26-30

*Chapter 26: Restless Thoughts, The Curtain Rises!*

With a creak, Hidan shut the door behind him.

The room fell silent once more.

Shinji stared at the scroll in his hands, his heart sinking involuntarily.

He, who should have perished inside the volcano, was now lying here alive.

And in his hands was a scroll documenting an S-class forbidden jutsu.

He didn’t see this as a stroke of luck.

To be alive, breathing fresh air;

To see sunlight streaming through the cracks in the walls;

To feel the searing warmth on his skin—

Every inch of it burning the texture on the back of his hands—

It was because the Great Elder, Uchiha Setsuna, chose to burn himself in the end.

He carved a path for Shinji to survive.

Yet—

“Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!”

╥﹏╥

Shinji clutched the bedsheet tightly, with no trace of relief at having survived the ordeal.

Instead—

What he felt was sheer terror!

He lowered his head, his blood-red eyes wide open. His lips, teeth, and even the skin on his face were trembling.

The tomoe in his Sharingan spun wildly,

His heart pounded against his chest like a relentless drum.

Within the scales of his heart, weights bearing the name "Uchiha Setsuna" kept piling up.

So heavy they made it hard for him to breathe.

Shinji had always been clear-headed about himself.

He knew he was just an ordinary man.

Someone who laughed when happy, cried when hurt, felt dejected when he failed, and burned with anger when humiliated.

He had all the emotions a normal person should have. If someone were to treat him with the same selfless devotion as Karin did for Sasuke, would he really stab them like a vengeful Sasuke?

Or would he, like the prodigal son Itachi, sever all ties with family and cut them down mercilessly?

That wouldn’t solve anything—it was nothing more than an unhealthy outburst of rage.

Therefore—

He always tried his best to avoid interacting with the characters from the original story or anyone from this world.

But now—

At this moment—

A slip of paper tucked into the opened scroll fell into Shinji’s hand.

The words on it made him freeze in place.

"You just deliver the package. I'll handle the rest. Also, I'm not dead."  

Shinji: "…"

He blinked a few times, scratched his head, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

Then his face twisted involuntarily as he closed the scroll and cursed under his breath:

“Damn old man!

If you weren’t dead, you should’ve just said so!

Why hide it so well?”

“You had me overthinking all kinds of things here. Get lost, get lost! Just leave my head already!”

Shinji quickly raised his hand and waved it in the air, as if shooing away some invisible filth.

The Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna—one of the last surviving elite jonin of the Uchiha clan from the Warring States period—

Of course, he would know Izanagi, the forbidden jutsu that rewrites reality to escape death.

Shinji, overwhelmed with concern, had momentarily forgotten this fact.

Just then—

The door creaked open again.

Hidan, leading a doctor into the room, happened to witness Shinji flailing his hands wildly.

It looked as if he were practicing some kind of sword technique, miming strikes with a whooshing sound.

Hidan couldn’t help but chuckle. “Hey, I didn’t think you’d still have this much energy!”

“Not bad. Keep it up!”

“Even though I’ve never gone through something like this, I’ve read about it in books.”

“There’s no need to be shy. I get it, I get it.”

Shinji remained expressionless but muttered inwardly: You’ve never gone through something like this? You’re always yelling ‘Lord Jashin’ this and ‘Lord Jashin’ that. You’ve clearly never outgrown your rebellious phase!  

But under their gaze, Shinji awkwardly turned his face to the side and coughed. “There was just… a fly.”

At this point, the tall doctor behind Hidan glanced up slightly and remarked blandly,

“That’s impossible. I’ve already sprayed insect repellant around the area.”

[Shinnō expresses his disdain for you.]  

Shinji’s face instantly turned red, but when his eyes scanned the subtitles that inexplicably appeared before him, he froze again.

“Oh, let me introduce you,” Hidan said, stepping aside to reveal the tall doctor. Pointing at him with his thumb, he continued, “This is Shinnō, a doctor who travels across the ninja world.”

“Thanks to him, you didn’t bleed out and die.”

Shinji looked up, a subtle hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.

The man Hidan called Shinnō was tall, wearing a brown hooded cap that revealed his light-gray hair. He had a pale yellow cloak draped over his shoulders.

