Yugito's tears started welling up:
"Don't tell me you're ready to give up—you'll lose to them!"
Naruto smiled slightly and shook his head:
"It was never about winning or losing. Go."
Yugito stood still for a moment, then ran off toward Kumogakure.
Kakuzu tried to break through the barrier, only to be thrown back.
Hidan plunged his spear into his own thigh again, forcing Naruto onto one knee.
Despite the damage from Hidan, Naruto held firm and didn't release the hand seal.
Kakuzu turned to Hidan:
"Hidan, make him drop that barrier—now!"
Hidan began savagely stabbing at his own legs and arms, trying to weaken Naruto's control.
Naruto gritted his teeth and held on. With Hidan focused on his arms, the Nine-Tails chakra now healed his other wounds.
"Is that all you've got? I went through worse when I was six!" He said before erupting into painful laughter.
Enraged, Hidan stabbed himself in the chest with the spear.
"What's wrong?" Naruto roared. "Not happy anymore? Weren't we just having fun?"
Hidan drove the spear straight through his own palm and twisted it deeply.
Naruto's hands faltered, releasing Kakuzu from the jutsu.
Kakuzu immediately bolted in Yugito's direction:
"Hidan, finish off this brat and deal with him! I'm going after the Two-Tails!"
Hidan was a mess now. His arms were shredded meat from his own attacks, his thighs severely damaged—yet he could still stand. Blood gushed from his chest.
But seeing his opponent wasn't in much better shape gave him some satisfaction.
Although Naruto's clothes remained intact, blood seeped out of his pants and ran down his thigh. His shirt clung tightly to his blood-soaked chest, and his arms were drenched in blood.
Despite his grievous injuries, Naruto quickly rose back to his feet.
Hidan tried yanking the spear lodged in his hand to strike Naruto—but froze.
Before he could even lift his head, Naruto suddenly appeared right in front of him. A brutal uppercut sent Hidan flying backward, crashing into a rock face, scattering rubble everywhere.
The punch forced the spear from Hidan's grasp.
Cursing under his breath, Hidan crawled out:
"You little bastard… This ain't over."
He had to get back to the ritual circle—otherwise, he was done for.
Wobbling, Hidan staggered to his feet and dashed toward Lord Jashin's circle.
That's when he caught sight of a crimson blur hurtling toward him.
Hidan yanked his scythe back just in time to block Naruto's punch.
At that moment, a second chakra tail erupted from Naruto's cloak. Hidan saw those red eyes piercing into his very soul.
One of Naruto's chakra tails latched onto Hidan's scythe and ripped it from his hand. Another tail seized Hidan himself and smashed him into the ground.
Dragging him across the battlefield, the tails hurled him high into the air, then slammed him against the stone wall like a lifeless doll.
Wiping blood from his lips, Hidan staggered upright and shouted:
"Is that all? I'm immortal, you brat!"
As he turned his head, Naruto swung a familiar weapon.
"Check this out—I found it!"
Naruto swung the sword once more—and cleaved Hidan's head clean off.
"I'm not dead yet, you idiot!" Hidan's head roared. "Wait for me! I'll bite through your throat with my teeth! Come closer!"
Naruto slowly approached.
Without the Nine-Tails' chakra, he started to feel exhausted.
"Another bounty secured!"
Hidan paused and looked at Naruto in confusion.
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
Naruto gave a blood-stained grin, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a sealing scroll.
Trapped, Hidan could do nothing but watch as Naruto opened and spread the scroll.
"I'll kill you! You bastard! This isn't finished! As long as I live, I won't stop until I pierce your heart! I'll watch you bleed! You hear me—"
In a puff of smoke, Naruto sealed Hidan's head inside the storage scroll.
He knew this fight wasn't over.
Naruto put away the scroll, leaned on his sword, and wearily continued chasing Kakuzu and Yugito.
Naruto squinted as three figures came into view ahead.
