novelhk Chapter 102 The Hunt in the Clouds, The Price of Arrogance
Chapter 102 The Hunt in the Clouds, The Price of Arrogance
On the border of the Land of Lightning, in the Cloud Lightning Gorge.
This is one of the most treacherous areas in the ninja world, with towering stone forests that are shrouded in thick cumulonimbus clouds year-round.
For ordinary ninjas, this place is a dead end where they can hardly move an inch.
But for some creatures accustomed to walking in the dark, this is merely the necessary path to the next hunting ground.
Two figures dressed in black robes with red clouds were climbing up the steep cliff, one after the other.
"Hey, Kakuzu, are we there yet?"
The man walking behind carried a huge three-section scythe, his silver slicked-back hair was gleaming, and he wore a cult amulet around his neck.
He complained as he used the handle of his sickle to strike the rock for leverage.
"This godforsaken place doesn't even have a place to pray. If we can't find that Two-Tails Jinchuriki, I'll have to sacrifice you to the evil god!"
The figure in front stopped, and his green eyes turned back to give Hidan a cold glance.
"Shut up, Hidan."
"According to intelligence, the two Yugitos are patrolling around here. If you scare away your prey, I'll cut off your head and use it as a ball."
Hidan retorted with dissatisfaction, "What a stubborn, vulgar old codger."
Just as the two were arguing, the clouds overhead suddenly began to churn violently.
"Are you looking for me?"
A clear, cool female voice echoed through the valley.
"You Akatsuki scum, get your facts straight. Here, I am the hunter, and you are the prey that has come to me."
Before he finished speaking, countless clusters of dark blue flames fell from the clouds like a meteor shower, blocking all of Kakuzu and Hidan's escape routes.
It is the unique rat tail ball ball of the Two-Tailed Fox, and each ball of flame has the dual attributes of tracking and explosion.
The explosions echoed along the narrow mountain path, sending rocks flying and dust billowing everywhere.
Before the smoke and dust had even cleared, a lithe figure swooped down from the sky.
Made of wood.
The proud queen of Kumogakure, a perfect Jinchūriki who can completely control the power of the Tailed Beasts.
Unlike other Jinchuriki who encountered Akatsuki, she did not choose to run away or seek help, but chose the method most in line with the style of Kumogakure.
Take the initiative and hunt down the intruders.
Her hands had changed; her nails had grown long and transformed into incredibly sharp chakra blades.
"Die!"
Using the momentum of falling from a great height, Yugito reached extreme speed, aiming straight for Hidan's throat.
"So fast!"
Hidan's eyes widened in shock, and in his haste, he could only raise his Bloodstained Three-Month Scythe to parry.
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the sky.
Sparks flew into Hidan's face, and the huge impact shattered the rocks beneath his feet, sending him crashing into the rock wall behind him.
"Cough cough..."
Hidan crawled out of the pile of rubble, covered in dust and dirt.
"Ouch... This is amazing!"
Hidan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his face showing not fear, but rather a morbid ecstasy.
"This pain! This killing intent! Woman, you're quite something! You're worthy to be a sacrifice to the evil god!"
The wooden figure landed lightly on top of a stone pillar, one hand on its hip, its long, light brown hair dancing wildly in the wind.
She looked at the disheveled Hidan with disdain in her eyes.
"Is that all they've got? The Akatsuki are nothing special."
Her gaze shifted to Kakuzu on the other side.
The man, whose body was completely covered, was unharmed in the bombing.
He stood on a protruding rock, arms crossed, seemingly not intending to interfere.
"He's very fast and has great explosive power. You need to be careful, Hidan," Kakuzu calmly analyzed.
"Okay, okay! Stop nagging!"
Hidan cracked his neck, picked up his scythe, and walked step by step toward Yugito.
"Since you're so proactive, then I won't hold back. I'll tear your bones apart one by one, so you can experience God's grace in extreme pain!"
"How arrogant!"
Yugito snorted coldly, and his chakra surged once again.
A blue chakra cloak instantly covered his entire body, and two cat tails made of chakra swayed behind him.
Half-Tailed Beast Transformation, activated!
As a Jinchūriki, she can still use some of the power of the Two-Tails, Matatabi.
"In this terrain, I am invincible!"
With her feet on all fours, Hidan leaped swiftly between the steep rock walls like a real cat. She was even faster than before, so fast that Hidan's eyes could barely keep up with her afterimages.
brush!brush!brush!
A blue afterimage spun wildly around Hidan, and with each collision, a new wound appeared on Hidan's body.
"Too slow! Too slow! All you do is get beaten up?"
The wooden figure's voice came from all directions, full of mockery.
Hidan brandished his scythe, attempting to retaliate, but the massive weapon seemed incredibly cumbersome in the narrow stone forest, often being blocked by stone pillars before it could even be swung.
"Damn it! Don't run away if you've got the guts! Fight me head-on like a man!" Hidan roared in exasperation.
"I'm a woman, you idiot."
Yugito's figure suddenly appeared directly above Hidan's head.
"It's over, the cat paw torture is over!"
A giant chakra cat claw descended from the sky, carrying the momentum to smash its opponent's dog head to pieces.
Hidan seemed to have been cornered, and his foot slipped, revealing a huge opening. His chest was completely exposed to Yugito's attack range.
"We succeeded!"
Mu Ren was overjoyed.
In her opinion, these two Akatsuki members were not as terrifying as the legends suggested.
This guy with the scythe has good hand-to-hand combat skills, but his reaction time is too slow, and the weapon is not easy for him to handle.
Although the masked guy hasn't made a move yet, once we take care of one of them, the rest will be easy to handle.
This is the price of information asymmetry.
If Yugito knew Hidan's abilities, she would never have chosen to engage in close combat.
Unfortunately, at this point in time, Hidan's abilities remain an unsolved mystery in the ninja world.
Yugito's hand pierced through Hidan's chest, and blood gushed out from her arm, staining her blue chakra cloak red.
The blow pierced his heart.
"Hmph, utterly pathetic."
Yugito wore a victor's smile. In her mind, even a Kage-level shinobi would surely die if their heart was pierced.
She prepared to pull her arm away and deliver the final blow to this arrogant cultist.
However, at that very moment, something unexpected happened.
A blood-stained hand gripped her wrist tightly.
"Hehe...hehehe..."
A somewhat eerie laugh came from the mouth of this man who should have been dead.
Yumu looked up and met the other person's malicious eyes.
Hidan did not fall.
He looked down at the arm that had pierced his chest, a look of extreme enjoyment on his face, as if it were not a fatal wound, but merely a lover's caress.
"Gotcha, little kitty."
Hidan's mouth was gushing blood, but he didn't care.
"What?!"
Yukito was also a little at a loss for what to do.