116-120

Chapter 116: Offering Oneself to the Evil God

As the Cult of the Evil God gradually eroded the lower-class citizens of the Land of Wind, a Sand Ninja awoke in the dead of night.

Kawanishi bolted upright from his nightmare, his chest heaving violently as though trying to expel the fear that gripped his body.

He was drenched in sweat—no, it wasn’t just him; even the bedsheets were soaked as though he had been pulled out of a lake.

Exhausted, he leaned his body against the cold wall, the chill grounding him and helping to stabilize his frayed emotions.

“That dream again...”

Kawanishi stared at the ominous mark of the Cult of the Evil God slowly appearing on his hand, his heart pounding as he recalled the nightmare.

It was a creature beyond description. None of the words Kawanishi knew could capture its grotesque horror. What he could see were countless writhing tentacles and bizarre eyes.

Just one glance made him feel as though his mind would explode, as though his body would melt and morph into something unrecognizable.

He had a terrifying premonition: if he dared to look at that creature for even a second longer, he would transform into a hideous monster in the real world.

And it all started when he encountered that man at the merchant guild.

“That guy...”

Staggering to the washroom, Kawanishi splashed cold water onto his face. He slowly looked up—only to be horrified by the sight in the mirror. His reflection was warping, slowly twisting into the image of that man.

At some point, rectangular glasses had appeared on his face, and his features began to resemble that man’s.

“Offer yourself to the Evil God. My master will grant you unimaginable rewards.”

The man’s voice echoed like a sinister incantation, wrapping itself around Kawanishi’s mind.

“No… no… I don’t want this!”

He punched the mirror with all his strength. The shards shattered, slicing into his fist. Blood instantly poured out, the pain momentarily bringing him clarity.

Slumped on the floor, gasping for breath, he watched as the blood pooling on the ground formed a circular pattern—an outer circle enclosing a triangle.

“Ah…”

Seeing this, Kawanishi’s despair deepened.

Once again, the image of that man loomed in his mind.

No matter how much he struggled, no matter how hard he resisted, he felt forever trapped under that man’s shadow.

And the Evil God’s whispers lingered in his ears.

“Are you content to skulk in the darkness like a rat?”

“Don’t you want to stand in the sunlight, like the true geniuses, and become someone admired by all of Sunagakure?”

“Don’t you dream of becoming Kazekage, the most respected figure in the village?”

“Wouldn’t you love for everyone to kneel at your feet, looking up to you in awe?”

“Offer yourself to the Evil God. My master will grant your every desire!”

The whispers struck at Kawanishi’s very core.

Yes. He was just an average young man. No exceptional bloodline. No talent for ninjutsu. He couldn’t even master puppetry.

No matter how hard he tried or how much effort he put in, he could never hope to catch up to true geniuses—like the Kazekage or Sasori of Red Sand.

He was destined to live a life of insignificance, to be forgotten, perhaps dying namelessly on some battlefield.

But he didn’t want that.

Kawanishi wanted to shine, to stand out like a true genius. He wanted to become Kazekage, the most revered figure in Sunagakure.

“If you desire it, give yourself to the Evil God.”

That sentence became the final straw that broke him. Kawanishi’s eyes turned blank, and he muttered under his breath, “Evil God… Master…”

He stopped struggling. His gaze grew brighter, filled with fervor—madness, even.

“Evil God!”

“Praise the Evil God!”

“Glory to the Evil God!”

As he raised his hands in a frenzy, chanting the name of his master, the parasite hidden within him grew rapidly.

Eight sharp limbs burst from his back, and his tailbone extended into a massive, armored scorpion tail. His eyes glowed a blood-red hue.

“Praise… the Evil God!”

No one knew what transformation this ordinary Sand Chūnin underwent that night.

The next day, the sun rose over the desert as usual.

In Sunagakure, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, rubbed his temples and studied the document before him with a heavy heart.

The report detailed the appearance of “Ghost-Faced Wind Scorpions” and “Venom-Blade Centipedes” across the Land of Wind.

These creatures had caused immense damage to the region’s residents and their property.

While the surge in dangerous missions had increased the village’s commissions by more than double, it was not a result the feudal lord wanted.

