The clock rewinds to three minutes prior.
At the Bounty Station.
"Kakuzu-nii, there seems to be some commotion outside." Kanon sensed the chakra of Asuma and the others.
"Tsk, what a pain. Kanon-chan, stay here and finish the count. This thirty million is a lot, don't miss a single bill. I'm going out to take a look."
"Should I go instead?"
"I'll handle it. Hidan and I have been partners for a long time; I'll check on him." As Kakuzu spoke, he shot a satisfied glance at Kanon. He felt completely at ease leaving the money in her hands to be tallied.
"Alright. I'll head out once I'm finished."
…
Kakuzu was in mid-pursuit of Shikamaru, preparing to deliver a finishing blow, when Asuma suddenly intercepted their path.
However, the element of surprise, and the momentum it provided, had been completely lost. Seeing their advantage vanish, Asuma bellowed, "Kotetsu, Izumo, fall back!"
At his command, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki instantly leaped back. Asuma fell into a combat stance, shifting from defense to offense, his eyes locked onto Kakuzu and Hidan.
"Just as I thought. The one in the middle is the 35-million-ryō man."
"It's rare for you to be so lucky with money, Hidan. Though, it's likely because Kanon-chan joined us," Kakuzu remarked dryly.
The scythe flew back, caught firmly in Hidan's hand.
"Kakuzu, don't you dare interfere. Let me use them for my ritual."
"The money goes to you and Kanon anyway."
Listening to their exchange, Shikamaru committed their names to memory, and the chilling confirmation that Kanon was indeed operating alongside these two.
"Fine. But don't drop your guard, or you'll die."
Hidan let out a cold laugh. Using his own blood, he drew a crimson array on the ground consisting of a triangle within a circle. This was his curse ritual.
"Are those words meant for me?"
"If you actually could kill me, I'd be looking forward to it."
"But that's probably impossible." Hidan's ritual circle was complete.
The four Konoha shinobi watched him draw the array, expressions clouded with confusion.
"What is he doing? That symbol..."
At that moment, Asuma addressed his team. "I'm going in first."
"Shikamaru, wait for an opening and use your Shadow Stitching Jutsu to trap him."
"Just for a moment is all I need!"
"I'll take his head immediately and stop him in his tracks."
Shikamaru, however, countered Asuma's suggestion.
"The risk is too high. That doesn't sound like you at all."
"Then I'm going with you," Kotetsu added, raising his blade.
"Don't you understand? This is the best way we have right now."
Shikamaru and Kotetsu froze. It was the first time they had ever seen such an expression on Asuma's face.
"Their strength is far beyond mine. Izumo, Kotetsu, keep an eye on the other Akatsuki member and cover Shikamaru."
"If you know how strong they are, why risk your life like this?" Izumo asked, bewildered.
"We should retreat and formulate a new plan."
"Do you really think we can just walk away? Kanon Uchiha hasn't even shown her face yet!"
"She is the genius of the Uchiha, someone whose strength has already surpassed Kakashi!"
"If we retreat without a fight, we'll be wiped out. If that happens, Konoha will face an even greater crisis."
"Never forget, Kanon Uchiha's goal is the destruction of Konoha!"
"The vanguard breaking through enemy lines sometimes has to make a move like this!"
Hearing Asuma's words, the realization hit Shikamaru.
If you want to take the opponent's "King," you must sometimes sacrifice a "Pawn" to charge ahead and draw the fire.
Is Asuma planning to sacrifice himself?!
"You aren't suited to be a sacrificial pawn, Asuma!"
"Heh, I have no intention of being a pawn."
"Because I have you."
Feeling the weight of Asuma's trust, Shikamaru felt a momentary pang of shame for his hesitation.
As Shikamaru processed this, Hidan's voice cut through the air. "Is the strategy meeting over?" He drew a pair of spikes from his person.
"You guys hit hard. That really hurt, you bastards!"
"You heathens who don't understand the pain of others... God will pass judgment upon you."
As Shikamaru prepared himself, cold sweat rolled down Asuma's brow. He knew that the enemies before them were not opponents he and his three subordinates could handle, especially with Kanon Uchiha lurking in the wings.
During the Chunin Exams, Kanon had already displayed her terrifying talent to everyone. Years had passed since then. The longer this dragged on, the worse it would get for them. They had to hold out for reinforcements.
The gap in power was so vast that Asuma feared they wouldn't even be able to retreat.
The only sliver of hope was to create the illusion of a prolonged battle, ensuring Kakuzu and Kanon didn't feel the need to step in immediately while they waited for backup.
If he delayed any longer, the enemy might grow suspicious. He had to attack.
