Chapter 83: The Perfect Combination Solves the First Problem
Deep within a forest filled with dead trees, two figures moved slowly along a narrow path.
Their black cloaks patterned with red clouds revealed their identities immediately.
They were members of the Akatsuki.
Kakuzu and Hidan.
The two walked toward the direction of Konoha.
For once, neither of them spoke.
Even Hidan, who normally talked endlessly, remained silent.
Both of them had already sensed something unusual in the air.
The Ambush
As they passed a dead tree so wide that ten people could not wrap their arms around it—
A shadow suddenly stretched across the ground like a black serpent.
It whipped toward their backs.
Just before reaching them, the shadow split into two sharp tendrils and stabbed forward.
Whoosh!
The moment the attack was about to land—
Both Kakuzu and Hidan leapt upward.
But the trap had only begun.
From the branches above, two kunai wrapped with explosive tags shot downward toward the spot where they would land.
"Explosive tags—!"
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted.
Flames and smoke engulfed the area.
The shockwave blasted Hidan away.
Even worse, the chain connecting his triple-bladed scythe shattered under the force of the explosion.
In an instant—
Hidan lost his weapon.
Before he could react, the shadows on the ground spread again, chasing after him.
Kakuzu, however, was far more resilient.
His Earth Release hardening technique protected him from the blast.
As he leapt out of the smoke, his sharp eyes immediately searched for the enemy.
Then he saw it.
Standing high on a tree branch was Shikamaru Nara.
In his hands were two chakra blades—chakra transmission weapons once belonging to Asuma.
Attached to them were explosive tags.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes.
"So that's your plan…"
Shikamaru smiled coldly.
"Yes."
"These chakra blades are the only relic my teacher left me."
The Trap
The moment the blades flew toward Kakuzu and Hidan—
Both Akatsuki members instinctively dodged.
But the instant they moved—
Their expressions froze.
Kakuzu realized it immediately.
"Chakra transmission…!"
"This brat used the chakra blades to extend the Shadow Possession Technique!"
The shadows connected.
Shikamaru's shadow bound Hidan.
Even Kakuzu had to admit the brilliance of the strategy.
"The Nara clan… troublesome people."
Then suddenly—
A voice rang out from another treetop.
"Shikamaru!"
"Watch the ground beneath that man!"
The voice belonged to Hinata Hyuga.
Her Byakugan had already seen through Kakuzu's hidden movements.
Kakuzu glanced toward her direction.
"The Byakugan of the Hyuga clan…"
But before he could react further—
Two blades flashed.
Slash!
Hidan screamed.
"AAARGH—!"
Two severed arms spun through the air.
His forearms had been cut off cleanly.
The one who struck was none other than Ryuzen.
Kakuzu's eyes darkened.
"So that's it."
"You created this plan based on what you learned during our last fight."
Then he looked directly at Shikamaru.
"I'll remember your name."
"You're a dangerous kid."
The Capture
Shikamaru ignored the comment.
"Ino! Choji!"
"Now!"
Two figures burst forward instantly.
Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi.
They grabbed Hidan's severed arms from the ground.
Then signaled that the task was complete.
"Withdraw!"
Shikamaru immediately gave the order.
He landed in front of Hidan.
Their shadows were still connected.
Shikamaru smiled.
"Let's play a little race."
Then he ran.
Hidan's body followed automatically under the control of the Shadow Possession Technique.
Ino and Choji chased after them.
Shikamaru's true battlefield was elsewhere.
Kakuzu vs Ryuzen
Kakuzu's expression changed.
He attempted to chase after them—
But suddenly—
A hand emerged from the ground.
It pulled the chakra blade from Kakuzu's shadow.
Before Kakuzu could move—
A massive sword slash roared toward him.
The blade energy stretched nearly seven meters, cutting through the forest like a raging wave.
Kakuzu immediately abandoned the idea of rescuing Hidan.
The attacker stood before him.
Silver hair.
A sword in hand.
"Ryuzen."
From nearby, Shino Aburame's voice called out.
He threw Hidan's scythe toward Ryuzen.
The sword in Ryuzen's hand suddenly turned black.
He swung it several times.
Clang! Clang!
The triple-bladed scythe shattered into pieces before it even reached him.
Fragments of metal scattered across the ground.
Ryuzen calmly lowered his sword.
"Hinata. Shino."
"Go support Shikamaru."
Both of them responded immediately.
"Yes!"
They disappeared into the forest.
Soon—
Only two figures remained.
Ryuzen.
And Kakuzu.
Kakuzu stared at him carefully.
"Silver hair… swordsmanship… Konoha forehead protector…"
"You remind me of someone."
"The once-famous Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha."
"But he's been dead for years."
"And his son didn't inherit that sword style."
Then Kakuzu's gaze sharpened.
"You must be the one Zetsu and Kisame mentioned."
"Ryuzen."
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