Root Base.
The Root has discovered traces of the Akatsuki's activity in the Land of Lightning. Akihara Kagura wants to go there to investigate, and only needs to notify the Hokage's office.
Fifth Hokage Tsunade has no reason to prevent this.
Akihara Kagura has always been able to anticipate the enemy's actions.
As soon as the Akatsuki members appeared, the Root obtained information about them. The problem was that the information transmission was too slow, causing them to be one step behind.
When Akihara Kagura arrived in the Land of Lightning, Akatsuki members Kakuzu and Hidan were preparing to leave. They had already extracted the Tailed Beast chakra from the Jinchūriki Yugito Nii of Cloud Village, killed a bounty-bearing ninja along the way, and Kakuzu took the corpse to a bounty station to exchange it for money.
Bounty Station.
The bounty stations in the ninja world have always collected the corpses of well-known ninjas for money, selling these bodies at higher prices to recipients.
As the bounty stations are usually filled with corpses, to avoid the smell being noticed, their locations are often hidden in toilets or garbage dumps.
These places are considered sufficiently secretive.
In a way, bounty stations are a type of assassination organization.
The bounty on Akihara Kagura has been rising steadily, reaching seven billion ryō, and has long been at the top of the bounty list.
For years, this top position has not changed. Even so, many in the ninja world still believe this price is too low for the value of his corpse.
"Hmph, that bastard's bounty has increased again…"
Kakuzu came here mainly to exchange corpses for money and to take the latest bounty book from the station. The first thing he saw was Akihara Kagura at the top of the list, unable to forget his past defeat: "Seven billion ryō, really tempting..."
To be honest.
Kakuzu had some inappropriate thoughts.
Kakuzu didn't really expect to have the opportunity to kill Akihara Kagura. It was just that his name was too conspicuous in the bounty book.
"No one in the ninja world thinks they can kill him."
The bounty station staff, checking the corpse Kakuzu brought, explained while counting the money: "If you could bring Akihara Kagura's corpse, this price could easily be ten times higher…"
"..."
Kakuzu frowned.
Even after several years, Kakuzu still didn't believe he could defeat Akihara Kagura. His Wood Release techniques were too terrifying.
"Then kill him!"
Hidan stood by, waving away the stench around his nose, and said unhappily: "I heard he's called the new God of Ninja, but the only true god is the one I believe in…"
"Idiot!"
Kakuzu glanced at Hidan and couldn't help but curse: "That bastard is more terrifying than any enemy you've faced. With a flick of his hand, he could crush you…"
Kakuzu couldn't forget that during their previous fight, his Earth Grudge Fear was individually crushed by Akihara Kagura's Wood Human Technique. If they met Akihara Kagura, one slap from the Wood Human Technique would flatten Hidan, and he wouldn't be able to scrape him off the ground!
"Here is your money."
The bounty station staff finished counting the reward and handed it to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu took it but didn't put it in the box immediately. Instead, he counted it himself, fearing the amount might be wrong.
"You're such a…"
Hidan looked at Kakuzu angrily: "Why do you always care so much about money? It's the most useless thing and will corrupt your soul!"
"Only money can be trusted."
Kakuzu responded coldly, finished counting the money, and then left with Hidan, pushing open a hidden door to leave.
This bounty station was hidden in a foul-smelling garbage dump.
"So annoying."
Hidan muttered unhappily, waving away the constant smell and carrying his scythe, wanting to leave immediately.
"Idiot…"
Kakuzu was also annoyed with Hidan.
But Kakuzu couldn't kill Hidan, and Hidan couldn't kill Kakuzu. They were known within the Akatsuki as the Immortal Duo because they were said to be unkillable.
Because of this…
Kakuzu's partner became fixed.
Previously, Kakuzu enjoyed killing his partners and exchanging their bodies for money. Hidan was the only one who could escape death.
However…
Their relationship was not harmonious.
