The Shadow Imitation Jutsu Shinju used came from the Nara clan.
Normally, the Shadow Imitation Jutsu cast by the Nara clan depends on the user's chakra reserves and control precision, lasting about five minutes at most.
But Shinju's Shadow Imitation Jutsu was different. His body contained an enormous amount of chakra.
And his precision in controlling that chakra was terrifyingly fine-tuned.
That meant his Shadow Imitation Jutsu not only had incredible binding power, but it could also last far longer!
There was simply no way to break free!
"The Immortal Duo… today it's about time you really died."
Shinju formed hand seals, lips curling into a grin, and shouted:
"Shadow Strangle Jutsu!"
"Shhhk!"
The shadows binding Kakuzu and Hidan morphed into the shape of hands, slowly climbing up their bodies!
Kakuzu's eyes widened in terror. He manipulated one of his Earth Grudge Fear monsters, the one carrying Fire Release chakra, to spew flames in an attempt to stop Shinju.
"Fwoosh!"
Blazing flames burst out of the black monster's mouth!
But Shinju stood unfazed.
He remained in place, maintaining his Shadow Imitation Jutsu seals!
Just as the flames were about to engulf him—
"Shhhhk—"
A massive ice shield condensed from the moisture in the air!
It stood tall before Shinju, Naruto, and the others, like an impenetrable wall!
Yugito's pupils trembled violently.
ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!
That Shinju possessed the Ice Release kekkei genkai was no secret.
But just now, when the ice shield appeared, that kid was clearly maintaining his Shadow Imitation Jutsu—he hadn't made a single hand seal!
How the hell did he do that?!
Using ninjutsu without seals?!
Had Konoha's shinobi already reached such an outrageous level?!
Noticing the shock in Yugito's eyes, Shinju kindly explained:
"No need to be so surprised. This is just basic mastery of Ice Release. Kind of like how someone with Fire Release can spark a flame in their palm without forming seals…"
Yugito: (||๐_๐)
That might sound reasonable.
But your idea of 'basic mastery' is way too over the top!
Meanwhile, Kakuzu didn't have the luxury of being shocked anymore.
Once his mask monster's flames were blocked by the ice shield, Shinju's shadow hands reached his neck!
"Crack! Crack!"
Kakuzu and Hidan's necks snapped, their heads slumping lifelessly!
Even so, Shinju could sense both were still alive!
So he simply used the Shadow Strangle Jutsu to sever their heads from their bodies!
Hidan's head hit the ground, still shouting.
"You can't kill me! My god Jashin-sama would never allow me to die at the hands of mere mortals like you!"
"When I revive, I'll hollow you out, rip out your guts, and feed your innards to dogs!"
If the bounty exchange didn't specifically require preserving the corpses for identification, Shinju would've gladly stomped this loudmouth's head into pulp!
Unlike Hidan's headless cursing, Kakuzu's head could never be fully separated from his body.
No matter how hard the shadow hands tried, black threads always connected his severed neck!
Realizing this, Shinju turned his gaze to the black mask monster beside Kakuzu.
The chakra it emitted was the same as Kakuzu's. It must have been something Kakuzu created through a secret technique.
He didn't know what use it had, but killing it couldn't be wrong.
With that thought, Shinju kept his left hand maintaining Shadow Imitation while raising his right hand.
"Shhhhrk!"
A massive surge of pure chakra wrapped around Shinju's palm, shaping itself like a blade!
The chakra blade stretched thirty to forty meters long!
The next moment, Shinju swung it down!
"Shhhhk!"
The blade was unbelievably sharp, slicing the mask monster clean in half!
The creature vanished instantly, leaving behind only a shattered mask on the ground.
Seeing his last spare heart destroyed, Kakuzu panicked!
--003d͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇)
A few minutes ago, he was thinking about how to claim Shinju's 250 million bounty…
Just seconds ago, he was planning how to take the Two-Tails Jinchuriki…
Now, he only wanted to live!!
"No need to be afraid. I'll leave your corpses intact. Otherwise, I'm worried the bounty station won't pay."
Shinju said with a cheerful smile.
Kakuzu: ∑(✘Д✘๑)
He had only ever killed others for their bounty!
He never thought one day he'd be the one claimed!
Moments later, the chakra blade pierced Kakuzu's last heart.
And with that—Kakuzu was truly dead.
Beside him, Kakuzu's body fell silent, while Hidan's severed head kept ranting.
"Kakuzu! Do something, damn it…"
Shinju walked over and gave Hidan's head a couple of kicks.
Hidan: "You brat! Once Kakuzu stitches me back, I'll smash your brains out! (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ)"
Seconds later…
After some brutal handling, Hidan fell quiet. He seemed to have accepted reality—Kakuzu was dead, and soon Shinju would trade him in for cash…
When it was done, Shinju had Naruto carry Kakuzu's corpse, while he held Hidan's head in one hand and Yugito's hand in the other.
"Shhhk!"
In an instant, the scenery changed—they were standing in the Bounty Station of the Land of Demons!
Most of the people here had already witnessed Shinju's terrifying reputation.
At his arrival, everyone froze and quietly tried to leave, terrified of being used as his tools for quick money.
Beside him, Yugito looked on curiously.
This boy's strength was unquestionable, but he looked gentle enough—a good-hearted kid. Why were these people acting like they'd seen a monster? (￢‸￢)?
Shinju walked straight to the counter, plopped Hidan's head on it, and said:
"Can this be exchanged?"
The clerk hesitated.
"With only a head, it's hard for us to confirm his identity…"
Hearing that, Shinju slapped Hidan's head.
(￣ε(#￣)☆╰╮o(￣皿￣///)
About to be sold off, and still beaten too!
Such disrespect to a head!
"Prove your identity," Shinju said.
Hidan, sounding mechanical, complied:
"I'm Hidan. Hidan, follower of Jashin."
At this point, he didn't care what the bounty station would do to him anymore.
Even death was better than staying with this Wood Release brat!
"You see? Even the head admits it himself." Shinju said.
Still hesitant, the clerk replied:
"But the mission requires a complete body. With only a head, we can only pay half the bounty…"
Seeing the clerk insist, Shinju had no choice but to use Flying Thunder God and return to the battlefield on the mountain, retrieving Hidan's body that had been left behind.