Naruto : Shadow King

[Land of Hot Waters]

Both Kimimaro and Guren after a short burst but intense fighting subdue Hidan and just as planned, were able to completely trap the immortal inside Guren's Crystal.

Hidan by no means was dead, even when his breathing was completely stopped inside the crystal, he would live.

"Are you sure you can't kill him by just shattering the crystal, like you usually do ?" Kimimaro asked. Knowing fully well that it will be hard to kill Hidan for others but not for Guren.

"I can try, but there is a possibility that he will live and try to run away. Since we still have his partner on loose, let's wait.

At least this way, we don't have to worry about him running away, even with that bounty hunter here, he can't remove my crystal." Guren replied.

"Hmm…" Kimimaro just waved at this, not intending to talk further about this anymore. Both of them were still in shock at how they where able to pull off this mission. It was clear that Hidan was strong, but they were able to capture him pretty easily, just because they had enough information about him thanks to Shika and set up a trap for both Akatsuki members.

"Clap clap…,"This was when claps were heard, both of them tensed and saw a man who was wearing the same black coat with red clouds printed on it like Hidan walking towards them while clapping.

"I didn't expect anyone to capture that loud mouth this easily. You both don't even look injured. I'm impressed." Kakazu said as he walked towards them.

He felt that it was taking slightly longer for the procedures in the black market than usual today, but didn't think too much about it.

But, he was wrong, Hidan was gone by the time he came out from the black market area, he had to track him down and upon coming here, what did he see?

Two shinobi hid their identity behind those strange marks, wearing black coats like the Akatsuki members while the only difference between them was the lack of red clouds, in their place, there were different designs like bamboo and crystals in their coats.

"Tell me, who hired you ?" Kakuzu asked, according to him, no shinobi affiliated with any of the villages, even the minor once, dressed like that.

So, the only logical answer in this case is that they were hired Shinobi much like him. The fact, that they were coming out of the black market solidifies this suspicion.

Of course, if that were the case then this also means that they are not gonna tell their client's name, that is confidential info, which even Kakuzu himself won't reveal, had a reputation to maintain after all.

"What does it matter, you will get to know if you can get out of here alive by interrogating that black market clerk anyway, of course, that only if you can live here alive…" Guren smirked seeing how was there.

It's not like they weren't expecting Kakuzu and after fighting Hidan, they believed in Shika's information even more.

This ultimately was the source of their confidence.

"Seems like you know about me and my partner's capabilities. This further makes me question who are you both ?" Kakazu was old, almost as old as Konoha itself.

All that experience comes with a really powerful insight into people and how they behave, by only seeing how they were behaving, it was clear to him that its either they were overconfident about their strengths or did not have enough knowledge about both his and Hidan's capabilities to act like that.

He doubts that it's formal, upon seeing Hidan being captured in less than 10 minutes of him gone, so the latter only makes sense.

"You don't need to know, for the time being, knowing only this much that we are enemies is enough…" This time it was Kimimaro who said this before Guren opened her mouth.

Telling about their organization to Hidan was okay, both he and Guren were confident that they could capture him, but the same can't be said for Kakuzu.

In case, if he runs away, it will be better that Kakuzu don't know about Yuguure.

And thus, with that said, he was already charging towards Kakuzu.

Kakuzu was ready to defend but that was a decoy, Kakuzu wasn't able to see Guren's hands glowing as crystal shards began to form around her.

Only when Kimimaro was close to Kakuzu that he move away, revealing the hidden attack coming at him.

Kakuzu's years of honed instincts were no joke, he dodged the attack by hair's length.

Kimimaro unsheathed his bones, his voice was cold and steady.

"Willow Dance…" Kimimaro muttered and started targeting Kakuzu's vitals, pushing him back.

Kakuzu made the first move, releasing threads from his body and sending a storm of black tendrils toward them. Kimimaro leapt forward, his bones acting as both shield and spear, slicing through the threads with precision. Guren followed, summoning a barrage of crystal shards that rained down on Kakuzu.

Kakuzu's body twisted unnaturally, dodging most of the shards while the few that hit him ricocheted harmlessly off his hardened skin.

He countered by releasing of his masks—a massive fireball exploded toward them.

"Crystal Shield!" Guren yelled, erecting a shimmering barrier of crystals that absorbed the brunt of the attack.

'Seems like Shika's info was spot on here as well.." both Kimimaro and Guren exchange a knowing glance as they move.

They form all their plans around Shika's Information, though there always remains on-the-go improvisation in case the info doesn't hold up, but that isn't as good as what they come up with to deal with someone like Kakuzu.

Fortunately, it didn't come to that, everything that Shika told them outside some minor things was spot on.

And thus, their plan was still in effect. Kimimaro stayed close to Kakuzu, holding him back while Guren went after those masks.

As for the numbers issues which they had to deal with after Kakuzu separated from those masks of his.

*BOOM….

 An explosion rang out, and the ground started to blast off, then explosion was so powerful that it took out two out of the five masks instantly. The blast was so powerful that it completely upturned the ground from where they were, destroying around 20 or metres of area.

"What!" Kakuzu shouted, in surprise. Just how many exploding seals these two use. Remind him of a certain rich lady in their organization.

That was two of his hearts gone just like that, he was expecting some traps but why did they have a larger-scale attack like that prepared.

'They know even about my masked and hearts….' Kakuzu's calm look finally faltered.

"Tch, we only got two…" Guren though wasn't happy, those were hundred-plus explosive seals, it could take a considerable amount of money to make them.

They had that many becuase their boss just happened to be rich and a seal master.

"Sigh, can't do anything about it, just quickly handle them." Kimimaro just shook his head and left the three masks to Guren.

Though the masks were strong, but nothing in comparison to real Kakuzu. Another part why Kimimaro wanted to fight Kakuzu himself was becuase he didn't have a cloning jutsu in his arsenal, while Guren could use clones and handle those masked.

The next second, another fight broke out, Kimimaro with enough knowledge about Kakuzu was no inferior to him. In fact, he was holding back a trump card of his own if it comes to that.

The fight was hard and brutal, but slowly Kakuzu was getting pushed back. After all, using his hearts and separating them also needs his own chakra.

He might be strong and have tons of chakra but how long he can keep this going against both Guren and Kimimaro.

Even Kakuzu knew that he couldn't win. They were not only strong but were also fully prepared for him.

Thus, he had no other option but to leave Hidan and run away for the time being.

But of course, both Kimimaor and Guren weren't ready to let that happen.

—-

[Land Of Fire]

"Oi, Teme stop running away damnit…" Naruto shouted.

"Why are we running away ?" Jugo asked in confusion as he followed Sasuke who seemed to be running away from two Konoha Ninjas. They knew Sasuke, it was apparent.

"Tch, that idiot… and what Sakura is doing here, I'm just glad that Kakashi is not with them…" Sasuke can't help but mutter with irritation and run away from both Naruto and Sakura.

He was fast, fast enough to outrun them, but Jugo wasn't. Jugo was more of a muscle kind of guy, speed wasn't his forte.

"Should I tell this to Shika ?" Jugo asked as he took out a familiar-looking scroll which Shika gave them all so they could contact the headquarters.

"No, don't tell him that we are here in Land of Fire…" Sasuke hastily stopped Jugo, not planning for Shika to know this.

"If Shika knew then he would most likely stop me from going after Itachi alone…" Sasuke grumbled.

"Just get out of here, can't you run faster ?" Sasuke grumbled and saw Naruto catching up.

xxx

[Word Count: 1546]

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