When upgrading to the Eternal Mangekyō, Hidan chose to inherit both of Shisui's abilities as well as manifesting his own Susanoo.
However, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was never something as simple as combining two eye abilities. Upon advancement, all four abilities were greatly enhanced.
The control duration of Kotoamatsukami skyrocketed as well — and with that boost, Hidan had been researching nonstop, eventually developing an "eternal-type" control genjutsu similar to Tsukuyomi.
He called this illusion "Pseudo-Eternal Infinite Kotoamatsukami."
Although it had many flaws, it was perfectly suited for beings whose spiritual strength wasn't overwhelming — specifically, chakra-based entities like the Nine-Tails.
The cost of using this technique was immense. Even with Hidan's now colossal chakra reserves, genjutsu like this consumed not only chakra but also a terrifying amount of mental energy. He could only use it on a being of the Nine-Tails' level.
Even so, Hidan was satisfied. After casting it, he no longer needed to constantly supply chakra to maintain control — the Nine-Tails would remain bound indefinitely, unless someone far stronger dispelled it…
After everything was completed, Hidan's spiritual projection faded from the sealed space.
From today onward—
Konoha's 10,000-year eternal dead-last was gone.
In his place stood a terrifying Nine-Tails Jinchūriki — Naruto Uzumaki.
Outside, Hidan returned to his senses, and Naruto awoke from the genjutsu at the same time.
"Referee, I forfeit!"
Hidan shouted loudly, putting on a weak, exhausted expression as if all his chakra had been drained.
In truth, while his chakra recovered quickly, the mental exhaustion didn't.
Genma Shiranui glanced at Hidan in genuine surprise, puzzled why he would give up.
"Naruto Uzumaki, wins!"
Despite the confusion in his heart, Genma still announced the result.
"You… what exactly did you do?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as he watched Hidan walk away, sinking deep into thought.
Even the "Fourth Kazekage" sitting beside him was confused — Hidan never attacked the Nine-Tails at all.
He could still sense the Five-Element Seal he had placed on Naruto. It hadn't been undone.
So what exactly had Hidan done?
His interest in Hidan only grew stronger…
─
The matches continued at a steady pace. Kankurō forfeited against Shino to preserve his strength. During Temari vs. Shikamaru, Shikamaru surrendered due to chakra exhaustion.
As for the original trio of Otogakure — only one reached the finals, but because he wanted to prove himself to Orochimaru, he challenged Gaara in private.
He was instantly crushed to death.
Which meant the audience skipped straight to the most anticipated showdown—
Sunagakure's Gaara vs. Uchiha Sasuke!
A duel between the geniuses of two villages always drew enormous attention. Even the daimyōs watching the event had placed massive bets.
A few idiots had even tried to threaten Gaara beforehand.
They were swallowed by cold sand.
Because Sasuke had learned plenty of powerful ninjutsu from Hidan, he didn't undergo Kakashi's special training before the finals. Kakashi only temporarily sealed Orochimaru's Curse Mark.
"Don't disappoint me… Sasuke."
Hidan murmured as he returned to the stands, eyes fixed on the two combatants below.
He was very eager to accelerate Orochimaru's Konoha Crush plan — but that depended entirely on Sasuke's performance.
Above, in the highest spectator box, the "Fourth Kazekage" finally revealed his long-held anticipation. His gaze was glued to Sasuke, unable to look away for even a second.
This perfect vessel he had been waiting for… Sasuke's performance in the Forest of Death had already exceeded all expectations.
The stronger Sasuke became, the more delighted he felt. This body… would eventually be his.
At last, Genma gave the signal.
Sasuke exploded forward, his speed already faster than Rock Lee's when opening the Eight Gates.
Gaara reacted immediately. The sand beside him surged and formed sand clones that lunged at Sasuke.
Each sand clone carried crushing power — but Sasuke was even more ferocious. He weaved through them, dodging effortlessly, and shattered each clone with a single punch.
In the blink of an eye, Sasuke appeared directly in front of Gaara. The air shook with the force of his fist.
Gaara showed no fear. Even if Rock Lee had broken through his defense once, Gaara still trusted his sand armor completely.
A thick sand curtain formed in front of him just as Sasuke's punch was about to land.
But Sasuke's left foot shifted sharply — the incoming punch halted mid-strike.
He slipped sideways, appearing instantly behind Gaara.
A pair of scarlet, three-tomoe Sharingan glared directly at Gaara's exposed back.
BOOM!
Sasuke's fist slammed into Gaara's face, blasting him backward. Only a cushion of sand saved Gaara from tumbling violently.
Crack… crack…
Gaara's face split like fractured ceramic — his sand armor shattered just from that punch.
Sasuke didn't hesitate for even a second. Hidan had taught him well: when attacking an enemy, you never give them space.
No hesitation.
No speeches.
No mercy.
Either kill them — or completely destroy them.
Hidan found it ironic. Battles in the shinobi world always started well, then suddenly devolved into 'talk-no-jutsu.' Absolutely ridiculous.
Naruto was the worst offender — beating enemies senseless with speeches, forcing Nagato, Obito, and others to repent.
Hidan only had one reaction:
If you can be convinced that easily, why were you causing trouble in the first place?!
Sasuke had inherited Hidan's true teachings. If he could strike, he never wasted breath.
His hands blurred into seals. Chakra roared from his lungs.
