86-90

*Chapter 86: Setting the Stage, Enter the Audience!*

On the battlefield,

A surge of fierce chakra erupted from Shinji’s body.

He slightly lifted his gaze, the crimson glow of his Sharingan locking onto Tōgō Hayato.

Black waves of energy radiated outward from him, spreading in all directions.

The blood pool churned, and the cross swayed with an unsettling creak.

Even the crimson ritual array beneath Hidan’s feet seemed to waver under the influence of this malevolent chakra.

At this moment,

Shinji found himself caught in a state of dual extremes.

Under the sway of the dark chakra, waves of sinister thoughts surged in his mind.

This incessant malice stoked an overwhelming killing intent within him, making him almost tempted to break into a dance, à la Star-Lord, to showcase the incredible moves he had secretly mastered.

However, thanks to his combat intuition, even under this extreme malice, he retained his sanity.

At least, his battle plan remained intact:

*Identify the enemy, confirm their intel, gather dark chakra, unleash, and fight!*

Following Shikamaru’s tactics, dismember the opponent and bury them.

Shinji had initially planned to accumulate enough dark chakra to activate the forbidden jutsu, *Flesh Genesis*, for five minutes.

But having used the dark chakra prematurely, the execution of Flesh Genesis was far from perfect and wouldn’t last long.

So now, he had *two minutes.*

Two minutes to go all out—if he couldn’t settle the fight in that time, the game would be over.

Currently, his usable resources were:

- Two minutes of super-speed regeneration.

- The chakra within his body, which, after two Sharingan awakenings, was roughly equivalent to that of an average jonin.

The dark chakra, too wild to be used for direct ninjutsu in its unrefined state, served as fuel for the forbidden Flesh Genesis.

Of course, Shinji still had an "ally" in dire straits:

Hidan, under the effects of the Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood. Any stab into Hidan would affect all three of them simultaneously. Using the time difference between Hidan's immortality and Flesh Genesis's regenerative abilities, he could devise a strategy.

But judging by Hidan’s current state, he could probably only take *two more stabs* before collapsing on the spot.

Therefore, the plan had to be executed with precision.

In less than three seconds, he finalized his battle strategy.

The first step was—

Shinji’s eyes sharpened, his crimson Sharingan spinning fiercely as he leapt forward, landing in front of Hidan.

Forming a rapid sequence of hand seals, he decisively slammed his palms onto the ground!

*Super Deathmatch Barrier!*

A massive circular pattern expanded rapidly, the faintly red light sealing Tōgō Hayato within it while separating Shinji from Hidan.

The barrier glowed brightly—

A technique surpassing even the Hidden Cloud’s original *Super Deathmatch Barrier*.

At this moment, the domain unfolded!

---

*Meanwhile, outside the castle.*

Five figures landed, led by a man in a deep blue robe bearing the Uchiha clan’s iconic fan emblem on his back.

He was tall and imposing, with a stern, somewhat intimidating face.

This man was none other than *Uchiha Fugaku*, who had come with his team to search for and rescue a family member.

Surveying the collapsed castle and the wreckage strewn across the hall, Fugaku took a deep breath.

In the center of the hall, he spotted traces of battle consistent with the Uchiha Flow: Manipulated Shuriken Technique, identical to those on the castle walls.

At that moment, he was certain that the young one he was eager to meet—*Shinji*—was here.

But—

As Fugaku examined the battle scars in the hall, he couldn’t help but frown slightly.

The sheer scale of this battle far exceeded what a genin could handle.

From the volcanic ruins, the sliced walls of the castle, the collapsed cliffside, and now this ruined castle,

Each battlefield surpassed the last in intensity, escalating to a level that even Fugaku found astonishing.

His curiosity about this boy, Shinji, grew stronger.

Who was he, to survive such relentless battles?

How strong had he become?

And had he awakened the taboo *Mangekyō Sharingan*?

Fugaku leaned toward believing so.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain how this boy could still be alive amid this insane escalation of combat.

Uchiha Shisui had described him as a bridge between the clan and the village.

Uchiha Setsuna had given his life for him.

Uchiha Seijiro had charged fearlessly into the Jashin cult’s headquarters for him.

Just who was he?

At that moment—

“Captain, the ground here is strange. There are traces of chakra,” a Uchiha stepped forward and reported from behind Fugaku.

“Hm?”

Fugaku turned sharply, his three-tomoe Sharingan gleaming as he examined the ground.

After a moment, his gaze hardened. Quickly forming seals—

Serpent, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger!

With his index finger extended, he unleashed a blazing *Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu* at the ground.

The intense heat, far surpassing a standard fireball, melted and collapsed the ground, revealing a pitch-black hole beneath.

Another Uchiha member immediately summoned an orange ninja cat wearing a red outfit through a summoning technique. It was none other than Hinata, one of Cat Granny’s elite ninja cats.

“Hinata, please sniff out that kid’s scent,” Uchiha Fugaku crouched at the cave entrance and instructed the ninja cat.

