81-85

*Chapter 81: The Evil God's Ritual, The Source of Tragedy*

Six months ago.

The Land of Hot Springs.

Two figures, one tall and one short, walked slowly along a mountain trail that stretched to the horizon.

They crossed the snowy Iron Country Bridge draped in white;

passed through the bustling, lively capital of the Land of Hot Springs, where flutes and drums filled the air;

and traversed lush forests swaying gently in the breeze.

Though weary from their long journey home, their eyes brimmed with hope.

The smaller figure darted ahead a few steps, blocking the path of the taller man.

“Master Hayato, are we almost there?”

Hidan grinned as he asked.

“Hmm.” The sturdy middle-aged man, referred to as Master Hayato, raised his head slightly.

“We’re close. Just ahead is my hometown.”

His eyes softened, and a smile tugged at his lips as he gazed toward the distant village, a look of warmth and longing in his expression.

Hayato Dōgō shook his head and placed a hand on Hidan’s dirt-streaked forehead, taking in his ragged clothes and disheveled appearance.

“You idiot. You’re nothing but trouble.”

“Chasing chickens, harassing dogs, and picking fights with bandits in the woods.”

“You can’t even walk on water yet, so why are you showing off and meddling in everything?”

Hidan scratched the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly. “That’s because I have you, Master! You’re a Jonin from the Hidden Hot Springs Village—super strong!”

Hayato sighed and gave a wry smile.

“When we get to the village, I’ll have your teacher’s wife sew you a new set of clothes. Stop causing trouble.”

“And Ryoko’s been nagging about wanting to play with her big brother.”

“You fool, once we’re back, you better start acting like a man!”

Hidan smirked nonchalantly, puffing out his chest.

“Of course! After all, I’m going to be the future Hotkage of the village!”

Hearing this, Hayato wanted to explain to him that only the Five Great Nations could use the title of “Kage.”

It was a matter of strength and national power.

But after thinking it over, he decided not to dampen Hidan’s enthusiasm. Instead, he smiled and said:

“Is that so? Then starting tomorrow, you’ll train properly, beginning with walking on water!”

At these words, Hidan grimaced.

With a mischievous grin, he turned and sprinted toward the village at full speed.

But then—

*BOOM!*

“Yagura, surrender now!”

“Sorry, but for the greater good, I can’t die here!”

“Water Style: Great Exploding Water Wave!”

A young voice roared, and suddenly, a “sea” rose from the flatlands. Waves towering over thirty feet crashed forward like a wild beast.

In the face of this terrifying jutsu, ordinary people were as insignificant as ants.

The smile froze on Hidan’s face.

His hurried steps turned into a stumble before he was steadied by Hayato’s firm grip on his shoulder.

The sky darkened, winds howled, and violent waves engulfed the entire village in an instant.

Lightning crackled, the ground split open, and the small village was swallowed without a sound, like a boat capsized in a storm.

Hidan’s ears went silent, his mind blank.

Behind him, Hayato stood frozen, his expression vacant, his eyes wide with despair.

For a long time, Hidan turned slowly, his face pale, lips trembling, his teeth chattering.

“Master…”

“What was that? Is that what ninja from a Great Nation are like?”

Hayato snapped out of his daze, staring at the hellscape before him.

He looked at the ninja battling on the water, their headbands bearing the triple wave symbol of the Hidden Mist Village.

Finally, his eyes settled on the one responsible for destroying their home.

The Mist Jonin Squad Captain—Yagura Karatachi.

A man powerful enough to be called a “Kage.”

Hayato wanted to speak, but his mouth was dry, and his chest felt hollow as if a massive piece of him was missing.

Words of anger or defiance caught in his throat as he faced the man who had annihilated his village.

Sweat poured from his brow, his eyes ablaze with rage twisted to its limit.

Yet he couldn’t muster the courage to direct his hatred at Yagura.

He wanted to laugh but couldn’t.

He wanted to cry, to wail, but he held back for the sake of his disciple.

The fury within him burned like wildfire, consuming his heart, leaving him gasping for breath, his eyes turning bloodshot.

It seemed he would charge forward in reckless rage at any moment.

At that instant, Hidan raised his head again, pointing at the ruins of the village.

At the dozens of corpses and debris floating in the water.

His expression darkened, his eyes wide with a hollow stare, his voice trembling.

“Master, why didn’t you save them?”

"You told me before, didn’t you? You’re the strongest ninja in the Hidden Hot Springs Village."

"With your abilities, Sensei, you could’ve done it, right? You could’ve defeated those Chūnin who massacred the civilians, right? You could’ve killed them, erased all traces, and escaped afterward, right?"

Hidan gritted his teeth tightly, his face trembling. A tear rolled down as he asked in a trembling voice, mixed with sobs:

"Why? Why didn’t you kill them?"

Tōgō Hayato felt as if Hidan’s question had pierced straight through his heart. He opened his mouth to speak, but several attempts later, no words came out.

Finally, he looked one last time at the young man who stood on the water’s surface, swinging a staff, riding the towering waves with dazzling techniques, his eyes shining like stars, his smile as brilliant as the blazing sun.

That was Kiri ninja Yagura Karatachi.

Yes, why didn’t I kill them?

Tōgō Hayato fell silent for a moment. His gaze instinctively dropped to the ninja tool pouch at his waist, landing on a pitch-black scroll inside.

