71-75

*Chapter 71: Headquarters*

"The Fourth Great Ninja War?"

Nagato squinted slightly, staring into Kaneki’s eyes.

Even though he had a high regard for Kaneki's abilities, the notion of a single person instigating a war across the entire ninja world seemed like pure fantasy.

In the face of Nagato's skepticism, Kaneki merely adjusted his glasses with a calm smile and said, "Sometimes, you don't need to get your hands dirty to start a war."

A trace of mockery flashed across his face. "All you need to do is hand weapons to those who are unarmed."

Nagato’s mind immediately recalled the rebellion in the Land of Rivers, and he pondered aloud, "Are you suggesting we incite conflict between civilians and ninjas?"

Kaneki shook his head slightly. "The unarmed aren't just the civilians. There are also the nobles and feudal lords."

"Think about it. If those nobles and lords gained power rivaling the ninjas, would they still send vast sums of wealth to the ninja villages every year?"

"Just imagining it is quite amusing, isn’t it?"

Kaneki spread his arms, a mocking smile on his face, as if he could already see the inevitable future unfolding.

For reasons unknown, Nagato, who had vowed to make the world experience pain, suddenly felt a chill in his heart at that moment.

This man before him harbored thoughts far more terrifying than they had imagined.

Indeed, no one would want their sword to be controlled by another.

Thus, when these new weapons fell into the hands of the nobles and lords, some form of conflict seemed inevitable.

When that time came, a war surpassing all previous ones would engulf the ninja world.

Under the chaos of such a massive conflict, the Akatsuki’s plan to capture the Tailed Beasts would naturally become much easier.

In mere seconds, Nagato had already weighed the potential benefits this scheme could bring to the Akatsuki—and to his own goals.

Once he gathered all nine Tailed Beasts and became the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails, he could then use his absolute power to bring all the ensuing chaos under control in one fell swoop.

By then, even if Kaneki had other schemes in mind, they would be futile.

"An intriguing plan."

Nagato nodded approvingly. Compared to the benefits of this strategy, giving Kaneki part of the Gedo Statue and one of the Tailed Beasts seemed trivial.

"I’ll agree to your request—on the condition that you can actually pull it off."

Kaneki smiled faintly. "Don’t worry. Soon, I’ll present Mr. Nagato with a splendid demonstration."

By his calculations, the timing was just about right.

Nagato gave a slight nod. "In that case, I look forward to a fruitful collaboration."

"A fruitful collaboration."

Kaneki echoed, his tone equally cordial.

Both men tacitly avoided shaking hands.

Nagato turned his head and said to Konan, "If that’s settled, take our new ally to see the headquarters."

Hearing this, Konan snapped out of the shock Kaneki’s words had left her in and quickly responded, "Understood."

"Before that, I need to pick up another one of my partners," Kaneki added, not forgetting that Hidan was still waiting for him in the explosion crater.

When Kaneki arrived, a giant Jashinist symbol was carved into the ground before him.

Hidan, ever the idle one, had used his triple-bladed scythe to carve a deep trench into the earth, letting blood flow into it and form the massive symbol.

"Heh, Hidan, you’ve been busy, huh?"

Kaneki folded the black wings on his back as he landed lightly behind Hidan.

Sensing Kaneki’s arrival, Hidan let out a sigh of relief but still sneered, "Did you finish off that guy?"

"No," Kaneki replied honestly.

"What? No? Then what the hell were you doing?"

Hidan shot back with a rapid-fire string of questions, his suspicious expression resembling a wife catching her husband in a lie.

Unbothered, Kaneki adjusted his glasses and explained, "I reached a certain... agreement with him. He won’t be killed."

"What kind of agreement?"

Annoyed by Hidan’s persistence, Kaneki rolled his eyes and said in a dismissive tone, "Even if I explained it, you wouldn’t get it. Stop asking and come with me."

With that, Kaneki disappeared on the spot.

Hidan stared in the direction Kaneki had gone, pondering for three seconds before begrudgingly following while muttering under his breath.

"Damn Kaneki. One of these days, I’ll kill you!"

Behind him, the giant Jashinist symbol emanated an overwhelming, blood-soaked aura.

After hours of trekking, Kaneki and Hidan finally arrived at the Akatsuki’s headquarters.

Located underground, dozens of kilometers from the battlefield, the base was both hidden and expansive. Upon entering, a faint chill filled the air.