That outfit, combined with his name—

Wasn’t this the leader of the Sky Ninja Village, Shinnō?

The guy who piloted an airborne fortress around the ninja world—why would such a big-shot show up in the Land of Hot Springs at this time?

Moreover, appearing by Hidan's side?

Shinnō glanced indifferently at Shinji, as if he were looking at a worthless piece of pork.

After pausing on Shinji for a moment, he spoke calmly:

"I’ve already treated your injuries. Make sure to drink plenty of warm water—nothing else."

After giving these instructions, Shinnō shook his head, as if entirely uninterested in Shinji, and turned to leave.

Shinji watched him go without stopping him.

There was no connection or conflict between them, nor did it align with Shinji’s goal of dying for a noble cause.

So, just as Shinnō showed no interest in this Uchiha,

Even though Shinji knew that this man could open all Eight Gates without dying and could easily smash him into a pulp,

he had no interest in provoking him.

There’s a difference between deliberately seeking death and committing insurance fraud,

especially when the other party hasn’t shown any explicit malicious intent.

This was why Shinji had set his sights on the battlefield. Once you step onto the battlefield, identities clash, objectives diverge, and the sides naturally split into two clear-cut opposing factions.

Life or death—it’s perfectly normal.

"Mr. Shinnō is a noble doctor; he doesn’t even charge for his treatments," Hidan remarked as he watched Shinnō leave, his expression full of respect. He then turned to Shinji.

Saying this, he walked to the bedside and tossed an apple to Shinji.

Shinji didn’t respond to this remark. He merely glanced at Hidan with a faintly deep look and clicked his tongue.

Noble?

That’s debatable.

After pondering for a moment, Shinji could think of only one reason why Shinnō would be near Hidan: the Jashin Cult’s secret techniques.

After all, the forbidden technique on Shinnō, known as “Body Formation Rebirth,” allowed him to open all Eight Gates without dying. Perhaps it had some connection to the Jashin Cult’s “immortality” ability.

At that moment, Hidan sat down cross-legged, speaking bluntly:

“Shinji, this great lord saved your life—not so you could just lie there.”

“Since Mr. Shinnō says you’re fine, come with me to help with something.”

Shinji tilted his head, unable to hide his surprise at Hidan’s naïveté:

“How can you say something like that with such confidence?”

“And why should I help you?”

“You should already be grateful that I haven’t stabbed you yet. And now you’re asking a wandering ninja to do your bidding?”

Hidan, completely unfazed, chuckled and said:

“This part, I’ve read in books—something about ‘repaying a debt of gratitude.’”

“You’re a good person, so you’ll definitely help this great lord!”

Shinji rolled his eyes, momentarily speechless.

Fine, he took back his earlier thought that this "smart" Hidan had any brains.

Shaking his head, Shinji smirked slightly and replied nonchalantly:

“Alright, let’s hear it first—”

“But let me be clear, I’m not taking any job with life-threatening risks.”

Hidan’s expression grew serious as his gaze sharpened. He asked gravely:

“Do you… know about the Jashin Cult?”

---

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 27: The Cult of Jashin, A Bright Future!

When Hidan mentioned that name, Shinji’s eyes flickered slightly.

The Cult of Jashin—he only knew a little about it.

It was a mysterious organization that roamed the Land of Hot Water, worshipping a deity known as "Jashin."

The powerful members of this group could rely on unique blood curses and ritualistic secret techniques to wield terrifying “instant kill” abilities.

In the original work, the Hidden Village of the Hot Springs, out of fear of war, remained inactive and isolated, even earning the nickname "the village that forgot war."

But this ideology clashed with Hidan’s vision of saving the Land of Hot Water through forceful methods. Gradually, he grew discontented with the Hidden Village of the Hot Springs and began to pay attention to the emerging religion in the Land of Hot Water—the Cult of Jashin.

Shinji hadn’t expected that, at this point in time, Hidan—who wasn’t even a genin yet—would already have noticed this organization.

At that moment, Hidan’s expression darkened as he spoke:

“Let me tell you this, Shinji!”

“Listen carefully—”

“The Land of Hot Water is beyond saving!”

“This country has already been dragged into the wars of the Five Great Nations. Do you know what that means?”

