Naruto's katana, bathed in the dim light of the moon, gleamed with a deadly edge as he stood poised to finish off his two opponents. The tension in the air was palpable, the sound of the wind whispering through the trees the only noise accompanying the stillness before the storm.
Hidan staggered back from the blow Naruto had landed earlier, clutching his chest where the wound bled profusely. His face twisted into a mixture of surprise and rage as he struggled to maintain his balance. Zetsu, however, had already vanished into the ground, his eyes glowing faintly from his hidden vantage point.
"Dammit!" Hidan cursed, swinging his scythe in a wide arc, trying to regain control of the fight. The blade was sharp, but the swing was wild. Naruto easily sidestepped the attack, his body moving like a shadow. His reflexes were honed from years of intense training in the dimension Kaguya had gifted him. He was faster than any of the Akatsuki had ever anticipated.
"You think you can win with that?" Naruto's voice was cold, mocking even, as he studied Hidan's wild movements. There was no honor in the way Hidan fought—he was a berserker, driven by rage, and it would be his downfall.
Hidan growled and lunged forward again, but Naruto was already steps ahead. With a flick of his wrist, the blade of his katana clashed against the shaft of Hidan's scythe, disarming him with a single, well-placed strike. Hidan, momentarily stunned, didn't have the chance to recover before Naruto closed the distance. The edge of the katana kissed his throat, and the murderous gleam in Naruto's eyes reflected the urgency in his heart. He couldn't afford to waste any more time.
"Enough," Naruto said coldly, his voice firm as he placed the blade against Hidan's neck. "You're done."
But before Naruto could finish, Zetsu emerged from the ground behind him with terrifying speed, his black and white forms slithering together to form one solid mass. The air around him seemed to twist with a dark energy.
"You're too cocky, Naruto," Zetsu hissed. "Did you think it would be that easy?"
Naruto didn't even flinch as he turned, his eyes narrowing. "No, I didn't," he replied with a calmness that chilled even the usually composed Zetsu. "But I'm not the one who underestimated my enemies."
Zetsu's expression was unreadable behind his mask. "I underestimated you once, Naruto. I won't make that mistake again."
Naruto's eyes burned with intensity as he stepped back, flicking his wrist in a smooth motion, sending Hidan's disarmed scythe flying through the air, leaving him unarmed and defenseless. At the same moment, Naruto's feet pivoted, and he launched himself at Zetsu, his katana glowing red with fury.
Zetsu barely had time to react as Naruto's blade sliced through the air with lightning speed, but just as it seemed Naruto's katana would meet its mark, Zetsu merged into the earth once more, disappearing into the ground.
Naruto was already anticipating this and jumped back, his senses tingling as he followed the movement underground. Zetsu was no longer an opponent that could be taken lightly, even if Naruto had the upper hand in this skirmish.
"You think you can escape me?" Naruto's voice was low and threatening as he surveyed the area, eyes searching for any sign of movement. "I've got you figured out."
A crackling sound filled the air, followed by a deep rumble beneath the earth. Zetsu reemerged suddenly, twisting his form into something more monstrous, an amalgamation of darkness and plants, his face stretched into a wicked grin.
Naruto's mind raced as he realized the true extent of Zetsu's power. His opponent was not just a mere spy—he was a master of the earth itself, able to manipulate the terrain and hide within it. This was no ordinary battle. It was a battle of wits, as much as it was one of physical prowess. Zetsu's ability to turn the environment against Naruto was something that would require careful thought, not just brute strength.
Without warning, Zetsu extended a massive vine toward Naruto, trying to ensnare him with a snare of thick, black tendrils. Naruto reacted instantly, the red dragon katana slashing through the vines with incredible precision. With a single fluid motion, he disintegrated them, his sword pulsing with power. The air around him rippled as his Otsutsuki blood stirred within him, amplifying his strength with every strike.
"You'll have to do better than that," Naruto muttered as he continued to advance.
Zetsu hissed in frustration, shifting his form to avoid the blows. "You're more than I expected, Naruto. But this is far from over."
As Zetsu shifted into a new form, he summoned the earth itself, causing massive boulders to erupt from the ground in an attempt to crush Naruto. The sheer size of the rocks was staggering, but Naruto's reaction was swift. With his advanced reflexes, he dashed between the boulders, slicing through each one with the ease of a master.
The ground trembled as Zetsu's true power came into full effect, but Naruto wasn't fazed. He moved faster, more fluidly, with every second that passed.
The fight was no longer a simple battle. It had become a test of wills, of endurance, and of strategy.
Naruto's body blurred into motion as he charged toward Zetsu, his red dragon katana leading the way. The ground beneath him cracked as he leapt into the air, slashing through the air and bringing his blade down on Zetsu's exposed form.
In an instant, the blade pierced through Zetsu's body, and the dark energy that surrounded him began to dissipate, slowly turning into nothingness.
But even as Zetsu's form began to collapse, his eyes remained locked onto Naruto. "You've won this round, but you'll face us all soon enough," Zetsu warned cryptically, his form dissolving into the ground once more.
Naruto stood over the place where Zetsu had once been, breathing heavily. His mind was already turning over the consequences of this encounter. Though he had taken down two of the Akatsuki's members, he knew this was only the beginning. The real war was just starting.
The presence of the remaining Akatsuki members, and their growing urgency to collect the Tailed Beasts, would surely lead to greater battles. But Naruto was ready. He would not hesitate. The future of the world depended on it.
As Hidan's lifeless form lay on the ground, Naruto sheathed his katana with a swift motion, his eyes scanning the horizon. He could sense others coming. The storm was far from over, and the path ahead was filled with uncertainty. But one thing was clear—Naruto had drawn first blood. And he would not stop until the Akatsuki had been eradicated.