I finally updated! I hope to be faster with the next chapters. I had so much stuff to do with my classes. Hope you all enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does.

Kakuzu had his mask monsters surround Kakashi, with the fire and wind masked monsters merged together. Kakuzu then clasped his hands together, causing the lightning monster to shoot out lightning towards Kakashi but he was able to dodge it. But then, the merged monsters prepared a fire-wind combo move to attack him in the air. Through his quick-thinking, Kakashi escaped the flames with string attached to a kunai that he had flung to a tree. And then at the next onslaught of flames, he hid behind the tree on top of a branch.

Kakuzu questioned, "Is that your idea of hiding?"

Then the the wind masked monster blew shots of wind at the tree, creating hole near Kakashi's head and then continued to make holes up on the tree, drawing Kakashi out from behind the tree until he was hit by a fireball.

Sakura and Chouji shouted in unison, "Sensei!"

Kakshi's chest was hit, his shirt was burned, exposing part of his abdomen as he fell to the ground but then he disappeared in a puff of smoke, in his place, a broken log was revealed; he used the substitution technique. Then both Sakura and Chouji let out a sigh of relief.

Kakuzu complimented, "You did a good job of hiding yourself this time, Kakashi."

But then he asked, "But do you have the courage to show yourself before us again?"

Then suddenly, the lightning monster was pulled into the ground with only it's head sticking out and then Kakashi burst out of the ground, brandishing another kunai to the fight the fire/wind monster. But then they both opened their mouths and let out a powerful whirlwind of flames.

Kakashi shouted, "Suiton: Suijinheki!"

A wall of water clashed witht the wind-enhanced flames but it wasn't enough as it burst through the water wall.

Kakashi thought as he was pushed back, "Fire combined with wind nature chakra can't be put out with just water style, huh? Looks like I'll have to confront him at close range after all."

But then he realized that Kakuzu was on the trunk on a tree behind him. Then he shot out the black tendrils towards Kakashi, effectively immobilizing him with a bunch of tendrils trying to grab at the heart through his chest. Then Kakuzu brought Kakashi down to the ground, pinning him in place.

Kakuzu commented, "It appears that you didn't get around to watching my movements." Then he declared, "Your heart… is mine."

The forest was deathly quiet for a few seconds. Hidan struck his own heart while Shikamaru clutched at his chest, wide-eyed.

Hidan maliciously when he asked, "How's that? It's wonderful pain, isn't it?"

Shikamaru was standing very still until he coughed and then he fell forward to the ground, motionless, while Asuma's lighter fell out of his pouch.

Hidan scoffed, "How worthless; Jashin-sama must be disappointed…"

"Now, Kakuzu should be about finished too." Hidan said as he smiled.

But back with Kakuzu, things turned out differently…

Kakuzu had a shocked expression in his eyes as he clutched his chest groaning in pain.

Kakuzu asked while shocked and confused, "W-What did you do?"

Kakashi watched as Kakuzu writhed in pain, thinking, "It seems… he made it in time…"

"This is impossible!" Kakuzu exclaimed.

Hidan turned away from Shikamaru while his skin returned to normal. While he wasn't paying attention, Shikamaru silently brought himself up with a determined steely glare.

Before Hidan could even turn back around completely, Shikamaru struck him across the neck with his tantō, cutting into his neck and then fell to the ground.

"Too shallow!" Shikamaru thought.

And then with his quick-thinking, Shikamaru immobilized Hidan with his shadow yt again, wrapping it around his arm.

Hidan growled, "You…! How are you alive?!"

Shikamaru placed his tantō back in it's sheath and answered, "I was only pretending to be dead." He wiped the blood off his face to reveal that he was never cut.

Shikamaru explained further, "The blood on your weapon… isn't mine." He paused and then said, "It's your partner's."

Back with Kakashi and Kakuzu

Kakuzu exclaimed again, "Impossible…!"

"Yes it is possible; your blood was used for your partner's ritual," Kakashi explained.

He continued, "Shikamaru knew his opponent's ability utilized blood after all. He prepared special blood capsules in advance."