Hidan’s expression turned grim and sinister as he continued in a low voice:

“I’ve seen far too many shinobi in the Land of Hot Water.”

“From Iwagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha—shinobi wearing the headbands of these great nations run rampant on this land. They don’t care about the lives of the Land of Hot Water’s civilians. They fight to the death on sight, recklessly unleashing large-scale jutsu.”

“Have you ever experienced something like this? Walking along the road, only for a nearby village to suddenly be flooded, swallowed by an earthquake’s chasm, or destroyed by lightning falling from the sky?”

“Then, my teacher—a jonin from the Hidden Village of the Hot Springs—grabbed me by the shoulder and told me—”

‘Hidan, leave this place quickly. Once we reach the Hidden Village of the Hot Springs, we’ll be safe.’

“I still remember his terrified expression, his forehead drenched with sweat. His eyes, though filled with anger, avoided my gaze, darting away as if afraid to meet it.”

Hearing this, Shinji couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

In the room, Hidan sat on a chair.

Bright sunlight streamed through the gaping hole in the wall, shining on him, but it seemed to be completely absorbed by his body.

He was like a black hole.

Hidan’s face was dark and terrifying, his anger barely concealed. The skin around the corners of his eyes was taut, as if it might split, and his wide-open eyes bore into Shinji as he chuckled darkly:

“I asked my teacher, why not save them?”

“With your abilities, you could’ve done it, right? You could’ve defeated those chunin slaughtering civilians, right? You could’ve killed them, erased all traces, and escaped, right?”

“Why didn’t you kill them?”

“Why?”

“Do you know how my teacher answered me?” Hidan fell silent for a moment before looking up at Shinji and asking.

Shinji exhaled slowly and sighed:

“Probably something like, ‘Hidan, don’t cause trouble. We’re no match for them,’ right?”

The stark contrast reminded him of the time when Uchiha Shana faced a formidable enemy from Kumogakure. In order to avenge him, she made a declaration akin to self-destruction in her determination to protect him.

To avenge a single genin, she didn’t hesitate to rally the entire Uchiha clan to pursue vengeance!

It was the first time Shinji truly understood the Uchiha clan as a “clan of love” and how their love could reach such an intense, even pathological level.

Hidan shook his head and laughed bitterly:

“But my teacher said—”

‘Those people have nothing to do with us. Don’t get involved.’

“Listen to that.”

“He actually said—‘those people have nothing to do with us’?”

“My teacher’s hometown was that very village, and this time we left the village to bring my teacher’s wife back home.”

“And he said, those people have nothing to do with us?!”

Hidan’s emotions flared. He couldn’t help but snatch the apple from Shinji’s hand and smash it to the ground, crushing it into pulp.

(ʘᗩʘ’)

Shinji: ???

Seriously? That was my apple!

Shinji shook his head and sighed. Though he had long prepared himself for how cruel this world could be, hearing such a tragic story still left him shaken.

“This world really is messed up. But what does all this have to do with the Cult of Jashin?”

Hidan nodded and pulled a small booklet from the pouch on his waist.

He slapped it into Shinji’s hand, his face full of sincerity and excitement as he said:

“Shinji, look at this.”

“Read this doctrine!”

“The fallen Land of Hot Water has finally found its dawn!”

“Its name is—”

“The Cult of Jashin!”

Hidan’s smile grew increasingly twisted.

"Kill! Kill! Kill everything around us!"

"Kill standing up, kill squatting down, tie someone to the stables and kill, drench them in horse manure and then cut them down, bind their hands, and kick them into a boiling oil pot—kill, kill it all!"

"Ninjas, civilians, nobles, daimyos—"

"Kill them all!"

"Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!"

"Let this nation witness a grand cleansing!"

"Prepare the stage, dye it with blood, and use the heads of millions—billions—to build a mountain of skulls, to commence the ritual!"

"And then—"

"Welcome the Evil God!"

♪┏(・o･)┛♪┗ ( ･o･) ┓♪ ┗ (･o･ ) ┓♪

"When the deity descends, all who follow Him will experience eternal pain!"

"All sins will be erased!"

"The reborn Land of Hot Water will, in the embrace of the Evil God, rise as the sixth great nation of the ninja world!"

