Chapter 6 In the sixth checkpoint, the Cloud Hidden Village squad, Omoi, Atsui, and Karui, who were only slightly behind the others, encountered Kakuzu, who possessed immortality. The battle had been ongoing for some time, with Atsui already lying in a pool of blood, incapacitated.
*Crack!*
The lollipop that fell to the ground was stomped on and shattered. Hidan brandished his scythe, a mocking expression on his face.
"Have you considered it? Join the Jashin religion and worship Jashin with me, and I'll let you pass the checkpoint."
"What a joke! I'm going to kill you, you piece of trash!"
With their comrade down and the opponent trying to recruit them, Karui, whose temper was already fiery, couldn't hold back. She instantly drew her ninja sword, and a flash of lightning streaked across.
"Raiton: Raikiri!"
Empowered by lightning release, Karui's speed increased significantly. Her sharp blade slashed across Hidan's chest, and blood gushed out. However, before Karui could land another blow, a piercing sound of rushing wind reached her ears, and she hurriedly withdrew her sword to block at her side.
*Clang!*
The immense force from the giant scythe sent Karui flying. She cried out in pain, her hand gripping the long sword growing numb, almost losing her grip.
A thin cut on her cheek oozed blood. Karui reached up to wipe away the blood and spat, her gaze cold.
"Got it."
Hidan completely ignored the wound on his chest, looking at the blood on his scythe and a sinister grin gradually spreading across his face. However, he seemed to recall something, his hand paused as it reached for the scythe, and his expression turned vexed.
"Damn it, Jashin-sama, I really can't afford it. It's not that I don't want to offer sacrifices to you, it's just that I'm genuinely poor!"
Hidan wept internally. He was no longer the arrogant and impudent Hidan of the past. These six years in the Akatsuki had taught him what it meant to be better off dead. The monsters in the organization were not human, more cruel than even him, Hidan!
Only Kakuzu would stitch him up when he was torn apart by five horses. Although Kakuzu always claimed he wanted to kill him, it was always Kakuzu who saved him.
He had even helped him stitch up his *little brother*. Hidan had no secrets from Kakuzu, yet he himself didn't even know what Kakuzu truly looked like. Perhaps if he had the chance...
"Good opportunity!"
Omoi, though unsure why Hidan was momentarily distracted, wouldn't miss such a killing opportunity.
"Kumo-ryū: Mikazuki Giri!"
*Swish!*
Three white lights slashed through the air, leaving three deep, bone-cutting gashes on Hidan's chest. A normal ninja would have fallen and spoken their last words with such injuries, but Hidan acted as if nothing happened, roaring,
"It hurts, you know!"
Despite his immortality, the pain still made Hidan wince. Without entering the ritual, he couldn't fully appreciate the pleasure of pain. Damn it, it seemed he had to play with them properly.
Seeing Hidan receive such severe injuries yet act as if he were unharmed, Omoi and Karui felt cold sweat soaking their shoulders. How could they deal with such an unkillable enemy?
"Um... is it still too late for us to join the Jashin religion?" Omoi couldn't help but ask.
"Want to join? Of course, you can. I'll send you to meet Jashin-sama right away!"
Hidan licked the blood from his wounds and dragged his scythe towards Omoi and Karui.
"Hey, didn't you say we'd pass if we joined?" Omoi, seeing Hidan charging at them with murderous intent, kept shuffling backward.
"Of course, after you return from Jashin-sama, I'll let you pass!"
Karui stopped Omoi from retreating and pointed her ninja sword at Hidan again, saying, "Stop talking nonsense with him. I don't believe he can survive decapitation!"
Hidan raised an eyebrow and stretched his neck. "Want to try?"
...
In the fourth checkpoint, Kurotsuchi from the Hidden Stone Village was leading a group of cannon fodder ninjas, hiding all over the map. The sounds of explosions could be heard constantly in the distance.
"Kurotsuchi, why are you running? I'm alone, and you have over a dozen guys with you, hmm."
A large white bird emerged from an alley, followed by a flash of fire and a loud explosion. A few slow-moving unlucky individuals were blown away. They landed on the ground, still smoking, their state of being dead or cooked uncertain.
Kurotsuchi ignored Deidara's words at this moment. Her companions were all nobodies without any notable names, so how could they face Deidara head-on?
Knowing that Deidara was a disciple of her grandfather, Onoki, his talent was undeniable, and certainly not something this group could match.
"Run faster, run faster. If you last ten minutes, you pass, hmm."
Deidara flew in the air, enjoying the pleasure of indiscriminate demolition. Such unrestrained explosions were the art he sought. It would be even more perfect if he could deploy C4 Garuda here!
The sounds of explosions gradually faded with the white bird. By the side of the ruined street, three trash can lids, red, green, and blue, suddenly opened, revealing three chicken figures.
"Chief Chicken, why don't we go out and help?"
"What are you doing! Do you want to be blown up into fried chicken?"
Chief Chicken added, "Don't worry, all the surrounding surveillance has been destroyed. No one knows we're hiding here!"
"Boss is brilliant!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a White Zetsu clone slowly emerged from the ground, carrying a camera on its shoulder, its lens focused on them.
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward...
"What are you doing! You scared the chickens to death!"
*Click.* The trash can lids closed, and the three chicken figures quickly disappeared down the street.
...
*Clang!*
The twilight-colored lights flickered on. A masked man emerged from the dimly lit bookstore, holding a high-quality small picture book. The cover on the back clearly showed the title "Icha Icha Paradise."
The masked man's gaze focused on the book in his hand, and he said indifferently, "It's you guys. Are you ready?"
It's over, it's over, it's all over!
At this moment, Hozuki Suigetsu's mind was collapsing. He had personally chosen this suicidal start. He deserved to slap himself!
The strength of the masked man was unclear to all three of them, but based on his mysterious aura and oppressive presence alone, they felt he was far stronger than their leader, Lin Yu.
Hozuki Suigetsu hid behind Kimimaro, trembling, "Um, excuse me... are there any other options here?"
No one responded to Hozuki Suigetsu. Kimimaro stepped forward and said, "Senpai, I am ready."
"I'm ready too."
Although somewhat timid and fearful, Bai's words were firm. A faint mist had begun to drift in the air.
The masked man closed the picture book and rolled down the shutter door, walking out. "Let's move to another place. Books are humanity's precious wealth and must not be destroyed."
Kimimaro and Bai followed him closely, leaving behind only a Hozuki Suigetsu whose legs were numb.
"Hey! Wait for me! At least give me a hand!"
"Damn it! Forget it, whatever happens, happens!"