51-55

Chapter 51: Deception, Shocking Change, and the Fall

*Clang!*

*You dared to confront Kakuzu, who mocked you for your lack of wealth, and obtained a random skill from him:

Secret Technique – Earth Grudge Fear Stitching (Proficient, Rank A).*

Your "Steel Heart" level has increased.  

The flaming greatsword descended.

It carried an unstoppable storm, blazing flames, and a fiery tail as it sliced downward.

It roared towards Kakuzu’s towering water barrier that had surged upward from his hand!

The massive water wall, standing an impressive six meters tall and seemingly formidable, melted like butter under the searing edge of the flaming greatsword.

Hissssss—  

Violent steam erupted instantly, only to be swept away by the storm accompanying the sword.

The battlefield suddenly cleared.

Shinji saw what lay beyond the dissipating water barrier, and his pupils constricted in shock.

Kakuzu had already replaced his heart with one of the water element. Meanwhile, the Earth-element Earth Grudge Fear mask creature hardened its body and leaped upward to block the flaming longsword’s descent.

But something was wrong.

The Fire, Wind, and Lightning mask creatures that Shinji thought were preparing to clash with him head-on…

Were facing away from him!

In the next instant—

A blinding blue beam from the Earth Grudge Fear: Ultimate Strike cannon roared forth. The blast, a fusion of Fire, Wind, and Lightning elements continually reinforcing each other, exploded in the opposite direction, aimed directly at the super-deathmatch barrier.

The barrier’s shimmering surface rippled violently, warping under the cannon's force, bulging outward until cracks began to spread.

Even the cliff encased by the barrier started to fracture, massive crevices forming as the entire structure trembled, on the verge of collapse.

Witnessing this, Shinji’s eyes widened in disbelief, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints.

Veins bulged visibly on his forehead, his skin contorting grotesquely as if trying to contain his rising fury.

Gritting his teeth, he forced his trembling hands to guide the flaming greatsword down upon Kakuzu’s body.

A torrent of emotions surged within him—betrayal, despair, and rage, climbing uncontrollably!

“What are you doing?!”

“Kakuzu! What the hell are you doing?”

“You coward!”

“Are you trying to run away?”

“Answer me!!!”

At this moment, Shinji had already staked everything. With a resolve to fight to the death against a powerful enemy, he had given his all.

Yet now, Kakuzu was trying to flee?

Flee?  

Was this some kind of sick joke?

If Kakuzu ran, then Shinji, trapped in combat, would burn himself alive with his own techniques.

Would this still fall under the “guarantee” of survival?

Shinji didn’t know and dared not risk it. His expression twisted into madness as he pushed his near-broken body to leap forward with sheer willpower.

“Come back!”

“Get back here!”

“RAAAAHHHHH!”

“You coward!”

“Fight me to the last drop of blood!”

Shinji’s bloodshot eyes burned with fury, his scarlet Sharingan spinning wildly. A sinister, almost demonic aura radiated from him as he leapt through the air.

Twisting his waist and lowering his head, he spun in midair, bringing the flaming greatsword in a wide arc.

With a deafening roar, he struck down Kakuzu’s Earth-element mask creature, slamming it deep into the cliffside.

The force sent the mask creature spinning out of the rock face and back into the air, only to meet another sweeping strike from the flaming greatsword.

This second swing encompassed Kakuzu’s main body and his remaining three mask creatures, pulling them all into its devastating path.

“Incredible… such power,” Kakuzu muttered, gazing at the godlike sword strike with narrowed eyes. Fear flickered in his gaze.

Then, a cold smirk spread across his lips. He clasped his hands together to form a seal.

“But victory is mine.”

The flaming greatsword struck Kakuzu’s body directly, splitting him in half.

His eyes widened in shock as his body began to dissolve from the waist upward.

But then—

He turned into a puddle of water.

The moment the water hit the ground, a deafening roar erupted!

Countless black Earth Grudge Fear tendrils burst through the ground, writhing and surging like a living nightmare. They coiled toward the flaming greatsword with terrifying speed and force.

This was Earth Grudge Fear!

A technique that hid life underground, a swarm of insidious black tendrils ready to strike at any moment!

The sword slashed downward, scorching the dense mass of tentacles into oblivion. Yet, from beneath the surface, new tendrils continued to surge forth, wave after wave, relentless and unyielding.

The overwhelming tide gradually slowed the speed of the giant sword's circular sweep.

And in that brief moment of hesitation—

A blinding blue energy cannon from Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear shattered the barrier of the Super Deadlock Domain.

Kakuzu leaped from a pool of water along the cliff face, recalled his three masked monsters, and escaped through the breach in the barrier.

Immediately after—

He darted forward at breakneck speed, heading straight for the gnarled, old tree clinging to the cliff’s center before anyone could react.

"*Hidan, run!*"

From within the barrier came Shinji's furious warning.