"Damn it, Kaneki! What is this place? Don’t tell me you brought me to rob a grave! We’re followers of Lord Jashin—grave robbing is beneath us!"

Hidan’s chatter was relentless.

"Welcome to the Akatsuki’s headquarters, gentlemen."

A voice echoed from the darkness. Hidan looked up and immediately recognized the massive silhouette before him—the Gedo Statue.

On one of the statue's raised fingers stood Pain, calm and composed.

"Damn it, it’s that guy again!"

Hidan immediately assumed a combat stance, his shoulder armor morphing into his triple-bladed scythe, ready to attack at any moment.

Kaneki, observing Pain, noted the lack of any injuries and couldn’t help but think, So this is one of the Rinnegan’s powers? An incredible healing or restoration ability, perhaps?  

He leaned toward the latter. He was certain Pain had shown no signs of life during their last encounter. The recovery was likely Nagato’s doing.

"Ah, new recruits already?"

A playful voice rang out as the space above the statue’s fingers began to distort. A man wearing a tiger-striped mask suddenly appeared.

Space-time ninjutsu.  

Kaneki scrutinized the newcomer, noting that, apart from a single visible eye, the man revealed no other distinguishing features.

As the masked man appeared, a bizarre creature enveloped in what resembled a Venus flytrap emerged from the ceiling, hanging upside down like a bat.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I’m White Zetsu!"

The white half of the creature greeted Kaneki enthusiastically.

At the same time, a flurry of paper swirled in the air, forming Konan’s figure atop one of the fingers.

"Now that everyone’s here, let’s begin introductions," Pain announced.

"I am Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki. My code name is ‘Zero.’"

His Rinnegan eyes gleamed brightly in the darkness as he gestured to his companions.

"This is Konan, code name ‘White Tiger.’"

Konan nodded at Kaneki and Hidan.

Pain continued, "Above us are Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, code name ‘Black Tortoise.’"

"Hello, I’m White Zetsu!"

"Black Zetsu," the black half added curtly.

Before Pain could introduce the masked man, the latter interjected, "Greetings, seniors! I’m Tobi, the Akatsuki’s intern. No code name yet."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 72: Wouldn't It Be Easier If We Turned All of Akatsuki Into Followers of Lord Jashin?*

Pain glanced at the masked man without saying anything, seemingly tacitly approving of his statement.

Hidan sized up the group, hefting his scythe and licking his crimson lips.

"Kaneki, these guys look pretty decent. How about we sacrifice all of them to Lord Jashin?"

He looked at the Gedo Statue, his face full of greed.

"Especially this big one. If we could offer it to Lord Jashin, He’d definitely be thrilled!"

"Tsk tsk, Senior Hidan, your ideas are always so bold," the masked man teased, somehow already standing behind Hidan.

Hidan snorted coldly. "You have no idea how great Lord Jashin is!"

The masked man tilted his head. "Jashin? Never heard of Him. Not much of a reputation, huh?"

"You bastard! How dare you blaspheme Lord Jashin!"

Hidan swung his scythe in a wide arc, its deadly curve aimed straight at the masked man.

Despite the sudden conflict, neither Kaneki, Nagato, nor anyone else intervened.

Kaneki, in particular, seemed indifferent. To him, if this self-proclaimed Akatsuki "intern" could be taken out by one of Hidan's attacks, it would call Akatsuki’s strength into question.

But, of course, such a thing wasn’t going to happen.

Hidan's scarlet scythe cut through the masked man's body like red lightning, but there wasn’t even a scratch on him, as if the blade had struck a phantom.

Not only was he unharmed, but the masked man closed the distance between them, leaning in playfully. "Senior Hidan, you nearly scared me to death!"

At that moment, several plump bugs crawled onto the masked man’s cloak.

“Huh?”

The masked man let out a confused sound, only to be engulfed by a violent explosion!

Hidan tumbled across the ground, eventually steadying himself with his scythe plunged into the earth.

“Tsk, tsk, you two seniors are so fiery. I almost didn’t make it.”

Somehow, the masked man had reappeared atop one of the Gedo Statue's fingers, patting his chest as if in fear.

"That's enough, Tobi. These two are going to be our comrades from now on. Don’t push too far," Pain interjected, stopping the farce.

The masked man scratched his head in disappointment. "I was hoping to see the seniors’ true strength. But if the leader insists, I’ll stop."

