Feipu waved his hand dismissively. "Kisame can handle communications from now on. I was injured during the Eight-Tails' capture."
"Don't worry," he continued. "The Cloud's vanguard, Yugito and Killer B, are both severely wounded. They won't be able to launch an attack anytime soon. You can use this time to harass them as much as you want. There's no way two jinchuriki can recover that quickly. At the very least, their vanguard won't dare to make a reckless move before our leader arrives."
Ao asked cautiously, "And when will your leader get here?"
Feipu stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. "Our boss will show up when the fighting is at its fiercest. Once he's here, the battle will likely be over in an instant."
Seeing Feipu's evasiveness, Ao knew he wouldn't get any more information.
"Then, Lord Feipu, when will you be leaving?"
Feipu considered it. "I'll be leaving right away, but there's some information I need to share with you first. When we fought the Eight-Tails today, it was Itachi Uchiha who ultimately saved him."
Ao was stunned. "An Uchiha... saved the Eight-Tails?"
Feipu shot him a look of disappointment. "What are you thinking? That's just what those brats on the outside saw. The Uchiha is an informant our organization placed inside the Hidden Cloud."
Oh!
Ao's eyes widened in realization. No wonder the Akatsuki knew the Cloud Village's situation like the back of their hand. They had perfect knowledge of their outpost patrols and personnel deployments. It turned out the Cloud's greatest "ally" was the Akatsuki all along.
"How did you manage to plant someone so deep without anyone noticing?" Ao was completely in awe of the Akatsuki. An informant hiding in plain sight, and the enemy was none the wiser. Truly impressive.
Feipu sighed. "Today, they saw that the Eight-Tails was injured and thought victory was within their grasp. The truth is, I was at my limit. If we hadn't withdrawn, we all would have been wiped out. That's why our informant had to act ahead of schedule."
Feipu then asked, feigning casualness, "No one else knows about you going to see the Uchiha, right?"
Ao puffed out his chest, guaranteeing, "Don't worry, I didn't tell a soul. Not even Chojuro, who was with me, knows about your connection to the Uchiha. Only the Mizukage and I are aware of it."
Feipu nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Don't let it slip when you get outside. And remember to inform Mei Terumi."
Ao nodded vigorously. Lord Feipu was a man of his word, sharing such crucial intelligence. "Rest assured, Lord Feipu. I'll pretend I know nothing, and I will inform the Mizukage."
"Then that's settled. Let's go."
With that, Feipu led Ao outside where the others were waiting. Juzo Biwa and Zabuza, however, had looks of unease in their eyes.
Ao didn't beat around the bush. "The Mizukage isn't here at the moment, but she left instructions regarding you. She said that the events of the Blood Mist have nothing to do with you now. As long as you are willing to return to the Hidden Mist, all past grievances will be forgiven."
The weight on Juzo and Zabuza's hearts was finally lifted.
"As for you, Suigetsu."
Suigetsu had assumed this had little to do with him. He wasn't technically a rogue ninja, more like missing in action. The Mist was in such chaos back then that people like him who went missing were a dime a dozen.
"Come with me for a moment," Ao beckoned.
Confused, Suigetsu followed him out.
Ao told him, "You might not know how your brother died. To be honest, he was killed by a man named Obito."
Suigetsu's face remained blank. "I see."
Ao paused, surprised by the lack of reaction, but didn't press it. "The Mizukage has a collection of the Hozuki clan's secret techniques. You're the only one left. If you return to the village, she can pass those scrolls on to you."
Hearing this, Suigetsu glanced outside at Feipu, who was standing nearby. Feipu was clearly from the Hozuki clan as well but seemed to be keeping his identity a secret. Since Feipu wasn't saying anything, he wouldn't either.
Suigetsu had already planned to follow Zabuza, so returning to the Mist was an acceptable option for him. He hadn't expected this extra benefit. He quickly agreed.