Kakuzu fell to the ground saying, "It can't be… When did you even have the chance?!"

"When I struck you with my Raikiri before; I took some of your blood at that time," Kakashi answered.

Kakuzu was silent for a minute before saying in disbelief, "No way… that kid planned that far ahead…"

Kakashi replied, "You had severely underestimated Shikamaru; you should have handled him more was no way he would let the information that cost Asuma his own life go to waste. You guys who take people's lives without hesitation could probably never understand how he feels."

Chouji and Sakura ran to Kakashi and Sakura asked, "Are you alright?"

"Well somehow, I guess," Kakashi answered. He pulled off the tendrils that were wrapped around his arms and ankles and then he started to pull out the tendrils that tried to burrow into his chest to get to his heart.

Sakura interjected, "Wait! Pull them out slowly to not damage the arteries; I'll heal you."

Kakashi rebutted, "Heal me later, they're coming!"

The remaining masked monsters ran towards them but then Chouji immediately sprung forward and shouted, "Baika no Justu!"

He grew in immense size and then both of his palms started to glow as he shouted again, "Chōharite!"

He brought them down on the monsters, crushing them into the ground.

Sakura shouted in praise, "That was awesome, Chouji!"

Chouji smiled triumphantly but it was short-lived when they tried to ensnare him with the tendrils but he quickly shrunk back down to his original size. Then, the fire monster shot out flames towards them but they dodged it. And then the lightning masked monster inserted itself back into Kakuzu, reviving him once more.

Kakuzu then slowly got up from the ground and then gave a menacing glare at them. Then the merged monsters were reabsorbed into Kakuzu as well but then he started to change shape into a gruesome transformation.

Bunches of tendrils protruded from his back, swaying on their own, his arms were extended by tendrils, making the seams split apart yet held them together. And finally, his mask came off as tendrils had spilt out of his mouth which also had seams.

Horrified, Sakura exclaimed, "What is that?!"

Kakashi replied, "His main body is a monster too."

Kakuzu then murmured, "Two of my hearts… gone. It's been a long time…since that happened."

Back with Shikamaru and Hidan…

"What do you mean by that?" Hidan asked angrily.

Shikamaru explained his plan, "It didn't matter who; but if anyone got the chance, we'd get your partner's blood." Shikamaru smirked and added, "With this bood capsule."

Hidan glared at Shikamaru, gritting his teeth in snarl.

Shikamaru continued, "When Kakashi-sensei retrieved the blood, I took it and then I brought you out here to trap you. With using your partner's blood, you caused Kakuzu to lose another heart now. That was our strategy."

Hidan hissed, "Bastard!"

But then he suddenly became silent and then he started to chuckle quietly which confused Shikamaru.

Then Hidan exclaimed, "Even I can see it and I'm not that bright; it's been so many times already. Any idiot could figure out your technique after seeing it so many times."

Shikamaru questioned, "What did you say?"

Hidan continued, "It seems your technique isn't as strong as it was before. I don't even need five minutes; I can move!"

Shikamaru cursed under his breath as he struggled to keep hold of Hidan.

Slowly, Hidan pulled out the spike out of his chest and then got up on his feet.

He continued, "The endurance of your technique's power and its effect gradually weakens every time you use it. Basically, the longer you use it, the weaker it gets."

He slowly walked towards Shikamaru, who fell to his knees, trying to keep hold of him.

Hidan asked, "Aren't you just about out of chakra? Huh?!"

And then he was close enough to Shikamaru and held the spike above his head, laughing maniacally. Then he exclaimed, "If you had believed in Jashin-sama, you may have gotten a helping hand in your time of need."

He paused to smile menacingly and then added, "But even if you converted right now; he'd never forgive you!"

He brought down the spike down towards Shikamaru to strike him but Shikamaru stretched his hand upward; suddenly stopping Hidan's movement.

Shikamaru proclaimed, "I don't need your messed-up God's forgiveness."

Shadows were attached to the strings with explosive tags, rendering Hidan immobile. Then Shikamaru shouted as he clenched his outstretched hand, "Kageyose no Jutsu!"