Though Tobi stood down, Hidan wasn’t one to let things go easily. He was ready to sacrifice everyone here to Lord Jashin, scythe in hand.

Unfortunately for him, Kaneki placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"That’s enough, Hidan."

"From now on, Tobi is our comrade too," Kaneki said with a calm smile, adjusting his glasses.

Hidan glared at him in disbelief. "Damn it, Kaneki! Are you seriously joining this crappy organization?"

Kaneki shot Hidan a sidelong glance, his kagune subtly pressing against Hidan’s neck.

"Got a problem with that?"

Feeling the cold presence on his neck, Hidan raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine."

Pain observed the interaction with mild surprise. It seemed these two had a closer bond than he had initially thought.

"Since that’s settled, choose your codenames," Pain commanded, waving his hand as seven rings floated toward Kaneki.

Kaneki studied the rings. They were marked: Seiryu, Suzaku, Nanto, Yunü, Beidou, Santai, and Kuchen.

After a moment’s thought, Kaneki chose Beidou (Big Dipper), recalling the unique meaning it had in his past life. Perhaps it could guide him toward his truth.

“Hmph, if I have to pick, then I’ll take this one.”

Hidan pouted and selected Santai.

With a gesture, Pain retrieved the remaining rings.

"These rings serve as identification for Akatsuki members. They’re also how I’ll contact you. Akatsuki will only reclaim a ring upon its owner’s death," Pain explained, emphasizing their significance.

Kaneki narrowed his eyes. The phrase “only upon death” was clear. Leaving Akatsuki meant death.

Still, Kaneki was unbothered by the warning. His relationship with Nagato wasn’t that of a subordinate but an equal collaborator, using Akatsuki as a convenient cover.

In fact, Kaneki liked the arrangement. It meant he could attribute his future actions to either Lord Jashin or Akatsuki.

No one noticed the myriad thoughts swirling in Kaneki's mind.

Pain had Konan hand Kaneki and Hidan two sets of red-cloud uniforms, along with two scrolls.

"The first scroll contains the yin-release jutsu you requested.

"The second contains a portion of the Gedo Statue’s body."

With Kaneki and Hidan officially joining, Nagato wasted no time showing his sincerity by delivering the agreed-upon "down payment."

Kaneki accepted the scrolls, his gaze drifting beyond Konan to the enormous, mysterious statue behind her. A faint smile curled his lips.

Akatsuki, despite its reputation, was surprisingly lenient. As long as missions assigned by Pain were completed, members enjoyed a great deal of freedom and were even handsomely rewarded.

Kaneki left with his rewards, heading to an underground base that was now his.

The base, originally Akatsuki's property, had been reassigned to Kaneki. He wasted no time deploying black beetles for security and quickly submitted a list of required research equipment to Konan.

"I say, Kaneki, how are we supposed to spread the faith of Jashin with things like this?"

Hidan had been sulking since joining Akatsuki.

Kaneki raised an eyebrow at him. "Who said you can’t spread Lord Jashin’s faith here?"

"Huh?"

Hidan’s eyes lit up with curiosity.

Kaneki slowly removed his glasses, cleaning them with his sleeve as he spoke casually.

"If everyone in Akatsuki becomes a follower of Lord Jashin, wouldn’t that make Akatsuki part of the Jashin cult?"

Hidan’s eyes sparkled with newfound hope.

"Hey... that actually makes sense!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 73: Summary of Research Results X2*

*[The Eldritch God’s Nurturing Game]*

*[Host]:* A blood pool named Ken Kaneki

*[Level]:* 3 (Next level requires 50,000 reputation points)

Note: The host’s mental power will increase as their level rises.  

*[Eldritch God Reputation]:* 43,131

*[Ability 1]:*

*[Womb of the Primal Creator]*

*[Gene Pool]:* Human genes, blood pool genes, RC genes

*[Ongoing Analysis]:*

- Eldritch God genes (16.8% progress)

- Ninja genes (22.1%)

- Orochimaru genes (4.7%)

- Immortality Jutsu (26.4%)

- Clone Jutsu (70.2%)

- Yang Release Ninjutsu (10.1%)

- Yin Release Ninjutsu (3.5%)

- Sage genes (2.1%)

- Outer Path Golem genes (0.9%)

- Unknown fungal species (0.34%)

*[Producible Races]:*

- *Harpies:* Loyal apostles of the Eldritch God, who sing praises of the deity’s glory.

