Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Hidan raised his Triple-Bladed Scythe high overhead, a bright grin spreading across his face like a child who had just found a new toy.

Then he brought it crashing down toward Kakashi.

The next moment—

Crack!

A flash of red and blue lightning exploded across the battlefield.

The massive scythe froze in midair.

A chakra blade crackling with lightning had intercepted it, preventing it from descending even another inch.

Sasuke had already moved.

Eager for battle, he drew his sword and struck first.

The White Fang blade slid perfectly into the gap between the scythe's blades, locking it firmly in place.

What incredible strength...

Sasuke's brows furrowed.

Holding the sword with both hands, he could feel the overwhelming force transmitted through the weapon.

Even so—

Perfect.

With Sage Mode enhancing his body, he managed to barely hold his ground.

Hidan stared at him in surprise.

"Huh?"

"You want to die first?"

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun within Sasuke's eyes.

Dark markings around his eyes revealed that Sage Mode was active.

Only with both Sage Mode and Lightning Release enhancement was he able to match Hidan's raw power.

Every subtle movement was visible through the Sharingan.

The surprise.

The contempt.

The casual one-handed grip Hidan maintained on the massive scythe.

Nothing escaped Sasuke's gaze.

"A Sharingan?"

Kakuzu narrowed his eyes.

"Looks a little different."

Until now, he had barely paid attention to the black-haired boy.

But now he noticed something.

He resembles Itachi.

Very much so.

Sasuke caught Hidan's dismissive attitude immediately.

A plan formed in his mind.

He smirked.

"You?"

The contempt in his voice was obvious.

Hidan's eye twitched.

"Brat."

"Don't get cocky."

"Let's see how long you can hold that pose!"

Exactly as expected.

Hidan took the bait.

Roaring, he poured even more strength into the downward swing.

He intended to crush Sasuke outright through sheer force.

The Sharingan instantly caught the shift in his muscles.

Sasuke moved.

Instead of continuing to block, he abruptly withdrew his blade.

The White Fang slipped free.

Meanwhile, Hidan was still exerting maximum force.

The sudden loss of resistance threw off his balance completely.

His body pitched forward.

Damn it!

This little bastard did that on purpose!

Sasuke stepped aside.

Lightning erupted from the White Fang.

Using Hidan's opening, he drove the blade toward his back.

Yet Hidan's reflexes were no joke.

Even off-balance, he reacted.

His free arm twisted backward and clamped around Sasuke's wrist.

The attack stopped inches from its target.

"Heh!"

"Got you!"

Hidan grinned savagely.

"Let's see how long that arm stays attached—"

Then his expression changed.

"Wait."

"Ow!"

"Ow, ow, OW!"

The Lightning Release chakra coating the White Fang intensified dramatically.

A blade of pure lightning extended from the sword's tip.

The searing edge pushed closer and closer to Hidan's body.

The intense heat charred flesh instantly.

"Damn it!"

"It hurts!"

"My arm's numb!"

"Hey!"

"Kakuzu!"

"A little help here!"

"Die."

Sasuke's eyes flashed.

The lightning blade pierced straight through Hidan's chest.

"GAAH!"

Hidan screamed.

The blade tore through his heart.

His body collapsed onto the ground.

Sasuke calmly pulled his sword free.

"So this is the Akatsuki?"

He looked utterly unimpressed.

"Pathetic."

"Not even enough for a warm-up."

Then he pointed the White Fang toward Kakuzu.

"Your turn?"

"That idiot..."

Even Kakuzu couldn't help feeling exasperated.

This wasn't the first time.

When they'd first met, Hidan had practically stood still and allowed himself to be punched through the chest.

If not for his bizarre ability, Kakuzu would've abandoned him long ago.

How can anyone be this careless?

Nearby, Mei was staring in disbelief.

This was the first time she had truly seen Sasuke fight.

Impossible...

She had assumed Naruto's generation was roughly comparable to Kirigakure's younger shinobi.

Perhaps a bit more talented.

But still comparable.

Now she wasn't so sure.

Even Chōjūrō, the most promising young ninja in Kirigakure, seemed completely outclassed.

And Chōjūrō was older.

What kind of monster is this kid?

Especially considering how naturally Sasuke wielded the blade.

His fundamentals clearly hadn't been built overnight.

"Now then."

Sasuke shifted his stance.

"Are you next?"

"Wait!"

Hinata's warning suddenly rang out.

"Sasuke-kun!"

"He's not dead!"

Sasuke's eyes widened.

Through the Byakugan, Hinata had been observing the entire battle.

From the moment Hidan fell until now—

His chakra hadn't weakened at all.

Not even slightly.

The moment he was exposed, Hidan abandoned any thought of a sneak attack.

A black metal spike appeared in his hand.

"Hehehe!"

"Die!"

The spike shot upward toward Sasuke's face.

Thanks to Hinata's warning and the Sharingan's incredible perception, Sasuke saw the attack immediately.

But avoiding it completely was impossible.

Then don't avoid it.

His decision was instantaneous.

Protect the vital points.

Take his head.

Sasuke turned.

The White Fang, wrapped in crackling lightning, swung toward Hidan's neck.

At the same time, his free hand moved to intercept the incoming spike.

An exchange of injuries.

Blood splattered.

The black spike pierced straight through Sasuke's palm.

But using Sage Mode's enhanced strength, he forced it off course.

His eyes never left Hidan.

The White Fang descended.

Then—

A hand landed on his shoulder.

Flying Thunder God.

Naruto appeared behind him.

The instant contact was made, both disappeared.

"Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work!"

At that exact moment, Kakuzu completed his hand seals.

A masked creature emerged from his back.

It spat out a tiny fireball.

The moment it touched the ground—

It exploded.

A sea of flames erupted across the battlefield.

The inferno surged outward, threatening to engulf both the Konoha team and Hidan alike.

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