Outside, the three onlookers, stunned by the sudden turn of events, finally snapped back to their senses. Terumi Mei was the first to recover. She immediately turned her head and spotted Kakuzu charging toward the cliff. Reflexively, she began forming hand seals.

But before she could complete them—

A hand, composed of Earth Grudge Fear's writhing tendrils, burst from the ground above the cliff, grabbing her ankle and yanking her downward, halting her movements.

Hidan, standing atop the tree trunk, glanced left, then right, staring into the bottomless abyss on either side. Despair surged within him.

Where the hell am I supposed to run?  

Clinging to his trust in Shinji, Hidan closed his eyes and leaped from the tree without hesitation.

Watching this, Shennong’s eyes widened in alarm. Without delay, he dove from the cliff, aiming to catch Hidan mid-air.

However, Kakuzu was faster.

Twisting his torso, he flung his arm forward. The tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear extended through the air, coiling around Hidan and pulling him back. Kakuzu caught him effortlessly, tucking him under his arm.

Hidan opened his eyes, utterly baffled.

Kakuzu wasted no time explaining to his future "immortal partner." Instead, he delivered a firm slap to the back of Hidan's head, knocking him unconscious.

With a series of leaps, Kakuzu descended the cliff, landed on the fortress wall, and then jumped down again.

Within moments, he reached the entrance of the underground cavern that served as the cult headquarters of the Jashinists.

Shinon, watching this unfold, narrowed his eyes slightly and halted his pursuit.

When Kakuzu captured Hidan, Shinon had been close enough to unleash both Body Modification Jutsu and the Eight Gates technique to stop him. At the very least, he could have forced a confrontation.

But for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, he chose not to act.

As the chaos subsided, the battlefield grew eerily silent.

The crescent moon faded into obscurity, and the air was heavy with tension.

The once-imposing barrier crumbled into nothingness.

In Shinji's hands, the blazing giant sword of flowing flames dissipated into scattered embers, drifting away on the wind.

He collapsed onto the cliff’s edge, his entire body a grotesque sight of exposed, charred muscle, with not a patch of unburned skin left intact. Thick, oily fluids from his scorched flesh dripped and sizzled as they fell.

The kunai clutched tightly in his hand tore away a chunk of flesh, plummeting from the cliff and hitting the ground below with a hiss, molten as if it had been forged in fire.

Every ounce of chakra within his body had burned away.

Shinji stared blankly in the direction where Kakuzu had fled.

Then, slowly, his expression contorted into rage.

His bloodshot eyes filled with wrath, his teeth clenched, and his fists tightened.

Yet, beneath the fury, a faint trace of panic flickered.

Eventually, all his emotions—rage, frustration, despair—were overwhelmed by an unbearable sense of powerlessness.

What happens now?  

He had fought to his last breath. Could he return home?

The enemy had escaped, and in the end, his demise was essentially self-inflicted. Would that still fulfill the plan’s contingencies? Surely, the boss of Heaven’s Path wouldn’t be so petty, right?

Would Hidan still become the crazed Jashinist zealot he was destined to be?

Did any of this truly matter?

Question after question surfaced in his mind, each demanding answers he could no longer provide.

Ah… my brain feels fried.  

His body refused to move.

Sound was gone—his eardrums had burned through.

All that remained was silence. Endless silence.

Shinji closed his weary eyes as the last trace of chakra in his feet dissipated.

His body tilted forward, tumbling headfirst off the cliff.

Strangely enough—

There was no sensation of shattering into a broken mess upon impact.

Instead, he felt as if he had landed in a soft, warm, pink cloud of cotton candy.

---

(Chapter Ends)  

*Chapter 52: A Rainy Night's Choice*

Outside, the rain poured relentlessly, a steady, heavy downpour.

Raindrops streaked down the windowpane, resembling streams of dark, viscous blood trailing downward.

The distant darkness was so thick that nothing could be discerned.

Shinji opened his eyes, greeted by the long-missed yet familiar sight of the blue checkered ceiling.

The only light source in the cramped cabin was the glow of his phone beside him, which played a slightly distorted song.

The song itself was fine, but the intermittent chime of WhatApp notifications kept interrupting its flow.

Shinji picked up his phone and casually glanced at it.

- *[Got a writing gig, 6 bucks per thousand words. Interested?]*

- *[Fix the illustration, let’s go with the first version. 100 bucks is still money, right?]*

- *[Bro, I know you’re broke, sick, and someone stole your scooter battery, but I really can’t help right now. I’ll pay you back the 6K for sure.]*

- *[What do you mean by that? You saw me at the foot spa spending money while you’re delivering food? You don’t understand. This friendship is over—blocked.]*

- *[Hey, you there? Rent’s due.]*

“Cough, cough.” Shinji sat up from the bed, coughing as he picked up his phone. He intended to transfer 300 dollar to his landlord and send a bowing emoji, maybe smooth-talk his way into delaying payment for another half month.

