While Tsuruki's side was all bright lights and cheerful laughter, another place lay under a clear moon and sparse stars: Amegakure.
Within the Amekage Tower, warm, dim lamplight spilled from numerous fixtures, yet it couldn't fully dispel the chill of the night.
Hanataki sat opposite Konan. At the head of the table sat the Deva Path.
Below them sat Orochimaru, Kakuzu, and the others.
Zabuza Momochi stood behind Hanataki, quiet as a statue.
"Currently, we possess two tailed beasts," the Deva Path stated. "The One-Tails and the Three-Tails."
The One-Tails had been captured by Hanataki. The Three-Tails had been taken from Tsuruki by Obito.
"Sealing the tailed beasts will require more shinobi to join our ranks." The Deva Path's gaze swept over Orochimaru and the others.
A scroll appeared in Konan's hand. "I've compiled a list of rogue ninja here."
"Tomorrow, Hanataki, you will take them and recruit the ninja on this list." The Deva Path looked at Hanataki.
Hanataki nodded. "Understood."
After the Deva Path left…
Sasori rose and approached Hanataki, his eyes flicking briefly towards Zabuza. "Hanataki, let's go review the research blueprints."
Hanataki felt a vein throb at her temple.
Life in the Akatsuki was always this… unadorned.
If possible, she wished the Deva Path would fill every day with missions. Anything to avoid another 'invitation' from Sasori to admire his design schematics.
"Lord Hanataki, I…" Zabuza stepped forward, eager to ask about his own assignment.
Sasori's icy gaze shot over first.
"…" Zabuza wasn't one for patience either. "What are you looking at?"
Sasori's fingers twitched. If the other party started it, then killing this nuisance who always clung to Hanataki's side would be justified, right?
Seeing no reaction from Hanataki, Sasori didn't hesitate.
The next second.
A dense barrage of poisoned needles materialized before Zabuza.
Zabuza's eyes sharpened. His body flexed backward, evading the attack's range.
A sharp whistling sound came from behind.
He whirled. A steel scorpion tail, gleaming coldly, stabbed toward his torso.
Zabuza leaped high, hands flying through seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A water dragon erupted from behind him, lunging at Sasori.
A dense wall of iron sand spread before Sasori, forming an impregnable barrier.
Water washed across the floor. Hanataki remained suspended mid-air, her face expressionless as she watched the fight.
The gap between Zabuza's strength and Sasori's was still vast.
Zabuza was soon on the defensive.
The moment Sasori's iron sand was about to pierce through Zabuza, a golden barrier materialized between them.
"Sparring is fine. But no killing." Hanataki's words made Sasori halt his attack.
He gave Zabuza one last cold look before turning to stand before Hanataki.
Zabuza wiped cold sweat from his brow.
"Kakuzu, arrange Zabuza's accommodations," Hanataki said, looking at the silently observing Kakuzu.
Kakuzu nodded calmly. "Follow me."
Zabuza followed, his guard still sky-high.
He was starting to realize it: not a single normal person in this damn organization.
Hanataki herself wasn't exactly standard issue. That puppet freak just now was even worse.
This guy in front of him? The jury was still out.
"You'll stay here. As for meals…" Kakuzu thought for a moment. "Figure it out yourself."
No way was he spending money on this guy.
Even though Hanataki had rules about member stipends, Hanataki hadn't declared this one an official member yet.
If Hanataki were here, she'd surely agree with his decision.
Zabuza's eye twitched as he surveyed the barren, four-walled room.
What was the difference between this and a Kiri prison cell?
The next day.
Hanataki stood atop the Amekage Tower's spire, waiting for Orochimaru and Kakuzu.
Sasori had arrived the moment Hanataki appeared.
"Are your legs broken?" Sasori said, displeased, as Orochimaru and Kakuzu arrived late.
"…" Orochimaru thought Sasori was like a dog Hanataki kept, obedient to her every word.
Of course, if Hanataki would offer her body for scientific research, he would also be willing to be her dog.
Kakuzu glanced at Sasori, said nothing, and addressed Hanataki. "Any payment?"
Sasori edged away from him with disdain. "The stench of money is all over you."
Hanataki replied, "Today's recruitment target should be quite wealthy. We'll have him 'donate' his funds to the organization as an entry fee."
Kakuzu smiled. "Smart."
Sasori paused, then slowly said, "As expected of Hanataki."
Orochimaru: "?"
Kakuzu: "?"
That's not what you said a second ago.
"Ahem. Let's move out." Hanataki cleared her throat. Golden light extended from her, enveloping the others.
The four figures vanished.
Deep in a forest.
A figure walked along cheerfully.
A strangely shaped, red-bladed scythe was slung over his shoulder.
Drops of blood fell onto the verdant grass.
An eerie sight.
The silver-haired man muttered to himself, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Where should we go now?"
"Let's find another village!"
"A sacrifice for Lord Jashin!"
"Hehehehe!"
Hidan rubbed his hands together, pupils dilated with fervor.
"Hm?"
Hidan suddenly stopped. His pupils shifted slightly.
Someone?
A grin spread across Hidan's lips. Looks like a sacrifice for Lord Jashin had come to him!
"That's him?" Sasori asked, looking at the figure ahead.
Hanataki nodded. "Correct. The shinobi rumored to possess an immortal body."
"Immortal body?" This caught Kakuzu's attention. His eyebrow rose. "He doesn't look the part."
"…" Hanataki was silent.
