Heatwaves distorted the air above the crumbling ruins.
Kakuzu and Hidan crouched behind a massive rock, observing the battlefield.
"Damn, it's hot. Can that thing really withstand such high temperatures?" Hidan muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
His Akatsuki cloak was tattered, and his body was covered in dust and grime. Annoyed, he ripped off what was left of his ruined uniform.
"I told you not to underestimate a Tailed Beast," Kakuzu said, peering cautiously at the massive, blue-flamed feline ahead of them—Matatabi, the Two-Tails.
"What's the big deal? It's not like it can actually kill me," Hidan scoffed.
Suddenly, Matatabi's ears twitched. Its piercing eyes locked onto them.
"You idiot, it noticed us—move!" Kakuzu snapped.
Before he could finish speaking, Matatabi lunged forward.
BOOM!
Its enormous tail swept through the air, obliterating the boulder they had been hiding behind.
"ROAR!!"
The Two-Tails let out an earth-shaking roar as its claws lashed out.
Kakuzu gritted his teeth, his entire body darkening as he activated his Earth Spear technique. He raised a hardened fist to counter the attack.
BAM!
Like a cannonball, he was sent flying, crashing violently into the ruins behind them. Debris and dust exploded into the air.
"Oi, Kakuzu! You're not dead, are you?" Hidan called out.
Before he could get an answer, Matatabi's claws came slashing toward him.
SPLURT!
The razor-sharp claws pierced straight through Hidan's torso. Blood sprayed from his mouth, yet his face twisted into a crazed grin.
"Ahaha! Damn, that hurts! But guess what? I caught you."
Gripping his triple-bladed scythe, Hidan swung at Matatabi's claw, leaving a small wound. However, it healed almost instantly.
"Tch, tough bastard," Yugito Nii muttered from within the beast.
With a single swipe, Matatabi sent Hidan hurtling into the ruins.
"What a pitiful guy…"
Amidst the falling rubble, both Akatsuki members rose to their feet.
Hidan, now covered in dark markings with white lines, stood in the center of a ritual circle he had quickly drawn with his own blood.
"Heh… idiot, your death is here."
Hidan lifted a metal spike in his hand, his grin filled with malicious glee.
A sudden unease crept into Yugito's mind, but before she could act—
Hidan stabbed himself in the thigh.
At the same time, a deep gash appeared on Matatabi's leg.
The immense pain caused the Two-Tails to howl in agony.
"Hidan, stop playing around and finish her off already!" Kakuzu barked.
Hidan chuckled, licking the blood from his lips.
"Heh… Lord Jashin, the blood of a Jinchūriki must be a treat, huh? Time to offer you a top-tier sacrifice!"
Hidan raised the spike again—this time aiming for his heart.
But before he could strike—
CRACK!
A thunderbolt ripped through the sky, blasting Hidan out of his ritual circle.
"Tch. Made it just in time."
A gust of wind howled as a massive blue eagle descended from the sky.
Sasuke stood atop the majestic bird, his Sharingan spinning as he surveyed the battlefield. He exhaled in relief—his interference had prevented the worst-case scenario.
"Damn it! That hurts like hell!" Hidan groaned, pulling himself up.
His bloodied chest heaved as he glared murderously at Sasuke.
"You bastard—you ruined Lord Jashin's ceremony! I'll kill you for that!"
"Wait, Hidan," Kakuzu said, stopping him with an outstretched hand. His gaze was fixed on the giant thunderhawk.
"That Summoning Beast… this guy isn't ordinary."
Kakuzu studied Sasuke carefully.
"There was no mention of someone like him in the intel from Akatsuki. Who the hell are you?"
Sasuke ignored him, turning his attention to Matatabi.
The massive Tailed Beast shrank rapidly, reverting to its Jinchūriki form—Yugito Nii.
She frowned, studying Sasuke. "You don't look like a Cloud shinobi…"
"That doesn't matter right now," Sasuke said, a smirk forming on his lips. "What matters is taking down these two."
Yugito hesitated. There was something about Sasuke's presence—his confidence, his aura—that made her instinctively trust him.
"…Alright." She nodded.
"Hah! Just because he looks good, you trust him?" Hidan sneered.
Yugito ignored him.
"Kakuzu, looks like we have no choice," Hidan growled. "Let's gut this punk!"
"You sure? He doesn't seem like a pushover," Kakuzu muttered.
"Hah! I don't care! I'll carve him up for Lord Jashin!"
Hidan lunged forward, his scythe spinning.
Sasuke's expression turned cold.
Lightning crackled in his palm.
CHIDORI!
"Move, Hidan!" Kakuzu warned.
Too late.
SLASH!
A blur of blue lightning cut through the air—Hidan's head was severed clean from his body.
His head rolled across the ground, eyes wide in shock.
"DAMN IT, KAKUZU! YOU COULD'VE WARNED ME SOONER!"
Yugito's eyes widened in disbelief. "He's… still alive?!"
"Tch, what a cockroach," Sasuke muttered.
"Well, that's Hidan for you."
Kakuzu's expression darkened.
"I told you to be careful, Hidan…"
Suddenly, Kakuzu vanished.
Sasuke's eyes flickered.
He's fast!
A chilling voice whispered behind Sasuke.
"Your heart is mine."
Black tendrils shot toward him, aiming to pierce his chest—
Poof!
A log replaced Sasuke's body.
"Substitution Jutsu…?"
Sasuke reappeared a few feet away, a smirk playing on his lips.
"I see. That's your Earth Grudge Fear technique. Ugly."
Kakuzu scowled. "Hmph. As long as I kill you, who cares what you know?"
He detached his arm, reinforcing it with Earth Spear, aiming straight for Sasuke's heart—
ZAP!
Lightning surged from Sasuke's palm, coursing through Kakuzu's tendrils, paralyzing him.
On the other side, Hidan tried to attack Yugito—
"Careful! Don't let his blood touch you!" Sasuke warned.
"What?! How does he know—?!" Kakuzu's eyes widened.
"Tch." Yugito realized what he meant.
"Enough playing around."
Sasuke raised a hand.
"Lei Ling—finish them."
His thunderhawk screeched.
BOOM!
Two massive lightning bolts crashed down.
Hidan was electrocuted into a charred mess. Kakuzu's body stiffened, unable to move.
Sasuke's Chidori Senbon fired next, piercing their chakra points and sealing their movements.
Kakuzu's heart-beast tried to escape—
But Sasuke's blade severed it instantly.
"My heart… damn you!" Kakuzu growled.
Sasuke dusted his hands.
"All done."
Yugito stared at him, stunned.
"He's… terrifyingly strong."
Sasuke smiled. "Let's go."
He tossed her a kunai with a sealing mark.
"You're taking me with you?" Yugito asked.
"Stay in Kumo, and Akatsuki will keep coming for you."
After a brief hesitation, Yugito nodded and leapt onto the thunderhawk.
Sasuke smirked. "Then let's move."
With a powerful gust, the two soared into the skies, leaving the battlefield behind.