"And it will forever know peace!" ✧･ﾟ:( ͡ꈍ ͜ʖ̫ ͡ꈍ ):･ﾟ✧

As Hidan finished speaking, he stood in the radiant beam of light, arms outstretched, face consumed with fervor, staring directly at the sun.

It was as if he saw something more dazzling than the sun itself.

(ভ_ ভ) ރ ／/ ┊ \＼

Shinji swallowed hard, staring at Hidan in shock. Unable to hold back, he asked, “Have you already joined the Cult of the Evil God?”

Hidan suddenly looked dejected and shook his head.

"Not yet."

"But they should be here soon—"

Hidan burst out laughing, slapping Uchiha Shinji on the shoulder with surprising sincerity.

"Shinji, help me out."

"To join the Cult of the Evil God, I need sacrifices!"

"Offering myself isn’t enough—I need you!"

"Join me on the cross and become a follower of the God!"

"Then,"

"We’ll stand side by side at the pinnacle of this nation and make the Land of Hot Water—"

"Forever great!"

A bead of sweat rolled down Uchiha Shinji forehead as he looked at Hidan in disbelief.

There were no subtitles popping up.

Which meant—

This guy was genuinely, sincerely inviting him to become a sacrifice. He really thought this was a great opportunity!

Uchiha Shinji face twitched uncontrollably.

For Hidan, becoming a sacrifice was, of course, a good thing.

It meant gaining the ‘immortality’ that transcended the fear of death, mastering the secret rituals and curses from the Evil God’s sacred texts,

And climbing the ranks in the Cult of the Evil God—getting promotions and raises, becoming a general manager, CEO, marrying the “Bloody March Scythe” and the “Obsidian Spear” twin sisters, and reaching the pinnacle of life!

Just thinking about it made him a little excited.

But for Uchiha Shinji—wait, hold on—

"Hmm?"

Uchiha Shinji froze, as if he suddenly saw a bright, open road paved before him, specifically designed for insurance fraud!

Angels sang, fairies tossed flower petals—just waiting for him to take one step forward.

This might actually be a good deal for me, too!

Faced with the infamous Evil God Cult, a notorious villainous organization,

As Uchiha Shinji—a man of great power, a lover of peace and justice, and a determined leader guiding the ninja world to a brighter future—

How could he ignore this opportunity?

Uchiha Shinji, filled with excitement, immediately leapt out of bed.

Gripping the Evil God Cult’s promotional pamphlet tightly in his hand, he firmly clasped Hidan’s hands.

"Hidan, my good brother! Great!"

"Then let’s go to the Evil God Cult together!"

"We both have a bright future ahead of us!"

٩( ´◡` )( ´◡` )۶

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 28: Sacrament and Outcry

Shinji's plan was simple:

Stand up, blend in, turn against them, mash the A button, and then let someone carry him out while lying down.

When facing such evil forces, there was no room for indulgence, compassion, or mercy.

All it took was a clever scheme and a little disguise to fool the cultists of the Evil God into escorting him to their headquarters.

At that point, Shinji just needed to make a dramatic move, breaking free of his restraints.

With a loud shout:

"Freeze, I'm the police!" ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿'̿'\̵͇̿̿\з=(◣_◢)=ε/̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿

Naturally, hundreds of cultists wielding blades would immediately attack him!

Before being hacked to death, he could even put on a cool act by opening his Sharingan and shouting:

"What, you want to dance too?" ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪

Fulfilling a childhood dream of showing off in front of a crowd, while also bringing home a hefty bounty—was there anything more thrilling than that?

Just imagining it made Shinji excited, his eyes practically shooting lasers as if he'd discovered a new continent.

That gleam in his eyes was even more dazzling than the one in Hidan's.

This left Hidan utterly baffled.

He stared at Shinji, slightly dazed, wondering if he still needed to convince him.

After all, this was about a sacrificial offering to the great Evil God.

If successful, one could become a fanatical devotee of the Evil God, a divine presence on Earth.

If unsuccessful, they'd die on the sacrificial altar.

Hidan had tried convincing several people before, but none of them cooperated. Frustrated, he could only shake his head, lament their wasted opportunity, and kick them away in a fit of anger before letting them go.

