosity could take hold, the agony began.
His body melted upon contact with the viscous fluid, flesh and bone dissolving like acid. It felt as though a million ants were devouring him alive.
The pain was unbearable. Even Hidan, famed for his tolerance, could only scream in horror.
"No… NOOO—! AHHHH!"
For the first time, panic twisted his face. His absolute faith in immortality wavered. Deep in his core, he felt it—if this continued, he would die.
He was immortal, yes, but not fearless. Like anyone else, he dreaded death. And now death was certain.
Moments later, his screams stopped.
Hidan's body fell silent. The so-called immortal was dead.
The Corpse Refinement space did not discriminate—living or dead, all flesh was melted away.Hidan had been erased utterly, his body annihilated.
No blood, no remains. Not even ash.
Only his Akatsuki ring, forged of a metal the space could not consume, was spat back out.
"So… Corpse Refinement is the nemesis of so-called immortals."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed in thought.
Until now, he had only considered this ocular jutsu as a utility—a way to dispose of corpses. Never a weapon.
But now?Now he knew it could be used in combat. Against immortals, it was devastating.
The black fluid within the space dissolved anything. Even an undying body was no exception.
"If I were to cast Kaguya Ōtsutsuki into this space… what then?"
The thought flickered through his mind.
Could even her true immortality be undone? Could her body be dissolved and erased completely?And if so, would he inherit her bloodline powers in return?
For one reckless instant, Fugaku was tempted. Tempted to let the Akatsuki revive the Ten Tails, unleash Infinite Tsukuyomi, and bring Kaguya back—just to test it.
But he quickly suppressed the urge.
Yes, Corpse Refinement was powerful. But to gamble on Kaguya herself? That was madness.
At most, if her revival ever became inevitable, he could use it as a final trump card.
"I wonder what I gained from refining Hidan's body…"
Turning his thoughts inward, Fugaku examined the changes within himself.
Hidan's immortality, and his blood-curse technique Curse of Jashin (Death Possession Blood)—were they innate like a kekkei genkai, or external arts?
If they were the latter, Fugaku wouldn't gain them.But if they were bloodline-like gifts, his eyes should absorb them.
Moments later, he felt it.
Hidan's immortality now flowed within him. And so too did the dreadful curse technique.
"So immortality and the Curse of Jashin… they're closer to bloodline limits than mere secret arts."
Fugaku concluded.
Bloodline limits often arose from a singular mutation passed down generations, like the Yuki Clan's Ice Release.Hidan must have undergone some ritual or change that permanently altered his body—and Corpse Refinement had transferred that to Fugaku.
"Two pests eliminated. Time to resume the hunt for the Five-Tails."
Using Mayfly Technique, Fugaku sank into the earth, flowing along underground water veins to continue his search.
But something was off.
The geothermal rivers, once boiling hot, were cooling rapidly. No more steam vents erupted.
"The water's cooling? Don't tell me…"
The realization struck. His battle must have alarmed the Five-Tails.Sensing danger, it had fled.
Hours of searching confirmed it. The hot springs grew colder until they matched the soil's natural temperature.The beast was gone.
"Capture failed."
Emerging from the ground, Fugaku accepted the outcome.
But not without gains.
He had killed two members of the Akatsuki, weakening them.And more importantly—he had gained Hidan's immortality and the Curse of Jashin.
Shennong's corpse still remained. If refined, perhaps Fugaku could even acquire medical ninjutsu talent.
"Time to head back."
As a village's Kage, he couldn't stay away from Konoha too long.
But just as he was about to leave, his gaze fell upon Shennong's discarded Akatsuki ring.
A thought struck him.
"These rings must be important. The Akatsuki will surely reclaim them. If I track whoever comes to retrieve this one… could it lead me straight to White Zetsu's base?"
That base remained hidden, untouchable. But if he could find it, and refine its countless Zetsu…
His eyes might evolve further, toward the Rinnegan itself.
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