"Even though you are already the Kazekage, you still can't slack off. Because I'm definitely going to become Hokage one day!" Naruto grinned with complete confidence.
"I believe you will. When that day comes, I will congratulate you as the Kazekage." Gaara returned the smile.
"Speaking of that day, I actually have a plan. Gaara, I might need your support in the future." Naruto's tone grew serious.
"As long as it is you who asks, whatever it is, even if it costs me my life, I will help you." Gaara responded with the same earnest sincerity.
"Thanks." Seeing the unwavering determination in Gaara's eyes, Naruto laughed brightly.
Just as expected from someone who shared the same path as him, a true brother.
Suddenly, Naruto's expression shifted. "I need to go. Something came up!"
And in the next heartbeat, his figure vanished completely.
Gaara blinked, staring at the empty space where Naruto's hand had been. For a moment, he looked almost lost.
"That was the Flying Thunder God Technique." Kakashi stepped forward, his expression turning grave.
"For Naruto to leave using the Flying Thunder God, something serious must have happened." Kakashi frowned deeply.
What could force Naruto to disappear so abruptly? Did something happen back in the village?
"We need to return to the Hidden Leaf, Kakashi!" Sasuke urged. He didn't know what happened, but he knew it wasn't a small matter.
Hinata also looked anxious.
"Alright. Kazekage, our mission is complete. We will return now." Kakashi nodded toward Gaara.
Gaara nodded back, watching the three leave swiftly toward the Leaf.
While Naruto's team rescued Gaara, another battle was already unfolding.
Asuma's squad had just arrived at the Fire Temple.
Using the traces left behind by Hidan and Kakuzu, Kiba tracked their scent relentlessly. After pushing themselves to the limit, they finally caught up just as the two criminals were stepping out of the Land of Fire.
Seeing Kakuzu carrying a large box and Hidan dragging the unconscious monk, the Leaf shinobi's expressions hardened instantly.
Shikamaru and the others had been instructed by Asuma to hide and not participate in the battle.
"Hahahahaha!" Hidan burst into manic laughter the moment he saw them. "Lucky day, Kakuzu! A pack of Leaf elite jonin walked right into us. Perfect. Their blood will please the deity!"
Kakuzu's cold eyes locked onto Asuma, filled with greed. "Quit talking. Finish this quickly. But leave that man's head to me. He's worth thirty-five million ryo on the black market, more expensive than that monk."
Hidan waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Greedy old freak. Strong sacrifices make the ritual more fun anyway. Hey, you, the guy with the cigarette. And you, the pretty lady. You two will be my offerings!"
Kurenai felt the chaotic, sinister chakra swirling around Hidan and lowered her voice. "Asuma, be careful. His chakra is extremely unstable."
"I know." Asuma lifted his chakra blades, the faint glow of the Wind Release sharpening their edges. The cigarette between his lips burned with a tiny spark. "There's no point reasoning with maniacs like him. Kurenai, back me up."
He said nothing more. He attacked first.
Asuma hurled several shuriken and quickly formed hand seals. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
The few shuriken multiplied into dozens, filling the air as they rained toward Hidan.
"Tch!" Hidan swung his giant scythe and deflected them with wild, sweeping arcs.
"Kurenai, Guy. You handle the green-eyed one for now. Once Kurenai and I finish off this guy, we'll join you!" Asuma called out decisively.
"No problem! Leave him to me!" Guy flashed his bright smile and charged in.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Guy's spinning kick aimed straight for Kakuzu's head.
Kakuzu didn't even flinch. He simply raised his arm, blocking the attack with eerie calm.
Guy's kick landed, but Kakuzu didn't budge. Not even a tremor.
Guy's expression changed. That wasn't the sensation of hitting a normal arm.
Kakuzu suddenly grabbed Guy's leg and hurled him aside.
Guy flipped midair and landed on his feet, gaze sharpening. That man's taijutsu was no joke.
Meanwhile, Asuma and Kurenai launched a coordinated assault on Hidan.
Kurenai completed her hand seals swiftly. "Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around Hidan's legs.
This was Kurenai's signature genjutsu. Once bound, the opponent would face her finishing strike.
Not everyone was an Uchiha Itachi who could reflect her genjutsu.
Even the Third Hokage once praised her. Her illusions were among the finest in the village.
"Cheap trick!" Hidan snarled. He swung his scythe wildly, cutting apart several of the chakra-infused vines. But more vines sprouted rapidly, their relentless grip throwing off his balance.
"Now!" Asuma surged forward like a hunting predator. "Wind Release: Verdant Gale Strike!"
His chakra blades unleashed a storm of compressed wind, slicing toward the immobilized Hidan. Several wind blades bypassed the scythe, carving deep wounds into his arm and waist.
"Ahhh! Damn it!" Hidan howled, but his twisted grin stretched wider. He licked the blood dripping from his wounds. "Pain is delicious. Perfect for the ritual."
The intense pain snapped him out of Kurenai's illusion.
Seeing an enemy who grew more frenzied the more he bled sent a chill through Asuma and Kurenai.
They didn't know Hidan's secret. They only knew this man was terrifyingly hard to kill.
Whenever Kurenai prepared to finish him with a stronger illusion, Hidan stabbed himself with the metal spike he carried, using the jolt of pain to break her technique.
Kurenai grit her teeth in frustration. No ordinary person could self-inflict pain like this repeatedly.
Anyone else would have died already.
But this man from the Akatsuki… even with so many injuries, he acted like nothing happened.
Did he truly possess immortality?
Realizing her finishing illusions couldn't work against him, she shifted tactics and began using genjutsu to disrupt his senses instead.
Her illusions flickered to distort Hidan's vision and timing while Asuma continued delivering fierce Wind Release attacks.
The battle was only beginning.