Ao was pleased. Although Suigetsu was already inclined to return, building a good relationship with him meant giving him what he needed. Mangetsu Hozuki was a genius, and this was his younger brother. Ao had secretly used his Byakugan a moment ago. Judging by Suigetsu's chakra, his talent was also exceptionally high. The Hidden Mist's foundation was weak; they couldn't afford to let a prodigy like Suigetsu slip through their fingers.
...
Outside, Feipu pulled Kisame aside.
"I know you didn't get much action in the Sound Village, so I called you here to let you have some fun."
A smile stretched across Kisame's lips. "The boss is always so considerate of me."
Feipu clapped him on the shoulder. "The Cloud will likely only send out scouts for now, so just play around with them. My Shadow Clone will become unstable if I maintain it for too long, so I'm leaving communications with the Akatsuki to you. Their leader is my partner, and he's incredibly powerful. No matter what, you need to make sure the Mist shinobi retreat in time, or they'll suffer a needless disaster."
Kisame raised an eyebrow. "Is the Akatsuki's leader really that strong?"
Feipu shook his head. "Don't even think about fighting him. His techniques are devastatingly powerful. I'm telling you to stay away because I'm afraid you'll get caught in the crossfire."
Kisame thought for a moment. "Alright, then."
Seeing Kisame's disappointment, Feipu worried he might act impulsively and get himself swarmed, which would be foolish. He quickly changed the subject. "Have you and Kyoko ever thought about moving to the Uchiha district?"
Kisame scratched his head. "I don't mind. As long as Kyoko is willing."
The current Hidden Leaf was indeed prosperous, and public order was excellent. With the Uchiha's bustling commercial district attracting endless merchant caravans, the entire village was becoming more and more vibrant.
Feipu patted his shoulder. "Go back and discuss it with Kyoko. You can come back whenever you want."
Kisame agreed.
"Take this ring." Feipu removed the "Void" ring from his finger and explained to Kisame how to use it, who their allies were, and how to relay information.
With all arrangements made, Feipu said, "I'm leaving now."
With a soft "poof," he vanished in a cloud of smoke.
...
At the same time, Kawasaki, who had just brought Deidara ashore, felt his vision go black, as if his head had been struck by a hammer. A massive influx of memories flooded his mind, causing a splitting headache.
Kawasaki rubbed his temples, sorting through Feipu's identity and actions.
"Hey! Why'd you stop walking, un!" Deidara asked, seeing Kawasaki halt. All the clay on his body was gone, and his chakra was sealed, so they weren't moving very fast.
"It's nothing. Let's go."
Having sorted through the memories, Kawasaki continued onward. He was currently escorting Deidara through the Land of Fire, heading back to the Uchiha compound to check on the situation.
Deidara appeared harmless, but Kawasaki noticed him secretly collecting different types of soil along the way, likely trying to mix new clay. Although Deidara's seals limited him, escape would be difficult. He occasionally glanced at Sasori's puppet body, seemingly plotting to rescue him as well. As a key hostage for negotiating with the Hidden Stone, Deidara's security was paramount, which was why Kawasaki was escorting him personally. Meanwhile, back on the Land of Water battlefield, Killer B was already grievously injured. Even for a jinchuriki, recovery would not be swift. As for Yugito's condition, if things went smoothly...
...
Within a massive ritual circle, Hidan finally completed his prayers, the black and white patterns on his skin returning to normal.
Kakuzu was already growing impatient. This place was far from safe. "Are you done? Can we go now?"
Hidan struggled to his feet, pulling the long, black spear from his chest. "Cough... Ouch..."
"The ritual is sacred. Besides, this was only a half-kill. It's a miracle Lord Jashin didn't punish me."
Just as Kakuzu was about to speak, a spear of lightning pierced straight through his body. His expression froze, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"Kakuzu!" Hidan cried out in horror. "Who are you people!?"
Two figures in cloaks and masks appeared before them. The lightning spear had come from one of them.
Yogetsu and Shisui threw back their hoods, revealing their active Sharingan.
Yogetsu lunged toward Hidan. Hidan didn't recognize him, but the sight of the Sharingan sent him into a rage. "Uchiha!"