If these creatures continued their rampage, the nobility’s tax revenues would take a massive hit, leaving a gaping hole in the nation’s finances.

Thus, the feudal lord issued an S-rank mission to Sunagakure: investigate the source of the creatures and eliminate it.

Rasa looked conflicted.

The feudal lord had been cutting Sunagakure’s military funding for years, and just when their mission economy was booming, an S-rank task like this could undo all their gains.

Even if Rasa approved, would his ninja truly commit to the task, or would they slack off?

After all, those in power rarely empathize with the struggles of the lower classes.

Still, as Kazekage, Rasa had no choice but to take the feudal lord’s demand seriously.

“Baki, take two squads and eliminate the creatures near the capital. Clear out any nearby as well.”

“Also, investigate the source of these monsters and report your findings to me immediately. Understood?”

“Yes, Kazekage-sama.”

As Rasa’s trusted aide, Baki understood his intent.

On the surface, they were fulfilling the feudal lord’s request. But were they investigating the monsters to eliminate them… or to find a way to control them? That remained uncertain.

After Baki departed, Rasa’s secretary entered with urgent news.

“A Chūnin named Kawanishi requests an audience. He claims to have vital information to report to you.”

“Kawanishi? Let him in.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 117: Kagune

Rasa had a faint impression of Kawanishi.

A young man with mediocre talent, unlikely to ever advance to jōnin. Becoming a tokubetsu jōnin would already be his limit.

Besides that, the only other thing Rasa remembered about Kawanishi was his disgraceful retreat from Konoha ninja in the Land of Rain—an incident that even cost them a jōnin.

Of course, Rasa had dispatched further investigations to the Land of Rain afterward. Unfortunately, the region was engulfed in civil war, like a bottomless black hole. Not only did the dispatched ninja fail to gather any information, but many were also lost.

Coupled with a series of incidents within the Land of Wind itself, it was only natural that Rasa shifted his attention back to domestic matters.

So what could this kid possibly want now?

After entering, Kawanishi bowed respectfully to Rasa. “Lord Fourth Kazekage.”

Without lifting his head, Rasa casually asked, “I hear you have some important intelligence to report?”

Yes, that same dismissive attitude.

Kawanishi carefully observed the Fourth Kazekage. This wasn’t his first time seeing Rasa, but this time, there was something indescribable in his gaze.

Suddenly, he smiled faintly. “Lord Kazekage, I do have crucial information to report. It concerns the creatures in the desert.”

Rasa finally shifted his gaze from the papers on his desk to Kawanishi, looking slightly surprised. “What kind of intelligence?”

From Rasa’s reaction, it was clear that he took this matter seriously.

Without beating around the bush, Kawanishi said, “I discovered a special organ from the Wind Scorpions. By modifying and transplanting it into oneself, one can gain a unique power.”

“Oh? A unique power?”

Hearing this, Rasa’s interest was piqued. He was curious about what kind of power Kawanishi had obtained.

In response, Kawanishi unhesitatingly activated the power he had gained from the Evil God. Sharp limbs and a massive purple scorpion tail emerged instantly.

As Kawanishi’s body transformed, two ANBU instantly appeared in front of Rasa, ready to shield him from any attack.

Two more ANBU appeared to Kawanishi’s rear, ready to strike him down the moment he showed any hostility.

Rasa himself manipulated his golden sand, causing it to float—ready to form a shield for defense or a spear for offense.

Seeing the reaction, Kawanishi quickly raised his hands in surrender, his expression showing a natural trace of reverence. “Lord Kazekage, I only wanted to demonstrate my abilities to you.”

After confirming Kawanishi’s lack of hostile intent, Rasa waved his hand, signaling for the ANBU to stand down.

The four ANBU vanished instantly, leaving Rasa to observe Kawanishi’s altered body with a curious gaze.

“Explain your abilities,” Rasa commanded.

Kawanishi retrieved a pale purple, jade-like stone from his pocket and said, “This is a special organ I discovered in the Wind Scorpions. I’ve named it the Kagune. When transplanted into the human body and catalyzed with a secret technique, it allows the body to grow these new limbs.”

As he spoke, Kawanishi demonstrated his scorpion limbs and tail. “These appendages are incredibly durable—far stronger than the standard ninja tools we use. They can even serve as excellent materials for puppets or weapons.”