Hinata froze for a moment, then wrinkled her feline nose. Lifting her paw, she seemed ready to swipe, her tone full of indignation:

“This is outrageous, meow! Fugaku, how dare you treat me, the great Hinata, as—”

Before she could finish, Fugaku pulled out his wallet and slipped her a ten-thousand-ryo bill.

Hinata: ($$)!

“Ahem, as a trustworthy partner, meow. Since that’s the case, I’ll lend you a paw,” she said, tucking the bill gleefully into her pouch.

Raising her sleek, black nose, Hinata sniffed the air carefully.

In some ways, a cat’s sense of smell is even sharper than a dog’s.

In no time, Hinata nodded and confidently declared, “Got it. That kid’s scent is inside.”

“But—”

Without hesitation, Fugaku pulled out another one-hundred-thousand-ryo bill and handed it to her.

Hinata twitched her nose, then added, “There’s a strong scent of blood below, and I can hear screams coming from the kid’s location. The kind of screams people make when they’re being tortured, meow.”

Upon hearing this, the assembled Uchiha clan members were immediately enraged, their Sharingan eyes glowing red.

“What the hell?! They dare to torture a child of the Uchiha clan?”

“Captain, let’s kill our way down there!”

“Captain, this is intolerable! Let’s burn this Jashin cult to the ground!”

“Captain, if it gets out of hand, we can send a hawk messenger to Hell Valley. With a hundred Uchihas marching in, we’ll even replace the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water if we have to!”

Fugaku nodded to Hinata and then raised a hand, his expression stern as he barked at his subordinates:

“Calm down, all of you! When we go down there, no one acts without my orders.”

Narrowing his eyes, he added in a cool tone:

“That kid is far stronger than you think. He might even be stronger than any of you.”

Hearing this, the Uchiha members shook their heads in disbelief. While they dared not openly argue, they muttered under their breath:

“Hah? That idiot? The same kid who doesn’t even know how to enjoy himself at a brothel?”

“Heh, the one who only does boring D-rank missions? Give me a break.”

“I remember Seichiro coming back the other night, talking about how that kid claimed he’d become some kind of ‘glory,’ didn’t he?”

It was one thing to empathize with the kid, but to claim he was stronger than them?

No way. Unless he could take them all down, then pour boiling water over their nether regions!

Fugaku glanced at the varied expressions on his subordinates’ faces and shook his head. Without another word, he leaped forward, leading the way into the cave below.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 87: The Show Begins, Blades Dance in the Air

On the other side:

A giant serpent coiled its massive body, uprooting the surrounding forest as if it were nothing. The land was scarred with winding ravines, and shattered rocks pierced the earth like jagged spears.

Atop the towering Rashomon gates, Orochimaru looked down on the battlefield below, his expression grim.

“He actually managed to escape,” Orochimaru muttered, his face darkening. His cold, snake-like eyes flickered with anger as he stared at the massive hole in the ground.

Orochimaru had come here for one reason: the forbidden jutsu, *Flesh Regeneration*, in Shinon possession.

The plan was simple—force Shinon into an underground cavern, use the terrain to summon countless serpents, and capture him.

But for reasons Orochimaru couldn’t fathom, Shinon lingered outside for far too long, avoiding every trap.

Unable to contain his growing impatience—especially since the Immortality Transfer technique required Shinon accelerated regeneration jutsu—Orochimaru decided to handle things personally.

The battle that ensued was brief yet intense.

Even though Shinon had gained partial mastery of Zero-Tails chakra, he was no match for Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin. When the situation turned dire, Shinon feigned an attack, forcing Orochimaru to summon the Triple Rashomon. Taking advantage of the diversion, Shinon activated Flesh Regeneration, burrowed into the ground, and escaped.

By the time Orochimaru realized what had happened, Shinon was already two kilometers away.

Moments later, Shinon summoned a flying machine, and with a burst of speed, soared into the sky.

Even Manda, with his exceptional sense of smell, couldn’t track Shinon any further.

“Sky ninja… Hmph.” Orochimaru suppressed the rage surging in his chest, taking a deep breath to regain his composure.

After calming himself, Orochimaru’s mind turned to the bigger picture. His brows furrowed slightly.

“Jiraiya’s already been sent to monitor Iwagakure and Sunagakure’s movements. The Third Great Ninja War is about to erupt. The old man will likely assign me to either the Land of Rice Fields or the Land of Rain.”

“There’s not much time left. I need to secure the regeneration technique while I still can.”

At that moment, from below the Rashomon gates, Manda raised his massive head, his voice filled with irritation.

“Orochimaru! Where are the 100 live sacrifices you promised me?”

Hearing this, Orochimaru’s golden, snake-like eyes narrowed. He leapt onto Manda’s head and said coldly:

“Underground. There are over a thousand waiting for you.”

As he spoke, his gaze turned icy, and his tongue darted out to lick the corner of his lips.

“Let’s see just how far this so-called immortality can really go…”

---

Underground Cavern

A massive crimson barrier expanded outward in an instant.

Outside the barrier, a cacophony of footsteps echoed through the cavern.

