Asuma's team think that now they have defeated one enemy. But turns out that Hidan is not over yet. He's still alive, and no one can believe it. Looks like he's not part of the living beings, and that's why he is immortal, he doesn't live thanks to his body, he exists thanks to his soul, his will. That's the only explanation I have considering he's still talking even when his head is not over his body. Shikamaru at least realizes that Hidan cannot move or do anything if his head is not connected with his body (fortunately this part is realistic). Kakuzu takes advantage from the surprise and with some quick moves, seriously hits Asuma three times, knocking him out. Then he uses threads to tie back Hidan's head. Now both of them fight, the immortal will finish Asuma, while Kakuzu faces the other three. Izumo and Kotetsu make their combined attacks, the first uses a fluid to tie Kakuzu to the ground, while Kotetsu tries to hit him with a special weapon he has. Though their plan works at first, Kakuzu reveals that his whole body is composed by threads, so he extends his arms to capture them. Kotetsu is catched first (he was closer), and Izumo dodges but then is taken given Kakuzu's perfect control of the threads. Both of them are slowly being strangled while Shikamaru is heavily exhausted from the long use of his shadow jutsu. At the same time, Hidan attempts to kill Asuma. The Sarutobi dodges the scythe, which stabs Hidan, and thinks he has avoided the past mistake, but Hidan has actually returned to the circle. Turns out that the curse cannot be canceled once Hidan drinks other person's blood, so all he needs is to return the respective circle. This way, Asuma is wounded in his stomach by the scythe. Shikamaru sees all this, and tries to reach his sensei, while he remembers a previous conversation: he suggested a plan where he goes at the front line, where his shadow can be more effective (the lesser the distance, the better), and that way protect his comrades. Asuma admitted it was a good plan, but rejected it because he knows Shikamaru can think a better strategy in the back line. He also told him that they don't fight to protect just the teammates, and until he realizes the real reason, he won't let him be on the front line. This is the same lesson Hiruzen wanted to teach his son years ago. Still, now Shikamaru blames himself for not thinking better, and realizes it's too late. Hidan finally stabs himself in the heart, therefore, fatally wounds Asuma due to the curse. Birds fly away. Shikamaru can only scream in pain as he runs, while at Konoha, Kurenai sees a red flower petals fall, and fly away. This was surely one of the top scenes in all Naruto. And the new opening song (which turned to be my favourtie) includes the picture of Shikamaru's scream perfectly. There's no hardest moment for someone to see a beloved person die in front of your eyes. Shikamaru faced that, seeing helplessly while his sensei was being fatally wounded in the heart by a sadistic villain. On of the most memorable, unforgettable moment of this anime. Izumo and Kotetsu watched it as well. Kurenai felt it, she is connected to her "husband" for many reasons. But Shikamaru must not blame himself. He couldn't guess that Kakuzu could help Hidan the way he did. Or thay they would face these monstrous enemies. He knew that Kakuzu was too calm to think that they were winning. Deep down, Shikamaru knew that the battle was lost. And that's the hardest moment, he couldn't save his sensei from the inevitable fate upon him.
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