Rasa’s eyes lit up as he listened. Standing up, he gestured for Kawanishi to follow him to Suna Village’s training grounds.

“Come, let’s test this thing’s performance.”

Rasa urgently summoned Takashima Hisao, a tokubetsu jōnin in charge of testing puppets and ninja tools in Sunagakure.

Takashima had been with the village’s ninja tool department for nearly twenty years, but he had never seen a weapon like the one on Kawanishi’s body before.

“First, let’s test its hardness,” Hisao suggested.

Using standard ninja tool testing procedures, Hisao examined Kawanishi’s limbs and tail.

He found that these appendages were as tough as standard ninja tools—kunai struck them without leaving a scratch, let alone causing damage.

To cut through these limbs, one would need to use chakra-enhanced techniques at the very least.

This discovery confirmed that Kawanishi’s scorpion limbs could indeed replace traditional ninja tools.

If the appendages had the strength of ninja tools, then they could certainly be used as materials for puppet-making.

The revelation had the forty-something-year-old Hisao practically dancing with excitement.

“If this is true, we can mass-produce puppets using this material! We won’t have to worry about a shortage of resources anymore!”

One of the key factors limiting the development of Suna’s puppet masters was the scarcity of materials.

After all, the materials needed to craft a single puppet could produce hundreds, if not thousands, of kunai—a tremendous expense.

And to train a qualified puppet master? That cost was far more than a single puppet—it was closer to ten, twenty, or even thirty puppets!

Given the Land of Wind’s drastic budget cuts in recent years, Sunagakure had shifted its focus to training ordinary ninja, who had a shorter training cycle and were more cost-effective.

As a result, the puppet master profession had been steadily declining.

As a puppet master himself, Hisao was unwilling to see this trend continue. Today, Kawanishi’s discovery had opened a door of hope.

If materials from the Wind Scorpions could be successfully utilized, the number of puppet masters Sunagakure produced annually could at least double!

Moreover, the Kagune performed exceptionally well in combat, addressing the weaknesses of ninja who struggled in close-quarters combat.

After all, having eight additional limbs and a tail provided a significant advantage in close-range battles.

If this technology were widely adopted, Sunagakure’s ninja would naturally gain a massive advantage in close combat. They could then allocate their training efforts to other areas, such as learning additional ninjutsu.

As the Kazekage, Rasa quickly recognized the Kagune’s immense strategic value. His gaze toward Kawanishi shifted from indifference to burning enthusiasm.

“Kawanishi, is this secret technique something anyone can learn?”

Rasa looked at Kawanishi with great anticipation.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 118: A Door Opened by the Heavens for the Land of Wind

Facing the inquiry from Kazekage Rasa, Kawanishi immediately presented the scroll he had long prepared.

“Kazekage-sama, it is my honor to contribute to the growth of Sunagakure.”

“This scroll contains a secret technique for refining a special type of chakra. By following the method to extract the specific chakra and infusing it into the Scorpion Gem, its dormant properties can be activated.”

Kawanishi handed the scroll over to Rasa without any sign of reluctance on his face. Instead, his expression was one of pride and honor at being able to make a contribution to Sunagakure.

Seeing Kawanishi’s attitude, Rasa’s face broke into a satisfied smile.

If what Kawanishi said was true, then the Scorpion Gem and the secret technique for controlling it would undoubtedly hold immense strategic value for Sunagakure.

For something of such strategic significance, as the leader of Sunagakure, Rasa knew he had to keep it firmly under his control.

Kawanishi’s willingness to offer it freely was naturally ideal. If he hadn’t, Rasa would have had to find other ways to obtain it.

With a smile of approval, Rasa patted Kawanishi’s shoulder and said with genuine satisfaction:

“Kawanishi, is it? Your dedication to the village is admirable and sets an example for everyone. You should be a role model for the younger generation of Sunagakure.”

“With that, I hereby appoint you as a Special Jonin of Sunagakure. You will join our highest research laboratory and focus on studies related to wind scorpions and other creatures. Should you require resources, funding, or wish to learn any jutsu, you may come directly to me.”

At this point, Rasa had completely forgotten his initial doubts about Kawanishi. His tone conveyed nothing but the belief that Kawanishi was a rising star in Sunagakure.

