36-40

Chapter 36: A Declaration of War Against Your Future Self! Stepping Onto a Lonely, Doomed Path!

As Shinji’s words fell, a sudden gust of wind blew through, dispersing the thin mist beneath the moon and stirring the flames, causing the bonfire to flare up violently.

Sparks crackled and flew into the air.

The boy’s side profile, illuminated under the brilliance of the massive full moon, was deeply imprinted in the eyes of the three present.

Despite being covered in bandages, looking like he had just crawled off the battlefield in a battered state,

That arrogant smirk on his lips carried a suffocating charm!

Watching Shinji’s confident smile, the long-haired girl with chestnut-red locks felt her emerald-green eyes waver slightly, as if being drawn into the vast vision of his ideals.

But she quickly snapped out of it, unable to hold back a smirk, as though she had just thought of something amusing.

“Oh?”

“In that case, I’ll acknowledge you as my rival.”

“Shinji.”

She curved her emerald-green eyes, brushing a strand of chestnut-red hair behind her ear. After gazing at the full moon in the sky and carefully choosing her words, she finally smiled and said:

“Let’s reintroduce ourselves—”

“My name is—”

“Mei, Tsukimi Mei .”

“Though it may sound discouraging, neither you nor I have yet reached the moment where we can truly stand on the grandest stage of the ninja world.”

“However,”

“As long as you still dream of becoming the world’s conqueror, carrying such a mad ambition,”

“Then one day, we will meet again on the battlefield.”

Her emerald eyes shimmered with a gentle yet serious light, but deep within those pupils, a flicker of cold, rational killing intent flashed unnoticed.

“When that time comes, I won’t hold back against you.”

Shinji still had his Sharingan activated, allowing him to capture every subtle change in expression on the face of this girl—Tsukimiya Mei.

The name, the hair color, the beauty, and that unwavering determination.

Shinji finally realized her true identity.

Tsukimi , or rather—

Terumi Mei.

The future Fifth Mizukage of the Mist!

A kunoichi possessing the rare and powerful dual Kekkei Genkai, who would bring an end to the chaotic era of the "Bloody Mist" village!

Shinji couldn’t help but want to laugh. Looking at Terumi Mei’s still youthful, slightly naive face, he almost blurted out:

“You’re actually a pretty nice person!”

+‿‿+

What kind of ridiculous situation was this? She had suddenly declared herself as his lifelong enemy and basically vowed to scatter his ashes to the wind.

To be honest, it felt a little thrilling.

But seriously, could she not wait until the future? Why not just deal with him now and get it over with?

Shinji raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a mix of amusement, arrogance, and defiance as he provocatively asked:

“So, are you declaring war on me?”

(☞ ° ∀ °) ☞

Terumi Mei shook her head and sighed regretfully.

“Shinji, even I have to admit, your fight in the village was truly spectacular.”

“Your exceptional shuriken techniques, relentless Fire Release, and the battle intelligence you displayed at the critical moment—all of it proves that you’re a remarkable talent, even by my village’s standards.”

“But I’m sorry to say—”

“With your current strength, you wouldn’t stand a chance against me.”

“Let alone the real geniuses of our generation, the ones who truly dominate the ninja world.”

“The likes of Konoha’s Namikaze Minato, Kirigakure’s Hozuki Mangetsu, Sunagakure’s missing Sasori of the Red Sand, and Kumogakure’s Killer Bee—these are the true rising stars of the era, whose talent even I envy.”

Terumi Mei paused, her emerald-green eyes filled with sincerity.

“You have such an awe-inspiring ambition, and you bear the name of Uchiha. In the future, you might just surpass them all.”

“So yes, you can take this as my declaration of war.”

“A declaration of war—”

“Against your future self!”

Her words carried in the wind, filled with unwavering determination, shining brightly under the moonlight.

Hearing this, Shinji couldn’t help but feel a little helpless.

As one of Kirigakure’s geniuses, Terumi Mei had likely already mastered her two Kekkei Genkai at this stage. Whether it was Lava Release or Boil Release, she could probably wipe him out effortlessly.

If she really considered him an enemy, this was the perfect moment to engage him in battle!

A swift death and a peaceful five-billion-dollar afterlife sounded like a pretty good deal.

But since she wasn’t trying to kill him right now, he couldn’t exactly hold a blade to her neck and force her to do it, could he?

That being said,

Shinji wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he smirked mischievously in his heart—she probably wouldn’t live to see that future.

Hilarious.

Because Shinji was about to join the Jashinists.

There was a line of blades waiting for him up ahead, just begging for his head.

Terumi Mei would never get the chance to take him down.

Of course, he wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. After all, it was still a decent insurance policy, wasn’t it?

*Shinji fixed his gaze on Terumi Mei, then suddenly smiled confidently and said:*

“Very well, Tsukimi Mei.”

“I’ll be looking forward to the day you come to kill me.”

“I hope that on that day, you, who dared to stand in the way of my charge, can make it worth my while!”

ᕦ(▀̿ ̿ -▀̿ ̿ )つ

However,

these words hit Terumi Mei's ears like a thunderclap, instantly making her brain freeze.

“Looking forward to,” “that day,” “charge,” and “worth my while.”

These words rearranged themselves in her mind into what sounded like a flirty confession that left her blushing and her heart racing.