Meanwhile, Shisui rushed toward Kakuzu, bringing his sword down on the seemingly dead body. Kakuzu's attempt to feign death failed; he snapped his eyes open and dodged. The blow missed. Hearing Hidan's shout, Kakuzu knew his enemies were Uchiha. He didn't dare look at their faces, fearing he'd be silently caught in a genjutsu.
The Earth Grudge Fear mask that had been pierced by the lightning spear shot out from Kakuzu's back. He formed a hand seal, and the lightning-nature mask emerged from his body. Lying on the ground, Kakuzu locked onto Shisui and unleashed a lightning-style ninjutsu.
Across from him, a blade flashed, its wielder intending to block the lightning with his sword.
"Lightning Style: False Darkness!"
A brilliant flash of lightning erupted, but his opponent suddenly vanished.
A genjutsu!? When!?
Kakuzu's heart pounded. He had no time to break it. Shisui's blade had already plunged into his lightning-nature heart.
*Squish.*
Kakuzu's eyes shot open. The last thing he saw was Shisui's face. So it was him... Shisui of the Body Flicker... To think he could even cast a genjutsu through his blade...
Shisui scanned the battlefield. One, two, three, four, five. Five hearts. Sheathing his sword, he hurried to check on Yugito. She couldn't die, or things would become incredibly complicated. Unseen by Shisui, a portion of the Earth Grudge Fear threads had already burrowed underground.
A quick examination confirmed Yugito's injuries were severe. Shisui, ignorant of Hidan's curse, could do nothing. He could only give her some medicine and hope that her jinchuriki constitution would keep her alive.
Elsewhere, Yogetsu was overwhelmingly dominating Hidan. He was well aware of Hidan's immortality. Twice, Hidan had tried to trade blows, but Yogetsu had evaded both attempts.
"Damn it!" Hidan panted, clashing head-on with Yogetsu.
As he fell back, he caught sight of Kakuzu's defeat out of the corner of his eye. "How could Kakuzu fall so quickly!?" Hidan was both furious and frantic.
At that moment, the Earth Grudge Fear threads on Kakuzu's back pulled him violently into the ground, his body shattering and disappearing in an instant.
Shisui's brow furrowed. He immediately gave chase with his Body Flicker. How was Kakuzu still alive when there were five hearts on the ground?
The threads moved swiftly underground, but Shisui's Body Flicker was just as fast, and the two quickly neared the coast. Kakuzu had hidden his water-nature mask here for emergencies. While some threads could be abandoned, doing so would slow his regeneration, so he had drawn them here.
When they reached the shore, the threads dragged his body out from under the sand and tumbled toward the ocean. Shisui was too close behind for him to fully reform his body. Kakuzu's water-nature mask, seeing Shisui's relentless pursuit, immediately dove into the water.
*Boom!*
A massive fireball slammed into the ground. Kakuzu had only managed to escape with his head, torso, and one leg.
Shisui arrived moments later and searched carefully. All that remained on the ground were fragments of the Earth Grudge Fear threads and Kakuzu's body parts. However, the Akatsuki ring for "North" was left behind.
...
Hidan threw his Triple-Bladed Scythe, which extended as it flew. Yogetsu sidestepped it while forming hand seals.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Flash!"
Yogetsu's speed surged. A blade flashed, and Hidan's heart went cold. He barely dodged the strike, but a section of his scythe was sliced off, leaving him holding only the handle.
Yogetsu closed in, forcing Hidan into close-quarters combat. Before long, Hidan could no longer keep up. Yogetsu's longsword was wreathed in lightning. With every strike, another notch appeared on the scythe's handle. After two more strikes landed near the same spot, the handle snapped with a crack.
*Slash!*
Blood sprayed as a deep gash was torn across Hidan's chest.
"Aaargh! You damned Uchiha!" Hidan screamed like a madman, hurling the broken handle. He swiped a hand inside his cloak, and a black retractable spear shot out from his side. He caught it and lunged forward.