The first to arrive were five Uchiha clan shinobi, led by Fugaku Uchiha. They emerged from a hole at the top of the cavern, clinging upside-down to the ceiling and peering down at the scene below.

Fugaku’s Sharingan flared, casting its crimson light over the battlefield as he surveyed the area.

When his gaze fell on the barrier and the young man charging at the cult leader within, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“This barrier… It’s similar to the regeneration barrier used by the Cloud Village. It seems even stronger.”

“Is it the work of that cult leader? A way to prevent interference in the fight?”

“And that boy… Is he Shinji?”

Fugaku raised an eyebrow. Though the barrier’s regeneration ability was impressive, it was nothing the Uchiha couldn’t handle. A single coordinated volley of Fire Release jutsu from the team could easily break through it.

However, just as Fugaku was preparing to act, he suddenly looked toward a dark corner of the cavern.

There, a small white snake spat out a scroll. With a loud pop, the scroll summoned a massive gray-black serpent, and from its mouth, a figure emerged.

The sight of the person made Fugaku’s pupils contract sharply.

The man had long black hair, golden slit pupils, and pale skin. Recognizing him instantly, Fugaku knew this was Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin.

Fugaku had previously sought information from Orochimaru, only to be refused. From that encounter, he deduced that Orochimaru had plans involving this small cult in the Land of Hot Water. Now, seeing Shinji here as well, Fugaku couldn’t help but wonder what role the boy played in Orochimaru’s schemes.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru, having just emerged, felt a sharp gaze on him. He looked up, scanning the cavern with narrowed eyes.

“Is that… the head of the Konoha Police Force, Fugaku Uchiha?”

“And so many Uchiha shinobi… What are they doing here?”

Orochimaru’s eyes gleamed as he realized the situation had become far more complicated.

He had intended to capture the cult leader and extract information about the jutsu.

But with the Uchiha clan’s unexpected presence—particularly those possessing the Sharingan—things were no longer so straightforward.

The two sides locked eyes, neither making a move.

For now, both were unsure of the other’s intentions.

Perfect timing.

Fugaku Uchiha wanted to see the extent of Shinji’s abilities, while Orochimaru was eager to study the practical effects of his so-called immortality.

Thus, both sides tacitly ceased fighting and silently turned their attention to the barrier in the center of the battlefield.

Deeper underground in the cavern, White Zetsu stood bewildered, staring at the sudden commotion. For a moment, he didn’t know whether he should step out.

Madara Uchiha had instructed him to plant the Spore Technique on the kid inside the barrier. However, with so many Sharingan pairs watching and Orochimaru’s summoned snakes sniffing around, approaching too closely might risk exposing his Mayfly Technique.

White Zetsu felt a bit speechless. He thought to himself that the underground base Madara-sama had him secretly construct over decades had never been this lively before.

Are these people bored out of their minds?

Left with no other choice, he stayed hidden beneath the ground, silently observing Shinji.

For a moment, the atmosphere on the battlefield turned solemn.

---

Inside the barrier at this moment, Shinji was completely unaware that an audience of such prominent figures had quietly gathered to watch.

After activating the barrier, he squinted at Tōgō Hayato, who stood not far away. Dark, swirling chakra surged across his body.

With his accelerated regeneration as a safety net, at this moment, he felt as invincible as Danzo in his prime!

Casting aside all hesitation, he unleashed his chakra with full force. Pivoting his feet, he flipped his hand to draw a kunai and hurled it forward, then charged in a low sprint!

Seeing Shinji rushing toward him, Tōgō Hayato's eyes flashed with shock before his expression darkened.

It finally dawned on him that he had been tricked by this little brat.

Everything Shinji had just said to Hidan was nothing more than a ruse to lower his guard and buy time to set up this explosive attack.

This brat was truly a wild card!

Such a person must be mercilessly eliminated!

With that thought, Tōgō Hayato’s eyes burned with murderous intent. He tilted his head to dodge the incoming kunai and immediately counter-charged.

Striding forward, he pulled a black spear from the holster hidden in his sleeve. He swung the spear wide and thrust it straight toward Shinji’s chest!

Shinji’s gaze turned cold. Twisting his body mid-charge, he kicked the spear to the side.

Using his hand for support, he pushed off the ground, leaping high into the air. While spinning midair, he hooked his fingers to pull a taut, black wire connected to the kunai embedded in the ground.

The wire instantly became a straight, razor-sharp blade!

Holding onto the line, Shinji landed swiftly. His feet kicked up droplets of water as he slid low along the ground.

*Diagonal Wire Slash + Water Style: Surface Cutting Technique.*

Using rapid movement, dazzling wire manipulation, and acrobatics akin to a gymnast, he crafted an attack that appeared as though he wielded a five-meter-long blade from thin air.

This slash was now cutting fiercely toward Tōgō Hayato’s spear-wielding hand!

Seeing the move, Tōgō Hayato’s face filled with shock.

Even though the Jashinist’s immortality granted impressive regeneration—even surviving a pierced heart—if a limb were severed, recovery would take significant time.