Terumi Mei blinked rapidly, gasped, and her emerald-green eyes trembled as if an earthquake had erupted within them. Her small, fair ears turned crimson in an instant.

She quickly turned her back to him and awkwardly huffed,

“Suit yourself! It’s not like I’d be happy about it anyway.”

(ꈍᴗꈍ)

Shinji’s smile froze.

“Why the heck are you blushing like a teapot?!” he thought.

“I was just trying to confirm which day you’d come to chop me up! If you’re late, you won’t even find my ashes, let alone me!”

“What’s with the sudden tsundere attitude?”

Shinji shook his head, unwilling to dwell on the bizarre situation any longer.

He turned to Hidan, who had already picked himself up from the ground, gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder, and grinned widely.

Then, with a serious tone, he said:

“Hidan.”

“The Jashin cult is no good. Killing everything around you won’t solve anything.”

“On the contrary, for the Land of Hot Water right now, the Jashin cult isn’t salvation—it’s a curse.”

“This parasite clings to the nation’s vital arteries, constantly draining fresh blood and kidnapping children for its so-called rituals. All it does is hasten this country’s collapse.”

“I’m sure someone like you, who’s read books, can understand that.”

Hidan nodded heavily, his face clouded with silence.

The light in his eyes seemed ready to fade.

Understanding didn’t necessarily mean he could act decisively.

With war, the incompetence of the Hidden Hot Water Village, and the neglect of the country’s nobility, the Jashin cult had grown unchecked on this land, becoming a force no one could control.

As a mere student, not even a genin, Hidan’s options were limited to choosing the lesser evil.

Seeing Hidan’s now-clear expression, Shinji smiled, pleased with his younger companion’s awakening.

The reason he spoke so much was simple: he didn’t like owing anyone.

Hidan had saved him twice, and Shinji felt it was only right to repay him.

And the only way to repay him was to ensure Hidan never got involved with the Jashin cult.

This younger version of Hidan was educated, informed about the ninja world’s dynamics, and sharp.

He could even be called wise.

He was nothing like the future crazed, maniacal thrill-seeker Hidan would become.

The only cause for this drastic transformation, as far as Shinji could guess, was the Jashin cult’s blood-soaked, brutal rituals.

Gaining power from a demon always came at a cost.

Out of countless test subjects, only a tortured-to-madness Hidan succeeded in entertaining the Jashin and gaining immortality.

Yet, for the future of the Land of Hot Water, Hidan sacrificed his sanity and, after gaining power, killed the very people who raised him in the Hidden Hot Water Village.

It was, undeniably, a tragedy.

Shinji would not let such a tragedy repeat itself.

“Don’t look so glum! Isn’t your big brother here?”

Shinji laughed heartily and patted Hidan on the shoulder again with great force.

“Since I’ve said I’ll bring peace to this nation, I’ll make sure it happens!”

“I’ll handle the things the Hidden Hot Water Village won’t touch!”

“I’ll take down the people they’re too scared to face!”

“I’ll destroy the Jashin cult that they wouldn’t dare provoke!”

“Little brother, you just need to stay safe behind me and watch as I shine!”

Shinji wrapped his arm around the younger Hidan’s shoulders, thumped his chest with his fist, and chuckled softly,

“That’s all you need to do.”

Shinji let go of Hidan,

saying no more as he turned and walked away.

“No need to see me off, Hidan. Go back home and wait for my good news.”

With that, Shinji raised a hand, waving to the three as his farewell.

Alone, under the brilliant moonlight,

he walked past the campfire,

past the three of them,

and toward the lonely road of destiny.

---

(Chapter Ends)  

*Chapter 37: The Blazing Sword and the Forbidden Art of Death!*

Sacrificing oneself can be a skillful act.

Especially in situations like now, running a side mission in the Land of Hot Water.

On the battlefield, both sides can fight freely due to conflicting positions or ideologies.

However, when acting alone, such sacrifices must be approached with extreme caution.

If Shinji were to rush in recklessly and slaughter indiscriminately, provoking the enemy to send their top fighters to kill him, it wouldn’t be a clever ploy—it would just be plain suicide and thoughtless stupidity.

Even if he knew the other party was wicked and bound to commit grave sins with disastrous consequences, that was their business in the Land of Hot Water. What did it have to do with him, a shinobi from the Land of Fire?

In such cases, patience is essential.

A shinobi's position isn’t determined by morality; it’s dictated by which chair they’re sitting in.

Yes, the Cult of Jashin will commit mass killings in the future, but how much better will the Uchiha Clan fare?

The naive Uchiha Obito, destined to become the shadowy mastermind opposing all humanity in the future, serves as a prime example.

Thus, for Shinji to stage his insurance scam—cough, I mean, his battle against evil—he first needs to clarify his position.

A citizen of the Land of Fire, a shinobi of Konoha, and a member of the Uchiha Clan—none of these roles are connected in the slightest to the suffering civilians of the Land of Hot Water.

But as Hidan's lifesaving benefactor and elder brother figure, he could justify his actions as avenging his "younger brother." After being provoked and attacked by the Cult of Jashin, he could charge into their headquarters in righteous fury, slaying foes left and right, only to tragically fall due to a single misstep.

Such a narrative would be a tale of brotherly love so moving it would bring tears to the eyes.