It was something he had discovered not long ago while robbing the grave of a nobleman from the Land of Hot Water—a scroll he found in the ruins, recording countless sinister forbidden techniques.

It was the Jashin Ritual Manual.

The forbidden techniques described within were extraordinarily powerful, but the blood-soaked rituals detailed in the text were horrifying beyond belief.

This kind of thing should have been destroyed.

Tōgō Hayato took a deep breath, then scooped Hidan up and started running, gritting his teeth as he said:

"Hidan, those people have nothing to do with us. I’ve told you before—don’t meddle in things that don’t concern you."

---

Half a month later,

The flames of the Third Great Ninja War spread to the Land of Hot Water.

The Hidden Hot Springs Village received a mission to protect the territories and wealth of the local nobles.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Land of Hot Water’s civilians were abandoned, left to fend for themselves.

The Hidden Hot Springs Village suffered heavy losses from the collateral damage of the war. Every day brought news of someone missing or defecting.

Within the village, the conflict between pacifists and militarists grew increasingly irreconcilable.

Disillusioned by the weakness of the village, Hidan left.

On that very day,

Three stone-faced Cloud ninja barged into the village. They severely injured Tōgō Hayato and several other senior Jonin, forcing the village to submit and serve the Hidden Cloud Village.

The departure of his student, the pressures of war, and the loss of everything weighed on Tōgō Hayato like layers of thick, suffocating nets.

Night after night, he would wake up in a panic, gasping for air, haunted by the memories of that fateful day.

That day, Hidan had pointed at the dozens of corpses and debris floating in the seawater—the aftermath of the powerful ninja from one of the great nations.

Tilting his head, Hidan asked:

"Why? Why didn’t you kill them?"

Finally,

On this night,

On this stormy, desolate night, where the howling winds silenced even the birds and cicadas,

A pair of bloodshot, pale purple eyes opened.

Tōgō Hayato unrolled the scroll he had read countless times before.

A twisted grin of pain and madness spread across his face, rising higher and higher into pure insanity.

Forming hand seals, he slashed his palm open violently, pressing his blood-soaked hand firmly onto the scroll!

"Kill! Kill them all!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Kill everyone!"

"Ninjas, lords, nobles, civilians—if life is born in pain, then let’s throw all this pain onto the scales and compare it!"

"Who suffers more? Who suffers more? WHO SUFFERS MORE?!"

The paper doors rattled wildly in the wind, screeching with the storm!

Tōgō Hayato clenched his molars tightly, a manic desire to destroy everything blazing in his eyes.

Baring his teeth, he roared in rage:

"All of you can just die!"

"I’m going to curse this world!"

"I will summon a blood sacrifice and slaughter everyone!"

---

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 82: Cursed Technique: Death Through Blood—Hidan’s Resolve*

In the underground plaza,

as he stood by the edge of a blood pool, Tōgō Hayato silently watched the two figures bound to the crosses.

This man, the chief priest of the Jashin Cult and a jōnin captain from Yū no Kuni’s ninja village, remained silent for a moment before forming seals with both hands.

With the seals completed, a massive ritual formation, a “triangle within a circle,” illuminated the ground.

The earth trembled. The blood pool began to ripple and shake like wine swirling in a glass, its crimson waves lapping against the shore.

Hidan gazed at the rows of crosses surrounding him.

The silent screams on those crucified—frozen in the moment of their most excruciating pain—were eerily lifeless.

Even his newly acknowledged "big brother," Shinji, seemed to have succumbed to despair, his eyes shut as if awaiting death.

Hidan grew tense, raising his trembling, bloodied hand with a gaping wound. He tried weakly to tug at the iron nail pinning his other hand.

Gripping, pulling—yanking with all his might!

But his trembling fingertips kept slipping off the nail head.

After several failed attempts, his palm was a bloody mess, dripping steadily onto the ground, but he remained trapped.

At that moment,

Tōgō Hayato suddenly raised his head and looked indifferently at Hidan, speaking:

“Does it not hurt?”

Hidan’s nostrils flared, the veins on his forehead bulging as he roared, “What kind of stupid question is that? Of course, it hurts like hell!”

“Then it’s not enough,” Tōgō Hayato sneered, continuing,

“You must treat this pain as a gift, an indulgence. Only then will you receive the eternal favor of Lord Jashin!”

“Only then can you become—His Chosen!”

“Chosen? More like deranged!” Hidan spat angrily.

“Only a lunatic would enjoy something like this, you bastard!”

He pointed shakily with his battered hand toward his side.

“Listen, pal, you’d better let me go! My buddy here with the red eyes is no joke!”

“Give it a little longer—when he opens his eyes, he’ll bring out a forty-meter-long sword and chop you to pieces!”

Tōgō Hayato frowned and glanced at Shinji, sensing something was off. His tone darkened as he barked,

“You—relying on a Konoha ninja?!”

“What about your pride as a shinobi of Yū no Kuni?”

“Pride?”

At those words, Hidan burst into laughter, shoving his flared nostrils closer to the man.

“Since when has this country, this ninja village, or anyone wearing this forehead protector had any pride?”

Tōgō Hayato’s brows furrowed deeply.

He had personally entrusted Hidan with the *Jashin Doctrine*.

After reading its teachings, this disciple should have realized that only by believing in Jashin and offering sacrifices could he achieve his goals.

But before the priest could react,

Hidan snorted coldly and stared at him, speaking firmly:

“Who the hell are you to lecture me, huh?”

