Both sides regarded the other as enemies, and a battle instantly unfolded within the darkness of Konoha. Under normal circumstances, this situation would place Hidan at a disadvantage, because this was Konohagakure, the headquarters of one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. At any moment, Anbu or Konoha jonin reinforcements could arrive, and that was a result neither Hidan nor Kakuzu wanted to see. Kakashi also didn't want things to escalate.
If a battle erupted directly in front of the Uchiha compound and attracted a crowd, then the matter would inevitably be investigated thoroughly. Once that happened, Chinatsu's "secluded training" would very likely be exposed.
Even while Chinatsu was still acting like an invincible monster during the Chunin Exams, assassins had already dared to target her. Now that she was in a weakened state while evolving her Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, who knew if an entire assassination squad might suddenly appear?
Kakashi and Hidan clashed within the darkness. Neither side used flashy ninjutsu. The fight was purely taijutsu and close-quarters combat.
However, in pure taijutsu, Hidan possessed a considerable advantage. It was not because his taijutsu surpassed Kakashi's by a large margin, but because of his terrifying forbidden technique granted through Jashinism his curse ritual, the "Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood."
As long as Hidan obtained even a single drop of his opponent's blood, he could establish a curse link and share all damage inflicted upon himself with the enemy. Against most shinobi, once blood was taken, the battle was effectively over.
Kakashi's kunai repeatedly collided against Hidan's triple-bladed scythe, sparks scattering through the darkness. Although Kakashi still could not determine Hidan's trump card, the instincts he had honed through years in the Anbu continuously sounded warning bells in his mind.
Kakashi fought while retreating and suppressing the scale of the battle. Hidan, meanwhile, grew increasingly excited as he fought, almost laughing maniacally.
Kakuzu watched the scene expressionlessly from the side. If he had not realized that Kakashi was intentionally avoiding a commotion, he would have already grabbed Hidan and dragged him away by force.
"The boss's aura feels strange… Is this guy guarding the gate for the boss?" Kakuzu muttered quietly.
A jonin personally guarding a gate?
Under normal circumstances, that sounded absurd. But if the person inside was their boss, then Kakuzu felt it was somehow reasonable.
After all, their boss was a terrifying woman who had fused two Mangekyou Sharingan abilities together, possessed the ultimate genjutsu Kotoamatsukami, and had casually terrified both him and Hidan into joining her side. If this silver-haired jonin had also been brainwashed with Kotoamatsukami, Kakuzu honestly would not be surprised.
Kakuzu thought for a moment before deciding to intervene. Thick black tendrils suddenly extended from his body, instantly wrapping around Hidan from behind and forcibly dragging him backward.
"Kakuzu! What the hell are you doing?!" Hidan shouted angrily.
"This is Konoha," Kakuzu replied calmly. "No matter how well you fight, you'll eventually attract attention. Calm down and let me handle the talking."
As one of the oldest members of Akatsuki, Kakuzu's composure far surpassed Hidan's recklessness.
He slowly stepped forward toward Kakashi, who remained vigilant. Kakashi could barely maintain control against Hidan alone. If Kakuzu was equally dangerous, then even a fifty-fifty outcome would become uncertain.
Left with no choice, Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing the scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan hidden beneath.
Kakashi was not a member of the Uchiha clan. This Sharingan had been entrusted to him by his teammate Uchiha Obito during the Third Shinobi World War. Because Kakashi lacked Uchiha blood, the eye remained permanently active and continuously drained his chakra reserves.
However, in exchange, Kakashi obtained vastly enhanced perception, dynamic vision, genjutsu resistance, and the infamous ability to copy enemy ninjutsu.
The moment Kakuzu saw Kakashi's Sharingan, he finally recognized him.
"Copy Ninja Kakashi…"
Just as Kakuzu was about to test whether Kakashi truly belonged to Chinatsu's side, Kakashi suddenly sensed two more presences approaching.
"Another two experts?!" Kakashi's eyes narrowed instantly.
As Kakashi turned toward the incoming auras, Hidan and Kakuzu also shifted their attention in that direction.
Their sensory abilities were inferior to Kakashi's, but after hearing his warning, they vaguely noticed the presence of a third party hidden nearby.
Kakashi, Kakuzu, and Hidan exchanged brief glances, immediately confirming that these two new arrivals belonged to neither side.
A third party had entered the battlefield.
Kakashi: What the hell is going on tonight? Another infiltration into Konoha? Are the village gate guards asleep?!
Kakuzu: Not from Konoha? Could they also be subordinates arranged by the boss?
Since the fighting had suddenly stopped, the hidden third party could no longer remain concealed. Two figures leaped out from the darkness with swift movements.
The newcomers were none other than Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū, who had already undergone Chinatsu's Kotoamatsukami "correction."
"Kakashi, who are these people?" the two asked calmly while pretending ignorance.
The moment Kakashi saw them, his expression changed drastically.
As a former Anbu captain, Kakashi naturally knew of Root's elite members. These two were Danzo Shimura's trusted right-hand men.
So Danzo's faction was still targeting Chinatsu?!
Kakashi remained silent as countless thoughts raced through his mind. He was desperately trying to determine how to explain the situation while simultaneously concealing Chinatsu's weakened condition.
Kakashi fell silent.
Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū also remained silent.
Hidan and Kakuzu likewise remained silent.
As the saying went, a triangle was the most stable structure. The four sides stared at each other, creating an atmosphere so awkward that even the night wind seemed to freeze.
Whoever spoke first would immediately bear responsibility for breaking the stalemate.
After nearly a hundred seconds, Kakashi finally came up with what he believed was the perfect explanation. Not only could it conceal Chinatsu's current condition, but it could also justify his presence here and persuade Hidan and Kakuzu to leave Konoha peacefully.
Perfect! Let's go with this!
Kakashi inhaled deeply and was just about to speak
When another abnormal chakra fluctuation suddenly erupted from the Uchiha compound behind him.
Who now?!
Everyone abruptly turned toward the mansion.
Within the enormous Uchiha residence, a frightening and unfamiliar ocular chakra surged outward. The owner of that chakra was naturally Chinatsu herself, who was currently fusing Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan and evolving toward the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.
"Young Lady…" Hidan muttered subconsciously.
Kakashi's attention was completely focused on the Uchiha compound, so he failed to hear Hidan's words. However, Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū, who stood much closer, heard them clearly.
The two blinked blankly before slowly turning their heads toward Kakuzu and Hidan.
They raised a hand and made a subtle gesture that basically meant:
"You two are also…?"
Kakuzu immediately understood.
He released a long sigh of relief and silently raised a finger in response.
Kakuzu: So we're colleagues after all. My apologies. Truly, my apologies.
Kakashi froze on the spot.
Although he still had no idea what was happening, he suddenly realized that the previously balanced three-way confrontation had somehow become a four-versus-one situation.
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