“Thank you, Kazekage-sama.”

Faced with such a significant reward, Kawanishi naturally expressed a mix of excitement and appropriate humility.

This excitement, however, was genuine—but not because of Rasa’s reward. Instead, it came from the great Evil God.

Kawanishi knew very well that everything he had gained was thanks to the Evil God. The great master was watching over him.

Only by offering everything he had to the Evil God could he obtain even greater power and earn the approval of his deity.

Rasa failed to notice the flicker of strangeness in Kawanishi’s eyes.

He handed the scroll to the Anbu and instructed them to select suitable test subjects to train with the secret technique, ensuring the validity of Kawanishi’s information.

At the same time, the Anbu began a thorough investigation into Kawanishi’s background and life.

---

Over the next few days, Kawanishi could clearly feel the difference in how the villagers looked at him.

Rasa had crafted him into Sunagakure’s genius—a ninja who independently developed a powerful secret technique and made a great contribution to the village.

Under this narrative, Kawanishi’s standing among the villagers underwent a dramatic shift.

From being ignored, he had now become the center of attention.

Some children even began idolizing Kawanishi, seeing him as someone to emulate and strive toward.

“This feeling… it’s not bad at all…”

Kawanishi greedily enjoyed the spotlight that now shone on him.

He never imagined that going from a “sewer rat” to a celebrated genius required only one thing—becoming a devoted follower of the Evil God.

“Praise the Evil God.”

Kawanishi offered a heartfelt prayer of gratitude.

---

A month-long experiment finally came to an end, and the Anbu confirmed the results—Kawanishi’s secret technique was indeed effective.

Listening to the report, Rasa’s face revealed an excitement that was hard to contain.

“So, you’re saying that as long as a ninja has the chakra reserves of a Chunin, they can learn this technique, activate the Scorpion Gem, and obtain this ability?”

The Anbu in front of him nodded, affirming the Kazekage’s statement.

This meant that the close-combat abilities of Sunagakure’s Chunin could see a significant boost as long as they trained with the secret technique and implanted the Scorpion Gem.

“And what about obtaining the Scorpion Gems?”

As the Kazekage, Rasa always considered the bigger picture.

Although the Scorpion Gem could greatly enhance a ninja’s combat ability, it wouldn’t make much difference if there weren’t enough of them.

Fortunately, the Anbu gave Rasa a satisfactory answer:

“Roughly one in every three mature wind scorpions will have a complete Scorpion Gem. Additionally, we haven’t observed any significant side effects among those who have undergone implantation.”

“Moreover, Jiu Xiong has confirmed that the exoskeletons of these wind scorpions can be refined into puppet materials. In fact, the scorpions themselves make excellent puppets.”

“Good, good, good!”

A rare smile appeared on Rasa’s otherwise stiff face. However, the smile quickly faded as he asked, “And what about the investigation into Kawanishi?”

Sensing the shift in Rasa’s tone, the Anbu lowered his head and reported:

“We thoroughly investigated Kawanishi’s background and recent activities. We found no evidence of contact with other villages.”

Rasa crossed his hands and nodded slightly. “What about Maki’s findings on the wind scorpions?”

The Anbu quickly presented a mission dossier containing Maki’s report.

“No signs of human interference have been detected thus far.”

In other words, the origins of these wind scorpions remained unknown.

After some thought, Rasa finally issued an order:

“Select a squad from the Anbu to begin training with this technique. Once its safety is confirmed, we’ll gradually expand it to the other ninja.”

There was no helping it. The allure of this secret technique was simply too great.

If its safety could be guaranteed and it could be widely implemented, it would drastically enhance Sunagakure’s overall strength—a benefit of monumental importance to both Sunagakure and the Land of Wind.

The only remaining concern for Rasa was the origin of the wind scorpions.

Even now, they didn’t know how these creatures had emerged from the desert.

Still, in the face of such enormous benefits, Rasa decided it was worth the risk. Perhaps this was a door opened by the heavens for the Land of Wind.

“Understood.”

The Anbu ninja quickly disappeared, leaving Rasa alone in his office, deep in thought.

---

In the following days, Sunagakure issued numerous missions, sending countless squads in and out of the desert to capture wind scorpions.

