Chapter 337 reveals the sting hidden in Shikamaru's plan. The blood Hidan believed he stole was never Shikamaru's, and a swapped sample turns the immortal's own ritual against his partner.
Main Characters (4)
Summary
Shikamaru makes a move to lop off Hidan's head, but the immortal twists clear in time. Shikamaru then lays out the trick: Kakashi had earlier sealed some of Kakuzu's blood inside a capsule, so when Hidan thought he had tasted Shikamaru's blood and forged his lethal link, he had actually bound himself to Kakuzu instead. Shikamaru's shadow snares him once again. Not far off, Kakuzu buckles and collapses. Chōji rushes to smash the loose masks before they can reach him but comes up short, and Kakuzu claims one mask's heart and fuses with the other two so they stay close at hand. When the pair of masks unleashes a joint fire-and-wind assault, the newly arrived Team 7 answers with a combined water-and-wind counter to shield Team 10.
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Notes
The chapter falls within the Akatsuki Suppression Mission arc and appears in volume 37. It pays off Shikamaru's earlier scheme and brings Team 7 into the fight alongside Team 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shikamaru a genius?
Yes. In "Shikamaru's Genius!!" (chapter 337), Shikamaru Nara proves his cleverness by tricking Hidan into believing he tasted Shikamaru's blood, when Kakashi had actually sealed a sample of Kakuzu's blood in a capsule beforehand, turning Hidan's own curse against his partner.
What happens in the chapter "Shikamaru's Genius!!"?
In "Shikamaru's Genius!!," Shikamaru Nara reveals that he tricked Hidan into cursing himself to Kakuzu instead of to Shikamaru, then recaptures Hidan with his shadow while Kakuzu collapses from the backlash.
How does Kakuzu survive after collapsing in this chapter?
After collapsing, Kakuzu absorbs one of his masks' hearts and merges the two surviving masks together so they remain close at hand, keeping himself alive.
What role does Team 7 play in "Shikamaru's Genius!!"?
Team 7 arrives during the fight and uses a combined water and wind technique to block the joint fire and wind assault from Kakuzu's masks, shielding Team 10 from harm.
What arc does "Shikamaru's Genius!!" belong to?
"Shikamaru's Genius!!" is chapter 337 of Naruto, part of the Akatsuki Suppression Mission arc, collected in volume 37.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
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