Finally, he stumbled upon a trick in a book called "Repay Kindness with Gratitude." Overjoyed, he decided to try it on Shinji.

"Is this the power of knowledge?"

Hidan's scalp tingled slightly as he scratched his head in disbelief.

This thought gave him pause, and he widened his eyes slightly, realizing something terrifying.

Could it be that Shinji, this guy who's so cooperative, was trying to compete with him for the favor of the Evil God?

The thought made Hidan's gaze toward Shinji unconsciously more reserved.

At that moment—

"Everyone, come out."

A cold, indifferent voice echoed from outside the door.

Hidan's body tensed immediately, like a corporate worker heading to a crucial interview. He straightened his collar and walked out with an air of determination.

If there had been a mirror nearby, he’d probably have spent a while fixing his appearance.

Shinji, squinting slightly, stuffed the scroll containing an S-class forbidden technique into his leg wrap before following him outside.

---

Here, scattered refugees emerged from the ruins of a dilapidated village, gradually gathering in the open space at its center.

However, something about them struck Shinji as unusual. Compared to typical refugees, this group appeared much healthier.

Although they didn’t look particularly radiant, not one of them bore the gaunt, starving appearance commonly seen among displaced villagers.

This was clearly abnormal.

Due to the ongoing war, only a few noble territories that could afford the protection of shinobi remained relatively orderly in the Land of Hot Water.

Although this location was not far from the capital, Tōen City, it was outside the reach of the Hot Water shinobi's protection.

By all accounts, these villagers shouldn't have been living in such favorable conditions.

At that moment,

In the crowd, three figures in high-collared black robes with cinched waists stood at the center, their leather scripture cases strapped to their forearms and their expressions cold.

At their feet sat two large barrels.

The leader, a man with straight black hair, sunken eyes, and an emotionless face, surveyed the surroundings before slightly turning his head to the cultists beside him.

“Begin,” he ordered coldly.

The two cultists nodded, immediately uncovering the barrels.

Inside were bowls of freshly cooked meat.

The villagers’ eyes lit up with excitement as the scent wafted through the air.

Without hesitation, the cultists began distributing the meat.

Even Shinji, a stranger among them, had a bowl thrust into his hands.

Their generosity was striking.

The cult leader pulled several handwritten scriptures from his case and raised his hand slightly, signaling for silence.

The murmurs of the crowd ceased abruptly.

Holding the scriptures, the leader cleared his throat twice before reciting loudly:

“A god is a god because…”

"Before discussing this issue, I’d like to talk about where the leaders of the Land of Hot Water fall short compared to a god."

"First, there are the nobles guilty of arrogance. Then, the ninja of the Land of Hot Water, guilty of sloth. Next, the Hidden Cloud, guilty of wrath. And then…"

The leader of the Cult of Jashin went on for nearly a thousand words, enumerating the seven deadly sins committed by the five great nations, the nobles of the Land of Hot Water, and its ninja. The speech was explosive, detailing even the number of mistresses the daimyo of the Land of Hot Water had.

As the sermon dragged on, Shinji began to feel drowsy, while Hidan and the villagers listened with fiery enthusiasm, resonating deeply with the words. They seemed ready to storm the capital, Hot Spring City, that very night and replace the daimyo’s head.

Finally, after reciting the last line, the cult leader felt a dry throat and coughed twice to clear it.

A subordinate immediately handed him a glass of water.

The cult leader took a sip, returned the glass, clasped his hands behind his back, and said coldly,

"Bring forth the offering. Then we can begin the sacred feast."

Upon hearing this, the villagers were overjoyed. They fell prostrate on the ground, bowing deeply as they chanted,

"Thank you, Divine Messenger."

Moments later, a woman stood up, her face alight with excitement and fanaticism. She led a little girl forward briskly.

"Yuko, go on. Go with the Jashin cultists."

"This way, our family will never run out of meat to eat."

The little girl, called Yuko, was dazed. She didn’t react until she was tugged forward and almost handed over to the cult members.

Suddenly, her eyes widened. She grabbed the woman’s kimono sleeve in desperation.

"No, no, no!"

Her small face went pale as if drained of blood. Her wide eyes filled with terror.

"Mom, please don’t!"

"Help me! Help me!"