Due to Rasa’s orders, the true purpose behind capturing the scorpions remained unknown. However, the generous rewards kept ninja motivated, and they eagerly scoured the deserts for wind scorpions.

In just over ten days, the wind scorpions near the village were completely wiped out, forcing the ninja to venture deeper into the desert to continue their hunt.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 119: Cooperation with the Sand Village

Watching the constant flow of ninjas capturing wind scorpions from the desert and transporting them into the village, Kaneki's face suddenly revealed an inexplicable smile.

The scene was reminiscent of those games where players need to complete daily quests and then return to the guild to exchange rewards.

If this ninja world were a game, then what would he be considered?

A hidden boss in the game?

Or maybe an NPC?

Or perhaps a player?

A rather amusing thought suddenly popped into Kaneki's mind.

After some serious contemplation, Kaneki felt that neither boss, NPC, nor player truly captured who he was.

If he had to describe himself, he might be...

Some sort of computer virus?

Kaneki scratched his nose, chuckling at his own thought.

A young female clerk nearby suddenly leaned over. "Chairman, what are you looking at?"

Kaneki gently inhaled the faint, pleasant fragrance unique to the girl and said calmly, "Nothing. I just thought of something interesting."

"Ugh, the chairman always loves to be mysterious," the girl pouted. Before she could say more, another customer entered the store, and she hurried over to greet them.

Watching the girl’s lively and energetic demeanor, Kaneki smiled knowingly.

"Ah, youth is wonderful."

Her name was something like Kana Chizuko—quite a pleasant name.

The store had been so busy lately that Kaneki had no choice but to hire a few clerks to help entertain the customers.

If he handled everything himself, he’d undoubtedly end up neglecting someone.

Kaneki withdrew his gaze and turned to lie lazily by the window, basking in the sunlight. The laid-back feeling was surprisingly enjoyable when experienced occasionally.

It had been nearly two months since Kawanishi presented his secret art and Kaneki was promoted to special jonin.

The testing and experimentation regarding the "Scorpion Jade Secret Technique" were already complete, but the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, still seemed hesitant and hadn’t promoted it on a large scale.

Perhaps he was waiting for Maki's investigation results on the wind scorpion swarm.

Kaneki didn’t particularly mind. At worst, he could simply present a "mother nest" to the Sand Village, conveniently allowing his signal range to cover the village.

At that point, though, he’d need a suitable explanation—perhaps introducing it as an ancient relic that housed some prehistoric creature.

Pushing up his glasses, Kaneki lazily continued watching the people walking through the streets.

"What a beautiful world."

Unfortunately, Kaneki’s tranquility didn’t last long, as the village’s ANBU ninjas finally showed up.

With the *Higanbana Guild*’s booming business in the Sand Village and the incredible efficacy of its military food pills, it was inevitable that Rasa would take notice.

"Are you Mr. Kamiki?"

Two ANBU ninjas displayed an unusual level of politeness for people who lived in the shadows.

Pushing his glasses again, Kaneki’s face remained serene and unfazed, still carrying his characteristic gentle smile—like a sun that never stopped shining.

"It’s an honor."

"Please come with us."

The two ANBU ninjas bowed slightly. Even they, warriors accustomed to the darkness, couldn’t help but yearn for the warmth that radiated from Kaneki.

Upon arriving at the Kazekage’s office and undergoing a quick inspection, Kaneki was soon granted an audience with Rasa.

"Mr. Kamiki," Rasa greeted.

"Kazekage-sama," Kaneki replied.

"Please, sit."

Rasa gestured for Kaneki to sit down—a gesture of goodwill rarely displayed by the notoriously cold Fourth Kazekage.

Kaneki accepted the tea offered by a staff member, took a gentle sip, and asked, "To what do I owe the pleasure, Kazekage-sama?"

Rasa’s personality matched his demeanor: cold and direct. He wasn’t one for small talk.

"I’ll get straight to the point. We in the Sand Village are very interested in the military food pills sold by the Higanbana Guild. Are you offering these products to other villages as well?"

The quality of these military food pills far surpassed ordinary ones.

Containing yang-release chakra, these pills could literally save lives at critical moments on the battlefield!