"Hey," a female voice called out. "Man, he looks like hell."
They stopped. Naruto panted heavily, staring at them.
"Hey, Karui, Omoi, Samui. Long time no see."
Omoi examined Naruto for a moment and took the lollipop out of his mouth.
"You're all torn up. What exactly happened?"
Naruto swayed and exhaled wearily.
"Not much. What are you even doing out here?"
Samui explained,
"The Raikage sent us to search the area after Yugito vanished. We saw a huge tower of flames nearby and rushed over."
Naruto frowned.
"Shit, you haven't been recalled yet. Yugito is still here. I need to go now."
Karui grabbed Naruto's shoulder.
"Hey, wait! Do you know where Yugito is? Did you see her?"
Naruto nodded.
"I told her to run off somewhere those unwanted people wouldn't find her."
He lifted his sword.
"There's only one way to catch up with them now. [Millennium Blade: Materialize!]"
The blade morphed into a set of silver gauntlets and greaves, clamping onto Naruto's limbs.
Samui gave the weapon a curious poke.
"What the hell is that?"
Naruto shook his head.
"No time to explain. Yugito headed for Kumogakure, so you probably missed her. Follow me…"
Naruto shot forward at an incredible speed, leaving a trail of dust and scattered rock behind him.
******
After Naruto told Yugito to flee, she didn't look back once.
If she had turned around, she might have gone back to help him.
She feared it would only infuriate him further.
Her tail flared as she pushed more Two-Tails' chakra through it, accelerating her escape toward Kumogakure.
After fighting both Hidan and Kakuzu, she was completely drained.
"Yugito!"
At the sound of her name, she exhaled in relief.
"Ahebi!"
Recognizing the face, Yugito dropped to her knees.
Ahebi, Jay, and Tarui stopped around her.
Darui dropped to one knee.
"What happened, Yugito?"
"She needs medical attention. She's been hurt really badly." Ahebi molded a series of hand seals and his hands glowed green.
Yugito looked at them.
"The Akatsuki tried to kidnap me. Naruto is still fighting them over there. He needs backup."
Darui looked confused.
"Naruto? Who's that?"
Jay figured out who she meant.
"You mean that kid who came with Jiraiya, Naruto Uzumaki. He fought alongside you and helped you escape?"
Yugito nodded, but Ahebi scoffed.
"Why should we risk our lives saving a Konoha ninja? We've already gotten you back, Yugito. He's not our ally."
Yugito glared at her companion.
"He was the first one to save me. Without him, I'd be dead already!"
Ahebi nodded.
"He's stronger than you. That means Konoha has lost their jinchuriki."
"Let go of me!" Yugito shouted, standing up. "I'm going back to take down those guys. If you three want to sit here doing nothing, fine by me."
Jay tried to stop her.
"Yugito, you're still too weak. Ahebi hasn't finished healing you."
Darui nodded.
"Yeah. Ahebi might be a bit harsh, but he's right. Why would you risk your life for this guy?"
"Because he risked his life for me!" Yugito yelled at them. "He had nothing to gain from finding me or pulling me out of danger, but he did it anyway. So why won't anyone do the same for him—regardless of where they're from?"
"How touching. Looks like the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki lit a fire under your ass."
When Yugito heard that voice, her face paled and she immediately rekindled Two-Tails' chakra.
"Kakuzu," she growled angrily. "What have you done to Naruto?"
Kakuzu chuckled darkly.
"Me? Nothing at all. Hidan might've maimed that brat. Look, you even brought me a bunch of new hearts to replace the ones you destroyed. What a conscientious little girl."
Yugito gave him the finger.
"Go to hell... I'll kill you."
"Anytime," Kakuzu replied sarcastically.
The stitches covering his body tore open, revealing countless black threads beneath, as the last two masks latched onto him.
[Katon: Gōka Messhitsu!] [Fūton: Atsugai!]
Kakuzu bellowed.
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