And that’s not all.

It would also align with the grand mission of altering history and reshaping the world—the duty of a "heaven-sent hero."

This plan?

This plan is like Archilles climbing a tower—everything is ready; all that’s missing is the trojan horse!

That’s right, Shinji has never been a saintly do-gooder.

Everything has been part of his plan.

---

The moon hung high, its serene glow spilling across the land.

On an endless plain painted in faint, eerie hues, Shinji pressed forward against the wind.

His upper body was wrapped in bandages, while he wore rugged work pants from his departure from the ninja village. His utility pouch was strapped to his waist—completely empty.

After battles with the three from the Hidden Cloud and members of the Cult of Jashin, he had exhausted every piece of equipment.

Not even a single ninja wire remained.

He had also given his emergency ninja cat summoning scroll to Kyoshiro.

At this moment, his equipment inventory was entirely empty.

To face the headquarters of the Cult of Jashin in such a state, with only the strength of a genin, was undoubtedly a death sentence.

Knowing this path was certain death, Shinji thought about what more he could accomplish.

After all, he had promised Hidan to eliminate the Cult of Jashin.

So, of course, he would give it everything he had.

Shinji pondered for a moment and pulled out the scroll given to him by the Uchiha elder, Uchiha Setsuna, which he had secured in his leg bindings.

*"Uchiha Style: Secret S-Rank Forbidden Sword Technique!"*

Unrolling the scroll, Shinji studied one of the techniques described within, deep in thought.

This scroll was classified as an S-rank forbidden technique not because the swordsmanship was flashy, powerful, or extraordinarily difficult to master.

Rather, it was due to one of the techniques—a forbidden ninjutsu body technique with an A-rank difficulty level.

*Fire Style: Chakra Mode.*

Ninjutsu body techniques are well-known for their complexity, such as the Eight Gates Formation and the Lightning Style Chakra Mode, also known as the "Armor of Lightning."

The former, perfected by Might Duy and his son Might Guy in Konoha, would one day enable Might Duy to open the Eighth Gate of Death and single-handedly reduce the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist to the Three Swordsmen of the Mist on the battlefield.

The latter is an exclusive technique of the Raikage lineage in the Hidden Cloud Village.

Techniques like Kakashi’s Lightning Cutter and Roshi’s Lava Style Chakra Mode also belong to this category, as they enhance physical abilities.

Any technique linked to body ninjutsu is bound to be extraordinary.

So then—if Lightning Style can be developed, why not Fire Style?

This question leads to the issue of physical endurance.

Simply put, body techniques enhance a ninja’s abilities by accelerating the metabolic processes in their cells.

Lightning Style stimulates the body in a manner akin to an adrenaline surge. While it has side effects, they remain within manageable limits.

Fire Style, however, poses a different challenge. Due to its high-temperature nature, the stimulation during training can cause the cells to burn and die, making it nearly impossible to develop. Successfully using it without self-immolation would already be considered a miracle.

Roshi, the jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, managed to develop his Lava Style Chakra Mode because he was the jinchūriki of the Four-Tails. Moreover, his technique resembled an external tailed beast cloak rather than a purely internal enhancement.

---

The Uchiha clan, known for their mastery of fire-style techniques, copied countless jutsus. In terms of their reserves of fundamental jutsus, they even surpassed the Second Hokage.

Naturally, they studied this powerful Taijutsu as well. Through the Sharingan's detailed observational abilities, they could achieve precise control over fire-style chakra, burning their cells and extracting immense strength.

This led to the creation of this A-rank Taijutsu, which later became the core of an S-rank forbidden technique.

However, due to the inherently high risks of fire-based chakra, the duration of control is extremely short.

The user endures the agony and cost of being engulfed in flames, exchanging their life for a short burst of uncontrollable, devastating power.

Once used, the caster burns themselves to death.

In the most literal sense, they are completely incinerated.

Over time, this jutsu became useless and was shelved as a relic.

Those capable of using it found its power insignificant compared to their other abilities—they could achieve similar effects with a casual swing of their metaphorical "Gundam sword."

As for those who lacked such overwhelming power but wanted to learn it, they first had to consider if they had the ability to master such a dangerous jutsu. Playing with fire is no joke; without guidance from experienced predecessors, the training itself could easily result in self-immolation.

Second, they had to ask themselves whether the cost of this jutsu was worth it—sacrificing their life for one guaranteed strike.

Such terrifying side effects made even the Uchiha, with access to the Izanagi, reluctant to use it.

Uchiha Setsuna, the elder of the Uchiha clan, once employed this forbidden technique. He drew a forty-meter-long flaming sword and casually slashed a few times.

To this day, the old man’s fate remains uncertain—alive or dead, nobody knows.

Meanwhile, Shinji stood staring at the scroll in his hands, gulping nervously.

After thoroughly reading the description of this technique, his heart raced uncontrollably, and his breathing quickened. The look on his face was like that of a devoted follower of the Holy Pants Cult laying eyes on the supreme, divine white bear-patterned underpants.

Both of his eyes sparkled with excitement!

"This... this... this!"

"Damn it! Isn't this exactly what Shinji needs right now?!"

Uchiha Setsuna had the Izanagi to rely on. Even if he burned out, he could recover and burn again.

