He just lacked sufficient combat experience and occasionally made rookie mistakes. As for Haku, while he could use Ice Release, his gentle nature meant his jutsu lacked killing power. His combat awareness was also poor, and his real-world battle experience was practically zero.
After sparring with them, Kawasaki considered how to improve their combat experience. Once the situation in Konoha stabilized, he could take them on missions to accelerate their growth. He and Orochimaru already had a plan for Kimimaro's illness, but they hadn't told Kimimaro yet. The time wasn't right.
Thinking of Naruto and Sasuke's upcoming graduation, he wondered if he should intervene in the team assignments. The two of them had to be on the same team; the rest didn't need to be forced together. It would be pointless anyway.
After checking on them, Kawasaki returned to Orochimaru's lab. Karin had already brought Itachi and Fugaku back. By now, Orochimaru had finished his examination of Hidan.
Hidan's body had been cut into several pieces. Kawasaki had expected it to be a gruesome sight, but it was better than he'd imagined. Hidan didn't have much blood, and what he had flowed slowly.
"Hidan's immortality stems from a certain power," Orochimaru explained. "It guards his soul, preventing it from leaving his body, and slowly repairs his physical form. He isn't truly immortal in the strictest sense. In fact, he's no longer a living being."
Incredible. Orochimaru figured it out in such a short time.
"Orochimaru, are you saying Hidan is just a soul trapped in a shell it can't escape?" Kawasaki's curiosity grew. He had thought Hidan was truly immortal, but it turned out he existed in a state between life and death.
"Correct. The so-called 'gift' from Jashin is to turn his followers into the living dead, forcing them to gather what he requires."
"Can we make use of his body, or that power?" Kawasaki's interest was piqued. This was what he truly cared about.
Orochimaru spread his hands. "His power comes as a gift from Jashin, a gift born from faith. Since we do not believe in Jashin, we cannot utilize this power."
Kawasaki felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped the man could be used as some kind of perpetual power source.
"How can this guy be killed for good?" According to Orochimaru's explanation, even if Hidan's body were torn to shreds, he wouldn't die, because he was already dead.
Orochimaru, having lost interest in Hidan, said, "He will only truly die if he one day renounces his faith."
Since this 'thing' was useless, Kawasaki decided to dispose of it. Keeping him around was a liability.
Hidan had been conscious the entire time, hearing every word Orochimaru said. He whimpered, muttering something about Jashin, his eyes filled with ferocity.
Today, Kawasaki had the perfect opportunity to test something: if the immortal Hidan were continuously burned by inextinguishable black flames, who would have the last laugh?
Kawasaki placed Hidan's head on the ground and said to Itachi, "Try using Amaterasu on him. Let's see if he can really withstand it."
Itachi had no sympathy for someone who took pleasure in pure cruelty to appease an evil god. A burst of Amaterasu struck Hidan directly.
The black flames engulfed Hidan's head, burning fiercely as muffled screams escaped his lips. Yet, some force, however faint, was resisting the Amaterasu's incineration.
Amaterasu could set even the air ablaze, let alone a mere head. The black flames clung to his skull, burning relentlessly. Hidan somehow endured it for a full three minutes.
The moment the Amaterasu ignited, Hidan's entire head convulsed. The look in his eyes shifted from resentment to a fanatical, venomous glare, then to despair and numbness. Finally, his eyelids fluttered shut as he gave up the struggle.
In the blink of an eye, Hidan's head dissolved into a puddle of blood. The rest of his body nearby melted into a foul-smelling pool.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for drastically changing Hidan's life trajectory.]
[Congratulations, Host, you have obtained the special ability: Death Immunity x1]
Death Immunity? Kawasaki's interest was instantly piqued. After learning more about it, he thought... This is incredibly useful!
While it wasn't true immortality, being able to negate one fatal attack was already extremely powerful. With this, Kawasaki no longer had to fear being killed by a sneak attack. As long as death wasn't instantaneous, he could always find a way to save himself.
He wondered why Hidan would drop this particular skill, but as long as it was useful, that was all that mattered.
...
Just as Hidan was being dealt with, far away on a battlefield in the Land of Water, Yugito Nii suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
In that instant, an unbearable pain erupted from the spot where she had been pierced by the curse. With a splutter, Yugito coughed up a mouthful of blood.
C and Killer B were startled. C immediately began performing medical ninjutsu. "Yugito, you're injured again? What happened..." Killer B, whose own wounds were just starting to heal, was confused.
But after spitting out the blood, Yugito's complexion surprisingly improved. "I can feel it," she said. "The wound I received from the Akatsuki member... it's healing now!"
Although she had been injured again, she could feel that the curse's power, which had been clinging to her like a shadow, had suddenly vanished. Now, she should be able to recover quickly.
C and Killer B were overjoyed to hear this. While they didn't understand the principles behind the Akatsuki's jutsu, they knew it had been broken. With a Jinchuriki's constitution, her recovery would be swift. C hurried off to report the news to the Raikage.
...
With Hidan dealt with, the moment they had been waiting for had finally arrived.
"Itachi," Kawasaki began, "this is to awaken your Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."
"You must carefully feel the process of the powers in your eyes merging. It will be greatly beneficial for using your Eternal Mangekyo in the future," Kawasaki instructed.
At that, Itachi looked toward Fugaku on the adjacent bed. "Father..."
Fugaku was calm. Although the Mangekyo Sharingan was priceless, he no longer had a need for battle. He reached out a fumbling hand, found Itachi's, and squeezed it tightly. "My son, become the new pillar of the Uchiha."
Hearing this, Itachi grunted in acknowledgment and squeezed back just as firmly.
Orochimaru addressed them both. "Fugaku, I will be removing your Sharingan shortly."
"Shouldn't he receive temporary replacements? It takes time to clone and cultivate new eyes," someone asked.
Fugaku shook his head. "No need. I was blind before anyway. I can wait a little longer."
Orochimaru agreed, then turned to Itachi. "During the fusion of the Eternal Mangekyo, the merging and enhancement of the dōjutsu is crucial. I will not be giving you any anesthesia. You will have to endure it. You must remain aware of the changes in your eyes at all times, understand?"
After receiving Itachi's affirmation, Orochimaru began the procedure. Kawasaki and Shisui stood by, watching. The surgery itself wasn't complicated. In this world, an eye transplant was a relatively minor operation.
Orochimaru gave Fugaku an injection in his arm, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep. Then, in just a few minutes, Orochimaru removed both of Fugaku's eyes.
For Itachi, however, the process was more arduous. With no anesthesia, his eyes were forced open, leaving him to watch as the surgical tools drew near. A wave of intense pain washed over him, but he only let out a muffled grunt, showing no other reaction. Orochimaru first removed Itachi's eyes, then began the delicate work of connecting Fugaku's eyeballs to Itachi's vascular system and optic nerves. Once they were attached, he set the new eyes perfectly into the sockets.
It sounded simple, and for Orochimaru, it truly wasn't difficult.