Hidan only had his god in mind and often conflicted with Kakuzu's obsession with money. While Kakuzu was working hard to earn money, Hidan would spend it while cursing that money was useless…
This idiot…
Kakuzu, an old man, didn't want to argue with this fool.
"The next destination is the Land of Fire."
Kakuzu thought about the orders conveyed by Pain through Zetsu while flipping through the bounty book: "Let's see if we can collect some bounties along the way…"
"You really love money…"
Hidan snorted, picking his ear: "Kakuzu, don't you consider hunting down that blasphemer Akihara Kagura with me?"
"If you're dead, you can't make money."
Just as Kakuzu was reading the manual in his hand while traveling with Hidan, a clapping sound suddenly appeared in their ears.
"Well said!"
A voice drifted down from the sky, gently clapping towards them: "An old person in a household is a treasure indeed. Mr. Kakuzu's life experience is truly rich..."
"Who are you?" Hidan looked arrogantly at the young man descending from the sky.
"..."
When Kakuzu saw the figure, a bead of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead. His first thought was the seven billion or seventy billion ryō bounty, and his second thought was whether he should abandon Hidan and escape!
"Hey, Kakuzu, what's wrong with you?" Hidan frowned and glanced at Kakuzu, who usually had no scruples when it came to money. "Do you know each other? An old friend of yours?"
"Of course."
The newcomer earnestly nodded and looked at Kakuzu sincerely: "Mr. Kakuzu and I are old friends. I have always admired Mr. Kakuzu's money-first philosophy. Out of the entire Akatsuki, Kakuzu is my favorite..."
Many people in the ninja world think that money is useless.
That's because they have never been bound by money.
If Yakushi Nono from the past were to say, for a little bit of money, she would risk her life to be a spy, because a little more money could allow an orphan to have a full meal.
"Akihara Kagura..."
Kakuzu said the identity of the newcomer in a deep voice and immediately instructed Hidan to retreat: "Don't let him touch your body, find a chance to escape immediately!"
"He's Akihara Kagura?"
Hidan looked at Akihara Kagura in front of him with a somewhat maniacal excitement: "Why should we run? Your money is here, and the person I want to kill is here too!"
Before the words fell...
Hidan swung his scythe and rushed towards Akihara Kagura!
"This idiot is indeed unreliable..."
Kakuzu tightly grasped the box full of money in his hand and quickly wanted to retreat. He didn't want to die alongside Hidan!
Even though Kakuzu knew Hidan's ability, he didn't believe that this lunatic could win in a situation where the strength difference was so great!
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
Akihara Kagura immediately summoned a tall wooden figure. The wooden figure slapped Hidan directly into the ground, firmly embedding him!
"!!!"
Kakuzu immediately retreated!
For Kakuzu, he had long been accustomed to selling out his teammates, so abandoning Hidan at this moment didn't make him feel any guilt!
"Isn't it bad to just abandon your companion like this?"
Akihara Kagura's figure turned into a golden light, appearing in front of Kakuzu. He raised his fist and struck Kakuzu's chin, sending him flying back!
"This guy..."
Kakuzu's eyes almost popped out!
"Don't rush."
Akihara Kagura raised his hand, and a vine emerged from the ground, directly binding Kakuzu's body and absorbing his chakra: "I just happened to pass by and unexpectedly ran into Mr. Kakuzu..."
"Akihara Kagura, what do you want to do…"
Kakuzu could only watch as he was bound to the tree, feeling his chakra being continuously drained by Akihara Kagura.
"You bastard!"
Hidan struggled to free himself from the ground, leaped up, and swung his scythe towards Akihara Kagura!
"Too noisy."
Akihara Kagura raised his hand.
A black rod appeared in his hand, which suddenly flew out from his palm, piercing Hidan's chest and pinning him back to the ground!
However...
This kind of fatal injury was nothing more than a scratch to Hidan!
While trying to pull the black rod out of his chest, Hidan cursed at Akihara Kagura: "It hurts like hell! I'm going to tear you to pieces!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Four more black rods flew out from Akihara Kagura's hand!