But Shinji? He had no access to the Izanagi, nor did he possess the three-tomoe Sharingan required to use it!

One slash, and he’d be dead beyond dead!

This is it—this is literal self-immolation!

It's an all-in move: a one-way ticket straight to the crematorium. Heck, it even comes with a portable crematorium built-in!

The cremation speed is practically at the speed of light! Damn it, Shinji can’t even figure out how he could possibly lose with this!

Please, someone tell me, how am I supposed to lose with this move?!

(hands on hips, smug expression!)

<( ￣ ≧￣)>

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 38: Forbidden Techniques Practice – Following the Light!*

Half an hour later, on a massive rock.

Shinji memorized all the contents of the scroll.

Without any hesitation, he formed hand seals and released a Grand Fireball, reducing the scroll to ashes on the spot.

Afterward, he assumed a meditative posture, sitting cross-legged.

Closing his eyes,

he gradually focused all his attention on his breathing. With each breath, the howling sound of the early spring wind quietly faded into the background.

Bit by bit,

the sound of his heart pounding—thump-thump—grew louder, like rolling thunder.

Above him, the full moon hung in the sky, while the vast wilderness stretched endlessly into the horizon.

Under the cold moonlight, Shinji abruptly opened his eyes.

In his scarlet Sharingan, the pitch-black tomoe spun slowly, making everything before him seem to move in slow motion.

He fixed his gaze firmly on his chest.

Through the lens of the Sharingan,

a wisp of fire-natured chakra that had undergone a complete transformation ignited from his heart!

In an instant, the blazing flames surged through his entire body,

making him feel as though he had returned to that moment of confrontation with the three shinobi from the Hidden Cloud.

The moment when the explosive tags erupted into raging flames, burning both body and soul.

But this time, it was different. The surging power was entirely contained within his body, like a depleted uranium bomb compressed to its limit, ready to detonate at any moment and give rise to a massive mushroom cloud.

Sizzle, sizzle—  

Suddenly, his body emitted a sizzling sound, as if oil was dripping into fire under the intense heat.

A sharp, searing pain gripped his heart, taking him by surprise!

Shinji’s pupils contracted. He immediately ceased the flow of chakra.

Just then, a line of text appeared before his eyes:

*[You have mastered Fire Style: Chakra Mode (Beginner, A-rank, Extremely Dangerous)]*

Sssss—  

Billows of steam rose from every inch of Shinji's body.

He couldn’t help but take deep, gasping breaths, his heart still racing with fear.

If not for his mastery of Elder Uchiha Setsuna’s godlike String-Controlled Shuriken Technique, which gave him unparalleled control over his body, he wouldn’t have realized something was wrong in time to stop it.

Had he failed, he would already be dead.

And such a death would have been nothing short of suicide.

“As expected, it’s incredibly dangerous. Also, this process is irreversible. Once fully ignited, the chakra will fuel itself in a chain reaction similar to a nuclear explosion. At that point, there’s no turning back.”

Shinji shuddered. As the intense pain in his chest began to subside, he exhaled a long, concentrated breath and pushed himself up.

With a thought, he opened his status panel:

---

*[Employee: Shinji]*

*[Title: The Heaven-Sent Beast]*

*[Talents: Steel Will (SSS), Sharingan (Single Tomoe, B+), Combat Instincts (Beginner, S)]*

*[Skills: Uchiha-Style String-Controlled Shuriken Technique (Godlike, S), Super Deathmatch Barrier (Advanced, S), Fire Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu (Beginner, C), Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu (Proficient, C), Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Claw Red (Advanced, B), Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu (Beginner, C), Wind Style: Vacuum Great Slash (Advanced, B), Clone Jutsu, Rope Escape Jutsu, Basic Taijutsu (Proficient)]*

*[Special Skill: Fire Style: Chakra Mode (Beginner, A, Extremely Dangerous)]*

*[Accumulated Steel Will Layers (Expandable)]*

*[Insurance Status: Paid]*

---

Staring at the fixed entry for Fire Style: Chakra Mode on the panel, Shinji finally felt a sense of relief.

Aside from this core forbidden technique, the scroll also contained a swordsmanship style called *“Dance of the Solar Halo.”* However, it seemed to require weapons forged from chakra-conducting metal.

On its own, the swordsmanship was only a B-rank technique. But when combined with the Sharingan, genjutsu, chakra-conducting ninja swords, and Fire Style: Chakra Mode, it could evolve into the ultimate S-rank forbidden swordsmanship technique.

In the original story, Uchiha Shisui had mastered this swordsmanship. However, perhaps due to the death of Uchiha Setsuna at the time, Shisui never gained access to the core Fire Style: Chakra Mode.  

Still, for someone like Shisui, who could summon Susanoo, this omission hardly mattered.

Shinji tilted his head slightly, gazing up at the full moon in the night sky.

He took a deep breath, his eyes firm with resolve.

Since all preparations were complete,

it was time to set off for the headquarters of the Jashin cult and cause some serious chaos!

But—

Just then,

“You’re planning to go alone?”

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind him, filled with questioning and anger—

“Are you trying to make some dramatic speech and then rush off to die by yourself?”

“Shinji, who is really running away here?”

“Do you intend to let your ideals end in some remote corner of the Land of Hot Water?!”

“Well? Answer me!”

