The moment Hidan finished speaking, his entire body turned pitch black, and thick white lines resembling exposed bones spread across his skin.
Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood.
"What kind of strange technique is this?"
Seeing Hidan's skeletal appearance, Zabuza felt a deep sense of unease.
Earlier, while breaking free, his left arm had been scratched by Hidan's nails, drawing blood.
And that blood had clearly been obtained by the man standing before him.
Combined with Lock's earlier warning, Zabuza immediately formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall—"
"Everything's ready. Now enjoy the pain!"
Before the jutsu could be completed, Hidan suddenly pulled out a massive iron spike and stabbed it through his own palm.
Zabuza's hand seals collapsed instantly as a bloody hole appeared in his own palm at the same moment.
"How is this possible!?"
Zabuza stared in disbelief, his heart sinking.
He understood now.
This wasn't ninjutsu—it was a curse.
An immortal body paired with damage reflection, activated after meeting specific conditions.
"Lord Zabuza!"
Seeing him wounded, Haku could no longer remain still.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared behind Hidan instantly, senbon flashing toward Hidan's back.
Hidan didn't dodge.
Instead, he laughed wildly and slammed his forehead toward the incoming needle.
"Hahaha! Perfect timing!"
At the last moment, sensing danger, Haku withdrew most of his strength.
The senbon merely grazed Hidan's cheek.
At the same instant, blood seeped through the bandages covering Zabuza's face in the distance.
"You bastard—release the technique immediately!"
Haku understood everything at once and retreated, abandoning the strike.
Hidan's grin twisted further.
"Hahaha… my curse has no solution!"
"Accept Lord Jashin's blessing! Feel the joy beyond pain when your vital organs are pierced!"
He drove the iron spike into himself again—
straight toward his heart.
Puchi!
The sound of flesh being pierced echoed clearly.
"Lord Zabuza!"
Haku turned sharply.
A bloody hole appeared in Zabuza's chest as well, crimson soaking through his wrappings.
"Stop shouting, little beauty. You're next!"
Hidan pulled the spike free and pointed his scythe toward Haku.
Before he could move—
Zabuza vanished.
In an instant, he appeared before Hidan, pale red chakra flames igniting across his body as he raised the Kubikiribocho.
"I didn't expect my first use of the Boss's power would cost this much."
"You've really embarrassed me."
Hidan's expression mirrored Zabuza's earlier shock.
"You're not dead!?"
Then excitement overtook him.
"You're immortal too! A fellow believer of Lord Jashin!"
The blade fell.
Hidan's arm holding the spike was severed instantly.
At the same time, Zabuza caught his own detached hand and pressed it back against the wound.
Pure yang Nine-Tails chakra surged outward, sealing flesh together as the injury regenerated at visible speed.
"It heals this fast!?"
Hidan stared, stunned—then furious.
"Why do you receive more of Lord Jashin's favor than me!?"
"Lord Jashin? You're an idiot."
Zabuza sneered and retreated quickly.
"Haku. Cut off his limbs. Let's see what he does without them."
His wounds were only stabilized, not fully healed. Continuing combat risked reopening them—and if Haku struck a vital point, Zabuza himself might die first.
"Understood."
Relieved that Zabuza lived, Haku prepared to move.
But Hidan suddenly erupted into madness.
"Impossible! I am Lord Jashin's most devoted believer!"
"You must be lying—die!"
Ignoring everything, he raised his triple-bladed scythe toward his own neck, face, and forehead.
He no longer cared whether he survived.
He only wanted Zabuza dead.
"Stop!"
Haku rushed forward at full speed, aiming senbon at Hidan's joints.
But Hidan anticipated it.
A slight shift avoided the strike, and the blade pressed deeper toward his skin—
Then he froze.
His body refused to move.
"You've done well enough. Let's stop here."
"I don't want two brain-damaged idiots."
Lock's Shadow Clone stood before him, surrounded by dense golden-red chakra.
Nine fox tails unfurled behind him, wrapping around Hidan like living chains and lifting him into the air.
"Lord Lock has acted!"
Haku stepped back, finally at ease.
Zabuza lowered his head, unwilling but silent.
"That chakra…!"
"That overwhelming malice…!"
"That terrifying presence… like returning to a mother's embrace!"
Hidan's eyes widened in ecstasy.
"Lord Jashin! You are Lord Jashin himself!"
The fanaticism on his face intensified until his entire body trembled.
The chakra Lock had previously given Zabuza was purified and restrained.
But now—
Lock released the true nature of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Violent.
Malicious.
Destructive.
A killing intent that seemed to hate the entire world.
It matched perfectly with the twisted god Hidan worshipped.
"Very good," Lock said calmly. "My loyal believer. Do not reject my gift."
He intentionally released his aura fully for the first time.
Malice accumulated over countless memories surged outward without restraint.
"A gift!"
Hidan instantly opened his arms, dropping his weapon, completely defenseless.
Lock did not hesitate.
Six fox tails pierced into Hidan's body like spears.
Pure, primal chakra flooded into him.
"Ah—HAHA! Incredible! This power! This pain!"
"Pleasure! Such pleasure!"
Hidan screamed and laughed simultaneously as his flesh burned and regenerated over and over.
When the chakra stabilized, Lock reattached Hidan's severed arm and lowered him to the ground.
"From now on," Lock said calmly, "you work for me."
Hidan's expression became utterly reverent.
He dropped to his knees and kissed Lock's boots with worshipful devotion.
"Great Lord Jashin… your faithful servant awaits your command!"
Zabuza and Haku exchanged silent looks.
Fanatics were terrifying.
And their boss—who could turn lunatics into followers so effortlessly—was even more terrifying.
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