But his phone quickly displayed a dreaded notification: *Insufficient Balance.*

He sat in silence for a moment, then opened his mobile banking app, hoping his imaginary billions had finally arrived.

What greeted him instead was a stark reality: *5.26 .*

It felt like a knife had been plunged straight into his heart.

“Damn it, was it really just a dream?” Shinji let out a long sigh, recalling the vivid details of his year in the ninja world. It had felt so real.

But life marches on—and so does the need to make money.

Shinji slapped his cheeks, forcing himself to perk up. With a faint smile, he opened Whatapp.

The first thing he did was delete the only friend he had in this city, the so-called “bro.” He decided he’d never interact with that scumbag again.

Then, he opened the chats with his freelance clients and responded to them one by one.

- *[Thanks, boss. I’ll churn out 10,000 words tonight.]*

- *[Got it! You’ve got an eye for quality—I’ll adjust the first version right away.]*

After calculating his potential earnings, Shinji sent a text to the scooter shop owner, promising to show up with money the next morning to rent a battery for 150 . He’d grab some breakfast and start delivering food orders again.

Rainy days meant extra delivery bonuses. Conservatively, he estimated he could make 200 .

When the day ended, he’d spend 50 on a box of milk for the landlord, smooth-talk them a bit, and hopefully avoid eviction.

If he could just keep this up for another month, life might turn around.

“Cough, cough.”

After finishing all this, Shinji dragged himself out of bed, slipping into his worn-out slippers. He walked to the window, gazing up at the deep, pitch-black sky that revealed nothing.

At that moment, he pondered his solitude.

Alone in this unfamiliar city, with no friends or family, struggling to make ends meet.

During nights like these, it was hard not to feel a pang of loneliness.

But that thought barely lasted half a minute before Shinji dismissed it entirely.

He didn’t have the luxury to wallow in sentimentality. If he didn’t hustle for tomorrow’s survival, he might truly starve to death.

Shaking off the gloom, Shinji opened the small fridge by the window and pulled out his lifeline—a can of Pepsi.

With a crisp pop, he cracked it open and took a hearty gulp.

But as he drank, his brow furrowed.

Why did it taste so strange? So sickeningly sweet?

Was it expired?

Frowning, Shinji glanced at the can.

Suddenly, his vision blurred. The scene before him distorted.

The can in his hand transformed into a young girl’s face, her emerald-green eyes filled with urgency. She clutched his head, crying out in a voice of desperation:

“Don’t go!

Don’t die!”

Outside, the rain continued to pour, streaming wildly down the glass like rivers of dark, frenzied blood.

The streaks grew faster and faster, more and more chaotic.

Crack!  

The glass shuddered violently under the rain’s assault, forming spiderweb-like fractures.

Shinji gripped the can tightly, his breathing halting.

It felt as if something was gripping his throat, squeezing his heart.

Then, with all his might, he crushed the can.

It was suffocating, unbearable—like the verge of death.

But in the next instant—

Nothing happened.

Shinji's vision blurred for a moment.

When he came to, he was back in his rented room.

At this moment, a line of text appeared in his field of vision:

*[Employee: Shinji, you have died unexpectedly while attempting to save a world in chaos.]*

*[You now have two choices.]*

*[1. Claim your insurance compensation: 500,000,000, and be resurrected in your original world.]*

*[2. Be brought back to life in the Shinobi world and continue as a heaven-sent hero to save this chaotic world. This opportunity is unique and will not come again.]*

*[Note: If you choose Option 2, your insurance payout will be reduced to 50,000,000 , but the coverage will remain valid.]*

Looking at the two options before him, he fell silent.

Especially when he saw the word "resurrection" in Option 1.

Shinji couldn't stop trembling. His whole body shivered, and a splitting pain exploded in his mind.

Fragments of memories, long sealed away, surged within him.

*[Resurrection]*

These two stark white characters stood out, hammering home a single, undeniable truth:

In the real world, he was already dead.

Shinji clutched his head and collapsed to the ground.

His pupils trembled as he stared at the familiar surroundings of his rented room:

The rain pouring outside the window, the narrow single room, the yellowing walls, the bed with a missing leg, and the moldy table.

Finally, his gaze landed on the off-brand computer on the table—a computer that had accompanied him for an entire year.

A chill crept over his heart.

He remembered—everything that had just happened.

It was a series of events he had already lived through.

That night, sickly and frail, he had confidently mapped out a plan for his future.

However, from the very first step of the plan, things went awry.

First, there was his trusty old companion—the off-brand computer.

This secondhand machine, powered by an E5-2620 CPU bought for 500 on a resale platform, could run League of Legends smoothly and even handle Adobe Photoshop for drawing. He had intended to use it to complete a freelance job for his client and earn enough to rent an bike the next day.

But it suddenly smoked and broke down.

This failure left him frustrated and in even worse health all night.