Shinji abruptly turned his head and immediately saw a small fist swinging furiously toward his face!

Thanks to the battle instincts ingrained in his body, he reflexively tilted his head, narrowly dodging the blow.

Then, he saw the angry face of Hidan behind the fist.

For a moment, his gaze wavered, and he let down his guard.

Hidan seized the opportunity, leaping up and grabbing the bandages around Shinji’s neck with both hands. With a forceful shove, he slammed him into a large rock nearby.

*Bang!*

The impact echoed as his back collided with the rock.

Hidan's eyes were bloodshot as he angrily yelled, "You bastard! Talk to me, dammit!"

“You…” Shinji was momentarily stunned.

(ʘ言ʘ╬)

He hadn’t expected that after telling Hidan to obediently stay home, the guy would blatantly ignore him and catch up in less than an hour, looking like he was ready to beat his older brother to a pulp.

“What do you mean, ‘you’? I’m seriously sick of you!”

“You’re unbelievable, Shinji!”

“Without me leading the way, how the hell are you supposed to find the Jashin cult’s headquarters?”

Hidan’s words made Shinji pause, momentarily dumbfounded.

He was hit with a serious realization:

Wait a second…

Where is the Jashin cult’s headquarters?

Frowning, Shinji squared his shoulders and grabbed Hidan with one hand, putting him firmly back in his place. He then coldly reprimanded, “Stop fooling around, Hidan!”

“Even without you, I can just capture a Jashin cultist, interrogate them, and find out the location.”

Shaking his head, Shinji straightened up, his expression righteous as he said, “Still, since you’re here, you might as well make yourself useful.”

“All you need to do is tell me where the Jashin cult’s headquarters is, and your mission will be complete.”

“I’ll even go so far as to credit you for helping destroy the cult.”

“That way, when you get back home, you can brag to the hot spring villagers that you once fought side by side with the world’s future ruler, Lord Shinji.”

“Well? Doesn’t that sound like a pretty sweet deal?”

ヾ(´∀｀)ﾉ

Hidan blinked at Shinji’s self-righteous tone, his expression stunned as if he had just seen a ghost.

Was there really someone this shameless in the world?

If you don’t know, just admit you don’t know. Did he seriously think he could fool him with this nonsense?

What happened to the caring big brother from just an hour ago?

Give back the emotional speech that moved me to tears!

“You bastard!” Hidan growled through gritted teeth. Yanking his hand free from Shinji’s grip, he scoffed angrily and stubbornly declared, “I’m going with you!”

“Tch.” Shinji felt a headache coming on. “Why don’t you ever listen, you brat?”

For the first time, he understood how Uchiha Shanna must have felt back when she tried to stop him from taking on dangerous missions.

Ahead lay nothing but peril, yet here was this kid rushing in without a care.

Shaking his head resolutely, Hidan said, “I have to go with you!”

“Shinji, I want to see it for myself. I have to see—”

“Whether or not you’re truly worthy—”

“To become my Jashin!”

Hidan took a deep breath, his gaze firm and unyielding.

The light that Shinji had once shattered seemed to reignite brilliantly in his eyes.

“Isn’t this what you said?”

“All I want is the Jashin I need!”

“Whether it’s you or that guy from the Jashin cult, it doesn’t matter!”

“I will bring an end to the chaos in the Land of Hot Water, drive out all the big-nation ninjas from this land, and rise as the next ‘Demi-God’ of the ninja world!”

“This is my ninja way!”

Hidan fell silent, his spirit blazing as he looked at Shinji.

“Let’s start by taking out the Jashin cult, the poison of this land!”

Shinji took a deep breath, silently staring at Hidan.

Though a faint flicker of emotion stirred in his heart, reason told him that if Hidan went to the Jashin cult headquarters, history might repeat itself—

Or worse.

As he was about to refuse, a melodic, bell-like voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

“Then let him come along, Hidan.”

“I’ll allow it.”

Shinji froze for a moment and turned around.

There, standing in the moonlit clearing, was a tall, graceful girl with bright green eyes.

Her arms were crossed, and her lips curved into a faint smile as radiant as spring blossoms.

Slowly parting her pink lips, she spoke:

“And I’m coming too.”

٩(⁎❛ᴗ❛⁎)۶

---

Chapter 39: Team Formation, Facing Shinon Head-On! 

When Terumi Mei said she wanted to join as well, Shinji was momentarily stunned.  

While he wasn’t exactly dense, he wasn’t naive either. There was no way the genius kunoichi of Kirigakure, Terumi Mei, had the same impulsive motivations as Hidan, who got swept up by Shinji charisma and swagger. She clearly had her own reasons for wanting to come along.  

At this point in time, Kirigakure was engaged in small-scale skirmishes with Sunagakure, which was reeling from the loss of its Third Kazekage.  

It was during these battles that Rasa and Pakura made their names as contenders for the title of Fourth Kazekage.  

Adding to this, Iwagakure, which harbored a longstanding grudge against Kirigakure, was preparing to launch a coastal assault.  

This assault would culminate in the Battle of the Mist at Ryokudō Reef, a decisive event that left Kirigakure nearly voiceless during the Third Great Ninja War.  

Yet strangely enough, during such a turbulent period, Terumi Mei—a genius of Kirigakure—was neither in the village nor on the battlefield.  