He paused before declaring resolutely,

“I’ve had it with that stupid Jashin cult! I won’t believe in that crap anymore!”

Hidan glanced around at the thousands of crosses surrounding them, each bearing the distorted, agonized bodies of the dead. His heart chilled at the sight.

Then, raising his hand, he gestured to the crosses and shouted:

“Power gained through methods like this—no matter how strong it is—how is it any different from those damn shinobi of the Great Nations?!”

“I’m going to save Yū no Kuni, but I’ll do it my own way!”

With that, Hidan clenched his teeth, leaned forward, and yanked his hand free from the iron nail, tearing flesh and spilling blood in the process.

Pain wracked his body as he collapsed into the blood pool, groaning. His jaw clenched so tightly he nearly cracked a tooth.

With a thud, he fell to his knees in the blood, groaning in pain but crawling determinedly toward the cross where Shinji hung.

Witnessing this, Tōgō Hayato’s eyes briefly flickered with astonishment.

He hadn’t expected that in just one day, an Uchiha could have such a profound impact on Hidan.

Just a day ago, Hidan had been Jashin’s most devout follower, thanks to Tōgō’s meticulous guidance.

But now?

What had happened? Had that Uchiha force-fed him some kind of brainwashing potion?

“Save Yū no Kuni? Hah…”

Taking a deep breath, Tōgō Hayato sneered coldly, his eyes narrowing as he shouted:

“Do you even realize who your enemies will be? The Five Great Nations—the five strongest powers in the ninja world!”

“In times of peace, Yū no Kuni barely survives as a buffer zone. If war erupts, this country will shatter in an instant!”

“Faced with such a cruel and unforgiving reality, do you think this kid can change anything?”

“Enough!”

“How the hell should I know?!”

Hidan snapped, rising shakily to his feet and clenching his fists, the pain making his veins throb visibly on his forehead.

“All I know is that if this country can’t survive without bowing its head, then we’ll bow as much as we need to! Bow to whoever can give us the answer!”

Then, pointing at Shinji, he shouted fiercely:

“If this guy has the audacity to claim he’ll overthrow the Five Great Nations and unite the ninja world…”

“If that outcome can change Yū no Kuni’s future…”

“Then I’ll bet everything I’ve got on him!”

“That sure beats putting my faith in your crappy Jashin cult!”

With those words, Hidan staggered toward the cross, pulling himself upright with trembling hands.

He spread his arms wide, positioning himself as a shield in front of Shinji, his gaze unwavering.

“Until he opens his eyes, I’ll protect him myself!”

 Hayato snorted coldly upon seeing the situation.

"Impressive presence, but unfortunately, the answer you chose is wrong."

He glanced at Shinji behind Hidan, who stood with closed eyes as if petrified by fear, and shook his head before exposing the truth:

"This little brat's body is on the verge of collapse. He can't become your source of power, nor can he fulfill that ridiculous promise."

With that, Hayato formed the final hand seal, slamming his hands onto the ground. The ritual array beneath them glowed brightly.

The blood within the pool began to surge, crawling up Hidan's body. Dark black lines stained his face, followed by white, skeletal stripes climbing up to cover him.

This transformed Hidan into the black-and-white skeletal figure he would later be known as in the Akatsuki under the codename "Santai" when activating the Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood.

Then, Hayato strode into the blood pool, drawing a pitch-black spear from the sash of his robe. His expression turned sinister as he walked toward Hidan.

"Let’s begin, Hidan!"

Hidan raised his head, gritting his teeth nervously as the hooded man approached step by step.

 Hayato’s gaze fell on the white stripes covering Hidan’s body, and a wave of exhilaration surged within him.

His disciple indeed possessed this physique.

The immortality of the Jashinists was merely strong regenerative ability. If their heads were severed or their bodies dismembered, they would still die. However, when combined with another ability from this cult—

The Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood—

It could create a horrifying, guaranteed-to-kill power.

With such an ability, simply obtaining someone’s blood could even kill a Kage.

With this power in hand, it would be entirely feasible to intimidate the leaders of the great nations and bring peace to the Land of Hot Water.

But Hayato had no such intention.

He wanted to create a monster.

He wanted to cultivate someone who would adhere unwaveringly to the Jashinist doctrine and slaughter every living being in the ninja world.

All to curse this wretched world.

To bury everyone in this world as a testament to the pain he had endured until now.

However, the immortality of the Jashinists and the Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood were separate powers.

Someone with the potential for immortality might not necessarily have the ability to use the curse technique, and vice versa.

Moreover, each sacrifice to Jashin came at a great cost, making it difficult to organize a second ritual anytime soon.

Thus, Hayato had been meticulously searching for someone who possessed both qualities.

And his disciple, Hidan, happened to be that person!

At this moment, Hayato was utterly consumed by madness.

It didn’t matter if it was Hidan, Cowdan, or Birddan. Even his most trusted disciple would be sent to the altar without hesitation.

All for the sake of pleasing Jashin and gaining power.

Now, all that was left—

 Hayato stood before Hidan, gazing down at him coldly.

Then, he planted the pitch-black spear at Hidan's feet, a cold smirk tugging at his lips.

"Come, let’s begin the ritual."

 Hayato’s icy gaze shifted to Shinji, who stood behind Hidan, and a sinister grin spread across his face.