The next day, with no money, he couldn’t rent the bike and stood aimlessly in the pouring rain.

When he returned to his rented room, he discovered that the landlord had thrown all his belongings out onto the doorstep.

Blow after blow, it was almost too much for him to bear.

But with only 5 dollar left in his pocket,

Shinji forced himself to gather his spirits, shouting at the top of his lungs:

*"If back in the day, Warren Buffet could turn 20 bucks into 37 million,

then I can turn 5 into 500 million today!"*

After that,

he decided to buy a cup of instant noodles to treat himself, recharge, and plan to beg for his first startup funds under the bridge.

But as he crossed the street,

a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes:

*[Your willpower has met the recruitment standards of the Heavenly Way Corporation.]*

*[Would you like to become a heaven-sent hero?]*

Secret File 1:

**[Heavenly Way Corporation Recruitment Notice:

Position: Heaven-Sent Hero.

Requirements: A guy who can maintain their willpower and hope even after enduring pain, despair, and repeated setbacks.

Job Description: Bring order to a chaotic world.

Benefits: SSS-level talent, generous task commissions, and a comprehensive Heavenly Way insurance system.]**

—"The Lost Scrolls"  

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 53: Such a Fighting Spirit—He’s Simply a Heavenly Warrior!*

Land of Hot Water, Beneath the Cliff Outside the Evil God Cult’s Headquarters.

The cliff was riddled with scars from the battle, cracks like spider webs spreading across its surface. Jagged boulders jutted out at precarious angles, hanging loosely on the edge of the cliff face, ready to tumble at any moment.

Terumi Mei clutched the battle-damaged Shinji in her arms, her gaze fixed anxiously on Shinon, who was examining the boy’s body.

“How… How is he?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Shinon frowned, his fingers glowing with the blue light of a chakra scalpel. He meticulously sliced through Shinji’s meridian points, his movements more akin to a scientist dissecting a lab specimen than a medic treating a patient.

After a while, he clicked his tongue, his frown deepening.

“Well? Say something! Can he be saved or not?” Mei demanded impatiently.

Shinon exhaled, visibly irritated, and looked up. “As you can see, he’s already dead.”

“What… What do you mean?” Mei’s heart clenched at his words, panic washing over her.

“What’s the big deal? Death isn’t uncommon in the ninja world, is it? Or does he hold some special significance for you?” Shinon sneered, noticing the flicker of emotion on Mei’s face. “If I recall correctly, you’ve only known him for a day.”

Mei bit her lip, her gaze lingering on the boy’s face. Her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions.

Shinon was right. Before yesterday, she had never met this boy. She didn’t know his name, his appearance, or his character. She knew nothing of his ambitions or the grand ideals he carried.

Yet this boy…

He smashed the holy altar in defiance of injustice and fought to his last breath.

Under the moonlight, he boldly proclaimed his dreams of revolution, revealing an audacious ambition.

And tonight, in this burning dawn, he wielded his flaming greatsword, leaping and slashing with a grace that left an indelible impression.

Swift as tiger, elegant as dragon.  

He etched four words deep into Mei’s heart:

*Shinji.*

She couldn’t accept it. Such an extraordinary figure—how could this be his final act?

In her mind, this boy should have walked toward the horizon, bathed in the light of dawn, and one day, they would meet again on the battlefield.

But was this really the end?

Mei felt a heavy weight pressing on her chest.

“Tch, stop with the gloomy face,” Shinon said, shaking his head. Then, unexpectedly, he added, “He can still be saved.”

Mei’s head shot up in surprise, her delicate brows raised. “Didn’t you just say he’s dead?”

“I said he’s dead, not that I can’t save him,” Shinon replied. He stepped forward, his chakra scalpel glowing again.

To Mei’s shock, Shinon suddenly cut open Shinji’s chest, revealing a charred, still-beating heart within.

“Look at this kid. He’s a freak of nature!” Shinon exclaimed, pointing to the writhing tissue surrounding the heart.

“I’ve never seen someone with such a fierce will to fight. Even in death, his body is still craving battle! What’s more, my forbidden technique, Physical Regeneration, is still active in him.”

“Simply a heavenly warrior!”

“And this—”

Shinon reached into the bloody chest cavity, pulling out a wriggling black thread.

“This is Takigakure’s secret technique, Earth Grudge Fear Stitching, perfectly stitching his blood vessels together and preventing blood loss.

“Coupled with Physical Regeneration, which continually generates new blood, these two techniques are temporarily serving as a substitute for his heart.”

“It’s unbelievable. How did this kid’s single-tomoe Sharingan even manage to learn these two forbidden techniques?”

Shinon shook his head, baffled, then revealed his treatment plan.

“All we need to do is give him a new heart. He’ll live.”

Mei’s face turned pale. She had seen her fair share of death and bloodshed in the cold, ruthless environment of Kirigakure. But Shinon’s casual demeanor as he discussed organ transplants while pulling apart a chest cavity was enough to send chills down her spine.