Instead, she had hidden her identity and appeared in the Land of Hot Springs.  

What’s more, she seemed to have her sights set on the Jashin Cult, seeking something within it.  

Shinji frowned slightly as he looked at Terumi Mei, sensing that beneath the already chaotic surface of the Land of Hot Springs, an even darker current was surging.  

Meeting Shinji’s unblinking gaze, Terumi Mei’s face flushed slightly. She quickly turned her head and explained, “What are you looking at?  

"Don’t misunderstand. I’ve been tracking the Jashin Cult far longer than you, and I have my own mission to complete.”  

Her tone turned serious, and a hint of determination flashed in her clear green eyes.  

“I have to find someone.  

“If I can’t find him, my homeland might be in grave danger.”  

Shinji pondered her words but couldn’t figure out who Terumi Mei might be searching for due to the lack of information.  

Still, something about the situation screamed trouble. It wasn’t something a rookie genin like him could fully grasp.  

Even Shikamaru wouldn’t be able to handle this level of complexity.  

Moreover, with Hidan now clinging to him like a stubborn piece of gum, having Terumi Mei around might actually be helpful in keeping an eye on things.  

With his Super Deathmatch Barrier, Shinji wasn’t worried about Terumi Mei interfering in his fights.  

When the time came, he could just yell: 

“Welcome to the world of real men!” 

(<>.<>)/ 

Then, with a single slap to the ground, he’d push all his teammates aside and face the enemy alone.  

In the midst of the enemy’s shocked stares, he’d activate his forbidden Fire Release: Chakra Mode with a dramatic flourish.  

Not even the mightiest celestial beings could save them then!  

Shinji chuckled to himself, replaying the script in his mind over and over again.  

But no matter how he ran it, the outcome was always a dead end.  

With that realization, he sized up his two companions and reluctantly nodded.  

“Alright, let’s go together.”  

Hidan and Terumi Mei exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but smile.  

However, just then—  

“If you’re all going, why not count me in as well?”  

A deep voice suddenly rang out from behind them.  

The three of them turned in surprise, with Hidan blurting out in shock, “Shinon?!”  

The speaker was none other than Shinon, who had been so quiet that he seemed almost nonexistent.  

“I’m a medical ninja, after all,” Shinon said, walking toward them slowly. Dressed in a brown hood, a pale yellow cloak, and sporting a prominent red dot on his forehead, his tone was calm and measured. “I might be of some use.”  

Shinji’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze growing cold as he stared at Shinon.  

This man, the leader of the Sky Ninja Village disguised as a wandering doctor, had been tagging along with them for a while. His intentions were clearly not pure.  

As a doctor, there was no reason for his own village to exile him.  

Yet here he was, following them—specifically Hidan.  

There was no way this wasn’t part of some scheme. Shinji wouldn’t believe otherwise even if he were beaten to death.  

“Apologies, Shinon. I appreciate you healing my injuries, but the Jashin Cult is no peaceful place. For your own safety, I think it’s best you stay behind.”  

Shinji rejected him without hesitation.  

“Shinji, is it?” Shinon frowned slightly and let out a small sigh before continuing.  

“You don’t need to be so cautious. There’s no grudge between us, and I pose no threat to you.”  

He glanced at Mei Terumi, then spoke calmly:  

“Just like this little girl, I also have something I must accomplish.”  

“All I need is some data to validate my findings. You can do whatever you want—I won’t intervene. I’ll just observe from the sidelines.”  

“If necessary, I can even help you heal your injuries.”  

“So there’s no need for you to be so wary of me.”  

Finally, Shinon’s expression remained calm, but his tone carried a faint hint of threat as he said in a low voice:  

“Besides, if I want to follow along, your words alone can’t stop me.”  

“Care to try?”  

[Shinon not only looks down on you, but he’s also trying to provoke you.]  

Shinji’s eyes instantly sharpened. Without wasting a single word, he reached out and swiftly pulled the ninja tools pouch from Mei Terumi’s waist. Drawing a kunai, he hurled it directly at Shinon’s face.  

Then, with a sweep of his leg, he kicked up a cloud of dust toward Shinon.  

Using the dust as cover, Shinji lowered his stance and darted to the side.  

The kunai in his fingers spun, creating a blade flower.  

The dazzling and deadly "kunai" was reversed in his grip, aimed straight at Shinon’s temple.  

The frontal kunai attack, the dust, and the assassination from the side all struck nearly simultaneously.  

Even a seasoned jonin would barely have time to react or form hand signs under such a ferocious assault.  

In an instant, danger bloomed!  

Hidan and Mei Terumi froze, their eyes wide with shock.  

They never expected Shinji to decisively attack the very doctor who had just treated him.  

However, faced with such a layered offensive, Shinon simply shook his head. Suddenly, a surge of energy exploded from his body.  

Forbidden Jutsu: Physical Regeneration! 

Forbidden Jutsu: Eight Gates Release, Sixth Gate—View Gate, Open!  

He tilted his head slightly, dodging the frontal kunai, and raised his right hand, flicking his fingers.  

Boom!  

A sonic boom erupted from his fingertips!  

A gust of wind, akin to a Level 8 hurricane, blasted forward!  

Shinji felt as if he had been struck by a massive hammer and was sent flying backward.  

