Hidan vs. Kakuzu!
Ignoring Uchiha Obito's deliberate pretense of madness and his distorted laughter beneath the spiral mask, Uchiha Yi focused instead on the White Zetsu clone writhing within the black flames of Amaterasu.
The black fire, once ignited, would never extinguish until the target was reduced to nothing. That was the terrifying characteristic of the Mangekyō Sharingan technique wielded by Itachi and later by Sasuke.
But at that instant, Uchiha Yi's eyes narrowed slightly.
He suddenly remembered something crucial.
Without hesitation, he withdrew the Amaterasu flames and replaced them with his own evolved Fire Style Void Devouring Flame.
"I almost forgot… White Zetsu contains Hashirama's cells."
That fact alone made the difference.
White Zetsu was not a normal lifeform. Its body was cultivated from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and modified with the cells of Senju Hashirama. Those cells were the reason Obito could survive being crushed by boulders. They were the reason Madara could extend his life. They were the key component that allowed the fusion of Uchiha and Senju chakra.
Uchiha Yi's thoughts flashed back to the words spoken by Uchiha Madara during the Fourth Shinobi War:
"In order to achieve stability, a god divided yin and yang into two poles. When the two powers combine once more, true power is born."
Yin was the spiritual power inherited by Indra embodied in the Uchiha.
Yang was the life force inherited by Ashura embodied in the Senju.
Only when both were unified could the Rinnegan be awakened.
The Samsara Eye was not created from thin air. It was born from the fusion of Indra and Ashura's chakra.
Of course, the Hashirama cells inside this White Zetsu clone were extremely diluted. It was far from enough to awaken the Rinnegan.
But even a fragment of Ashura's vitality
was still beneficial.
Under the power of Void Devouring Flame, there were only gains, no losses.
The pale body disguised as a girl was swallowed whole by the strange devouring fire. Unlike Amaterasu's pure destruction, the Void Flame consumed and refined.
Soon, White Zetsu turned into charred remains.
When the flames retracted into Uchiha Yi's palm, he could feel a faint warmth flowing back through his meridians.
The optimization of bloodline power was not immediate. Just like Hashirama's cells required time to adapt inside Obito's body, integration was gradual.
But it was still an unexpected harvest.
"White Zetsu really is a useless fool…"
From the shadows of warped space, Uchiha Obito watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes.
He had intended to observe quietly.
Instead, White Zetsu's rash attempt had alerted Uchiha Yi.
Obito felt irritation rising.
This was not the first time White Zetsu had acted recklessly. During the years following Madara's death, it had always underestimated enemies.
Still
Compared to the Moon's Eye Plan, one surviving Uchiha youth was insignificant.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi required preparation.
The Gedo Statue. The tailed beasts. The Akatsuki's manpower.
They were already short-handed.
It was not worth provoking an unknown variable now.
After a moment of consideration, space rippled like water.
Kamui activated.
In an instant, Obito's body twisted and vanished.
Only the lingering heat of flames remained.
From within the residual firelight, Uchiha Yi slowly stepped out, exhaling quietly.
Facing an enemy head-on was not frightening.
What was frightening… was an enemy who could phase through attacks and appear anywhere at will.
Kamui's intangibility was nearly invincible without prior knowledge.
Even Minato Namikaze had required instantaneous reflexes and Flying Thunder God precision to counter it.
No one could remain on guard every second of every day.
As long as one moment of fatigue appeared
That was enough.
"If only I had a true sensory or early-warning ability…"
He muttered softly.
After a brief silence, his eyes brightened.
"Forget it. Let's test my luck."
"I sacrifice twenty years of my roommate's single life in exchange for divine fortune!"
"Lottery x1."
The virtual roulette spun rapidly.
Then it stopped.
Three words appeared:
Dragon Fruit.
"…?"
"A fruit?"
The Fire Style System… could draw items now?
A strange red fruit materialized in his palm.
The moment his fingers touched it, information flooded his mind.
This Dragon Fruit originated from a fantasy realm where fire dragons dwelled. Infused with residual dragon aura, it enhanced fire affinity.
Effect: Increase Fire Attribute by 1%.
"Interesting."
After several bites, warmth spread through his chakra network.
Though the increase seemed minor
it affected all Fire Style techniques permanently.
And there were no side effects.
Not bad.
Meanwhile
Elsewhere.
The three members moved separately to investigate reports of ritual killings.
The first to encounter the suspect was Konan.
A tall man with silver hair, carrying a triple-bladed scythe, stepped out lazily.
"Hey, you there!"
"Want to join the Jashin religion?"
Konan's amber eyes remained calm.
"The Jashin religion?"
"That's right!" Hidan grinned. "If you join, killing people isn't a crime! Lord Jashin loves it!"
His fanaticism was genuine.
Hidan was a former ninja of Yugakure who abandoned his village's pacifism in pursuit of slaughter.
He believed killing was sacred devotion.
"So you are the serial killer," Konan stated flatly.
"Serial killer? I'm offering sacrifices!"
Before the situation escalated, two figures landed beside her.
Kakuzu.
And Uchiha Yi.
Kakuzu studied Hidan coldly.
"I heard you possess immortality."
"I'll test that."
Without warning, Hidan swung his scythe.
Kakuzu sidestepped smoothly.
Then
His right arm detached at the elbow, black tendrils extending like cords.
The fist shot forward like a cannonball.
Boom!
It pierced straight through Hidan's chest.
Blood splattered.
Hidan collapsed.
"…That's it?" Kakuzu muttered.
But moments later
Hidan twitched.
"It hurts, you bastard!"
He stood back up.
Immortal.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed.
Hidan licked the blood from his weapon and stepped into the circle drawn in his own blood the Jashin ritual symbol.
His skin turned black with white skeletal markings.
"I'll share the pain with you."
He stabbed his own chest.
Instantly
Kakuzu staggered.
His heart ruptured.
"So that's it," Uchiha Yi observed silently.
Hidan's ritual linked his body to the opponent whose blood he consumed.
Damage transferred.
From Kakuzu's back, black tendrils burst outward.
One masked heart creature emerged then crumbled to dust.
Kakuzu straightened.
"You destroyed one of my hearts."
His voice grew colder.
"I have five."
This was the true secret of Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear each mask stored a stolen heart with elemental affinity.
Hidan grinned wildly.
Before the fight escalated further
Konan stepped forward.
"That's enough."
"Hidan, we acknowledge your strength."
"We invite you to join the Akatsuki."
Hidan blinked.
"Why would I join you?"
Kakuzu snorted.
"Because you need money."
"And we need someone who won't die easily."
It was practical logic.
Hidan's immortality paired perfectly with Kakuzu's bounty-hunting efficiency.
Canonically, they would become partners precisely because Kakuzu could tolerate Hidan's recklessness since killing him was impossible.
Silence lingered.
Then
Uchiha Yi stepped forward.
"If you're unwilling…"
"Then let me test you instead."
Sometimes hiding strength was unnecessary.
Respect
Was earned through power.
His Sharingan spun slowly.
The air grew hotter.
Hidan laughed excitedly.
"Yes!"
"Another sacrifice!"
The battle
Was about to begin.