Land of Lightning.
Beneath a small town, the damp underground waterways stretched in eerie silence.
A Kumogakure shinobi gasped for breath, her eyes darting cautiously around.
She was a stunning young woman, perhaps twenty years old, with sharp features and long, tea-colored hair tied neatly behind her. Her combat gear accentuated her striking figure.
This was Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki of Kumogakure.
"Saa!"
Suddenly, a scythe flew out from the shadows, embedding itself in the ground before Yugito.
Two towering figures emerged from the darkness, slowly approaching her heaving form.
One of them, a man wrapped tightly in layers of clothing that left only his piercing green eyes visible, broke the silence with a chilling tone.
"Well then... shall we begin?"
The other figure, holding the scythe, stopped him with a raised hand.
"Wait a second, Kakuzu. Before we start, I need to offer a proper prayer."
Kakuzu's disdain was palpable as he glared at his partner.
"Hidan, you're always such a hassle."
Hidan shot him an irritated glance. "You think I like this? The rituals are strict—I don't have a choice."
As the two bickered, Yugito's previously panicked expression shifted into a smug smile.
"Don't tell me you actually think you've cornered me."
She formed a series of hand seals, her proud face glowing with defiance.
"In reality... I lured you here!"
The underground tunnel exploded in a chain reaction of concealed explosive tags, sealing all exits with falling debris.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
As the dust settled, the passageways were blocked, trapping all three in the confined space.
The two Akatsuki members stood frozen, momentarily stunned by Yugito's maneuver.
Hidan finally broke the silence with a chuckle.
"Well, would you look at that? The exits are sealed, Kakuzu."
Kakuzu's voice was cold as ever. "No matter. This actually works in my favor."
Yugito's gaze hardened as she addressed the two intruders.
"Now that I know you're Akatsuki, I can't let you leave. As Kumogakure's Two-Tails Jinchūriki, I'll stake my honor on killing you!"
Hidan raised a hand, pointing at her in mock outrage.
"What's this? You're saying you'll kill us? Such arrogance!"
"I'm mad now! And when I'm mad, I—"
"Shut up, Hidan!" Kakuzu cut him off, his voice dripping with irritation.
Hidan scratched the back of his head, grinning sheepishly.
"Alright, alright. But I can't help it! When I lose my temper, all I want is carnage."
Kakuzu's emerald eyes glared daggers at him.
"Get serious, Hidan. The orders must be carried out without fail."
Hidan sighed dramatically. "But this mission goes against my faith. The Jashin creed demands absolute death—no half-measures!"
"I can't stand violating our sacred doctrine. It's disgusting!"
Yugito looked at him incredulously.
Is this guy for real? He's clearly unhinged. Do they even intend to fight?
Noticing her bewildered expression, Hidan declared solemnly, "Don't look at me like that! I'm very devout, you know."
"Not killing you would be such a pain, so why don't you just surrender?"
Yugito's voice erupted in anger.
"Are you mocking me?!"
Her chakra surged violently, creating a swirling vortex of blue energy that filled the chamber.
Hidan wiped his nose, his grin faltering. "Ah, I guess that's a no."
Kakuzu looked like he was ready to strangle him.
Before them, Yugito's chakra condensed into a massive form. Black markings spread over a giant spectral feline, its body ablaze with blue flames, towering over 50 meters high.
The Two-Tails roared, lunging at the Akatsuki duo.
Hidan's face twisted in alarm. "Whoa, seriously?!"
The massive paw of the Two-Tails slammed down, sending Kakuzu crashing into the ground.
"Ha! Guess we're just rats in a cage now!" Hidan laughed nervously, dodging to the side.
A muffled voice came from the rubble where Kakuzu was buried.
"Not funny at all!"
The cat spirit licked its claws, its confidence brimming as it sneered.
"Well then... prepare to die!"
...
Half an hour later.
Yugito was pinned to the wall, her body battered and broken.
Hidan lay on the ground nearby, muttering prayers.
Kakuzu glanced at the task list in his hand before shooting Hidan an annoyed look.
"Do we really have to go through with these ridiculous rituals every time?"
Hidan sat up, indignant. "Skipping them would be blasphemy against Jashin!"
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tone, Hidan."
Hidan smirked, raising his scythe. "What? You wanna go?"
Before the fight could escalate, the air shimmered, and the space twisted nearby.
A masked man in a blue cloak stepped through the distortion.
Hidan lowered his scythe, curious.
"Leader? What brings you here?"
Kakuzu's gaze shifted to the newcomer. "Is this about the Two-Tails?"
The masked man—Obito—glanced around before noticing Yugito pinned to the wall.
"Ah, perfect timing," he murmured to himself. "I'll bring her to Madara. Two birds, one stone."
With a swirl of his Mangekyō Sharingan, he absorbed Yugito into the Kamui dimension.
Then, turning to Kakuzu, he gestured at Hidan.
"Kakuzu, mind if I borrow him for a while?"
Kakuzu shrugged indifferently.
Without another word, Kakuzu left, not even glancing back.
Hidan yelled after him, "Hey, Kakuzu! You're not even going to say goodbye?! Kakuzu! ...Che! So heartless!"
Turning back to Obito, Hidan asked, "So, what's the deal? This better not break my vows!"
Obito's tone was light but tinged with amusement.
"Tell me, Hidan, would your Jashin be interested in the soul of a thousand-year-old sage?"
Hidan's eyes lit up, his body trembling with excitement.
"A soul like that exists?! Let's go—I need to offer it personally!"
Obito chuckled.
"Not so fast. We'll pick up Sasori and Deidara first. This target is no ordinary foe, so we'll need all the help we can get."
Hidan nodded eagerly. "Understood. Lead the way!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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