After extensive analysis by the village's medical department, no harmful substances were found in the pills. All the ingredients were purely natural—herbs and insect husks—completely normal.

Thus, increasing procurement from the Higanbana Guild was a natural step. Ideally, the Sand Village hoped to reach an exclusive agreement to monopolize the product.

Kaneki had already anticipated Rasa's intentions before coming here.

"We are planning to export to Konoha and a few other villages soon. I’m sure Kazekage-sama understands—our products are quite in demand across the ninja world."

Rasa didn’t deny the truth of this statement. Though pricey, the pills’ effectiveness was undeniable. Forget Konoha—these were strategic resources that every nation in the ninja world would compete for.

Unless someone developed a new type of military food pill with greater efficacy and better cost-efficiency, Rasa saw no hope of matching the Higanbana Guild’s product anytime soon.

Sitting up straighter, Rasa said seriously, "If possible, I would like to collaborate with the Higanbana Guild to make these products exclusive to the Sand Village."

Leaning back in his chair, Kaneki adjusted his glasses and replied, "If Kazekage-sama is worried that other villages will gain strength by acquiring these pills, there’s no need."

"Oh?"

Rasa’s sharp eyes fixed on Kaneki, waiting for his explanation.

Not one to disappoint, Kaneki presented an alternative form of cooperation.

"Kazekage-sama, I propose another partnership."

"The Higanbana Guild and the Sand Village can enter a strategic alliance. We’ll establish our headquarters in the Sand Village to produce the pills, and the Sand Village will oversee their delivery across the ninja world. Profits will be split fifty-fifty."

"All products developed by the Higanbana Guild will be supplied to the Sand Village first and will not be sold to third parties beforehand. In exchange, the Sand Village must provide whatever materials and experimental subjects the Higanbana Guild requires for research and development."

"Additionally, if the Sand Village enters a war with another village, it will receive priority access to all Higanbana Guild products."

"What do you think?"

Kaneki finished his proposal and handed over a prepared contract to Rasa.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 120: Blasphemers Go to Hell

Kaneki introduced so many new terms at once that Rasa was momentarily stunned. However, after carefully reading through the contract in his hands, he finally understood the purpose behind Kaneki's cooperation agreement.

Simply put, the two sides would form a partnership: the Hidden Sand Village would provide protection for the Higanbana Trading Company and, within its capabilities, meet the company's research material needs—such as certain medicinal herbs and unique wild creatures.

In return, the Hidden Sand Village would gain priority access to the Higanbana Trading Company’s medicine. Especially during times of war, the company would cooperate with the Hidden Sand Village to sanction enemies by cutting off the supply of essential goods.

As for the profits generated by the Higanbana Trading Company, they would be split evenly—fifty-fifty—with the Hidden Sand Village.

After all, the Higanbana Trading Company was gaining protection and support from one of the world’s strongest military powers.

This contract effectively bound the Higanbana Trading Company to the Hidden Sand Village’s war chariot, tying their fates together.

To Kaneki, however, this didn’t matter much. After all, he held exclusive production techniques for the goods. Even if the entire Higanbana Trading Company vanished into thin air, he could simply establish another trading company elsewhere under a different name.

Thanks to his multifunctional pills (or bugs), Kaneki could quickly make a fortune in any village.

That said, the Hidden Sand Village, as one of the Great Ninja Villages, approached this cooperation cautiously. The two sides inevitably haggled over countless details.

Kaneki had no complaints about this. He was happy to take it slow. After all, his many projects were managed by corresponding clones.

The negotiations with the Hidden Sand didn’t even occupy 1% of his current “CPU.”

His focus remained on decoding projects like Yin-Yang Release, Jugo’s Sage Cells, Nagato’s Gedo Statue, and his own reverse-engineering ninjutsu technology. Each of those was far more critical than this cooperation.

After two days of “intense” discussions, the Hidden Sand Village and the Higanbana Trading Company officially established a comprehensive partnership.

The Higanbana Trading Company’s medicine would be supplied directly to the Hidden Sand Hospital for use, and the village’s ninjas would also prioritize purchasing their products.

In addition, the Higanbana Trading Company’s first caravan would head to the Hidden Leaf Village in five days to set up a branch. A ninja escort team from the Hidden Sand Village would accompany and protect them on this mission.