- *Blood Pouch Worms:* Capable of storing vast amounts of life energy and Yang Release chakra, allowing for rapid healing in critical moments.

- *Apostles of Desire:* Beings who offer their bodies and souls to join the Eldritch God’s glorious evolution.

- *Blood Pool Clones:* Clones created from the host’s genetic material, possessing similar abilities and appearances.

- *Crow Clones:* Clones derived from crow genes.

- First-Generation He-Pouches, Black Beetles, Ravens, Demon-Faced Ghost Snakes, Exploding Bugs, and RC He-Pouches.

*[Ability 2]:*

*[Blessing of the Eldritch God]:* The body is blessed by the Eldritch God, granting immortality until the deity's demise.

*[Description]:* "I will create a world for the Eldritch God!"

Kaneki adjusted their glasses as they reviewed their system interface.

Half a month had passed since they joined the Akatsuki. During this time, the system panel had undergone significant changes.

In terms of reputation, thanks to the tireless efforts of the ghouls like Shiroishi Mori, the Land of Rivers had fallen into chaos, and the fame of the Cult of the Eldritch God spread rapidly. Reputation had reached 43,131 points—just over 6,000 short of the next level.

This meant that Kaneki’s mental power—essential for research and computational ability—would soon receive a substantial upgrade.

Regarding the projects, after unlocking the scroll provided by Nagato, Kaneki immediately began researching a portion of the Outer Path Golem’s body by immersing it in the blood pool.

To conceal the main body’s location, they conducted experiments in the lab and secretly had Black Beetles deliver samples to the blood pool clone at the Cult’s headquarters.

Although this slowed the analysis, it ensured safety and kept the main body’s location hidden.

Kaneki’s caution proved wise.

While analyzing the Outer Path Golem, they detected genetic material from another lifeform—a highly resilient fungal species.

When attempting to analyze the fungal genes, the organism tried to absorb Kaneki’s life force to grow.

Unfortunately for the fungus, Kaneki quickly suppressed and consumed it for further analysis.

However, due to the limited sample size, progress on the fungal research was minimal.

What surprised Kaneki most was discovering that the Golem’s genetic structure resembled plants rather than animals. Furthermore, its genetic sequence differed significantly from any known organisms in this world.

This anomaly sparked Kaneki’s curiosity and confusion.

In addition to the Outer Path Golem and the unknown fungus, other research projects were progressing steadily. For the Clone Jutsu, Kaneki had already integrated Orochimaru’s Snake Clone Jutsu with other clone techniques provided by Nagato. This was now one of Kaneki’s key research projects.

Yang and Yin Release Ninjutsu, acquired from Nagato, had also been formally established as projects. With Kaneki’s immense life force and growing mental power, these projects were advancing rapidly.

Research into Orochimaru’s genes, however, had stalled. Unsurprisingly, analyzing his entire genetic code using just a single clone was nearly impossible.

Beyond research, Kaneki’s ability to produce new races had evolved.

The *Apostles of Desire*, for instance, had already proven their destructive power during the battle against Pain, with abilities rivaling a Tailed Beast. When self-destructing, their power could even match a Tailed Beast Bomb.

The *Blood Pouch Worms* were created using Uzumaki clan genes extracted from Uzumaki Riri, combined with insect DNA. These creatures stored vast amounts of Yang Release chakra and life energy. Carrying one was akin to having a personal medical ninja—potentially lifesaving in critical moments.

Lastly, Kaneki’s latest masterpiece—the *Harpies*—was unveiled.

By combining avian genes from the ninja world with the Uzumaki clan’s immense vitality, these specialized apostles were created. Each Harpy was equipped with Kaneki’s various mastered ninjutsu, effectively making them elite units.

Their combat effectiveness, however, still required further testing.

While Kaneki summarized their progress, Konan posed a critical question to Nagato: “Do you really think Ken Kaneki’s plan is reliable?”

“The Fourth Great Ninja War… it’s not something that can be taken lightly.”

Nagato, seated in his wheelchair, stared silently at the ceaseless rain outside the cave.

“My eyes tell me that Ken Kaneki is a man of great talent,” he replied.

Konan, still uneasy, voiced her concern: “He’s already asked me to procure a large number of advanced instruments. What if we’re raising a tiger that will turn on us?”

The red-haired man shook his head. “As long as I can capture all nine Tailed Beasts, it doesn’t matter what Ken Kaneki is researching. In the end, he’s just a tool in my hands.”