Was that an indirect way of saying Hidan looked like a psychopath?
Though… he kinda did.
"Who's going?" Hanataki asked.
Sasori also looked at Orochimaru and the others. "Which of you will handle it?"
Orochimaru: "?"
He gave Sasori a complicated look. Well, well. Cutting himself out of the roster, was he?
Kakuzu rolled his eyes internally. "Who among you is going?" He simply couldn't be bothered.
Orochimaru followed up. "He looks weak. Who among you will go?"
The only one who hadn't spoken, Zabuza: "…"
What the hell is wrong with these people?
"Perhaps the esteemed seniors…" Zabuza swallowed, demonstrating keen self-awareness.
He didn't get to finish.
The moment he opened his mouth, the gazes of Orochimaru, Kakuzu, and Sasori converged on him.
Hanataki: "…"
Were they really pulling the workplace bullying card now?
Zabuza wisely swallowed the rest of his words, his face stiff. "I… I'll give it a try."
The collective gaze of the three seniors slowly retracted.
"BASTARDS!"
"YOU PIECES OF SHIT!"
A roar erupted. The bizarre scythe swung toward the group.
Hanataki flickered, appearing on another branch.
Orochimaru and the others did the same, dispersing.
Zabuza, resigned, crouched low as the blade whistled over his head.
"Water Style: Hidden Mist Technique!"
White mist rapidly filled the forest.
Hidan's world turned a blank white.
"Filthy animals!" Hidan cursed loudly. "Get out here! I'll chop you into mincemeat!"
"Quite the mouth on him," Sasori remarked coolly from a branch beside Hanataki.
"He has an immortal body. That gives him the capital to be arrogant," she said, understanding. The day she became strong enough to surpass the universe, she'd be ten times more arrogant than Hidan.
"True. Immortality itself implies eternity," Sasori agreed, nodding. "As expected of Hanataki."
Her expression remained placid. She heard that phrase from Sasori over ten times a day. She'd developed an automatic filter for it.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Within the suffocating mist, a watery dragon condensed silently, aiming to swallow Hidan whole from behind.
"Hm?" Hidan sensed the disturbance but didn't dodge. Instead, a grin split his face.
The next moment, the water dragon engulfed him.
Hidan remained standing in place.
"So it's true. An immortal body," Zabuza murmured from within the mist, his voice grim.
"Hide all you want, shithead!" Hidan's voice rang out. Zabuza's attack had hit its mark, but it also gave away his position.
He didn't have Hidan's immortality. As Hidan's massive, blood-stained triple scythe came sweeping toward him, Zabuza melted back into the mist.
"Hah? A hiding, skulking shithead!" Hidan looked around, growing angrier. "When I find you, I'll slice you into pieces! For Lord Jashin!"
"God, he's noisy," Kakuzu grumbled, digging a finger in his ear. "Kid," he called toward the mist where Zabuza hid. "Can you finish this up?"
Zabuza: "…"
If you're so good, you do it!
Kakuzu calculated the time wasted. In this span, he could've collected several bounties at the exchange.
Finally, his patience snapped. Kakuzu made his move.
A wind-release shadow at his back scattered the mist. He and Hidan faced each other.
"A change of shithead?" Hidan frowned, then grinned widely. "All sacrifices for Lord Jashin are welcome!"
Kakuzu held nothing back. A barrage of different techniques erupted.
"Cut off his head."
Watching Hidan's cockroach-like tenacity, Hanataki couldn't help but speak up.
Fighting Hidan was an exercise in rage.
His mouth was truly vile—a constant, grating stream of 'shithead' that grated on the ears.
He just. Wouldn't. Die. It bred pure irritation.
That smug, shit-eating grin on his face was infuriating.
Every inch of Hidan screamed "la la la, can't kill me!"
Who could stand that?
He was testing her limits.
Kakuzu's combined attacks intensified. In a flash, a blade severed Hidan's head from his shoulders.
"You SHITHEADS! How dare you treat my head like this!" Hidan's head tumbled a good distance away, but his mouth kept running.
"…" She took a deep breath.
She appeared before Hidan's head.
"What are you looking at, shithead? Never seen true greatness before?" Hidan's eyes swept over Hanataki with utter disdain.
"!" Zabuza suppressed a snort. The guy had guts, he'd give him that.
Though the Akatsuki had many powerful members, the one who inspired the most fear in him was still Lord Hanataki.
That formless pressure.
Just standing there, she was like an insurmountable mountain, looking down on you.
No scorn or contempt in that gaze, yet it made you feel your own insignificance.
Sasori snorted coldly. "He deserves death." He retracted his earlier assessment. This man had nothing to do with art!
A crude peasant!
Kakuzu could already predict Hidan's fate.
Orochimaru, however, was curious how Hanataki would handle him.
"Want to get up close and personal with the sun?" she asked Hidan.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you shithead?" Hidan spat.
"Seems like you do." She nodded in understanding.
How could she ignore the wishes of a potential organization member?
She slowly raised her foot.
Anyone who'd ever played soccer would recognize the motion.
The next second.
"You fucking—WHOOOOOSH—!"
Hidan's head was punted into the sky.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
Zabuza and the others simultaneously closed their agape mouths.
They truly had not seen this coming.
"That felt damn good." She exhaled, and the very air around her seemed fresher.
"Haven't played soccer in a while. Hope my technique hasn't gotten rusty." She rotated her wrist and ankle.
To be honest, Hidan's head had quite the bounce to it.
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