Fighting back her discomfort, Mei asked, “But under these conditions, where could we even find a compatible heart for him?”

Shinon pondered for a moment. Then, standing up, he rummaged through the nearby rubble, tossing aside massive boulders as if they were toys.

Before long, he dragged out a creature wrapped in black threads—the Earth Grudge Fear Mask Monster that Shinji had embedded into the cliff earlier.

Shinon crushed the mask with his bare hands, revealing a heart wrapped in black threads.

“Here’s a ready-made one.”

Shinon had noticed it earlier when Shinji destroyed the wind-element mask—the heart inside had been beating.

This confirmed that the Takigakure rogue ninja, Kakuzu, had stored a heart in each mask, allowing them to function even when detached from his body.

Since this kid’s body already contained the same black threads, it should work, right?

The rogue medic Shinon thought so, at least.

Despite his vast knowledge—bolstered by the advanced technology of the Sky Ninja Village, capable of building flying fortresses—this was the first time he had encountered such an absurd situation.

Treating this as an experiment, Shinon inserted the heart into Shinji’s chest and activated the Mystical Palm Technique, his hands glowing green.

Then, he turned to Mei, his face emotionless, and said:

"I can save him, but I need your help."

"Huh?" Terumi Mei froze, pointing at herself. "Me? What can I do?"

"I don't know medical ninjutsu,"

Shinon, with a face full of boredom, stopped her mid-sentence with a cold gaze and calmly asked:

"Can you blow air?"

Terumi Mei blinked and nodded blankly.

"Can you pinch a nose?"

She nodded again.

Shinon gave a satisfied "hmm" and then asked,

"Do you know how to kiss?"

Terumi Mei instinctively nodded,

But almost immediately, her fair face flushed red, and steam seemed to rise from her head.

Clenching her fists nervously, she stammered, "W-what are you saying? Kiss? I don’t even know what that means!"

Shinon stared at her expressionlessly. "Looks like you do."

"Good, then you already understand how to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."

"Lift his chin, pinch his nose, take a deep breath, press your lips to his, and blow air."

"Two blows per cycle, each lasting 1 to 1.5 seconds, and exhale about a third of the air until his chest rises. Then stop blowing and release his nose."

"Lift your head, take another deep breath, and prepare for the next cycle."

"Keep a steady rhythm, about 20 times per minute."

Terumi Mei was stunned. "What? One time isn't enough? Twenty times per minute?"

She swallowed nervously, looking at Uchiha Shinji sleeping profile on the ground. Her pupils trembled, and her cheeks turned as red as the dawn sky.

Birds flew past, and the world seemed to come alive.

Beneath the glow of the morning light,

Even the early spring chill didn't feel as cold anymore.

Shinon tilted his head. "Any issues? Besides, you'll need to keep this rhythm for at least half an hour. Given his condition, it might even take an hour."

"Can you do it? If not, we’ll just leave him here to fend for himself."

Terumi Mei shuddered and bit her lip before raising her hand. "I-I’ll do it!"

As she said it, she couldn’t help but recall the moment Uchiha Shinji had held her and leapt off the cliff to save her.

If he could risk his life without hesitation to save her, how could she not repay that kindness?

Now, it was her turn to save him!

But the little version of herself in her mind was bright red, steam billowing from her head as she nervously counted on her fingers.

"Twenty times per minute, thirty minutes—that’s 600 times. If it’s an hour, that’s sixty minutes… 1,200 times!"

"Gah, I have to kiss him 1,200 times?!"

Shinon coughed lightly, a subtle smirk flickering in his otherwise cold eyes, before he asked sternly,

"Are you ready?"

"Let’s begin!"

With that, he placed his glowing green hands on Shinji chest.

"W-wait, what? We’re starting already?" Terumi Mei panicked, hastily brushing aside the crimson tassel by her ear, then nervously tilted her head up and took a deep breath.

Then,

Her slender fingers gently lifted Shinji chin.

The morning sun rose.

The rays of dawn filtered through her red hair and her eyes, illuminating her like a seraph cloaked in divine light.

And she pressed her lips to Shinji.

"Whoosh…"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 54: The Dissolving Kiss  

Five billion or five hundred million?  

Staring at the two options in front of him, Shinji stood silently in place.  

To be honest, compared to the hardships he’d endured, five billion made those struggles seem trivial.  

With that kind of money, he could slap his "big brother" in the face with cash, making him regret everything. He’d grovel, desperately clinging to the Berluti leather shoes Shinji would buy for himself.  

He could drive the luxury cars he used to envy from afar, those paragons of engineering perfection, without having to endure daily commutes through wind and rain.  

He could even spend two million on a whim, buying out the stingy landlord’s house during a housing market crash, watching the landlord’s snobby expression morph into bewilderment and disbelief.  

