It took Kakuzu and Hidan a few hours to arrive at a secluded area that would be suitable for the job. The biju extraction would leave them in a same place for a prolonged period of time and he didn't want to be interrupted during it.
Since it was in character for him, Kakuzu didn't bother with starting a conversation or saying much along the way. Hidan didn't seem to be suspicious of him either, or not yet at least.
Kakuzu picked a place located deep in the forest.
Some destroyed stone statues could be seen around them, moss growing on their surface. Kakuzu was specifically searching for this place.
After setting up the traps, both sat down and formed the ram hand seal.
In order for meeting to commence, members were mentally summoned in a certain location chosen by Pain. Summoning itself was possible with the Magic Lantern Body Technique. Which was a jutsu that worked in a mysterious way.
Akatsuki members had to send out thought waves, converted into a chakra. After which, Pain would pick up those thought waves and manifest them through illusionary bodies. In a way, Pain acted as a control tower, receiving signal and broadcasting it into the specific location.
Shortly after sending out the signal, Kakuzu could feel his chakra being picked up and he followed the link.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast dark cave. In front of him was tree tails, a tremendous sized turtle. Looking around he noticed other silhouettes next to him standing on the fingers of Gedo Mazo.
"Once we are done with three tails, we'll seal the two tails as well. It'll take about six days so prepare yourselves." Pain announced to others.
"Six whole days?! But it's raining where we are!"
"Shut up Hidan"
An annoyed sigh escaped Kakuzu's mouth after hearing Hidan's childish complaint. Still, it was not enough to silence Hidan.
"We were this close to slaughtering those Konoha shinobi. I was about to show those heathens the might of the church of Jashin!"
"Konoha shinobi are not heathens Hidan. They venerate their ancestors and follow the Will of Fire." Pain responded. "Though, I suppose you could say they use it to justify their going to war…"
Pain's response was followed by the monologue, that explained the goal of Akatsuki to Hidan. How would the organization would monopolize the war market, leading them to controlling all wars and then - the world itself.
Kakuzu partly kept listening to the conversation while focusing his mind more on the plan for the future.
Upon returning to the village Asuma was immediately put into hospital.
While his vital organs weren't damaged he was in need of proper treatment. Especially after the enemy used that strange technique on him.
Shikamaru doubted everyone would have been able to escape if enemy hadn't left by themselves. They were rather lucky.
He, as well as Uzumo and Kotetsu, were immediately summoned in hokage's office. They gave the detailed report to lady Tsunade about encounter with Akatsuki.
After Shikamaru was dismissed from the Hokage's office, he went to the hospital Asuma was admitted.
Entering the hospital room, he could see Kurenai sitting next to the hospital bed. Shikamaru noticed that her already red eyes seemed to be slightly more reddened.
Had she perhaps been crying?
"Oh, it's you Shikamaru. How did the report go?" Asuma welcomed him.
Although, after looking at Shikamaru, he raosed an eyebrow at his disheveled state.
"You should have gone home, you need rest."
"Worry about yourself. I'm fine. I wasn't one who almost died from the voodo magic." Shikamaru replied.
Looking at him, Asuma did seem lot better, burn marks were almost gone as well. Though it would take some time to fully heal them.
"Alright, alright. You don't need to worry about me Shikamaru. I'm fine. I'll be back to normal in no time" Asuma said while grinning awkwardly.
"Shikamaru, thanks for looking out for him. I'm glad that Asuma has such a talented student to support his back." Kurenai said with a warm smile.
Remembering that Asuma hadn't been alone in the room, Shikamaru glanced at him with a curious look. Noticing how the two were holding each other's hand.
What was going on here? Weren't they too intimate- …oh
Haa… what a drag… So that's why he stopped smoking lately.
"It's nothing noteworthy miss Kurenai. It is expected as much from me as a shinobi." Shikamaru replied while, he too, awkwardly smiled.
Looking back at it, coming across Akatsuki was not an experience he would forget easily. Rather, he wanted to avoid fighting them again all together. But unfortunately, he didn't think it was possible.
Back then he only survived because of some dumb luck. To be prepared for the future, he needed to take more serious mindset.
With that, he excused himself and left the hospital.
Meanwhile, outside, a certain young kunoichi had a mysterious look in her eyes as she gazed at Shikamaru's figure leaving the hopsital.
She was around Shikamaru's age. She had a black hair, green eyes and wore a long-sleeved, high-collared white blouse with a maroon, hakama-styled pants.
Girl tilted her head in confusion as she muttered to no one in particular.
"Huh? How come Asuma's still alive?"
"Go" Pain ordered.
He dismissed members after finishing extracting chakra from jinchuriki.
"Finally!" Hidan shouted, impatient to get back to action.
"Kakuzu, Hidan, if you two are heading back to Konoha a word of warning... There's a jinchuriki there named Uzumaki Naruto. Be careful if you ran into him."
"Says the weakling... who had to have his arm reattached by Kakuzu." Hidan responded to Deidara's warning.
"Better an arm then a neck..."
"Hey! Kakuzu! Whose side are you on?!"
"Come on let's go" Kakuzu said as he disconnected from jutsu.