Then the shadows had pulled at the strings and then the strings were wrapped around Hidan, binding him place.

Furious, Hidan growled, "You…!"

Shikamaru smirked before explaining, "I still have enough chakra left for this."

Then Shikamaru threw his tantō at a circle with a line through it on the ground.

"What are you doing?!" Hidan asked angrily.

Shikamaru only answered, "Just watch…"

At the target, the ground started to crack and then spread to the area where Hidan was above ground gave way and below Hidan was a pit with him hanging precariously over it.

Hidan shouted, "What is this?! When did youdo this?!"

Shikamaru answered, "I had this trap prepared beforehand."

Hidan looked shocked as he thought, "He didn't just separate me from Kakuzu on a whim, but he purposely lured me here? Then…this was his entire plan?!"

Shikamaru interrupted Hidan's thought, "When you curse someone, you dig two graves. Do you know what that means?"

"What are you talking about?!" Hidan shouted.

Shikamaru answered, "If you curse to kill someone, you also get killed in retribution, that's why you need two graves for the burial."

He brought out Asuma's lighter and prepared to light it as he added, "You cursed and killed my teacher. Did you think you were going to get away with that?"

Hidan grit his teeth as Shikamaru proclaimed, "That pit is your grave."

Hidan chuckled menacingly and then exclaimed, "I'm not going to die. Even if my body is dismembered into pieces and only my head remains, I am going to drag myself out and eat your throat!"

Unintimidated, Shikamaru merely looked away towards the forest where a few deer appeared before them. In confusion, Hidan murmured, "Deer?"

Shikamaru explained, "These woods are a special in the Land of Fire; members of my clan are the only ones allowed in and no one else comes here. My clan will make sure to you here forever."

Shikamaru was trying to light the lighter until he felt a presence tap his shoulder. Surprised, Shikamaru turned his head to find Asuma's spirit smiling at him.

Asuma praised him, "You did a great job, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru smiled back at him and replied, "Yeah."

Asuma brought out a cigarette and then Shikamaru lit it for him.

Asuma breathed the out and said one last bequeathal, "My Will of Fire…is now yours."

After that, Asuma slowly faded away like his cigarette smoke.

Hidan then frantically said, "Why are you lighting that?!"

Shikamaru stared at the flame that the lighter produced and then answered, "It's the Will of Fire… the will to protect our village."

Then he tossed the lighter ad he thought, "Goodbye, Sensei…"

The lighter was getting closer and closer to Hidan and the explosive tags, until finally; the tags were set off, causing a fiery explosion.

Then when the explosion was dissipated, Hidan's body was blown to pieces, each part falling into the pit. Shikamaru walked closer to it and then looked down into it; he saw Hidan's head, motionless at first. But then his eyes shot open and then he laughed, "What a sorry state. How dare you do this to me?"

He continued to chuckle until he faded and then proclaimed angrily, "Jashin-sama will punish you for this! A greater judgement will be handed down by Jashin-sama himself!"

Unimpressed, Shikamaru stated, "Your bullshit doesn't scare me." He pulled out a kunai with an explosive tag tied to it. "We believe in different things; I believe in the Will of Fire. But your god is not this Jashin-sama or anything. Now I will hand down judgement."

Hidan growled, "Bastard!"

Shikamaru threw the kunai at the top of the pit on the inside and then set it off to cause the earth and rocks to cave in, burying Hidan in it.

Hidan still proclaimed, "I told you, judgement will be handed down to you by Jashin-sama! And I will carry out that judgement! I only need teeth to take care of you! I'll chew you to pieces!"

The pit had caved in and that threat was the last anyone will hear of Hidan ever again. Shikamaru stared blankly at the pit until he heard a deer next to him stomp at the ground. He turned his attention to the deer and then smiled when the deer found Asuma's lighter. Shikamaru picked it up and then sat on the ground, staring at the lighter before igniting it again. As he stared at the flame, his eyes seemed to be on the brink of tears, so he let them out with only his clan's deer to comfort him.

There's the chapter and I hope to have the next one out soon. Please feel free to leave a review.