"Fire Style — Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing fireball erupted from Sasuke's mouth and roared toward the fallen Gaara at terrifying speed.
"Hahaha… I really didn't misjudge you, Sasuke Uchiha!"
As the massive fireball roared in, Gaara didn't show the slightest fear—instead he burst into hysterical laughter.
Because he realized it.
Uchiha Sasuke was just like him.
A killer without hesitation.
A boy who didn't know why he existed.
The sand surged, rapidly forming a towering shield wall in front of him. In the next instant, the fireball collided violently against it. Under the extreme heat, the sand began to crystallize.
A gleaming glass wall now stood on the field, protecting Gaara from the flames.
But just as he exhaled in relief—
A sharp, piercing birdsong shrieked across the arena.
Gaara's expression twisted. Instinctively, he wrapped himself in the remaining sand, compressing it into a tightened sphere—his so-called Absolute Defense.
Unfortunately, Gaara was still far too young. What he believed was "absolute" had never truly been absolute.
"Chidori."
Sasuke's left hand crackled with pale blue lightning. Under Chidori's stimulation, his muscles and nerves fired at maximum output, his speed skyrocketing instantly.
In a heartbeat, Sasuke drove the Chidori straight into Gaara's so-called Absolute Defense.
Crack…
Inside the pitch-black sand sphere, a faint dripping sound echoed—blood falling onto dirt.
Sasuke's lightning-clad hand had pierced through Gaara's last line of defense.
"Blood… my blood… it's my blood! Yesss!"
Gaara's hoarse, animalistic roar echoed from inside the sphere.
For the first time in his life, the taboo of being wounded had been shattered.
Up in the stands, Kankurō and Temari froze, faces pale with worry. They had never expected Gaara to be pushed this far.
Baki frowned deeply. A sense of dread tightened in his chest.
Gaara was going to lose control. Their plan might have to start early…
On the field, Sasuke stared coldly at the trembling sphere.
He could still feel Gaara's life force pulsing strongly within.
Gaara had dodged the killing strike at the last moment. The Chidori that should've pierced his heart was redirected by sand—piercing only his shoulder.
But Sasuke—trained under Hidan's philosophy—would never stop just because of that.
If he couldn't kill him, then he'd destroy him.
Sasuke gathered chakra again, lightning bursting violently from his left hand.
"Chidori Sharp Spear!"
A needle-thin pillar of lightning shot cleanly through the sand sphere.
A hoarse scream tore out from Gaara, dripping with murderous hatred.
In the stands, Hidan smirked with satisfaction.
Decisive killing intent. No hesitation.
A good seedling indeed.
The "Fourth Kazekage" watched Sasuke with burning eyes.
Worthy of a perfect vessel.
Under the veil, a long tongue slid unconsciously across dry lips.
"Gaara!"
"Gaara~!"
Temari and Kankurō shouted helplessly, eyes trembling.
They never imagined Gaara would be overwhelmed so completely. Even injured.
If Gaara lost control now… everything would change.
And sure enough—
Sasuke suddenly felt something wrong on his left hand.
What wrapped around his wrist didn't feel like sand…but like the freezing, deathly grip of a demon.
But Sasuke, tormented by countless nightmare sessions under Hidan, had long forged a mind like steel.
As long as Uchiha Itachi remained alive—Sasuke's hatred was more than enough to carry him through hell.
Lightning surged once more. He tore his arm out of the sphere.
This time, nothing inside tried to stop him.
Something simply stared at him through the hole he had pierced.
"Wh—what…?!"
For the first time, even Sasuke's breath hitched.
Through the Sharingan's clarity, he saw that Gaara inside the sphere…
was no longer human.
"ROAR!"
A monstrous roar erupted from within, shaking the sky itself.
"No...stop it right now!"
Baki shouted from the shadows.
Gaara had lost control far too quickly!
Temari and Kankurō stood frozen in terror. They knew this form.
In that form, Gaara was a murder machine.
Anything that approached him would be slaughtered without hesitation.
"It's finally starting."
Hidan clasped his hands behind his head, grinning.
"Since Gaara's already gone berserk, Orochimaru should be getting impatient."
Right on cue—
A disguised Anbu operative subtly cast a genjutsu over the stands.
In an instant, every civilian and daimyo collapsed unconscious.
Outside Konoha, a colossal three-headed serpent smashed through the village walls and charged inside.
Countless Sound and Sand shinobi surged behind it, clashing violently with Konoha forces.
Death and disaster erupted across the village.
Above the stands, the "Fourth Kazekage" suddenly struck at the Third Hokage, pinning him with kunai in an instant.
Everything happened in a heartbeat.
And on the battlefield—
Crack… crack…
The sand sphere began splitting apart.
A massive arm tore through the surface.
The arm was sandy-yellow, carved with sinister markings.
The giant hand slammed down, shaking the entire arena.
"What… what kind of monster is that?"
Standing before it, Sasuke felt suffocating pressure.
The cold, malignant chakra overwhelmed his senses, stirring fear deep in his chest.
"That's beyond your paygrade."
Hidan's mocking voice came from behind.
Sasuke glanced back, calming slightly in his presence.
"What is it?"
Hidan grinned while licking his lips.
"Tailed Beast.
The weakest one… Shukaku."
He waved lazily.
Sasuke could leave now.
Gaara's debt was his to settle.
He hadn't let loose in a long while.
Time to enjoy a real fight.
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