He felt the gaze of Itachi on him before his mirage vanished. Though, Kakuzu doubted that he would ever see him again.
"Six days without moving... I'm ready to rampage!" Hidan cracked his neck and then gave Kakuzu a confused look.
"Hey! Kakuzu! Where are you going? Collection office is this way, no?"
"What are you? An idiot? We'll be ambushed. After all, it's the jinchuriki we're after."
"...Yeah, guess you're right."
Hidan started moving ahead. He was walking in front of Kakuzu, impatience apparent in his every step.
Noticing Hidan's carelesness state, Kakuzu slowly concentrated chakra on his legs.
Meanwhile, his threads came out of his arm and encased it in a way that it took shape of a blade. Then, he used the hardening jutsu to reinforce his makeshift weapon.
It was time to begin with the first step of his plan – getting rid of unstable element.
He released the chakra and swung his hand to Hidan's neck.
It was the perfect moment to strike. Hidan didn't expect the attack. On the other hand, Kakuzu had the element of surprise, higher strength and speed.
However, as Kakuzu was about to chop off Hidan's head, Hidan managed to react.
He jumped aside, barely avoiding strike to neck.
Kakuzu gritted teeth in annoyance at his inexperience. He had accidentally released his killing intent.
"Oi oi! What the hell, Kakuzu?!"
Hidan shouted angrily. Blood was dripping from the left hand that had been cut off in the stead of his head.
"You talk too much, Hidan. Shut it.".
"Huh?! You're really trying to kill me?" Asked Hidan with a panicked tone. "Why don't you calm down and talk this out, Kakuzu?"
"Well, I might change my mind. If you let me chop off your head for a second."
After getting rid of Hidan Kakuzu planned to prepare for an upcoming war.
But there was a problem. He didn't know how much potential this body had exactly, but it definitely wasn't anywhere close to characters that would play important role in later part of the story. Strength desparity between him and late characters was massive. He wouldn't be beating any of them at his current strength..
It seems I have two options. Either I prevent Madara's appearance, and in turn avoid the power creep and with it, or find a way to somehow get stronger.
Hmm… There are ways to get stronger, but they're rather troublesome. Actually, I'll do both. But first, I'll get rid of Hidan.
Leaving Hidan by himself would be foolish and dangerous. As would be keeping him alive. Kakuzu had no control over him and no need to keep him around. Meanwhile, Konoha platoons were probably still trying to locate the members of Akatsuki. Encountering them was not in Kakuzu's interest either.
So, prolonging the battle wasn't really an optimal outcome.
Kakuzu rushed up to and swung his arm towards Jashin junior. Aiming at his neck. Hidan managed to block it with the scythe's handle but was pushed back, losing the contest of strength.
Kakuzu followed it up with a kick from the side, smashing Hidan into a tree.
"Urgh... Kakuzu! Don't you think you're going a little too far with this joke?!"
It was apparent Hidan didn't stood much chance with defeating Kakuzu from the start.
Although, in his previous life, he didn't have much experience as a fighter, the fighting instinct and muscle memory was deep ingrained into this body. And they guided his every move, made each of the blow as precise as possible.
Kakuzu's next hit landed on the jaw and Hidan's neck started to tear. Blood starting to dripp from it.
"You think I'm going to go down that easily?!" Hidan shouted.
Kakuzu appeared next to him while he avoided the scythe that was swung towards him. He sent a full powered punch at Hidan and then another aimed at his neck.
As Hidan's head flew from his body, in last ditch effort he managed to pull his scythe back. Kakuzu felt overwhelming pain in his back.
'Son of a bitch, it hurts like hell!'
Kakuzu grunted. As someone who didn't really have a human physiology, his pain sensitivity was lower. However, it was not enough to be unaffected by it. He was quickly adapting to the new body, yet some time was necessary to properly get used to it.
"Kakuzu, you son of a bitch! Did you finally lose it?! I swear to lord Jashin, you hear me? If you don't stop this right now, my next sacrifice will be you!"
As Kakuzu stood up, he looked at the angry head that kept on spouting insults one after another.
"Haa... what did I do to deserve this?" Kakuzu sighed.
He was mentally exhausted from everything going on.
During the extraction process he hadn't done anything physically draining, yet his mind was tired. Concentration needed to complete the process wouldn't be as much of a trouble for any other member of the organization. But Kakuzu was trying to come up with something resembling a plan and as he was maintaining the jutsu. His mind was not used to such intricate process. And, in the end, it took considerable toll on him.
As he was approached the headless body and paid more attention to the gory scene in front of him, momentarily, a sick feeling rose inside of him once again. And as fast as they resurfaced, they were quickly dulled. As if his mind couldn't decide if scene in front of him was alarming or not.
He shook his head, trying to get rid of tiring thoughts, it wasn't time for that.
Paying no mind to laud and talkative head, he aproached said head's body. With a simple nudge of chakra his hand opened up, revealing mass of tendrils.
From Kakuzu's open hand came out countless Thread-like black fibers. Then, treads aligned in front of Hidan's chest, where his heart would to be located.
It was time for a little experiment.