Shinji’s opening attack had precisely targeted his weak spot!

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“No way in hell am I letting you succeed!” Tōgō Hayato’s eyes flashed coldly as the muscles on his face twisted with rage.

He immediately used his free hand to draw another black spear and forcibly blocked the wire blade!

Little did he know, this was exactly within Shinji’s calculations.

This move was a trap, forcing the enemy into a predictable reaction.

And then—

Hidden within the seemingly ordinary technique, a lethal surprise awaited.

Unnoticed, six shuriken suddenly struck the ground around Tōgō Hayato’s feet, forming a circle.

Shinji flipped backward into the air once more. He pressed his thumbs against his middle fingers while curling his other three fingers tightly together, lifting his hands above his head.

The wires tied to the six shuriken straightened sharply, converging toward the center in a powerful, slicing motion!

Six lines of deadly wire lit up!

Tōgō Hayato’s eyes widened, and for the first time, genuine fear appeared on his face.

Despite the Jashinist’s remarkable resilience, even he knew that being trapped by these wires could render him helpless!

---

(To be continued…)

Chapter 88: Blade of Water and the Undying Berserker!  

When Shikamaru trapped Hidan, he used a pre-arranged setup of explosive tags strung together with wires, binding them to Hidan's body and blasting him into pieces to finish him off.  

Shinji, however, had no explosive tags left—they were all used up during his earlier battles on the castle walls.  

But what he did have were wires and a mastery of manipulating them. By stretching and controlling the Detachment of the Primitive World's threads taut, he could create a sharpness akin to steel blades, enough to sever an opponent's body.  

The original story already demonstrated that while immortality granted invulnerability, if the body was dismembered, recovery became exceedingly difficult.  

Shinji didn’t have the time for a drawn-out fight. 

Thus, the moment he acted, it was a killing move! 

And this attack completely caught Higashikawa Hayato off guard.  

Hayato’s immortality was far from perfect; he relied on Hidan’s Curse: Death Controlling Possessed Blood ritual to achieve his sacrifices.  

For a Jōnin like him from a small country, most of his combat prowess lay in his hands.  

If his hands were severed, he wouldn’t be able to form hand seals or use ninjutsu, leaving him a lamb awaiting slaughter.  

Outside the Barrier 

The watching Uchiha clansmen couldn’t help but blink twice in disbelief, their eyes wide open.  

As fellow Sharingan users, they could clearly discern the lethal intent hidden beneath Shinji’s graceful, dance-like spinning and leaping motions, as well as the incredible difficulty of his techniques.  

Even Uchiha Fugaku was taken aback.  

Although he had already developed a high opinion of Shinji’s shuriken techniques from the remnants of the earlier battlefield, 

seeing this with his own eyes as an expert made it even more astonishing.  

“This kid, aside from some flaws in his basic taijutsu, has near-perfect shuriken throwing angles and wire control skills!”  

“For the Uchiha Style Wire-Controlled Shuriken Art to reach this level, only Elder Uchiha Setsuna could pull it off in our clan.”  

Frowning slightly, Fugaku mused, 

“Could it be that this boy was secretly raised by the elder and taught everything he knows?”  

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, and his gaze toward Shinji started to shift.  

On the Battlefield  

In a flash, Hayato realized that in pure taijutsu, he, a Jōnin from a small country, was no match for this two-tomoe Uchiha.  

The killing blow was closing in! 

Hayato raised his pitch-black spear to block the wires but couldn’t intercept them all.  

Realizing this, Hayato dropped his spear and quickly formed hand seals.  

As the seals completed, his entire body sank into the ground, vanishing without a trace.  

Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!  

This C-rank jutsu allowed the user to manipulate chakra to liquefy the surrounding earth, enabling them to move through it as though swimming.  

Seeing this, Shinji’s eyes shifted, and through his Sharingan, he locked onto a mass of chakra moving beneath the earth.  

Sliding his foot, he sent a splash of water surging forward while pulling out his last kunai and forming hand seals.  

Rabbit → Sheep → Snake! 

Water Style: Water Fang Blade!  

With a clap of his hands and a pull, a spiraling water blade appeared in his grasp!  

Fixing his gaze on Hayato’s position, Shinji bent low and dashed forward, trailing close behind like a curse that wouldn’t let go, before plunging the water blade deep into the ground!  

The blade struck true, piercing through Hayato’s head, slicing through his face, his oral cavity, and breaking through his jawbone before emerging out the other side!  

Hayato’s scalp tingled, his eyes widened in horror, and he forcibly twisted his head to let the blade graze across his face instead.  

Bang! 

Leaping out of the ground, Hayato landed covered in blood, his face twisted in rage as he glared at Shinji.  

“You brat! You leave me no choice!”  

But Shinji wasn’t interested in his rant. Twisting his foot, he leaped forward, delivering a diagonal slash at Hayato’s neck.  

Hayato’s eyes darted as he dodged to the side, evading the blade while simultaneously forming hand seals despite the close quarters.  