A subtitle flashed before his eyes:  

[Ding!] 

[You fearlessly challenged Shinon, the leader of the Sky Ninja Village. You have obtained a random skill from him: Forbidden Jutsu – Physical Regeneration (Mastery, S-rank, Incomplete).] 

[Your "Steel Will" skill has leveled up.]  

Bang! Bang! Bang! 

Shinji bounced across the ground, carving a long trench into the earth.  

“Cough! Argh!” He spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling as though his internal organs had been displaced.  

Compared to the top-tier powerhouses of the current ninja world, he was still far too inexperienced.  

But before Shinji could recover, a large hand pressed against his chest, emitting a soft green glow. It began to realign his dislocated organs and heal the ruptured wounds inflicted by Shinon’s blow.  

This was Mystical Palm Technique, a high-level medical ninjutsu.  

This left Shinji utterly bewildered. 

"Uncle, if you’re going to hit me, can you just finish me off in one strike?"  

“What’s the point of healing me after beating me up?”  

He looked at the calm and unbothered Shinon, his expression filled with frustration as he asked:  

“Why?”  

“Why what?” Shinon raised an eyebrow slightly.  

“Why didn’t you kill me? And why do you keep healing me?” Shinji stared at him intently, his gaze icy.  

“Would you care about an ant throwing punches at you?” Shinon shook his head. Then, with a faint sigh, he said in a low voice:  

“If you want a reason, it’s probably because seeing you all reminds me of the past.”  

“I, too, had a home I wanted to return to but never could.”  

“Is that so?”  

Shinji knew he was referring to the Sky Ninja Village, which had been destroyed by Konoha.  

It was precisely because of the destruction of his home and country that this man had become obsessed with gathering power to seek revenge against Konoha.  

Shinji exhaled sharply, slapped Shinon’s hand away, and stopped him from continuing the treatment.  

Then, he stared at Shinon coldly and gave a cruel smile:  

“I’ll trust you for now.”  

“But if you dare harm either of them behind my back, I’ll make sure you die a horrible death!”  

“Trust me, I always keep my promises.”  

Forbidden Jutsu – Physical Regeneration, similar to Tsunade’s Strength of a Hundred Technique, allows continuous healing of injuries. However, unlike the Yin Seal, which consumes chakra, this technique drains one’s life force.  

Thus, it is classified as a forbidden technique.  

With this jutsu, combined with the Fire Style: Chakra Mode, Shinji estimated he could extend his combat duration by five more seconds.  

Five seconds, under such nearly divine power, would be enough to obliterate the airborne Angkor fortress, the incomplete Zero-Tails, and even Shinon himself.  

“Heh.” Shinon merely chuckled, dismissing Shinji’s words as empty threats.  

 *Chapter 40: Bounty Hunters, The Ritual Begins!*

Shinji let out a deep breath and stood up.

He looked around, his eyes scanning the three teammates who were about to embark on this mission with him.

It felt oddly surreal.

First, there was Terumi Mei , the Kirigakure prodigy who had mastered two Kekkei Genkai, now operating under the alias "Tsukimi Mei."

Then, there was Shennong, the secret mastermind behind the Land of the Sky, traveling incognito as a healer in the ninja world.

And finally, there was Hidan, a future member of the Akatsuki, currently just a wild, feral youth from the Land of Hot Water.

This lineup was enough to make anyone scratch their head.

Why in the world had fate brought this bizarre group together?

"Forget it. Let’s head out. Our target: the headquarters of the Cult of Jashin."

"Hidan, lead the way!"

---

*Meanwhile,*

In the underground plaza of the Cult of Jashin's headquarters near City, chaos was unfolding.

The High Priest of the cult watched the scene before him with cold indifference.

Cult followers dragged terrified, struggling civilians from the Land of Hot Water, tying them onto crosses.

The pyres beneath them were stacked high with wood, and from racks laden with gruesome instruments of torture, the followers gleefully selected spikes, skinning chains, and iron nails in preparation for the grand ritual of Jashin.

A wave of absurdity and tedium suddenly washed over the High Priest. He turned away, pulling out a necklace adorned with the symbol of the Cult of Jashin.

He stared at it blankly for a long time.

Then, a cult leader in black robes knelt before him, urgency evident in his voice.

"High Priest, the three elite members we sent to retrieve the child have been killed."

"So, they’re dead." The High Priest's expression remained indifferent, his face devoid of any reaction, as if such occurrences were routine.

He turned slightly, his pale purple eyes glancing at the subordinate before speaking calmly.

"This country is like that—death and chaos are everywhere."

"Hot Water ninjas, Great Nation shinobi, samurai, civilians, nobles... even the daimyo could be killed at any moment."

"This tragic reality, this meaningless era—haven’t you come to terms with it yet?"

"But, High Priest," the subordinate asked hesitantly, "what about the child we need for the ritual?"

The High Priest turned his gaze to a shadowy corner of the room.

"Leave specialized tasks to the professionals," he said coolly.

A burly, bald man with a bushy beard emerged from the shadows, a grin on his face.

"The High Priest is absolutely right."

"Our underground bounty guild exists precisely for this purpose."

"Kidnapping, extortion, bounties, intelligence, assassinations—even if you want to become a noble of this country tomorrow—"

"As long as you can pay the price, we’ll make it happen."