"I don’t want to be eaten! I don’t want to die! Mom! Mom, look at me! Please, Mom!"

At that moment, the woman dropped her facade.

Her face filled with fear, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes. She yanked her sleeve away forcefully and shouted hysterically,

"Let go, Yuko! Let go!"

"What do you think you’re doing?!"

"Do you want to doom our whole family?!"

Yuko clung tightly to the woman’s sleeve, refusing to let go. Trembling, she said in terror,

"Mom, Mom, can’t you see it?"

"Don’t you really see it?"

"In the bowl... in the bowl… Brother is in the bowl!"

"Mom…"

Whoosh!

The cult leader’s face changed instantly upon hearing the word "Brother."

Without hesitation, he flicked his hand, and from the sleeve of his black robe, a razor-sharp, pitch-black spear shot out.

This was a weapon unique to the Cult of Jashin, resembling a collapsible baton.

In its compact form, it was about 8 inches long, small enough to hide in a sleeve.

Extended, it reached about 4 feet, with sharp edges and a deadly tip. It was typically used as a hidden weapon or for the cult’s self-mutilating rituals.

Now, the cult leader’s face was cold and menacing. He stepped forward and violently thrust the spear straight at Yuko’s back.

Shinji witnessed this scene and heard every word. His expression darkened as he glanced at the bowl of meat in his hand.

With a heavy heart, he abandoned all his plans without a second thought.

Forget infiltrating the Cult of Jashin’s headquarters. Forget playing it cool or executing a strategic sacrifice.

In that moment, everything was cast aside.

A surge of fury ignited in his heart, spreading throughout his entire body in an instant.

His eyes turned crimson red in a flash!

Shinji smashed the bowl of meat to the ground with force and leaped forward with righteous determination!

(ノ￣皿￣）ノ ⌒=== ┫

"Stop right there!"

---

Chapter 29: The Coward’s Awakening, The Survivor’s Greed

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Land of Hot Springs, the capital City.

A series of wars had shattered the dreams of the Land of Hot Springs' people to bask in their soothing waters.

The hot spring inns, which should have been bustling, now had their doors tightly shut. In the sheltered corners of the streets lay refugees in tattered clothes, trembling and cowering.

The cold wind pierced their faces like knives, chilling them to the bone.

In front of an unremarkable izakaya...

Uchiha Kiyoshiro, his face frantic and his expression fraught with fear, stood covered in dust and grime, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the corner at the end of the street.

He didn’t dare blink, terrified he might miss something important.

Until...

A stern-faced man dressed in a deep blue robe stepped into view, wooden geta clacking softly as he walked calmly into Kiyoshiro’s line of sight.

Kiyoshiro exhaled heavily, relief washing over his face. He called out urgently, his voice strained and weary:

“Captain Fugaku!”

“Oh, it’s you, Kiyoshiro,” Uchiha Fugaku replied, his gaze steady and unsurprised.

He had already investigated on the way here and had received intelligence from the Ninken clan. He had a general understanding of the situation in the Land of Hot Springs.

“Captain Fugaku, our squad was ambushed by Kumo shinobi at the border. The Elder... the Elder, and Uchiha Shinji—they’re both in grave danger!”

Kiyoshiro’s voice cracked with urgency, like a thousand ants gnawing at his heart.

“Captain, I beg you! Please send reinforcements! If we wait any longer, they... they’ll—”

Fugaku nodded calmly and waved a hand to dismiss him.

“I understand. You should go rest now.”

“What? Rest at a time like this? Shinji... Shinji saved me with his life! I can’t just—”

Kiyoshiro’s eyes turned red as he shouted, disregarding rank and decorum in his desperation.

Fugaku frowned slightly as he studied Kiyoshiro.

The man was clearly on edge, having gone without sleep for at least a night. On top of that, he had rushed all the way here, covering in mere hours a journey that should have taken half a day. He looked like he’d reached his limit.

Fugaku shook his head and said nothing more. He simply waved his hand and replied coolly:

“Go now.”

Just then, a figure appeared abruptly at the entrance, kneeling on one knee before Fugaku and reporting:

“Captain, we’ve located Uchiha Shinji.”