"Hidan, do you want to kill your friend first, or would you rather start with your fellow Hot Water ninja?"

"Go ahead, pick. It doesn’t matter—these people are all going to die by your hand."

"You’ve got to be kidding me!" Hidan snapped, furrowing his brows as he stood firmly in Hayato’s way. Though trembling, he barked defiantly,

"I won’t let you hurt him!"

However—

"You’re wrong!"

 Hayato sneered.

"It won’t be me hurting him."

"It’ll be you!"

With that, he clasped his hands together, pulling ten threads of chakra from his fingertips. With a flick of his wrist, the threads pierced into Hidan’s body.

Against a Jonin, Hidan was powerless to resist.

He could only watch helplessly as the ten threads invaded his limbs.

Then, to his horror, Hidan realized he had completely lost control of his body.

 Hayato’s indifferent gaze bore down on him as he manipulated Hidan to turn around, grab the pitch-black spear from the ground, and—

Hidan could only widen his eyes in terror as his own hands moved to cut Shinji’s arm with the spear, collecting a small pool of blood.

Hidan’s body acted on its own, placing the blood on the spear into his mouth.

Immediately, a circle of crimson light radiated from the prearranged ritual array.

The Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood activated!

Having seen this technique before, Hidan recognized it instantly.

This was the same power the Jashinist leader had used during the fight with Shinji and the others in the village.

Now, any harm he inflicted on himself would be inflicted on Shinji.

Realizing the horrifying implications, Hidan’s eyes widened. He struggled to turn his head toward Hayato and screamed in terror:

"Wait! What are you doing?!"

"You bastard! Let me go, now!"

He fought against it desperately but could only tremble as his hands raised the spear and aimed it at his own abdomen.

 Hayato’s twisted smile grew more depraved, his face flushed with unnatural excitement.

"Relax, Hidan. I’ve done this many times before."

"Until your suffering is enough to please Jashin and grant you true immortality, this brat won’t die so easily."

"Of course, if he does die...well, that’s just bad luck for him. Hahahaha..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 83: The Emergence of Zero Tails and Dark Chakra!

In a spacious underground plaza within a limestone cave, a peculiar scene unfolded.

A perverted middle-aged man was coercing a young boy, armed with a spear, into performing some dubious task.

And what was Shinji doing at this moment?

He was... spectating.

To be precise, he wasn’t just watching; he was listening. With his eyes closed, he was technically enjoying a live drama.

One minute earlier, as he was being strung up on a crucifix by Tōkyō Hayato, Shinji had already made his move. While conversing with Hidan, he forcefully extracted the last trace of chakra from his withered body.

This sliver of chakra was nowhere near sufficient to perform any powerful ninjutsu. He couldn’t conjure a massive 40-meter blade to cut down this fanatical Jashin cult leader, nor could he even activate his Sharingan.

However...

It was just enough for an *E-rank Rope Escape Technique*!

This basic ninjutsu, one of the fundamentals taught to ninjas, allowed him to escape from bindings—a surprisingly practical skill.

While engaging Hidan in conversation, Shinji quietly used the technique to free his left leg from the ropes. Then, seizing the moment when the cult leader turned away to prepare his ritual by the lakeside, Shinji kicked upward. His kick struck a scroll strapped to his right leg, sending it flying into the air.

The scroll soared, and Shinji , enduring the pain, craned his neck to catch it. Biting down on the yellow-bound scroll, he used his teeth to snap the cord that held it in place and unfurled it.

Biting his tongue until it bled, he let his blood drip onto the scroll.

As the encrypted text on the scroll began to glow faintly, Shinji spat the scroll into the blood pool beneath him.

This entire sequence did not escape Hidan’s notice.

But, following Shinji subtle signal, Hidan wisely chose to remain silent. He continued bantering, his mocking words diverting the cult leader’s attention.

Meanwhile, Shinji closed his eyes and focused all his efforts on establishing a connection with the scroll.

The scroll, given to him by Shinnō, was said to contain the sealed Zero Tails.

In Shinji imagination, the scroll held a mass of dark, malevolent chakra. Opening the scroll would unleash this darkness, which would resonate with the infinite depths of despair within his soul, summoning a torrent of black chakra as vast as the ocean.

This would instantly propel him into a berserk state—something akin to a Super Saiyan transformation!

- *Infinite regeneration of his physical body!*

- *Limitless chakra reserves!*

And with this godlike power, Shinji envisioned himself roaring:

*"Something for nothing!"*

He would unleash the ultimate dark ninjutsu, the Super Vital Fist, obliterating the Jashin cult leader with a single punch!

Like a human bulldozer, he would rampage through the cult, delivering justice with his righteous flying kicks. He’d earn Hidan’s awe-struck admiration and, with any remaining chakra, leap across miles to confront Hozuki Mangetsu, the swordsman who had slashed him three times, and engage in a second, glorious duel.

But, as always, reality had its caveats.

What caught Shinji completely off guard was what actually emerged from the scroll after it activated.

From the pool of blood rose...

A tiny blob of blackish-purple flesh.

“Pii~!”

The small lump, with two pale, hollow eyes, timidly surfaced, locking eyes with Shinji , who had sneakily cracked his eyelids open.

Shinji : “...”

The atmosphere grew palpably awkward.

The stark contrast between his envisioned unstoppable form and the reality of summoning... this… left Shinji utterly speechless.