Now locked in close-quarters combat, 

Blades flashed, each strike leaving an arc of azure light in the air. Shinji’s attacks relentlessly targeted Hayato’s vital spots.  

However, this display of swordsmanship caused the five Uchihas on the cliff to frown.  

One of them couldn’t help but complain: 

“Who taught this kid swordsmanship? It’s so sloppy!”  

“If he used proper Uchiha-style swordsmanship, that ninja from the Hot Springs Village would’ve been dead ages ago.”  

Fugaku shook his head in disappointment, offering a critique. 

“His fundamentals are terrible. He doesn’t understand the essence of swordsmanship.”  

“This kid probably just awakened his Sharingan and copied someone else’s sword techniques. One moment he’s using the Cloud Style, the next he’s using basic strikes—it’s like he’s in a street brawl, kicking and headbutting like a thug.”  

“If he doesn’t correct this…” Fugaku frowned deeply. 

“He’s putting himself in grave danger.”  

On the Battlefield  

Hayato, despite forming seals, demonstrated the skill of an experienced Jōnin. Through subtle movements—side-stepping, leaping, flipping backward, and twisting his torso—he managed to dodge Shinji’s water blade strikes.  

If his hands weren’t occupied with forming seals, he might’ve even countered with dirty moves like elbow strikes to the face or low blows to regain the upper hand.  

But the seals were necessary—to create distance from Shinji. 

The kid’s shuriken techniques, combined with those threads, posed a significant threat to him.  

Quickly, Tōgō Hayato’s hand seals were already complete.  

Water Release: Water Formation Wall! 

He suddenly leaped backward, gathering chakra at his throat, and unleashed a fierce torrent of water aimed directly at Shinji!  

This jutsu was not only for defense but also packed a powerful impact. 

Splash! 

Violent waves surged downward with immense force, pushing Shinji back.  

Tōgō Hayato raised his hand to complete the final seal, following it up with Lightning Release: Lightning Strike, pressing his hand onto the water’s surface.  

Another dazzling bolt of lightning coursed through the water and struck Shinji fiercely.  

Shinji frowned as a paralyzing sensation swept over his body, slightly hindering his movements.  

Seeing this, a ruthless glint flashed in Tōgō Hayato’s eyes. With a flick of his sleeve, he drew two pitch-black spears and hurled them forcefully!  

Whoosh! Whoosh! 

One spear pierced through Shinji’s chest, while the other drove through his leg, pinning him straight to the ground.  

At last, Tōgō Hayato found a brief moment to catch his breath. He stared intently at the pinned-down Shinji, frowning.  

“This should finish him off, right?”  

But he quickly remembered the boy’s rapid healing ability from earlier, leaving him uneasy.  

Tōgō Hayato’s expression turned cold as he immediately formed another set of seals.  

Lightning Release: Four-Pillar Bind!  

The ground around them trembled as soil and stones lifted into four massive pillars. These columns surged with crackling lightning, shooting toward the immobilized Shinji at the center.  

Finally, Tōgō Hayato raised his hand abruptly, drawing another black spear, and launched it straight toward Shinji’s forehead with immense force!  

This spear was aimed directly at the vital spot!  

From the cavern’s ceiling, four Uchiha shinobi couldn’t help but widen their eyes, ready to jump in to save him.  

However, Uchiha Fugaku raised a hand, stopping them. He frowned and said:  

“Wait. Let’s observe for a bit longer.”  

Even though Shinji had already shown enough abilities to warrant attention, Uchiha Fugaku had a feeling this wasn’t the boy’s limit.  

“Captain, what are we waiting for?!”  

“He’s about to get killed, and we’re just standing here doing nothing?”  

The Uchiha team looked at Fugaku in disbelief.  

But the man with the fierce face remained silent, his crimson Sharingan glowing as he stared down his team.  

“Keep watching.”  

He ordered coldly.  

On the battlefield, Shinji was forced to endure the successive blows of Lightning Release: Lightning Strike and Four-Pillar Bind.  

In truth, he had no intention of dodging at all.  

The black spear tore through the air and shot straight into his forehead, piercing clean through to the back of his skull!  

And yet—  

In what should have been a fatal blow, Shinji’s eyes suddenly snapped open, revealing a pair of crimson pupils.  

Despite the spear embedded in his forehead, chest, and leg, he slowly rose to his feet under everyone’s shocked gaze.  

Grabbing the spear lodged in his head, he pulled it out.  

He then swung it with full force, shattering the lightning pillar in front of him. Like an unstoppable berserker, he grinned maniacally at Tōgō Hayato, his face drenched in blood.  

“I told you before, that pathetic immortality of yours is a fraud!”  

“Running around like a scared dog—what a joke!”  

With that, Shinji pulled out the three black spears from his body. The bloody wounds healed rapidly, the flesh knitting together, growing new skin, and leaving no trace of injury behind.  

Shinji let out a wild laugh, his gaze fierce. Gripping the spear, he charged forward with blinding speed.  

“Now it’s my turn!”  