Overall, the partnership was progressing smoothly.

As Kaneki watched his goods flow from the Hidden Sand Village to various parts of the ninja world, he narrowed his eyes slightly, his face breaking into a gentle smile.

"Good... the more they consume, the better."

While the cooperation between the Higanbana Trading Company and the Hidden Sand Village was flourishing, Kawanishi was steadily gaining Rasa’s trust. He was officially transferred to a special department:

The Biological Research Lab.

This department focused on two main areas: poisonous creatures native to the desert and... the monster currently in front of Kawanishi.

Its exposed muscles were irregularly distributed across its body, with patches of hard exoskeleton clinging to its skin. A pair of broken, fleshy wings jutted out from its back, while a grotesque mouth constantly dripped with saliva. Its large, compound eyes were fixed firmly on Kawanishi.

“This is our main research subject—a creature far stronger than the Wind Scorpions. If we can figure out how to cultivate this thing, the benefits could surpass even the Scorpion Jade,” Maki explained to Kawanishi.

In recent times, thanks to the outstanding success of the Scorpion Jade, Kawanishi’s status within the Hidden Sand Village had skyrocketed.

He was now the village’s brightest rising star.

Maki’s attitude toward him had subtly shifted as a result.

“Stronger than the Wind Scorpions, huh...”

Kawanishi gazed at the monster in front of him. Hidden beneath his gloves, the Evil God’s mark emitted a startling heat.

With just a glance, he recognized the creature’s identity...

It was him—the teammate who had once accompanied him to the Land of Rain, the traitor who betrayed the Evil God’s cult!

Kawanishi’s expression grew peculiar as he realized how much torment his former teammate must have endured to end up twisted into this form—body and soul alike.

Perhaps sensing the connection between cult members, the monster seemed to recognize Kawanishi. It opened its fanged mouth and hurled its body violently against its cage, rage evident in every move.

The cage shook with loud, metallic clang sounds that echoed its anger.

Seeing this, Maki quickly performed hand seals to activate a sealing technique, suppressing the creature.

Kawanishi remained unfazed by the creature’s aggression. In fact, he wore a teasing smile.

“This is the price for betraying Lord Evil God. Blasphemers deserve nothing less than death.”

Tugging at his gloves, Kawanishi’s lips curled slightly upward as he thought to himself, Next, I’ll make sure you receive the punishment a blasphemer truly deserves.  

Maki had initially expected researchers like Kawanishi to be terrified of monsters like this.

Clearly, he had been wrong.

Seeing the unsettling smile spreading across Kawanishi’s face, Maki sighed inwardly. I suppose this is just one of those “genius quirks.”  

“Anyway, I’ll leave the research on this creature to you. Just don’t kill it,” Maki warned before leaving the lab.

Thanks to the Scorpion Jade’s success, Rasa had granted Kawanishi immense trust and authority.

The moment Maki left, the laboratory was filled with painful screams.

The soul-deep howls of agony lasted for half an hour before Kawanishi finally emerged, satisfied.

To him, anyone who dared betray Lord Evil God must be sent to hell to face judgment.

And that’s exactly what he did.

As for research results? A sincere prayer to Lord Evil God was enough. Lord Evil God would grant any wish.

Meanwhile, in a sealed space somewhere, our dear Evil God lay limp.

“That’s it... I’m done... not even a single drop left...”

The black mist that once exuded power now lay sluggishly on the ground, as heavy as lead. Its eyes were half-closed, weakly observing the ninja world.

No one knew how rough its life had been recently.

One moment, it was receiving an overwhelming flood of faith and was on the verge of breaking the seal to dominate the world.

The next, its energy was drained at an alarming rate, leaving it on the brink of death.

If it weren’t for the fact that it was inherently evil, even the Evil God might suspect there was something “evil” lurking around it.  

Its gaze drifted through layers of mist, landing once again on Hidan, who was still lying in a blood pool.

And so, the Evil God let out an agonized cry: “Damn you, Hidan! Why won’t you leave me alone?!”

At the same time, our Evil God’s top representative, Kaneki, smiled as he looked over the bustling Hidden Sand Village.

“It’s time to pick up the pace.”

---

*End of Chapter*