This time, four black rods pinned Hidan's limbs directly, rendering him immobile. He could only lie on the ground, cursing incessantly!
"Let me go!"
"God will protect me, I will not die!"
"You bastard, do you think you can kill me!"
Kakuzu frowned, pondering the current situation.
Even though Hidan couldn't die, he couldn't pose a threat to Akihara Kagura, not even causing any trouble.
Perhaps the only thing Hidan could do was pollute Akihara Kagura's ears, unless he could get Akihara Kagura's blood and use his strange ability on him. But they were unlikely to injure Akihara Kagura…
"You're thinking about how to get my blood to him, aren't you?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Kakuzu, seemingly reading his mind.
"How could it be…"
Kakuzu looked at Akihara Kagura in disbelief. This guy knew what he was thinking; he knew Hidan's secret!
But…
This seemed normal.
"My subordinates already found out who that noisy guy is..."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Hidan, who was pinned to the ground in the distance, and said slowly, "Actually, my main purpose for coming here was for him..."
On his way to the Land of Lightning, Akihara Kagura had deliberately sought out the Immortal Duo with the aim of capturing Hidan.
On one hand…
Hidan's immortal characteristic was quite useful.
Akihara Kagura had been collecting suitable candidates for the Six Paths Puppets. The most important of the Six Paths puppets was the Hell Path puppet.
As long as the Hell Path puppet was alive, no matter how the other puppets were damaged in battle, they could rely on the Hell Path puppet's resurrection ability to restore the other puppets' bodies.
Obviously.
Hidan was a very suitable candidate.
Hidan came from a small cult that worshiped an unknown evil god in the ninja world. They used Hidan in a sacrificial ritual.
Since then…
Hidan had gained immortality.
No matter what methods were used, Hidan could not be killed.
Besides that, Hidan also gained the ability to curse others. As long as he got a drop of the enemy's blood, he could curse and kill the enemy from a distance. Even attacking Hidan would be equivalent to attacking oneself.
No one could kill him, yet he could kill anyone.
Perhaps this made Hidan's mind less agile. Whenever he encountered an enemy, he would recklessly charge in, unable to distinguish between strong and weak opponents. As long as he could get the enemy's blood, he could instantly secure victory.
This method was extremely insidious.
Many ninjas stronger than Hidan were inevitably fooled.
"Let's get down to business first..."
Akihara Kagura's figure instantly appeared beside Hidan, using the Soul Restraint Technique to prevent Hidan's soul from leaving his body.
Akihara Kagura had long mastered the methods of creating Six Paths puppets from living people. The Soul Restraint Technique trapped the soul in the body, and then the person's body was made into a puppet. Even if the person died during the process, the soul would be sealed within the puppet.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"What are you doing to me!"
"Let me go! It hurts, you bastard!"
Hidan kept cursing, but his body couldn't resist. He could only watch helplessly as one black rod after another was inserted into his body.
"My body..."
Hidan's pupils suddenly dilated as he felt his body gradually losing control: "You... what are you planning to do with my body..."
"I'm helping you gain a more powerful ability..."
After Akihara Kagura filled Hidan's body with black rods, he raised his hand and left a cursed mark on Hidan's body.
"From today on, you are the Hell Path Hidan."
Akihara Kagura raised his finger, controlling Hidan's body to stand up, testing his mobility: "Before you can truly use this name, let's experiment to see if your previous abilities are still there."
"What... what is going on?"
Hidan involuntarily raised his scythe, step by step moving towards Kakuzu: "Wait, what are you making me do..."
"Is there anyone more suitable for experiments than the immortal Kakuzu?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Kakuzu, who was tied to a tree, and softly explained: "Your ability requires killing. I don't want to kill indiscriminately…"
~~~
Puppets:
Deva Path•Shisui
Animal Path•Hanzo (Substitute•Hozuki Mangetsu)
Asura Path•Sasori
Hell Path•Hidan
Previous chapter have some kind of BL energy between Naruto and Sasuke. Their bond is too strong. hahahaha.
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