"You three only have this level of strength?" Kakuzu's voice was cold and heavy. Even though the trio fought with everything they had, they still failed to truly threaten him, and were instead being pushed back with ease. A flash of irritation crossed his eyes. "This meaningless stalling is annoying."
"I have no time to play boring games with you." His impatience was no longer hidden.
Before the words fully left his mouth, the black tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear whipped out violently.
"Earth Style: Stone Return!" Kakuzu slammed his hands onto the ground.
Massive slabs of stone tore upward, crashing toward Asuma and the others like falling walls. He was not aiming to kill, only to disrupt and create chaos.
"Move!" Asuma shouted. The three hurried back, defending against the barrage.
Stone shards exploded outward, smoke rising in a thick cloud.
In that moment of chaos:
"Wind Style: Gale Surge!"
Kakuzu and all three masks surged forward at once.
A violent blast of wind erupted around him. It was not meant to attack, but to propel him. Borrowing the acceleration and the cover of dust, Kakuzu shot away with startling speed, racing directly toward the place where Hidan's severed head and body lay.
"Why is he running?" Guy muttered, confused. Moments ago Kakuzu clearly held the advantage.
"He's heading in that direction. That's where I decapitated that freak!" Asuma narrowed his eyes, instantly recognizing Kakuzu's target.
"But his partner is dead. What is he going there for?" Kurenai asked.
"I don't know, but we can't let him succeed. Move!" Asuma felt a sinking dread.
They all sprinted after Kakuzu.
As he ran, memories flashed through Asuma's mind: Hidan's skeleton-like frame, the way he had stabbed straight through his heart yet moved as if nothing happened.
No way… Could he still be alive even without a head?
At Hidan's remains.
Shikamaru sat on the ground catching his breath. Neji and the others emerged from hiding, staying alert.
That was when Kakuzu arrived.
Through his Byakugan, Neji saw the overwhelming mass of chakra inside Kakuzu and felt his stomach tighten. He immediately helped Shikamaru to his feet.
"We have to retreat now. We are not his match!"
Kiba and Shino also understood the situation. They had watched the earlier battle and knew they had no place in a confrontation like this. They didn't know why Kakuzu was coming here, but they were wise enough not to stay.
As Neji supported Shikamaru away, Shikamaru glanced back and felt an ominous weight settle in his chest.
What is he trying to do?
"Neji, watch him. Tell me what he does."
"Right." Neji activated his Byakugan.
Kakuzu noticed them fleeing, but did not care. They were insects, irrelevant to him.
"How pathetic, Hidan." Kakuzu stared down at the severed head and body, unable to stop himself from mocking. Hidan nagged endlessly about his so-called God, never caring whether anyone wanted to hear it. If he were killable, Kakuzu would have ended him long ago.
Hidan, who had been pretending to be dead, immediately perked up at the sound of Kakuzu's voice.
"Tch. Kakuzu, hurry up and put my head back on! I need to finish my curse ritual on that bearded guy!"
"That is your attitude when asking for help?" Kakuzu did not move.
Hidan instantly deflated. "Kakuzu, big bro, Kakuzu sir, please help me reattach my head."
He was genuinely afraid Kakuzu would refuse.
Kakuzu snorted, but bent down and picked up Hidan's head. The tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear wrapped around and sewed it back to his body.
Hidan stood up, rotating his neck. "Ahh, perfect. Thanks, Kakuzu."
"I lost a heart. You will replace it for me."
"Leave it to me. I will use that bearded one!" Hidan grinned, eyes full of bloodlust.
Neji's face went pale.
"What is it?" Shikamaru asked.
"That man… the one whose head was cut off… he is alive again! The one who arrived sewed him back together and he revived!"
Shikamaru's expression changed drastically. If Hidan was alive, then the curse ritual could continue.
"Guy-sensei and the others are almost here too," Neji added.
"No… Asuma!" Shikamaru wanted to rush out, but he had no chakra left. He could not stop what was coming.
"If only I had trained with Naruto back then... I wouldn't be this useless now!" Shikamaru slammed his fist into the ground.
"We should help too," Neji said, unable to watch any longer.
Kiba and Shino also stepped forward, ready.
"No. If we go, we will only distract Asuma and the others!" Shikamaru immediately raised a hand to stop them. He was painfully aware of the gap in power. They would not even be able to affect the battle.
He reached into his pouch and pulled out a uniquely crafted kunai. "Naruto is out on a mission too. I hope this does not interrupt him."
He handed it to Neji. "Inject chakra into this. I don't have enough left."
"What is this?" Neji asked, examining the unusual design.
"This is something Naruto gave me. In a life-or-death situation, once chakra is infused, he can sense it."
"Naruto?" Neji did not understand how Naruto sensing a kunai could solve this crisis, but he trusted his comrade. He infused his chakra into it.
The carved phrase "I was here" glowed faintly.
Asuma's group arrived just as Hidan stood once more, grinning wickedly in the center of the ritual circle.
Asuma and Kurenai froze in disbelief.
"No way…" they both gasped.
"I cut off his head. How is he still alive?" Asuma's voice trembled. It was not fear of Hidan himself, but the sheer horror of watching someone revive after being reduced to pieces.
"Hehehe!" Hidan stepped into the circle, laughing wildly, raising the black iron spike in his hand. He aimed it at his own stomach to begin the ritual.
"Stop!" Kurenai screamed, terror surging through her voice.
The spike came down.
And the curse ritual began again.