Turning his wheelchair, Nagato headed toward the inner chamber.

“I’ve already chosen the second clone. Tomorrow, go with Pain to capture it.”

“Our immediate priority is to maximize the power of these eyes—and to take revenge.”

In the darkness, Nagato’s eyes burned with murderous intent.

Hearing the word “revenge,” Konan clenched her fists.

She would never forget the hatred in her heart, or the looks in her comrades’ eyes when they perished—especially that sunny, orange-haired boy.

After a few seconds, Nagato’s killing intent subsided.

“As for Kaneki, let him clear out the trash within the Land of Rain. If possible, have him recruit a few new members.”

“And about the research materials, provide what he needs. The things he’s creating will be useful for the plans ahead.”

For the Akatsuki, capturing the Tailed Beasts quickly and exploiting the chaos of the ninja war was clearly the optimal strategy.

“I understand,” Konan replied.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 74: The Test, A Three-Person Squad*

*Land of Rivers.*

This once peaceful land of tourism has been in turmoil for several months now.

Under the leadership of Baishi Mori, hundreds of ghouls have grown increasingly fierce, pushing ever closer to the Hidden Hot Springs Village.

And beyond the Hidden Hot Springs Village lies the political and economic heart of the Land of Rivers—the capital, Kawajo.

Outside a frontline outpost near the Hidden Hot Springs Village, three figures quietly appeared.

“Geez, this is so boring. The master actually sent us on such a dull mission,” a crisp female voice rang out. Its owner stood lightly on a tree branch, seemingly weightless. Her dark green hair made her particularly striking.

“Hey, you! If you’re working under Orochimaru, don’t call Lord Shingetsu your master!”

An irritated voice snapped back. It came from Uzumaki Rii, one of Kaneki’s experimental subjects, who was glaring coldly at the green-haired woman.

In response to Rii’s sharp rebuke, Kana simply chuckled lightly. Casually brushing her waterfall-like hair aside, she replied with a smile:

“I won’t deny that I was once captivated by Orochimaru’s power, but after witnessing the vast ocean that is our master, I can’t bring myself to care about a mere stream like Orochimaru anymore.”

A glint of madness flashed in Kana’s emerald green eyes. She clutched her throat as if in ecstasy and declared, “Now, I am nothing more than a loyal dog to our master!”

“You’re disgusting,” Rii spat, clearly repulsed by the woman who used to be her enemy.

After all, when Rii had been a subject of Orochimaru’s experiments, this woman had been in charge of the facility.

It had taken everything for her to escape Orochimaru’s clutches, and now this woman dared to compete for Lord Shingetsu’s favor? Unforgivable!

Kana’s face returned to its usual calm as she sneered. “Don’t think I don’t know what’s going through your mind. Let me give you some advice: only the strong deserve to stand by our master’s side. Someone like you should just give up.”

“What did you just say?”

Rii couldn’t hold back anymore. She clenched her fists, ready to lash out at Kana.

The orange-haired man beside them pressed his temples and sighed in exasperation. “I’m begging you two, don’t forget the mission Lord Kaneki entrusted to us.”

The speaker was Jūgo, who had chosen to follow Kaneki in order to train after a violent outburst.

Hearing his reminder, Rii reluctantly calmed down. For her, completing Lord Shingetsu’s mission was far more important than arguing with Kana.

Kana, too, decided to back off. As her master’s most loyal subordinate, she wouldn’t allow a foolish woman to ruin his plans.

Seeing his two companions finally quiet down, Jūgo breathed a sigh of relief.

Lord Shingetsu had sent the three of them on this mission to test their abilities and teamwork. If they started infighting before the mission even began, it would surely disappoint him.

Regaining his composure, Jūgo issued his orders. “Kana, scout the number of people in the outpost.”

“Got it.”

Kana dropped her impatient expression and shifted into serious mode.

A crisp bird call escaped her throat. It sounded like the ordinary chirping heard in forests during early mornings—completely inconspicuous.

The soundwaves rippled outward, bouncing off objects and returning to her. In her mind, they constructed a complete picture of the area.

Infused with chakra, the soundwaves did more than map the terrain and count enemies—they also gauged the chakra levels of those within the outpost.

By analyzing the chakra feedback, she could roughly estimate the enemies’ strength.

“Two squads, six people in total—two Chūnin and four Genin.”

Kana reported the information succinctly.