(Chapter Ends) 

 Chapter 89: Shocking Turn of Events, The Grasscutter Sword · Void Blade!

Shinji suddenly clenched his fist, a surge of dark chakra erupting through his body.

Activating the forbidden technique Corporeal Rebirth with full force, he suppressed all negative conditions afflicting his body and forcibly healed himself.

Smashing through a lightning pillar and piercing a water column, a jet-black spear over a meter long spun between his hands. Leaping out of the jutsu’s range, he hurled the spear forward with all his might—one after the other!

Seizing the opening as Higashigata Hayato raised his blade to parry, Shinji dashed forward, the water blade in his hand dragging sparks across the ground as he charged.

From below, he slashed upward in a counterstrike against his opponent.

After a series of intense battles, Shinji’s ninja tool pouch now contained only three shuriken, one kunai, and a handful of senbon needles that were virtually useless in this situation.

This meant that the next time he used a ninja tool, it would have to strike a fatal blow to Higashigata Hayato.

Otherwise, when the forbidden technique’s effects wore off, he would lose.

At this moment—

Higashigata Hayato narrowed his eyes. After a brief moment of shock, he quickly regained his composure.

Simultaneously, he noticed that after the shocking display of rapid regeneration, this kid’s movements seemed less agile than before.

He swiftly concluded that the boy’s "immortality" must come at a tremendous cost.

Such an unreasonable form of recovery couldn’t possibly last long.

With that thought, Higashigata Hayato immediately turned and began retreating, clearly intent on turning this battle into a war of attrition.

Thus, an absurd scene unfolded on the battlefield.

Higashigata Hayato, the High Priest of the Cult of Jashin,

was being chased around the arena by Shinji, who brandished his blade, slashing wildly at his back.

Shinji watched as his opponent abandoned all pretense of dignity befitting a jonin, bolting around the barrier’s perimeter.

To make matters worse, Shinji had no effective means to stop him.

He lacked proficiency in long-range ninjutsu, was low on ninja tools, and needed to save what he had for a critical moment.

As time dragged on, frustration surged within him, growing stronger with each passing second.

Under the influence of the dark chakra, his breathing became labored, and his blood-red eyes burned with unrestrained fury.

Suddenly, a fire of rage ignited in his pupils!

Shinji bent down abruptly, plunging his hand into the ground. Ignoring the fact that his palm was scraping and bleeding against the sharp surface, he pried loose a chunk of rock from the cavern floor.

With a forceful grip, he crushed it into fragments and hurled the shards violently, roaring furiously:

"Stop running! You son of a—stop right there!"

"What are you running from?!"

"Quit running already!"

"You’re a jonin with immortality, and you’re scared of a genin like me?"

"Come on! Fight me!"

"Fight me to the last drop of blood!"

The flying stones drew chaotic yet perfect arcs through the air, forcing Higashigata Hayato to dodge and weave.

But instead of stopping, Hayato only ran faster upon hearing Shinji’s taunts.

While sprinting, his thoughts were full of curses:

*A genin? You call yourself a genin?!

What genin can throw projectiles with such skill that even I can’t fully understand?

And what’s with this absurd surge of chakra and a regeneration ability more terrifying than the Cult of Jashin’s immortality?*

Higashigata Hayato had never seen anyone so bizarre.

This kid was more of a freak than Jashin himself!

At that moment—

The pale red barrier suddenly began to tremble.

A cold gleam abruptly flashed outside the barrier, followed by a violent burst of brilliance.

The Grasscutter Sword · Void Blade!

An ancient sword spiraled into the air, its blade piercing a weak point in the barrier and extending infinitely, reaching nearly a hundred meters in length.

With a single stroke, it struck the core of the sealing technique that Shinji had inscribed on the ground to raise the barrier.

With a light swipe,

the pale red barrier crumbled and shattered, dissolving into nothingness in an instant.

Then—

Clack! Clack! Clack!  

Urgent footsteps echoed from the dark corners of the cavern.

---

In the shadowy depths of the cave,

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, watching the battle within the barrier.

More specifically, he was observing the High Priest of the Cult of Jashin, Higashigata Hayato.

He didn’t care about the battle within the barrier; all he wanted was to capture the opponent and interrogate them about the so-called "immortality technique" and what kind of jutsu it truly was.

However, the barrier before him was blocking his path.

Looking at the barrier, Orochimaru slightly raised an eyebrow. He pressed his finger against it, and the surface of the faintly red barrier rippled immediately.

“This is… the Rebirth Barrier Technique of Uzushio Village?”

With his vast knowledge, Orochimaru instantly recognized the origin of the barrier, causing him to raise his eyebrow slightly.

For someone like him, there were numerous ways to break through this barrier.

But on the other side of the cavern, there was a group of Uchiha whose intentions were unknown—especially that fierce-looking man, Uchiha Fugaku, captain of the Police Force.

That man gave him a very dangerous feeling.

So, he temporarily suppressed his impatience and silently observed the battle taking place within the barrier.

