Shikamaru was silent for a moment. After collecting his thoughts, he began to speak:
"Among them, the loudmouth with the necklace around his neck is named Hidan. He uses a red scythe to extract blood—and his ability is immortality. Even if you cut off his head, he doesn't die."
"Asuma-sensei once decapitated him, but his head hit the ground and still kept talking. Later, his teammate reattached it, and he just got up and kept fighting like nothing happened."
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the group. They had known members of the Akatsuki were strong—but to hear that some of them were literally unkillable?
"What?! Are you sure that's not just genjutsu?" someone shouted in disbelief. An ability like that sounded impossible.
Shikamaru nodded firmly, his voice heavy with certainty.
"It's definitely not genjutsu. And there's more—he seems to use some kind of heretical ritual."
"He licks his enemy's blood and draws a symbol of Jashinism on the ground. Then, he injures himself, and whatever damage he does to himself is inflicted on his target. That's how Asuma-sensei died."
"So when fighting him, the most important thing is—don't let him get your blood."
"If you're accidentally wounded, wash it off immediately using Water Release if you can. Or force him out of the ritual zone. But whatever you do, don't try to kill him directly."
Not only had Shikamaru figured out their enemy's ability, he'd already come up with countermeasures. He'd been thinking the entire way over here—there was no way he'd arrive empty-handed.
Kakashi frowned deeply, a mix of concern and vigilance flickering in his eyes. He exhaled softly and murmured,
"Looks like we're up against some real monsters this time... What about the other one?"
Shikamaru continued, "The other one showed two abilities. One is hardening his body, likely using Earth Release. The second is some kind of thread he can manipulate from his arms to restrain targets."
His tone turned even more serious. It was as if the air around them grew heavier with each word.
"But from interrogating the bounty station owner, I got a crucial piece of intel."
Everyone leaned in, listening intently.
"Kakuzu is a long-liver. He's lived since the end of the Warring States Era, from the very founding of the hidden villages. He's probably over 70 years old—but he shows no signs of aging at all."
Shock overtook the group. Was this really the kind of opponent they had to face? Immortals and ageless monsters with strange, otherworldly powers—it was hard to believe they were even human.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, full of disbelief and gravity. His brow furrowed tighter as he clenched his teeth.
After a long silence, he finally said, "It's almost too much to believe. A long-liver… That means we're not just dealing with power. We're dealing with centuries of experience, secrets, and techniques lost to time."
His fingers reached up and touched his forehead protector, as if trying to draw strength from it—perhaps searching his mind for a strategy to face this kind of enemy.
Naruto, meanwhile, trembled with rage and frustration. His eyes burned red, his fists clenched so hard they creaked.
"Damn it! No wonder they're so hard to beat if one's immortal and the other's lived for ages! But I don't care—I will avenge Asuma-sensei!"
His whole body shook, but his fighting spirit burned brighter than ever.
He looked at Shikamaru, eyes full of determination, as if to say he was ready—no matter the cost.
The others murmured to each other, concern etched across their faces. Ever the pessimist, Omoi sighed.
"What are we supposed to do…? A long-liver and an immortal? How do you even fight that?"
But someone else gritted their teeth and said, "Doesn't matter how hard it is. We have to fight. We can't let them get away with this."
Utakata added with firm resolve, "No matter how strong the enemy is, I'll give everything I've got."
This wasn't just about redemption—it was about protecting what he still had. Even if it was for himself alone, he would fight with everything.
Shikamaru took a deep breath and spoke again.
"Everyone, stay calm. Now that we know what we're up against, I've already come up with a counter-plan."
"We need to stick together and play to our strengths. If we do that, we can beat them."
He'd deliberately built up their fear to this moment—so they'd be willing to trust his leadership and fight for Asuma-sensei's sake.
The group quieted down, gradually regaining composure and turning their full attention to Shikamaru's strategy.
Kakashi's eyes grew thoughtful as he listened, running through every step in his head, nodding from time to time in approval.
By the time Shikamaru finished outlining the plan, everyone looked impressed—it was airtight.
Every possible scenario had been accounted for, and the roles were clearly assigned. The strategy leveraged the specialties of each village's ninja to maximum effect.
The despair that had hung over the team began to lift. Spirits rose. Resolve returned.
"Alright! Let's do it just like you said!" someone shouted. The rest quickly followed with shouts of agreement.
Kakashi watched as the group regained their fighting spirit and gave a silent nod. As expected of Shikaku's son…
But he still gave one final reminder. "Everyone, be extremely cautious. These enemies are unlike anything we've faced before. A single mistake could be fatal."
Naruto nodded fiercely. "Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei! I'll be careful. I will make them pay for what they did to Asuma-sensei!"
Chōjūrō glanced at Naruto—his "Miss Naruko"—and thought to himself how loyal and passionate she was. A truly rare and admirable girl. He stepped forward as well.
"I'll do my best to carry out the mission."
Shikamaru looked over the group and said,
"Alright, it's time to move out. Everyone, take your positions as planned. Get ready for a hard fight."
"If our predictions are right, the enemy's already on their way here. We've stalled them long enough."
With that, he led the way to his designated post. The others scattered quickly, falling into position.
A tense atmosphere filled the air. Everyone was ready to face the Akatsuki's terrifying duo.
...
High above in the sky, Hyuga Gakuya was also listening in on Nara Shikamaru's plan through his surveillance. He nodded occasionally.
"Not bad… Not bad at all. You've lived up to the intel I provided, Nara Shikamaru."
The so-called "Immortal Duo" were never truly unbeatable. It was always a matter of having the right information. And now that gap had been closed—by Shikamaru, no less. The team had been equipped with a first-class strategist.
This time, the immortal pair would not be returning.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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