Jūgo nodded. This level of deployment was within his expectations.

After all, the Hidden Hot Springs Village had only a few Jōnin to begin with, and they were all reserved for countering Baishi Mori’s sudden attacks. There was no way the village would assign significant manpower to a frontline outpost.

Still, to an average person, two Chūnin would be considered a formidable challenge.

“We’ll proceed according to plan,” Jūgo said.

“Understood.”

Inside the outpost, one squad stood on watch while the other rested.

“Where did those monsters even come from? Why are they so fixated on our village?” one Genin grumbled.

For months now, the relentless advance of those creatures had shattered the once-idyllic lives of the Hidden Hot Springs Village’s ninja.

Instead of basking in their elevated status and idling away their time, they now faced daily life-or-death battles.

Hearing the question, their Chūnin leader sighed heavily. “I heard it’s because some of the village’s pro-war faction blew up an entire village during a mission. Now those people are out for revenge.”

As a Chūnin, he had access to slightly more information and was privy to some insider details.

“Damn it. Why did we have to take on such a mission? This is getting us all killed!” the Genin complained bitterly.

It was hard to blame them. In the past, the Hidden Hot Springs ninja had only been responsible for maintaining local security. The village’s thriving tourism industry had provided plenty of wealth, sparing them from the dangers of war.

But now? Not only were they risking their lives on the battlefield, but they weren’t even getting paid much.

The tourism industry had collapsed due to the ongoing chaos, and the village’s generous salaries had dried up along with it.

The Chūnin leader eventually cut them off. “Enough complaining. Stay alert. According to reports, those monsters have been spotted near this defensive line.”

Hearing this, the Genin grimaced.

They’d heard plenty of horror stories about how terrifying those creatures were—taking out ninja with ease. What would they do if they actually encountered them?

“Naoki, do you think we can really defeat those monsters?”

One of the Genin finally voiced the question everyone was too scared to ask.

“I don’t think so,” a crisp voice answered.

The three were stunned, then their faces paled as they instinctively drew their kunai and looked upward.

Kana had somehow appeared in midair, her green wings blocking the sunlight. Her emerald eyes had turned gold, glowing with an eerie light.

Smiling faintly at the ninja below, Kana opened her mouth.

A piercing bird cry erupted, engulfing the entire outpost.

“Enemy attack!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 75: Hide-and-Seek

The sharp soundwaves almost shattered the eardrums of the six ninjas guarding the stronghold. In unbearable pain, they covered their ears, trying to block the attack.

"Enemy attack!"

"Stop her, now!"

Compared to the Genin, the Chunin leader on duty managed to remain calm.

Enduring the sharp pain in his ears, he pulled several kunai from his pouch and hurled them with all his strength at the enemy.

Kana flapped her wings but was still struck by the kunai.

A perfectly timed expression of panic appeared on her face, and the piercing sound abruptly stopped.

"Yes, we got her!"

The ninjas below looked relieved and exhilarated. What they had thought was a formidable enemy turned out to be surprisingly easy to deal with.

But just as Kana was supposed to fall, she flashed a mocking smile. "Sorry, I lied."

Suddenly, her body seemed to split apart at the point where the kunai had struck, scattering into a flock of birds that dove at the ninjas below.

The two Chunin frowned deeply.

"Damn it! When did this happen?"

Clearly, they had fallen into a genjutsu.

"Was it the bird's cry just now?"

With their extensive combat experience, the two Chunin quickly formed hand seals to disrupt their internal chakra, breaking the genjutsu that had infiltrated their systems.

But for the four Genin from the smaller ninja villages, such a feat was far beyond their capabilities.

By the time the Chunin broke free of the genjutsu and retreated to disengage, the four Genin had already been ensnared by crimson tentacles that had appeared out of nowhere, rendering them immobile.

"Who are you?"

The ninja from the Village Hidden in Hot Water (Yugakure) glared at the three enemies before him and barked the question.

No, calling them "people" didn't seem quite accurate.

After all, the three before him hardly looked human in any traditional sense.

Kana now had a pair of massive pale-green wings on her back, and her feet had transformed into sharp, birdlike talons.

Uzumaki Rii had eight scarlet, sinister tentacles growing from her back, lifting the four Genin high into the air.

Jūgo’s body was covered in eerie markings, and his brown eyes radiated pure savagery.

"Well, we’re followers of Lord Jashin," Rii said with a sweet smile before—

Bam!  