Yogetsu knocked the handle away with his sword, then moved to block the spear. But the weapon could extend, its tip suddenly shooting forward. Yogetsu could only tilt his head, the spear grazing his cheek.
"Hahaha..." Hidan burst into wild laughter. *Finally, I've got your blood.*
Yogetsu grinned as well and swung his sword at Hidan. To retrieve his spear, Hidan blocked with his arm. In an instant, his left hand went flying. Hidan grunted, the pain immense. Seizing the chance, he pulled back his spear and licked the blood, preparing his ritual.
Yogetsu remembered Kawasaki's words: "Stop his ritual!"
He relentlessly pursued Hidan. Hidan tried to plant his feet, but before he could even begin drawing the circle with his blood, he was forced to flee. This caused him to spill blood everywhere, never managing to complete the ritual circle.
Hidan was burning with rage. "Aaaargh! I will offer you to Lord Jashin!"
Hidan fled, with Yogetsu right behind him. Every swing of Yogetsu's sword left another deep, long wound on Hidan's body. His internal organs were shredded, yet somehow, he could still move. But the constant blood loss was slowing him down.
"It hurts... damn it!" Hidan was on the verge of collapsing.
Seeing that drawing a new circle was impossible, his eyes fell on the complete one he had used to curse Yugito. Hidan's eyes lit up. He scrambled toward it. If he could just get inside the circle!
"Lightning Style: Lightning Spear!"
*Crash!*
A bolt of lightning struck Hidan directly, hitting the ritual circle and blasting the ground it was drawn on to smithereens. Hidan threw himself forward, but the circle was already gone. He was sent flying into the air and came face-to-face with the returning Shisui.
Shisui's eyes met Hidan's.
*Thud...*
Hidan's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground.
Yogetsu arrived right after. "This guy can really run. Good thing you were here, Shisui."
Shisui shook his head. "Yugito is badly hurt. We're not medical-nin, so we need to get her back to the Cloud Village immediately."
Yogetsu kicked Hidan's body. "The clan head said this guy can't be killed. What do we do with him?"
Shisui thought for a moment. "He suggested we try Fire Style first."
Yogetsu swung his longsword, severing Hidan's neck in one clean motion. The intense pain shocked Hidan's eyes open.
"Agh! It hurts!"
"Damn you, Uchiha! I'm immortal!"
"You can't kill me!"
"Lord Jashin will—"
Yogetsu shoved his sword into Hidan's mouth, reducing his curses to muffled groans.
Shisui had already completed his hand seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Yogetsu lifted Hidan's head on his sword, and the flames instantly engulfed it. Hidan's head thrashed violently, muffled screams echoing from his throat. A few moments later, the fireball dissipated, leaving his head charred black.
Yogetsu flicked his blade. "Is he dead?"
Hidan's eyes snapped open again, filled with madness and hatred.
Shisui looked closer. "Only his hair was burned off. His body seems to be protected by some kind of power. Something that cannot be burned."
Yogetsu was stumped. "Then what are we supposed to do with him?"
Shisui took out a storage scroll and unrolled it. At his signal, Yogetsu placed Hidan's head on it. He pulled his sword free, bringing a shower of blood and gore with it. Hidan was still cursing unintelligibly, his face a mask of rage.
"Seal!"
A puff of smoke rose, but Hidan's head remained where it was.
Shisui frowned. He turned to see Hidan glaring at him fiercely. The tomoe in Shisui's Sharingan began to spin. Hidan's eyes rolled back, and he went limp.
Shisui tried again. "Seal!"
With another puff of smoke, Hidan's head was finally sealed away. Shisui then did the same with Hidan's body, sealing it into the storage scroll as well.
Yogetsu asked curiously, "What are you going to do with him, Shisui?"
Shisui rolled up the scroll. "We'll figure that out later. Let's split up and check if any other Cloud shinobi survived."
Yogetsu nodded and went to search the area. He soon discovered that all the other Cloud ninja had been killed. One of them had a massive hole in his chest...