The landlord would surely think, Could this kid actually be the long-lost son of some tycoon?  

Five billion! Five billion!  

With that kind of money, I’d practically be a living Dragon King, thought Shinji.  

But then, Shinji couldn’t help recalling the past year he had spent in the ninja world—a year of fleeting peace.  

A year where he didn’t have to worry about tomorrow or basic necessities. He only had to train routinely within the clan, complete trivial tasks, and still accumulate a seven-figure savings. Clan elders might have been harsh with their words, but they took real care of him. Every week, a basket of rice, flour, vegetables, and eggs would appear at his doorstep.  

That year of peace was unsettling. It made him feel uneasy, like a fish out of water.  

And outside the clan, things were no different.  

The elder Uchiha Setsuna had sacrificed half his life to save Shinji and now remained in critical condition. His new friend Hidan had willingly tagged along despite the risks, trusting him enough to leap blindly off a cliff.  

And then there was the most adorable girl Shinji had ever met. She had hugged his lifeless body, her face etched with sorrow, making him want to melt into a devilish grin and take her for himself.  

Yet...  

Shinji knew it was all an illusion.  

The peace he experienced in the ninja world that year was a facade.  

His lofty image as a self-sacrificing hero, completing noble deeds for the greater good, was a lie.  

The true nature of the ninja world was one of blood, tears, hatred, rage, and madness.  

And he? He wasn’t some noble hero from a storybook. He wasn’t righteous or virtuous.  

From the beginning, he had been a greedy, lustful, ordinary man—an imposter.  

But five billion...  

That was real.  

The thought of losing four and a half billion made Shinji’s frugal heart ache more than a stab wound.  

So, his gaze sharpened as he stared at the two options.  

Clasping his hands together, he whispered, “Amitabha.”  

“Sorry, Hidan. Big bro has burned through everything. Whatever happens now is up to your fate.”  

“I’ll light incense for you in the afterlife. Maybe even burn some cash. Five hundred gets you 10,319 yen, all in one-yen bills. That’s a thick stack, plenty sincere!”  

“After all, you’ve seen my wallet. I’ve only got five and twenty-six cents left. To burn you cash, I’d have to take out a payday loan. That’s quite a sacrifice.”  

“Sorry, bro. Our one-day friendship is worth 500 to me. Not a penny more.”  

Reciting his thoughts like a prayer, Shinji grinned.  

Straightening his back with unshakable confidence, he raised his hand and reached for the option that would lead to his future as the Dragon King.  

But just as his finger was about to touch the words...  

Whoosh.  

A soft, strawberry-scented breeze, carrying a girl’s gentle breath, wafted through the storm.  

It slipped through a crack in the window.  

It traveled from an endless darkness, passing through countless hands, thousands of times over, until it finally reached the rain-soaked room.  

The hollow, cold void in Shinji’s chest suddenly filled with a surge of warmth.  

Blood raced through his veins, spreading to every corner of his body.  

Thump! Thump! 

Thump! Thump! 

Thump! Thump!  

The world froze. Cracks spread like veins across its surface.  

A red glow, like the hues of dawn, pierced through the dark clouds of this sunless night.  

It was the light of dawn.  

It was a kiss so profound it could dissolve even the Susanoo.  

“1310.”  

“1311.”  

“1312.”  

Land of Hot Water.  

On the cliffside next to the Cult of the Evil God's headquarters...  

Shinon looked at the scene before him, casually closing the gaping wound he had opened on Shinji’s chest. As if going through the motions, he silently counted in his heart.  

This was all he could do.  

After shoving a heart into Shinji’s chest, everything else—aside from artificial respiration—was covered by the self-operating Forbidden Technique: Body Regeneration and the Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Stitches within the boy’s body.  

Even external chest compressions weren’t needed. It was absurdly convenient.  

Any medical ninja encountering such a patient would probably yell, “Bring me three more cases like this!”  

Still, whether Shinji would survive remained an open question in Shinon mind.  

A case like this? Even Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, would likely be scratching her head.  

Let alone him, an amateur doctor without a license.  

“How is he? Is he alive?”  

Mei Terumi, panting heavily, suddenly raised her chin, a gleaming thread of saliva trailing as she glared fiercely at Shinon.  

Hearing the girl’s question, Shinon instantly switched to a serious, no-nonsense expression. “Almost there, almost there. I can feel it—this kid’s power is awakening.”  

Mei Terumi gritted her teeth. “That’s the same thing you said half an hour ago! Can he make it or not? Give me a straight answer!”  

Glancing at Shinji’s motionless body, Shinon figured that after all this time with no signs of life, the boy was probably done for.  

Maybe I should just take him back for an autopsy?  

But just as he was debating whether it would be impolite to drag the body away, he suddenly sensed a surging, malevolent, and chilling chakra emanating from the ground.  

Narrowing his eyes, Shinon focused on Shinji’s face and then solemnly said, “This time, it’s real.”  