With that thought, Asuma raised his trench knives and charged at Hidan. Hidan was equally fast, closing the distance in a few strides to meet Asuma's blades.
Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu began to snake forward, hunting for Hidan's shadow.
"Heh, nice weapons!" The moment the Shadow Possession reached for him, Hidan leaped into the air and hurled a kunai. Asuma shattered the projectile with a single, effortless strike.
However, Hidan's triple-bladed scythe was already whistling toward him. Asuma dodged, but Hidan used the momentum of the scythe's retrieval to pull himself out of the Shadow Possession's range.
"First movement!" Asuma growled, lunging like a bolt from a bow. His speed was staggering, leaving a trail of afterimages in the air.
Faced with this sudden onslaught, Hidan merely smirked. The chain in his hand extended, swinging with incredible fluidity toward Asuma.
But Asuma was a veteran of countless battles. He twisted his body at the critical second, evading the lethal strike while delivering a counter-slash aimed at severing Hidan's weapon.
Hidan leaped lightly, avoiding the blow and completing a mid-air rotation. His scythe became a whirlwind, lashing out at Asuma's vital joints.
The two traded blows back and forth. Hidan's unpredictable, erratic combat style clashed with Asuma's precision. The surrounding trees became collateral damage, splintered and shredded by the ferocity of their exchange.
Supporting from the sidelines, Shikamaru's expression grew grim.
His Shadow Stitching and Shadow Possession were indeed giving Asuma the upper hand, but he knew that merely "having the advantage" meant nothing here.
Soon, Asuma deployed the Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder he had learned from Chiriku. Combined with the distraction of Shikamaru's shadows, Asuma gained the definitive lead in taijutsu.
Hidan was forced into a constant state of evasion. Shikamaru's shadows made every movement incredibly difficult for the immortal.
Shikamaru glanced toward Kakuzu, who was watching from the sidelines.
It seems that guy really doesn't intend to interfere.
In the split second Shikamaru focused on Kakuzu, he missed an opportunity to snag Hidan.
"That was close, Shikamaru."
"Hey, can I get a little cover here?"
Watching Hidan's agile maneuvering, the four Konoha ninja all frowned.
"Hehe! You guys are really trying, aren't you?"
"I see it clear as day, you atheists want to use the most efficient way to take me down!" Hidan used his scythe to vault through the air, soaring over Asuma and charging toward the other three.
"I'll take out the small fry first!"
Asuma gasped. Damn it! Hidan had figured it out; the other two couldn't protect Shikamaru on their own. Panicked, Asuma was forced to fall back to defend his team.
"I'm your opponent!"
Izumo and Kotetsu moved to block for Shikamaru, but Hidan's charge was a feint. He performed a mid-air flip and jumped back toward his circle. In the moment he retreated, his returning scythe grazed Asuma.
It was a shallow wound, just a small nick on the cheek. Nothing serious.
Sure enough, Hidan landed back within the blood array he had drawn. Asuma's expression was dead serious.
"If coordinated skills and precise single-point attacks aren't working..." He tossed his trench knives into the air and began weaving hand signs at blinding speed.
Hidan simply let out a ghoulish, distorted laugh. He watched Asuma complete his jutsu without moving an inch. He slowly licked Asuma's blood from the edge of his blade.
The curse was set.
"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!"
Asuma spat out a massive cloud of superheated gunpowder and ash.
The ash hit the ground, surrounding Hidan in a zone of searing intensity.
But Hidan's skin began to turn pitch black, with white, bone-like markings appearing across his body. This was the sign of the Death Controlling Possessed Blood.
Suddenly, Asuma sparked the flint in his teeth. A terrifying explosion erupted, followed by a massive plume of smoke and dust.
As the dust settled, Hidan's hand was charred, and burn marks covered his torso.
"Hurts, doesn't it...?" Hidan said, his lips curling into a grin.
Across the clearing, the trench knife fell from Asuma's right hand. Half of his body was covered in severe, agonizing burns.
"You have been judged."
Shikamaru and the others stood frozen in shock, watching Asuma suffer the very damage he had inflicted.
"How is it? Can you feel the pain of others now?" Hidan mocked.
At that moment, a melodic and sweet voice drifted from the distance.
"Oh? If it isn't Asuma-sensei."
The group jumped in surprise. They turned to the left to see a young girl with twin tails, a mask perched on her forehead, and an Akatsuki cloak draped over her shoulders. She stepped out into the clearing, carrying a briefcase.
"Is the count finished? You took your time," Kakuzu noted.
"Please, Kakuzu-nii. That was thirty million ryō. I've never held that much money before, so I counted it three times just to be absolutely sure before coming out."
"Hmm. Good. Rigorous. I like that about you."