However, the Uchiha clansman delivering the report wore a troubled expression and continued hesitantly:

“But the area he’s in... it’s under the control of the Cult of Jashin. Detailed intelligence is classified as per Konoha’s ANBU regulations. I contacted the ANBU stationed here, but they said—”

“‘No comment.’”

“What?!” Kiyoshiro gasped, his face filled with shock.

“Shinji... Shinji is in the hands of the Cult of Jashin?”

“That group—those people are lunatics! They’re capturing shinobi and children indiscriminately!”

“How could this happen? How could it come to this!”

Kiyoshiro’s voice wavered, on the verge of tears.

In the chaos of the Land of Hot Springs, there were a few groups you’d do best to avoid.

At the top of the list were the Mist’s Hunter-nin.

Second were the Uchiha garrison stationed in Hell Valley.

And third was the newly risen Cult of Jashin.

This emerging religious sect was shrouded in mystery, spreading its teachings at an alarming rate and advocating extreme ideologies.

Their doctrine? “Kill everyone around you.”

Their crimes were beyond count, their brutality unspeakable. (See The Book of the Doomed for reference.)

Fugaku’s eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered. After a moment, he nodded and acknowledged:

“I understand.”

He dismissed his subordinates to rest, lifted the curtain of the izakaya, and stepped inside alone.

Kiyoshiro stood frozen in place, staring in disbelief at Fugaku’s lack of urgency.

“Captain Fugaku... what are you saying?”

His face twisted in fury, his body trembling as rage welled up inside him.

“You know, don’t you?”

“You already have the intel on Shinji! And yet, what are you doing now?”

“Relaxing like this—is it to wait for someone to pour you a cup of sake?”

Kiyoshiro’s eyes widened, his voice trembling with disbelief as he shouted:

“Why? Why aren’t you acting? Are you really going to wait until the blade falls, until our kin are slaughtered, for your heart to finally stir?”

Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brow and glanced over, his expression calm, devoid of anger. He spoke evenly:

"You heard it yourself—over there, the area is now under the control of the Cult of Jashin."

Uchiha Kiyoshiro couldn't help but retort, "But that's Shinji!"

"Uchiha Shinji?" Fugaku's eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing Kiyoshiro's expression. He spoke nonchalantly:

"Is he so special?"

"As far as I know, he's just an ordinary Genin, isn't he? Besides, you should be well aware of the current situation in the Land of Hot Water. Kiyoshiro, what's gotten into you?"

"The old you would never have said something like this."

Kiyoshiro's mind was a tangled mess as he stood frozen in place. "I... I..."

But the next moment, he remembered the boy who had pushed him out of the deathmatch barrier, standing alone to face a Cloud Village Jonin. Kiyoshiro clenched his teeth, his fists tightening with determination.

"Fine!"

"If you won't save him—"

"Then I'll... I'll save him myself!"

"I'll go rescue Uchiha Shinji!"

Kiyoshiro bit his lip hard, his thoughts racing uncontrollably. He couldn't stop imagining that boy—now wandering alone in the Cult of Jashin's territory.

Alone, facing loneliness, fear, and helplessness.

Maybe he was already being dragged to the sacrificial altar by the cult's followers for a brutal ritual.

I escaped once before...

This time, I can't run away again!

Fugaku watched as Kiyoshiro turned and rushed out of the room, heading out alone. He raised an eyebrow, his expression tinged with surprise.

After Uchiha Shisui and Elder Uchiha Setsuna,

now,

yet another person was willing to risk their life for this mysterious boy.

Uchiha Shinji—

What kind of power does he possess?

To make people who are otherwise like oil and water do this for him?

Fugaku couldn't make sense of it, but he decided to see this boy for himself.

Under the dazzling midday sun,

he stepped out of the izakaya and coldly ordered to the empty corner nearby:

"Follow him. Let's go."

In an instant, seven or eight pairs of scarlet Sharingan lit up before vanishing without a sound.

---

At the same time,

outside the town of Yu no Kuni (Land of Hot Water), a squad from Konoha's Root division landed in front of a pale-faced young man.

They knelt on one knee, offering a scroll with both hands.

"Orochimaru-sama, this is the intelligence report on the Cult of Jashin we've gathered."

"The person you're looking for should currently be in this location."