The High Priest closed his eyes and asked, "How long will it take to bring the child here?"

The bald man smiled faintly, exuding confidence. "Don’t worry. We’ve already interrogated the villagers and learned the whereabouts of both the person who killed your cult members and the child."

"This is a big job. Our most elite bounty hunters are already en route. At most, they’ll deliver the child—Hidan—within half a day."

"Very well. That’s settled." The High Priest waved his hand dismissively, as if uninterested.

"Kyokushi, take him to collect the deposit."

The cult member named Kyokushi nodded in understanding, but he couldn’t resist asking, "High Priest, what if the person who took Hidan comes after us again?"

The High Priest pressed the necklace against his forehead, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Someone will handle it."

"Kyokushi, we are merely an ordinary church worshiping a god. Don’t always think violence is the answer."

As soon as he finished speaking—

Not far away, a cultist holding a spike grinned maniacally and plunged it into someone’s eye, bursting it.

A bloodcurdling scream echoed from the densely packed crosses behind them.

The horrific cries rose and fell.

Even the bald man from the underground bounty guild—accustomed to the darkness of the ninja world—stiffened his smile at the scene.

"Ordinary church, my ass."

What kind of "ordinary church" conducts worship like this?

---

"Whoa, you’re telling me this is the headquarters of the Cult of Jashin?"

"Are you sure this isn’t the daimyo’s palace for the Land of Hot Water?"

Standing on a cliff’s edge, Shinji looked down at the massive castle nestled in the hills below, his face filled with surprise.

If Hidan hadn’t explicitly told him this was the headquarters of the Jashin cult,

he would’ve thought it was the estate of some noble from the Land of Hot Water.

“Well, you’re not entirely wrong. This place was originally built with the help of our Hot Water ninja village for a noble from the Land of Hot Water.”

“You know how it is. Hot Water ninja hardly get any good missions, almost like those washed-up samurai. They’ve basically become the private soldiers of the daimyo and nobles of the Land of Hot Water.”

Hidan explained casually, pointing at the castle below before shaking his head.

“Still, there’s a difference.”

Following Hidan’s direction, Shinji looked down.

Beneath them was a luxurious castle, surrounded by a sprawling expanse of decrepit shacks stretching for nearly ten miles.

A dense crowd of refugees from the Land of Hot Water huddled in these shanties, clutching their knees and trembling in wind-sheltered corners, unable to sleep through the night.

It was clearly a massive refugee settlement.

At that moment, the night was dark, with no light on the horizon.

The four-man squad had been traveling for three hours, and by the time, it should have been nearing dawn.

But in early spring, the nights were long and the days short, so there was still some time before sunrise.

“How should we proceed?” Hidan turned his head and asked.

Almost as if he didn’t trust them, he added, “When I was guided by the Jashin cult, I came here once.”

“Don’t underestimate this place.”

“The security inside is extremely tight, especially on the path leading to the underground headquarters of the Jashin cult. It’s practically one guard post every ten steps.”

“Plus, the Jashin cult has recruited a lot of samurai and refugees as informants. Trying to sneak in through the refugee camp near the city gate without alarming the insiders is pretty unrealistic.”

“Also, it’s hard to say how much ninja power the Jashin cult really has.”

Hidan, who wasn’t even a genin and couldn’t use sensory jutsu, couldn’t distinguish ninjas from ordinary people.

When he found Shinji injured and wearing a Leaf ninja tag, he barely confirmed that Ci was a ninja. It was no surprise he couldn’t gather more detailed intelligence.

Shinji nodded and stroked his chin, secretly delighted.

As a true tough guy, when it came to assassinations, he preferred things to get as loud and chaotic as possible.

If you kill all the enemies you encounter, no one will be left to know you were ever here.

(Pushes up sunglasses, flashes golden teeth.jpg)

(▀̿ ̿ᵕ̿ ̿▀ )

So, Shinji turned his head, his expression resolute, and declared:

“I’ll draw the enemy’s attention while you sneak in and open the city gate.”

“Then, we charge straight in!”

“If humans block us, we kill the humans. If gods block us, we kill the gods!”

“Once we break into the underground cave, I’ll seal the entrance with a barrier, cutting off their reinforcements.”

“What do you think? Isn’t the plan perfect?”

Clearly, this plan did not receive his teammates’ approval.

“Are you an idiot?”

Mei Terumi couldn’t help but chop Shinji on the head with her hand and scolded him irritably:

“We’re ninja! Ninja!”

“Do you think this is some kind of dramatic stage performance?”

She then pointed to the cliff beneath their feet and the castle below, aligning her two slender fingers to form a direct line.

“We can descend from this cliff to the castle walls.”

“Although it’s quite high, we can use our tree-climbing technique. Once we scout out the situation on the wall, we can climb down.”

“We’ll avoid drawing too much attention.”

Mei Terumi’s suggestion was immediately endorsed by the other two teammates.

However, Shinji shook his head and said, “You’re overlooking something important.”

“We can climb down, or even run down the cliff without any issues.”

“But,” Shinji patted Hidan’s shoulder with a mischievous grin,

“This kid probably hasn’t learned tree or water-walking techniques yet.”

Shinji glanced at Hidan with a raised eyebrow and asked:

“So, what’s the plan? Are we leaving him here?”

(End of Chapter)