However, at that moment,

He saw Shinji, pierced by three thick black spears in his forehead, thigh, and chest, open a pair of blood-red Sharingan.

And then—

That little brat actually pulled out the spear lodged in his forehead as if it were nothing and staggered back to his feet.

What’s more, the wounds were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“Wait, this… this is…”

Witnessing this scene, Orochimaru’s pupils suddenly contracted, and he took a sharp breath, uttering the name of the technique:

“Forbidden Jutsu: Physical Rebirth!”

Excitement surged through him like a flood crashing into his mind, and his heart began to pound wildly.

A sudden gleam of brilliance erupted in his golden eyes.

Fixating all his attention on Shinji, he quickly deduced quite a bit.

“This is the little brat I encountered on the city wall?”

“Hm? He has the same malevolent chakra fluctuation as Shinnō, and this technique…”

“No doubt about it!” Orochimaru’s breath caught.

“No wonder Shinnō exposed himself back on the city wall.”

“So, this brat is his disciple, inheriting his mantle!”

He knew a bit about the Immortality Technique of the Cult of Jashin from the intelligence passed along by the White Snake summons.

The regenerative speed of that kind of body wasn’t particularly fast—it only provided so-called ‘immortality.’

Initially, Orochimaru returned here intending to interrogate them about the Cult of Jashin’s secret techniques to see if they could be improved. He hadn’t held much expectation.

It was merely to indulge his minor habit of collecting unique abilities.

At this stage, much like Kabuto would in the future, Orochimaru believed that mastering countless forbidden jutsu would grant him eternal life.

But Orochimaru never anticipated such a pleasant surprise!

“Well, now, this is…”

Orochimaru licked his lips, his gaze suddenly becoming intensely fervent.

His throat moved as he suddenly coughed up his Kusanagi Sword. Holding it in his mouth, he formed hand signs with both hands.

With a flick of his head, the Kusanagi Sword soared into the air, expanding as the blade met the wind. The tip of the sword slammed into the barrier’s surface, drilling fiercely inward.

What Uchiha? What barrier? What waiting?

Orochimaru cast all of that aside.

He wanted that brat now!

There would be no waiting today.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 90: A Moment of Despair, the Heart Ablaze*

The barrier shattered, leaving the two figures momentarily stunned.

Seeing the nearly 100-meter-long sword extending not far ahead, Shinji's pupils contracted sharply.

Wasn't this exactly the Kusanagi sword that Orochimaru used in the future to stab his own teacher?

The sight of the blade made him realize instantly—

Orochimaru was here!

Thinking deeper, Shinji quickly pieced together the events, connecting them to the original storyline.

Orochimaru’s appearance was caused by the butterfly effect that Shinji himself had set into motion.

In their first encounter, Hidan's original "sacrifice" should have been Shinnō. According to the original events, Shinnō and Hidan were supposed to be ambushed inside the cave by Orochimaru, who had been lying in wait.

Shinnō, caught off guard, would have had no choice but to hand over his forbidden jutsu to save his life, only to be killed later by the protagonists.

But now, because Shinji had acquired Shinnō's forbidden jutsu, Body Rebirth, through his own talent, Orochimaru’s attention was diverted. Instead of following Hidan into the cave, he was lured away.

Without the advantage of the cave’s terrain, it would have been difficult for Orochimaru to capture Shinnō in the open.

After all, Shinnō could be considered the inventor of advanced technology in the ninja world. His air-based ninja technology was thirty years ahead of its time, complete with aircraft carriers, fleets, and flying devices. Once airborne, even Orochimaru could only watch helplessly.

Deprived of the opportunity to acquire higher-level forbidden jutsu, Orochimaru naturally shifted his attention to the Jashin Cult's "immortality."

This led to his discovery of Shinji using Body Rebirth!

Shinji’s breathing hitched as he stiffly turned his head.

Footsteps echoed closer in the darkness, each one urgent, eager, and feverish, like the relentless beat of a drum.

A pair of golden, snake-like eyes gleamed from the shadows, making him feel like prey under the cold, merciless gaze of a serpent.

The hairs on the back of Shinji's neck stood on end.

But just then—

*Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!*

From nowhere, three kunai suddenly shot down, embedding themselves in the ground just in front of Orochimaru’s feet.

On the ceiling of the cave, five pairs of crimson Sharingan eyes lit up almost simultaneously!

Orochimaru’s advance came to an abrupt halt.

He raised his head, narrowing his serpent-like eyes dangerously as he looked toward the ceiling.

Atop the cave’s ceiling, four Uchiha Jonin had surrounded Orochimaru on all sides.

In front of him stood Uchiha Fugaku, his fierce crimson eyes coldly and calmly locked onto Orochimaru.

Even though Orochimaru was one of the legendary Sannin, his reputation wasn’t enough to intimidate the Uchiha clan.

In the future, even a three-tomoe Sharingan Sasuke would be able to forcibly control Manda, the king of snakes.

Against these Uchihas, who had inherited the full legacy of their clan, Orochimaru’s famous summoning techniques were thoroughly countered.

