"Huh? You say we're the same?"

Hidan scratched his head, scrutinizing Kakuzu with a perplexed frown. "Are you also a follower of the great Lord Jashin? I don't recognize your face from any of the rituals."

Kakuzu's voice was a low growl. "That's not what I meant."

Hidan blinked, a look of dawning comprehension on his face. "Then what did you mean?"

Kisame grinned, his shark-like teeth glinting. "I can't tell if this guy is just incredibly naive or a genuine fool."

The words hit Hidan like a physical blow. His face contorted in a mask of pure rage. "Stupid?! You dare call ME stupid, you shark-faced freak?! Your eyes are as dead as the offerings I leave for Jashin! Unforgivable! I hate being called stupid more than anything! Time for a sacrifice! Aaaaaaaaah!"

With a furious howl, Hidan swung his massive, triple-bladed scythe, charging directly at Kisame and completely ignoring Kakuzu.

"Hey!" Kakuzu shouted angrily. "Your opponent is me!"

"What's the hurry, you big oaf?!" Hidan cackled maniacally. "I'm going to sacrifice all of you to Lord Jashin today anyway! Hahahahaha!"

Just as Hidan's scythe was about to descend, Kisame instantly drew the massive, scale-covered Samehada from his back, blocking the attack with a single hand.

Hidan gritted his teeth, his muscles straining. "Hmph! Not bad for a dead-eyed fish-man! You've got some muscle!"

Itachi, standing silently beside Kisame, spoke, his voice calm and even. "To survive having your heart pierced for so long… it seems you do possess a special ability. We are here to ask you to join the Akatsuki, not to fight."

"Enough of your pointless chatter!" Hidan roared. "You blasphemous heathens are wasting my time! You're all going to be sacrifices for Lord Jashin today!"

"Kisame, don't be provoked," Itachi cautioned. "We are not here to fight."

"Hehe. Itachi, don't worry about me for now," Kisame replied, his grin widening. "This one has piqued my interest. Let me have a little fun with him. I want to see what other special tricks he has up his sleeve!"

"He is my prey, Kisame!" Kakuzu's voice was a low growl. "Do not interfere!"

"Senior," Kisame retorted, "let's let strength decide. Whoever gets him first, gets him!"

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!" Kisame sheathed his sword and took a step back. After a rapid series of hand seals, a torrent of water erupted from his mouth, coalescing into the form of a roaring water dragon.

"Hmph! Then let's see who's faster!" Kakuzu snorted coldly. The lightning-element mask on his back detached itself, hovering in the air. "Lightning Release: False Darkness!" A spear of pure, crackling lightning shot forth, a technique of false darkness meant to pierce the heavens.

The two techniques, already immensely powerful on their own, combined, the water amplifying the electricity. "Wow! How spectacular!" Hidan exclaimed with a naive wonder, making no move to dodge the incoming cataclysm. The next moment, his body was struck by the full force of the attack.

"Damn it, that actually hurt!" he yelled, his body wreathed in lightning and drenched in water. He was still jumping around, cursing loudly. "You bastards! You don't understand the glorious pain of sacrifice! I'll remember this!"

"But, that being said, your power is quite impressive," he added, a manic grin spreading across his face. "Tsk tsk, Lord Jashin will be very pleased with this offering."

"So," Kisame asked, "now that you've seen what we can do, have you considered our offer?"

"Tsk!" Hidan rolled his eyes with a dismissive air. "The Akatsuki means nothing to me. As long as I can kill to my heart's content and offer up sacrifices to Lord Jashin, nothing else matters! I kill by my own will, and I will not be chained! Not now, not ever!"

Hearing this, a corner of Kisame's mouth curled up. "Well… I can agree with that sentiment."

"What a depraved and twisted path," Kakuzu muttered. "And so noisy."

"What did you say?!"

"Just the truth."

"Blasphemy is the gravest of sins! Not even an apology can earn you forgiveness!"

"Whether you forgive me or not is of no concern to me."

Hidan's attitude shifted, his playful demeanor vanishing completely, replaced by a cold, deadly seriousness. "Lord Jashin," he intoned, "bear witness, for I am about to send this fool to your side!"

"Hmm… this killing intent is quite good," Kisame noted with detached interest.

"Penance through death!" Hidan roared, charging at the three of them with his fangs and claws bared. "You have no fear in your hearts!"

Seeing this, Kakuzu and Kisame readied themselves, eager to continue the fight.

Uchiha Itachi's eyes opened slightly. "Stop."

"Ghh!" Hidan's body, which had been a whirlwind of motion, froze completely, locked in place as if by an invisible force. Not only that, his entire body felt as if it had turned to stone.

"Damn it! What's going on?!" Hidan struggled, but no matter how hard he strained, he could not move a single muscle.

"It is just a simple binding jutsu," Itachi explained.

Kakuzu looked at Itachi's glowing red Sharingan and threatened in a low voice, "Itachi, he is my prey. Release him, now! Otherwise, I will kill you as well!"

Uchiha Itachi responded calmly, "If you wish to fight him, you may do so after we have returned from our mission. You can beat him as you please then. But for now… we will complete the leader's objective first." With that, Itachi slowly walked forward, coming to stand before the paralyzed Hidan.

"If you wish to kill, you may."

"But killing indiscriminately, following only your base instincts, will sooner or later attract the attention of the great nations. Then, you will have nowhere to run."

"Even if you are immortal, as long as you are bound or sealed, as you are now, you can no longer do as you please."

Hidan glared at Itachi, growling through gritted teeth, "You… what is it you want?!"

Uchiha Itachi closed his eyes, releasing the binding jutsu. "Join the Akatsuki. We will give you purpose. A framework for your slaughter. At least when you kill our mission targets, you will not be restricted, and you will not have to bear the consequences."

"Besides… there are others in our organization who are similar to you. You are not the only one who is, in a sense, immortal." As he spoke, Itachi glanced at Kakuzu.

"Hmph!" Kakuzu folded his arms across his chest and turned his head away proudly, refusing to engage.

Hidan was stunned. "Huh? That guy is immortal too?"

"Haha, you two will come to understand each other in time," Kisame said. "Join the Akatsuki, and you can kill as many people as you wish. We have many mission targets."

"Sigh…" No matter how foolish Hidan was, he could see that even if he continued to be stubborn, it was impossible for him to defeat these three on his own. "Fine, I'll join. As long as it doesn't interfere with my rituals."

"Then the negotiations are concluded," Itachi said. "Welcome. What is your name?"

Hidan pointed a thumb at himself. "My name is Hidan!"

Itachi nodded. "His name is Kakuzu. From now on, you two will act as a team."

"You want me to team up with this guy?"

"Why… you have a problem with that?" Kakuzu glared at Hidan, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "Believe me, I will bury you."

"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who?"

Kisame took out the red-cloud-patterned black cloak he had prepared and tossed it to Hidan. "That's enough, Hidan. Believe me, Kakuzu is the only one in this organization who is truly suited for you. He is on his way to destroy a large family in the Land of Hot Water right now. There will be plenty of people for you to kill."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Hidan's interest was immediately piqued. His temper flared as quickly as it subsided. He quickly put on the Akatsuki cloak. "Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go! What big family are we killing? I know the Land of Hot Water like the back of my scythe! I'll lead the way!"

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