At that moment, he desperately wanted to mimic Tom from Tom and Jerry: lean on his elbow, light ten cigarettes, and take a deep, frustrated drag. What he’d be exhaling wasn’t smoke—it was pure exasperation!

Only now did Shinji recall Shinnō’s words from when he handed him the scroll.

The man had solemnly slapped the scroll into Shinji hand and declared:

“This is Zero Tails. A very terrifying Zero Tails!”

What Shinji hadn’t anticipated was that Shinnō had been entirely serious. He had truly given him Zero Tails—not as a disposable tool but as the actual, living entity.

Before him, the tiny black-purple lump was unmistakably Zero Tails.

Its long tail coiled like a question mark, its black-purple head adorned with four tufts of crimson fur (whether hair or antennae was unclear), and it wore a solemn white mask.

This was it.

Looking incredibly energetic!

But this model... It’s even more outrageous than trading knives to buy a Lamborghini and only getting a Lamborghini model in return!

The real Zero-Tails is massive, with a body stretching dozens of meters long, coiled around the Sky Ninja Fortress, capable of smashing a truck to pieces with just one swing of its tail.

And yet, the Zero-Tails before him...

"Chirp, chirp~!"

Under Shinji's intense gaze, the little creature eagerly showcased its abilities. It extended its tiny tail—about the length of a finger—and flicked up a three-centimeter splash in the pool of blood.

Then,

Without the support of its tiny tail, it flailed and fell headfirst into the pool.

Shinji fell into a heavy silence once again.

He had been fully prepared to transform into a Super Saiyan, waiting for enough chakra to launch into "Baki mode" and fight with all his might.

But now you’re telling me that instead of receiving the chakra of the Zero-Tails, he had summoned its juvenile form instead?

Are you seriously expecting me to play Pokémon and nurture this thing during such a critical moment?

This plot doesn’t make any sense!

Shinji raised his head slightly and glanced at Hidan, who was standing firmly in front of him, arms outstretched with righteous determination to protect him.

He sighed, but couldn’t help the slight upward curve of his lips.

"Brother, it’s not that I don’t want to save you," he said.

"It seems the heavens have decreed it. I’m destined to play the role of the fallen hero with five million on the line, a living Dragon King."

"You might as well just use me as a sacrifice. Stab a few clean holes in me and finish the ritual already."

"I won’t hold it against you!"

With that, Shinji silently recited his thoughts and genuinely closed his eyes.

This time, he was truly waiting for death.

His body had reached its limit. The injuries were severe, and even the last bit of chakra he had scraped together had been used for a desperate escape technique.

He had played his final card, only to summon this utterly useless juvenile Zero-Tails.

He had already sacrificed everything for the greater good.

Now, at this moment, it should be time to...

"Hmm?"

Suddenly,

Shinji felt a faint tickle on the back of his neck.

"Chirp~!" The tiny Zero-Tails scratched its head with its small tail, looking utterly confused. Unable to comprehend its master’s inner turmoil, it simply climbed up his body through his pant leg, settling at the back of his neck.

Then, with a tentacle-like appendage, it delicately lifted his white mask.

Opening a tiny cherry-red mouth lined with sharp teeth,

Crunch!  

In the next moment,

a subtitle suddenly appeared before Shinji’s eyes:

*[You have become the Jinchuriki of the Zero-Tails (Juvenile Form).]*

*[You have acquired the skills: Dark Chakra Extraction (A) and Dark Awakening (A)!]*

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 84: The Ritual Altar's Maniacal Laughter – Extreme Versus Ruthless!*

From the nape of the neck down to the spine, a tingling sensation surged like an electric shock.

Zero-Tail slithered into Shinji’s body through the gaping wound, sliding rapidly down his spine like a coiled dragon.

In an instant, it sank into his abdomen, transforming into a pool of pure dark chakra that merged violently with his body.

*Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!*

His heart pounded; his blood surged to a boil in an instant!

Though the chakra from Zero-Tail wasn’t abundant—equivalent to a typical Genin’s—it coursed through his entire body, rekindling the energy in his battered form like a flickering candle in the wind.

Clarity dawned on his mind, and Shinji began to understand Zero-Tail's purpose.

Upon becoming the Zero-Tail’s Jinchūriki, he had acquired two abilities:

- *[Darkness: Chakra Extraction (A)]*

- *[Dark Awakening (A)]*

These abilities were not complicated.

*Darkness: Chakra Extraction* allowed him to collect the darkness in the hearts of people around him, including his own, and condense it into dark chakra.

The deeper the darkness in one's heart, the more dark chakra could be extracted.

*Dark Awakening* infused his body with this extracted chakra, granting him a state similar to that of a Jinchūriki clad in a Tailed Beast cloak.

However, this power came with a price: it eroded his sanity. He would lose his rationality, succumb to arrogance, and reveal the darkest corners of his soul.

In simpler terms, it was like a weakened version of a Tailed Beast cloak—no armor, no Tailed Beast form transformations, no Tailed Beast Bomb, and none of the flashy powers.

It was a power created by mortals who envied the strength of Tailed Beasts, trading away their intellect for the sake of gaining chakra.

---

*At this moment,*

In the grand hall, before the crucifix, Hidan raised a pitch-black spear, slowly driving it toward his abdomen.

Nearby, the cult’s High Priest, Higashigō Hayato, displayed a maniacal glint in his eyes, a twisted grin stretching wide across his face.