Still, Orochimaru, having delved deeply into countless forbidden jutsu, believed he could defeat these four Uchihas.

But the real problem was the presence of Uchiha Fugaku, a top-tier expert of the clan. If it came to an all-out battle, even Orochimaru couldn’t predict the outcome.

The atmosphere grew thick with tension.

Shinji, unsure of what had caused Orochimaru to stop advancing toward him, knew only one thing—

He was out of time!

The duration of the Body Rebirth jutsu was down to less than ten seconds!

Without hesitation, Shinji leapt over the diagonally embedded Kusanagi sword in front of him like a pole vaulter.

With his water blade in hand, he lunged at Higashikata Hayato!

"Die, you beast!"

His blood-red eyes flared fiercely as his feet splashed up a spray of water.

Leaping high, Shinji brought his water blade down on Higashikata Hayato, who was now within striking range!

A crescent of shimmering water light slashed through the air, leaving behind a trail of radiant, screeching brilliance.

If this strike landed, it would sever at least one of Higashikata’s arms, halting his spellcasting!

From there, Shinji would throw shuriken, unleash wire blades, and slice Higashikata into pieces!

However, facing Shinji’s airborne assault, Higashikata Hayato’s face twisted into a crazed grin.

The expression was both feral and pained, filled with intense hatred.

"Again!"

"Again!"

"AGAIN!"

"This despair—this pain of having everything destroyed, of being crushed under overwhelming power!"

"But—hahahahahahaha!"

"This time, the tables have turned in my favor!"

Madness gleamed in Higashikata Hayato’s eyes as he laughed maniacally.

"Kid, now it’s your turn to feel this pain!"

As his words fell, a brilliant crimson bloom erupted from his chest, right where his heart was.

Blood sprayed high into the air, splattering across Shinji’s face!

The next moment, a system prompt appeared:

*[Special Equipment: Earth Grudge Fear Heart Destroyed. Water Attribute Transformation Experience Retained.]*

Shinji’s pupils contracted violently, and an overwhelming sense of weakness surged through his body. He plummeted heavily to the ground.

Lowering his head slightly, he saw a gaping, bloody hole where his heart should have been.

The heart of Deidara, which should have been beating within his chest,

at this moment, felt as though it had been pierced by an invisible bullet, shredded, and violently exploded!

*Bang!*

"Ugh! Argh!" Shinji’s eyes went blank as he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. The crimson liquid gushed from his mouth and poured out from the gaping wound in his chest.

There was no time to check his injuries. As if remembering something, he abruptly turned his head to look at Hidan's position.

For something like this to happen, there could only be one explanation—

In the instant Orochimaru broke the barrier, Higashikata Hayato seized the opportunity and threw his spear.

That spear struck Hidan directly in the heart!

And in doing so, it injured all three of them simultaneously!

At this moment,

Hidan was kneeling not far away. His lifeless eyes slowly looked up at Shinji.

In the center of his chest, where his heart was, a pitch-black spear was forcefully lodged.

Blood was streaming from three open wounds on his body—his abdomen, his thigh, and his heart. The once pale face was now utterly unrecognizable, resembling a vampire force-fed three tons of garlic holy water and mercury.

"Hah...hah..." Hidan gasped desperately for air, like a drowning man greedily inhaling every breath he could.

Panting, he looked blankly in Shinji direction, his bloodshot mouth trembling as he let out a helpless, silent cry:

"Ci..."

"Big Brother..."

"I'm so cold..."

His body shivered, his face twitched, and his lips quivered. His gaze was filled with regret, fear, and defiance.

Stammering, his lips parted and closed as he muttered:

"I...I guess I won’t...get to see you become a Jashin god..."

Hearing those words,

Shinji’s pupils contracted to needlepoints as he watched Hidan's head droop lifelessly before him.

In his eyes, the black tomoe spun wildly!

In an instant, a sharp killing intent surged from the depths of his heart!

This extreme emotion, amplified by the Zero-Tailed Beast’s influence, rapidly transformed into a dense, dark chakra.

*Boom!*

Shinji stood silently, numb, his scarlet eyes wide open with rage.

His lips, teeth, and even his face trembled uncontrollably.

Then, stiffly, he turned his head back and stared blankly at Higashikata Hayato, whose face was twisted in a sickly grin.

Baring his teeth, Shinji roared angrily:

"What did you do?!"

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"YOU BASTARD!!"

"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?!?!"

Shinji's expression turned dark, twisted, and furious, like a cornered beast pushed to its limits!

The violent chakra erupted into a fierce whirlwind, scattering rubble and shaking the entire blood-soaked battlefield violently.

*Forbidden Technique: Flesh Rebirth—Maximum Power Activated!*

In the hollow cavity of his chest, strands of flesh rapidly wove together to form a brand-new heart before the naked eye!

From the moment it emerged,

it burned brightly, incandescent, ablaze with a frenzied fire!

This was a heart born to unleash forbidden techniques!

At this moment,

*Fire Release: Chakra Mode—Unleashed!*

(End of Chapter)