Mei Terumi smiled faintly, though a vein pulsed on her forehead. This guy—does he think a girl’s first kiss is a joke?  

“Fine, this is the last time!”  

“If he doesn’t show any changes, I’ll melt both you and him down together.”  

Leaving those cold words, Mei Terumi shot him a fierce glare.  

Then she turned around, skillfully tilted Shinji’s head back, and angrily pressed her crimson lips against his, sealing the kiss perfectly.  

Looking at the unconscious boy, she thought to herself, If Shinji doesn’t wake up this time, the next thing I’ll blow into him will be my Boil Release: Skilled Mist Jutsu.  

However, before she could let out a breath, Shinji—who had been lying lifeless for over an hour—suddenly opened his eyes and gasped for air.  

His ragged breathing hit Mei Terumi’s face, leaving her momentarily stunned.  

A pair of Sharingan flared to life, bloodshot veins spreading across the whites of his eyes.  

Shinji saw five billion slipping from his grasp. The single tomoe in his Sharingan began spinning furiously, almost splitting into two, then three.  

But in the next moment...  

Their gazes met.  

The air fell into an awkward silence.  

Shinji blinked.  

Looking at Mei Terumi, who was kissing him, the rage building in his heart suddenly evaporated.  

His pupils dilated and unfocused. He began to wonder if he had died and gone to heaven.  

Seeing the girl’s angry and flustered expression, he almost wanted to rush to a forum, post a boastful thread, and desperately ask for advice:  

Damn it, a super-cute girl just kissed me—should she take responsibility for me, or should I take responsibility for her?  

Ugh, I feel like scratching my head!  

I wasn’t ready for this. I haven’t even met her parents yet, and we’re already at this stage?!  

Meanwhile, Mei Terumi froze mid-rescue breath, her face instantly turning crimson as steam practically rose from her head.  

The awkwardness and humiliation of this moment were off the charts.  

She desperately wanted to post her own question online:  

Help! After performing CPR on a cute boy over 1,300 times, will he think I had ulterior motives?  

Hurriedly, Mei Terumi pushed herself up, covered her face, turned her head toward the sunrise, and smoothly pretended nothing had happened. She made it look like she was simply admiring the dawn, hoping Shinji would believe everything he just experienced was a genjutsu.  

And so...  

The morning breeze carried the scent of youth, waking the sun.  

Shinji dazedly touched the corner of his lips, blushing. His gaze followed Mei Terumi’s graceful movements as she stood against the dawn.  

She stood there, ears red, her long auburn hair swaying in the wind.  

Strands of her hair glimmered in the light, scattering beautifully.  

The atmosphere grew subtly charged.  

(End of Chapter) 

 Chapter 55: Shinon's Interrogation, A Sudden Move!

At the bottom of the cliff,

After just a brief moment of respite, Shinji quickly collected his thoughts and surveyed his surroundings.

The group of three was no longer on the same cliff where the battle with Kakuzu had taken place. That area was now surrounded by members of the Jashin Cult, clad in black robes and samurai armor. There were dozens of them, and the search perimeter was still expanding.

At some point, their team had relocated to the opposite side of the valley—on the cliff that Kakuzu had collapsed with his Wind Style: Pressure Damage.

They were now directly under the noses of the Jashin Cultists, a move that truly demonstrated how audaciously skilled they were.

However, at this rate, it was only a matter of time before they were discovered and surrounded.

“Do you see it?” Shinon stood to the side, looking down with a calm expression.

“The commotion you caused during your fight with Kakuzu has put them on high alert.”

“Including what you can and can’t see, there are four squads on the perimeter, systematically expanding the search zone from the battle’s epicenter. Near the entrance to the cult’s headquarters—a cave system—there are six fully armed Chūnin squads standing guard.”

“As for what lies inside, we have no idea how many members there are.”

“Today seems to be a special day for them. Most of their forces have been called back to headquarters.”

Shinon paused, then turned to look at Shinji and Mei Terumi, speaking with a detached tone:

“Maybe it’s time to face reality.”

“With your strength, attempting to annihilate the Jashin Cult is nothing short of a pipe dream.”

Shinji frowned slightly, about to retort.

However, Mei Terumi turned around at that moment, her gaze firm and unwavering:

“I’m going in. There’s information I absolutely need to confirm.”

“And besides, it’s not impossible.”

She pointed toward the castle, her brows furrowed in determination. “The entrance to the underground cave system is directly beneath the castle. We don’t need to go through the front. If we dig a straight path down from above, we can infiltrate it.”

“Their defenses are concentrated at the cave entrance. The castle above isn’t heavily guarded.”

“This is our chance.”

Shinon shook his head slightly. “First, you have no idea how deep the cave system goes. Second, how can you guarantee the tunnel you dig will lead directly into the cave?”