With arms outstretched as if embracing pain, his eyes sparkled with a maddened fervor. He seemed consumed by ecstasy as he chanted in an almost fanatical tone:

“Indeed! Yes, indeed!

“God loves humanity and thus shares in its suffering!”

His eyes bulged, and his mouth stretched nearly to his ears.

“God has declared:

“All who are born into this world are rooted in folly, arrogance, and blindness!

“From this moment forth, the three of us shall link our souls, becoming one in body and spirit!

“Pierce, torment, hate! Destroy others, destroy ourselves!

“Cast aside the prejudices and pride of the mortal world,

“And throw yourselves into the embrace of the Divine!

“Worship Him! Love Him! Hate Him!

“This twisted devotion—

“Will prove harder to shake than knowledge, more unyielding than respect, and more enduring than disdain!”

Amid the fervent chants, Hidan’s hands trembled, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably.

His eyes filled with fear as he stared at Shinji before him.

His mind burned, unable to comprehend why Higashigō Hayato would manipulate him into killing the very person he had sworn to protect at all costs.

“No… no!”

“Shinji!!!”

Hidan’s voice cracked, tinged with despair as he wailed,

“Open your eyes! Please, I beg you, open your eyes! I’m about to kill you!”

As his anguished cry echoed, the priest behind him, Higashigō Hayato, laughed more derangedly.

To him, Hidan’s agonized howls were like celestial music, filling him with joy and flooding his brain with dopamine, masking the extreme pain beneath his twisted grin.

The spear inched downward,

Slicing through fabric, piercing flesh—beads of blood surfaced.

But at that moment,

A sinister and chilling wave erupted from Shinji, bound to the crucifix.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of deranged crimson Sharingan.

Two pitch-black tomoe spun wildly as a frenzied smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

And then—

Shinji tilted his head back and let out a burst of unrestrained laughter:

“Hohoho! Hahahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

His laughter dripped with mockery!

Narrowing his eyes, he glared at the cult priest behind Hidan and taunted through his laughter:

“You really think you can kill me?”

“You? A piece of trash, a worthless worm lurking in the shadows, think you’re worthy of killing me?!”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

Even though he was bound to the sacrificial altar, even though he was as helpless as a fish on a chopping board, even though he was completely powerless—

He laughed.

This scene left both Higashigō Hayato and Hidan utterly stunned.

The fanatical grin on Higashigō Hayato’s face froze abruptly.

His brow twitched as he cursed internally, Damn it, God! I’ve never seen a Uchiha tied up for a sacrifice who still dares to laugh like that.  

However, as the high priest of Jashinism, he had seen plenty of people at the end of their ropes, succumbing to hysteria.

Although this one was indeed an extreme case.

Quickly regaining his composure, Higashigō Hayato’s expression turned sinister. His gaze sharpened, and he prepared to have Hidan strike this brat with a spear!

But before he could act, Shinji, his face twisted in cold fury, beat him to it. With a harsh voice, Shinji barked at Hidan:

“Hidan, listen to me—stab it in!”

Hidan blinked in surprise, his face filled with confusion. What the hell are you up to, man?  

If I stab myself, forget about whether it’ll hurt you or not—I’ll be the one in excruciating pain first!  

Yet, out of trust in Shinji, Hidan gritted his teeth, abandoned his resistance to Higashigō Hayato’s control, and immediately thrust the spear downward!

The spear pierced straight into his own stomach!

In the next instant, three bloody holes appeared.

“Gah… gah…”

Hidan panted heavily, his eyes widening from the sheer agony.

Shinji paid no mind to the fresh wound in his abdomen. His cold, crimson eyes immediately locked onto Higashigō Hayato.

At the same moment, a bloody wound appeared on Higashigō Hayato’s stomach as well!

Seeing this, a mocking grin spread across Shinji’s face as he coughed up a large mouthful of blood.

“Cough, cough! Urgh!”

The blood trickled from the corners of his lips, dripping into the sacrificial blood pool below.

Despite the intense pain, Shinji’s expression remained unchanged. He simply lifted his head and broke into uncontrollable laughter once more:

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

“So that’s it… That’s it… I see now!”

“You were planning this all along!”

His laughter had a rhythm, rising from a mocking chuckle to a resounding roar, until he was almost out of breath, tears of laughter streaming from his eyes.

The next moment, he raised his gaze, his eyes gleaming with malice as he sneered at Higashigō Hayato:

“With these eyes—”

“I’ve already seen through everything!”

“You pathetic scum!”

From deep within Shinji’s heart, a burning fury surged forth—a rage born of utter despair at this absurd, cursed world.

This rage erupted like flames, transforming into pitch-black, overwhelming chakra!

It became a force to rewrite tragedy!

It became strength!

Boom!  

The chakra exploded outward, snapping the ropes, shattering the iron nails, and breaking the chains!

Higashigō Hayato was utterly baffled. What just happened? How did this brat, tied to the altar, suddenly unleash such power?  

Where did he find the strength?

What had he seen through?

What was he planning?

He had no idea—absolutely none.

All he felt was shock and frustration at this unforeseen twist, a plan suddenly derailed!

This unpredictable anomaly was exactly what he despised most.

He loathed such disruptions—disruptions that shattered everything he’d worked for, everything he’d built!

It was precisely this hatred of uncertainty that had driven him, countless nights with bloodshot eyes, to study the dark arts of Jashinism.