The two Chunin watched in horror as the four Genin were crushed by the immense strength of Rii’s tentacles.

Scarlet blood burst into the air like fireworks, showering the battlefield and leaving the two Chunin paralyzed with fear.

"You're so violent, Rii," Kana remarked, tilting her head. She smiled at the remaining two ninjas and said, "Are you ready to be sacrificed to Lord Jashin?"

In the next instant, she dove at them with incredible speed.

"Damn it!"

The two ninjas’ faces twisted in dread. While death on the battlefield was commonplace, these three monsters actually enjoyed the carnage—they were terrifying.

"Let's attack together. No more wasting time," Jūgo said, his eyes flashing blood-red. The smell of blood in the air had visibly affected him.

The black markings on his body turned crimson, spreading like flames. He charged like a wild beast toward the enemy.

Sensing Jūgo’s approach, one of the ninjas quickly formed seals.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

A thick wall rose from the ground to block Jūgo’s advance.

But it was no match for Jūgo in his berserk state, fueled by natural energy.

With a single punch, he shattered the wall, the debris scattering as he charged forward and grabbed the ninja's head.

Boom!  

The immense force smashed the Chunin into the ground, leaving a massive crater. The devastating impact left the ninja bleeding from all orifices, dead on the spot.

The remaining Chunin was frozen in shock.

How is he this strong?!  

No, he had to escape!

Summoning all his speed, he formed seals faster than ever in his life.

"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

A thick mist enveloped the area, obscuring everyone’s vision. The surviving Chunin used the opportunity to burrow underground with Earth Style techniques.

When he resurfaced, he was over a kilometer away in a forest.

"What are those creatures?"

A birdwoman, a tentacle monster, and a freak covered in strange markings—none of them resembled normal humans.

Suddenly, a song echoed through the mist.

"Hide and seek~"

"Hide and seek~"

"Don’t let me find you~"

"Or I’ll gently slice open your tummy~"

The voice was clear and childlike, but the eerie lyrics made the terrified ninja tremble as he hid behind a tree.

When the song faded, he sighed in relief.

Turning his head, he found himself face-to-face with a cheerful girl.

"Found you, big brother!"

Before he could react, Kana drove senbon needles through all his joints, leaving him completely immobile.

"Who… what are you?"

"You’re not human!"

The ninja's face was twisted with terror.

Kana simply smiled and covered his eyes with her hand.

"Go to sleep. You won’t be scared if you’re asleep."

After finishing off the last enemy, Uzumaki Rii clapped her hands and said, "That was easy."

Kana immediately sneered. "All you did was take out the weakest trash. Do you think someone like you deserves to stay by our master’s side?"

Rii bristled. "You stupid bird! Want me to pluck all your feathers?"

Jūgo sighed deeply as the markings on his body faded.

These markings symbolized his ability to absorb natural energy. In essence, his transformation was akin to a form of Sage Mode.  

Born with an innate affinity for natural energy, Jūgo’s body could absorb it without harm. But his mind couldn’t handle the energy’s ferocity, often driving him into uncontrollable rages.

Kaneki’s solution? Faith in Lord Jashin.

Through Jashin worship, Kaneki imprinted his will on Jūgo’s mind to suppress the madness. However, Kaneki’s mastery over Yin Release and soul manipulation was limited, so the control wasn’t perfect.

Intense combat could still push Jūgo into a berserk state if he absorbed too much natural energy.

This was why Kaneki had paired Jūgo with Kana and Rii.

Kana’s genjutsu could stabilize Jūgo’s emotions, and Rii’s sealing techniques could suppress his outbursts. Combined with Kaneki’s spiritual imprint, they kept Jūgo under control.

Kana’s abilities came from the new race Kaneki had created, the *Harpies.* Her modified body granted her flight, incredible speed, and sound-based genjutsu that easily overwhelmed Chunin-level opponents.

Rii had learned advanced sealing techniques from Kaneki, inherited from Nagato, and had also been implanted with kagune, allowing her to unleash powerful sealing jutsu with her Rinkaku.

In Rii, Kaneki had discovered the extraordinary potential of the Uzumaki clan. Beyond their physical prowess, they excelled in sealing, sensory, and medical ninjutsu.

"Let’s finish the mission already," Jūgo muttered, exasperated by his bickering teammates.

Fortunately, the mission prevented them from escalating their feud—for now.

(Chapter End)