“And another thing,” Shinon asked coldly, “how can you be sure this isn’t a trap? For all you know, there could be a hundred cultists inside the castle waiting for you to walk right in.”

“Just buy me a little time.” Mei Terumi’s gaze didn’t waver as she resolutely replied:

“I’m skilled in Water, Earth, and Fire-style jutsu. With Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole, I can probe the area and gather intelligence on the castle’s layout. And since the cave system is likely made of limestone, I can easily dissolve it with my Lava Style.”

“I just need a little time.” Mei’s gaze shifted to Shinji.

Shinon was strong, but his presence here felt more like an idle stroll for a retired man. He seemed completely indifferent to everything happening around him.

If she wanted to see this through, she could only rely on herself and the team’s other member, Shinji.

But Mei suddenly hesitated.

She looked at Shinji—still covered in burns, scrapes, and blood from the earlier battle—and felt as though her request was too much.

Shinon chuckled at the perfect moment, breaking the silence:

“Little girl, have you forgotten?”

“The plan that brought us here in the first place? That was your idea.”

“And what happened?”

He pointed at Shinji, who was struggling to get back on his feet.

“Because of your hesitation, you missed the chance to infiltrate the Jashin Cult headquarters.”

“Because of your hesitation, you ran into Kakuzu, the S-rank rogue ninja from Takigakure.”

“Because of your hesitation, this kid is now half-dead, lying here like this.”

“That brat Hidan, the one who was with you, got captured. Now the Jashin Cult’s security has doubled. And you’re still expecting this guy to risk his life for you?”

“If you’d listened to him from the start, you’d already be inside their headquarters by now. Wouldn’t you?”

Shinon didn’t spell everything out, but his words carried a strong undertone of persuasion to give up.

From the very beginning, Shinon had been a bystander, and his perspective was clear:

In his eyes, the only person who truly needed to get into the Jashin Cult headquarters was Mei Terumi.

Shinji and Hidan were just a couple of hot-headed kids playing ninja, pretending to be heroes without thinking of the consequences.

Until Shinji had fought Kakuzu in a life-or-death battle and discovered the hidden potential within himself, Shinon hadn’t paid much attention to this hastily assembled team.

Under Shinon's questioning, Terumi Mei fell silent.

She exhaled deeply, clenched her fists unconsciously, and realized she had acted somewhat foolishly.

This was clearly her own issue. So why had she instinctively wanted to rely on Shinji?

For a moment, no one spoke.

The atmosphere was as tense as a sow giving birth—everyone wore serious expressions, ready for anything.

It was then that—

“No problem. I’ll buy you the time you need!”

Struggling to his feet, Shinji suddenly spoke.

“Huh?”

Terumi Mei and Shinon both turned to look at him in surprise, their gazes filled with disbelief.

Their eyes seemed to ask the same thing:

"Kid, do you even realize how battered you are right now? Do you even have enough chakra left to move?"

“The plan itself isn’t flawed. Kakuzu’s appearance was an unexpected variable,” Shinji said, activating his Sharingan. He surveyed the battlefield below and analyzed,

“With their current defenses, a direct assault clearly isn’t feasible anymore.”

“I think it’s worth a shot,” he continued, turning to Terumi Mei and asking,

“I’ll draw their attention while you gather intel. Where should we rendezvous afterward? And how much time do you need?”

Terumi Mei took a deep breath. Her gaze flickered with hesitation for a moment before she responded coolly,

“You’ll need to go down from here, circle around the outer wall, pass through the battlefield we just fought on, lead them on a chase along the walls, and then head toward the fork in the path near the underground cave leading to the Cult of Jashin's headquarters. From there, climb into the castle’s inner walls—that’s the rendezvous point.”

She pointed to the terrain below, explaining the route to Shinji in detail and highlighting the critical checkpoints.

Then, with a slightly solemn expression, she added:

“You’ll need to buy me around five minutes. Once I’ve gathered the intel, I’ll head to the fork ahead of time and use Hidden Mist Jutsu to help you evade pursuit.”

“If the plan works, we might not only uncover the information I need but also locate Hidan’s position.”

“And then, we’ll rescue him.”

Shinon couldn’t help but let out a derisive chuckle.

“Sounds nice, but what happens if something goes wrong with the plan?”

He paused for a moment before continuing, his tone dripping with sarcasm:

“For instance, what if this kid lures away dozens of pursuers for you, but after you get what you’re after, you never come back?

Without your Hidden Mist Jutsu to help him escape, this kid…”

Before Shinon could finish, Shinji laughed.

“In that case, I’d probably end up facing ten squads from the Cult of Jashin, twelve search team ninjas, countless rogue samurai, and eighteen fully armed Chūnin with the cult’s secret techniques.”

“In a situation like that, I’d most likely die.”

Then, Shinji turned his gaze to Terumi Mei.

“But I trust you!”

╰( ◕ ᗜ ◕ )╯

(End of Chapter)