This was his life’s ambition!

With a furious glare, Higashigō Hayato poured more chakra into controlling Hidan.

He commanded Hidan to pierce his own heart!

The suffering offered to Jashin was insufficient—Hidan might die, the ritual might fail.

But it didn’t matter.

Sacrifices could be replaced, rituals could be restarted.

But this anomaly—this variable—had to be destroyed immediately!

He would use the Curse Technique: Death by Blood to stab through this brat’s heart and kill Shinji!

【High Priest of Jashin, Higashigō Hayato, directs extreme murderous intent toward you!】

However, Shinji, his blood-red eyes fixed on his opponent, saw the murderous intent boiling within him.

At this moment, he grinned maliciously, his voice dripping with mockery:

“I told you—these eyes have already seen through everything!”

“So, you want to play dirty?”

“Then let’s play!”

Shinji immediately turned to Hidan and bellowed fiercely:

“Hidan, kill me!”

“Pierce my heart—kill me!”

“Now—do it now!”

“Kill me!!!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 85: This Is the True Immortality!*

As Shinji's words fell, the two present immediately looked up in shock.

“What... what did you just say?!”

Hidan's pupils dilated as he stared at Shinji in astonishment and panic.

“You want me... to kill you?”

“You want me... to commit suicide?”

Gritting his teeth, Hidan shouted in fury, “What kind of joke is this, Shinji? Have you gone insane?!”

Even Tōgō Hayato couldn’t believe his ears for a moment.

Had he misheard?

This brat was actually asking Hidan to stab his own heart immediately.

The result of such an action would be both Hidan and him dying right here and now!

It was true that Tōgō Hayato wanted Hidan to stab his heart and kill this Uchiha brat.

To eliminate the variables, he was even willing to destroy the ritual.

But he hadn’t even said or done anything yet!

How had this Uchiha brat already anticipated his move in advance and even rushed forward, asking to die?

What kind of nonsense was this? Was he in that much of a hurry to meet his end?

For a moment, chaotic thoughts flooded Tōgō Hayato’s mind, nearly frying his brain. He couldn’t understand what on earth this Uchiha brat was thinking.

Shouldn’t he be trying to resist and escape with Hidan?

Tōgō Hayato was utterly baffled.

However, at that moment, Shinji lifted his head and looked at Hidan, a trace of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

But in less than half a second, he made a resolute choice.

In a cold and firm tone, Shinji commanded,

“Hidan, haven’t you figured it out yet?”

“The true purpose of this ritual, the intended sacrifice, and the extent to which this ceremony will go!”

He raised his hand and pointed at Tōgō Hayato, shouting sternly:

“This beast has already sacrificed thousands of people. He’s a complete madman.”

“But he still hasn’t obtained what he desires.”

“And you, Hidan, you are special. You possess a body he covets.”

“This man captured you to control you!”

“To make you personally kill everyone you care about, driving your pain to the extreme!”

“Then, he’ll offer your suffering as a tribute to the Evil God, turning you into a living weapon and extracting whatever he desires from you!”

“Hidan, you’re not stupid. You must have realized this by now!”

Hidan trembled, his lips quivering as he stared at Shinji. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Then, with a sorrowful cry, he asked in terror:

“Yes, I’ve realized it!”

“But what does that have to do with what you’re saying?”

“What the hell does that have to do with you?!”

“Why... why do you want me to kill you?”

“Aren’t you the one who wants to overthrow the Five Great Nations and unite the ninja world?”

Gritting his teeth, Hidan shouted angrily,

“Are you telling me you’re giving up here?!”

Shinji shook his head, his expression heavy as he let out a bitter sigh:

“Because I can’t stop him, nor can I protect you.”

“I’m out of chakra, and my body has reached its limit.”

Raising his head, Shinji struggled internally before speaking,

“But there’s still something we can do: stop this evil ritual.”

“If I’m right, if you kill me and pierce your own heart now, we’ll truly die.”

“He won’t be able to achieve his goal.”

“And you won’t have to bear the pain of killing your loved ones with your own hands.”

Shinji closed his eyes in sorrow and said softly,

“Hidan, this is the best outcome.”

“You... you...”

Hidan felt as if a shovel had struck his brain, leaving his mind in chaos.

He stumbled back two steps, staring at Shinji in disbelief.

His pupils dilated as he stood frozen in place, unable to accept that these words had come from Shinji.

This Uchiha, who was always so arrogant and overconfident, even more so than Hidan himself,

was actually admitting defeat, surrendering, and waiting for death?

In an instant, the pain of shattered faith, the shock of betrayal, and the fury of helplessness surged into Hidan’s heart.

The overwhelming emotions made him feel as though he was plunged into an icy abyss.

At the same time, Shinji raised an eyebrow, taking a sharp breath. His limbs tingled as chakra surged through his body.

A surge of dark chakra burst from his abdomen.

“Whoosh~!”

The tiny Zero-Tails within him wagged its tail excitedly, letting out cries as it greedily absorbed the dark emotions surging from Hidan’s heart.

It was like a vacuum, continuously extracting the darkness from those around it and generating an endless stream of dark chakra.

The energy filled Shinji’s battered body.

As he sensed the sheer volume of chakra within him, Shinji’s eyes narrowed slightly. He felt that if he used this power now, he might instantly gain the strength to shatter boulders with his bare hands!

