"The Two-Tails Jinchūriki using Katon? That's a rare sight!"
At this moment, Kakuzu had the unconscious Yugito Nii slung over his shoulder.
"What's scarier is that this flame is some nameless fire, born from the heart. Cost you a heart, didn't it? Haha!"
Hidan mocked Kakuzu with a laugh.
"Jerk! If that nameless fire had hit you, let's see what you'd do!"
Hidan fell silent at Kakuzu's retort.
The "nameless fire" Yugito had unleashed was actually a trace of Enraku Shin'en (Fallen Heart Flame) given to her by Kazama.
At the time, Yugito was on the verge of defeat and had tried to use Enraku Shin'en to take down her enemies.
Unfortunately, she targeted Kakuzu, who happened to have five hearts in his body.
Those hearts could even detach and act independently, allowing Kakuzu to dodge what could've been a fatal blow.
In truth, this mission to capture the Two-Tails wasn't planned.
It was a spur-of-the-moment decision by Kakuzu and Hidan.
While hunting for bounty targets in the Land of Lightning's black market, they stumbled across Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, alone.
Seizing the opportunity, they captured her. Itachi wasn't aware of this mission, so he hadn't tipped off Kazama in advance.
"I heard there's a kid in Konoha named Sanada Kazama. He's been making waves lately, supposedly pretty strong. Maybe on our way back, you can snag his heart."
"Hmph! No matter how famous he is, he's just a kid. Not worth my time!"
"Underestimate me, and you'll end up dead!"
At that moment, a figure appeared before Kakuzu and Hidan.
"You? Are you that Sanada Kazama kid?!"
Kakuzu was startled that someone could appear so silently in front of them.
He immediately sized Kazama up.
"Kakuzu, your new heart just showed up. Take your time—I'll chill over here!"
To Hidan, no matter how famous Kazama was, anyone who faced them was as good as dead.
"You guys!"
Seeing Yugito, bloodied and barely clinging to life on Kakuzu's shoulder, Kazama's rage boiled over.
His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan seemed to pulse with his fury.
In the pitch-black night, his eyes glowed a vivid scarlet.
"No wonder Hidan says you're famous. So, you've got the Mangekyō Sharingan. That makes you just barely worthy of having your heart taken!"
Kakuzu said, setting the barely conscious Yugito down.
"You two aren't even worth my effort. The best way to deal with you is to make you kill each other!"
"Haha! Kid, did a donkey kick your brain or something? You're saying we'll kill each other?"
Hidan burst into wild laughter at Kazama's words.
"Kid! Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu doesn't work on us!"
"Hidan! Kill Kakuzu!"
Just as Kakuzu was boasting that they were immune to Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu, Kazama turned his gaze to Hidan.
At Kazama's command, Hidan instantly grabbed his Bloody March Scythe and charged at Kakuzu.
"Idiot! You actually fell for this kid's genjutsu?!"
Kakuzu, who'd just bragged that they'd never fall for genjutsu, watched in disbelief as Hidan, caught in Kazama's illusion, came swinging at him.
Talk about getting slapped in the face at light speed.