But it still wasn’t enough—not enough to sustain the Forbidden Jutsu: *Corporeal Genesis*.

His opponent was the High Priest of the Evil God cult.

And based on the intel gathered earlier by Mei Terumi...

The opponent is most likely a powerful Jōnin from the Hidden Village of Tannin.

Furthermore, this individual has already undergone a terrifying ritual involving thousands of sacrifices, likely gaining the cult of Jashin’s unique ability:

*Immortality.*

With the combat skills of a Jōnin combined with the nearly indestructible nature of immortality, the opponent has already touched the threshold of the title “Kage.”

To defeat them, one must be prepared to die at any moment.

You must deceive not only the enemy but also your allies!

Bet everything and dance on the edge of a blade!

There’s no room for error!

Upon hearing Shinji’s words, Higashikata Hayato’s gaze instantly turned cold.

He had been suspicious of this severely injured, nearly crippled brat, wondering why he suddenly seemed revitalized.

So that’s what this dog had in mind!

The realization startled him so much that he almost commanded Hidan to stab the kid to death on the spot.

“You’ve got a decent plan, brat.”

Hayato immediately changed his approach, sneering as he raised his hand. Threads of chakra between his fingers suddenly tightened.

He fixed Shinji with a frosty stare, his expression sinister, and said coldly:

“But do you think I’ll just stand by and let it happen?”

Hidan, who had collapsed to the ground, suddenly felt his body moving against his will.

He reached out, grabbed the spear at his side, and stood up.

Then, without hesitation, he raised the spear and plunged it downward!

*Squelch!*

The pitch-black spear pierced through Hidan’s thigh!

In the next instant, three bloody wounds appeared simultaneously!

“AAAAAAHHH!” Hidan clutched his thigh, his face twisted in agony as he let out a bloodcurdling scream.

“Hssss... Ha!” Even Shinji couldn’t help but grit his teeth in pain. His right leg gave out, and he collapsed into the blood pool.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Hayato, on the other hand, erupted into manic laughter as a similarly gaping wound appeared on his thigh.

But his leg wound began to heal visibly, the blood clotting and the flesh regenerating at a speed perceptible to the naked eye.

“Do you see this, Hidan? This is the power of Jashin!”

“This is *immortality*!”

He suddenly swung his arm, pointing at Shinji as he sneered at Hidan:

“And this brat you’re putting your faith in—before such power, he’s nothing but a helpless livestock!”

“Look at him! What can he do now?”

“He can’t even stand up!”

“And yet you’d abandon your faith in Lord Jashin for such a worthless weakling?”

Hayato’s expression turned icy as he strode forward.

With each step, the wounds on his legs and abdomen, which had only just begun to heal, tore open again, blood gushing out.

But he didn’t seem to care about the pain; in fact, he looked delighted by it.

Grabbing Hidan by the hair, he dragged him forward, forcing him to face Shinji, who was slumped on the ground, panting heavily, his face contorted with pain.

“Look closely! Look at this reality—this cold, merciless reality of helplessness!”

“Born in this country, your only path forward is to place your faith in the hidden gods of this land!”

“Through the utmost suffering, you can attain power that transcends even death!”

Leaning close to Hidan’s ear, Hayato let out a chilling laugh:

“You still have a chance now. Let go of all your delusions!”

“Work with me and complete this ritual!”

With that, he threw Hidan to the ground, pulled the spear out of his thigh, and tossed it beside him, speaking with malicious glee:

“Come on, make your choice!”

Hidan stared blankly at the pitch-black spear by his side, then looked up at Shinji, who sat helplessly on the ground, struggling to catch his breath.

At this moment, the physical pain he felt was nothing compared to the anguish in his heart.

Trembling, he clutched his head with both hands, his entire body shaking uncontrollably as his mind buzzed in chaos.

The pale patterns on his body twisted and writhed under the intense suffering, forming an almost complete loop.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH!”

Under the crushing pressure, Hidan let out a gut-wrenching scream, clutching his head in despair.

Seeing this, Shinji’s gaze grew sharp as he clenched his teeth in frustration.

Just a bit longer. Once Zero-Tail provided enough chakra, he could end this battle with absolute certainty.

But if he allowed this torment to continue, Hidan might completely lose his mind.

Taking a deep breath, Shinji decided not to wait any longer for Zero-Tail to merge with the dark chakra.

Suddenly, he reached out and pressed his hand against his abdomen!

A serpent-like pattern resembling an ouroboros emerged on his stomach, circling his palm.

It was as though a long-sealed door had been unlocked.

In the next instant—

The light around them dimmed drastically, and fierce winds surged in all directions!

A cocoon of dense, dark energy formed, rising from the ground.

Hayato froze, startled, and snapped his head around.

Then he saw—

A boy radiating an intense chakra fluctuation tearing through the cocoon,

Rising from the darkness, surrounded by swirling black winds,

His scarlet eyes blazing like beacons!

In the blink of an eye—

The bloodied wounds on the boy’s waist and thigh were filled with new flesh, sealed, and covered with fresh skin.

Good as new!

Hayato’s eyes widened in shock, his twisted grin freezing on his face.

“What... what the hell is this?!”

The boy raised his head, his crimson eyes flashing with a terrifying light as he broke into a wild laugh.

“What nonsense about some Jashin god!”

“That pathetic excuse for power—you dare call it immortality?!”

“Watch carefully!”

“This—this is the real deal!”

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