The young man had black hair, vertical golden pupils, elongated purple eyeshadow stretching to his nose, pale skin, and blue-green magatama-shaped earrings.

This was none other than one of the Sannin—Orochimaru.

Extending his tongue, Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, his snake-like pupils gleaming with excitement.

"Not bad..."

"Forbidden Jutsu: Living Reincarnation, Immortality, and the Blood Dragon Eye capable of ultimate tissue manipulation and metabolism."

"The Land of Hot Water is quite the treasure trove of fascinating things lately."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 30: In Our Cult of Jashin, We Don’t Accept Illiterates!

With a sharp, resounding shout, Shinji's stern command didn't make the Cult of Jashin's leader hesitate for a moment. His cold, emotionless eyes stared ahead as he thrust his black spear straight at Yuko.

Seeing this, Shinji had no choice but to abandon his efforts to conceal his identity as a ninja. Channeling his chakra, he swiftly moved in a flash to shield the young girl.

In the heat of the moment, he extended his hand and firmly grasped the incoming black spear.

The sharp edge of the spear sliced his palm, causing blood to seep through the bandages wrapped around his fingers and drip onto the ground.

Shinji glanced at his bleeding hand, his brow furrowing slightly.

Letting the Cult of Jashin obtain his blood was definitely not good news.

"I said, stop!"

He raised his head slightly, his Sharingan glowing coldly as he stared down the cult leader.

"Sharingan? Uchiha?" The cult leader squinted, pausing his attack. His gaze flickered with uncertainty.

An Uchiha member? What was someone from the Uchiha clan doing here instead of keeping watch over those savages in the Valley of Hell?

"What are you trying to do on our Cult of Jashin's turf?"

"Shinji! What are you doing?"

At that moment, Hidan rushed out and stood between Shinji and the cult leader. Turning to the leader, he hastily explained, "Master, this guy is a friend of mine. He's also determined to join our Cult of Jashin!"

The cult leader's eyes remained cold as he fixed his gaze on Shinji, waiting for his explanation.

Sensing the situation softening slightly, Shinji's eyes flickered before he immediately spoke.

"Hidan is right. Let her go, and I'll take her place as the sacrifice!"

This declaration shocked everyone present. They stared at Shinji in disbelief.

This guy—was he really offering himself as a sacrifice to save a girl he'd never even met?

Among the crowd, a young woman wearing a hooded black cloak watched the scene unfold calmly. Most of her figure was hidden in the shadow of her cloak, save for a few strands of reddish-brown hair that peeked out by her ears.

Earlier, when the cult leader had attacked the girl, she had prepared to intervene.

But seeing Shinji step in, she withdrew the seals her hands had formed.

Now, she watched Shinji with a puzzled expression.

Who would be foolish enough to sacrifice themselves for a stranger?

"Wait, Shinji, what are you talking about?"

"Didn't we agree to face the cross together? Why are you cutting in line?!"

Hidan was the first to lose his composure upon hearing Shinji's words. He stared at him in shock, his face practically shouting, I knew it!  

( ͠°益 ͡°)ง

At this moment, Hidan resembled an unemployed job seeker nervously eyeing the person ahead of him in a job interview, terrified that they'd snatch the last available position from the recruiter.

Deep inside, he was wailing, This guy is definitely trying to steal Jashin-sama's favor from me!  

"You... want to be a sacrifice?"

The cult leader was visibly stunned by Shinji's words. He instinctively took three steps back, slowly retracting his spear as he examined Shinji carefully.

His gaze lingered on Shinji's crimson Sharingan, and he couldn’t help but gasp.

An Uchiha, here at the Cult of Jashin, volunteering to become a sacrifice?

The cult leader was beginning to wonder if he was dreaming.

"That's right." Shinji took a bold step forward, speaking with conviction.

"I want to be a sacrifice!"

"Master, take me to the Cult of Jashin's headquarters!"

However, rather than showing joy, the cult leader's expression grew increasingly conflicted. After a moment of shock, his features twisted into a grimace, as if he'd ordered a pineapple online but received a durian shell instead—disgusted and prickly.

If the Uchiha clan found out that the Cult of Jashin had strung up one of their members as a sacrifice, there wouldn’t be a tomorrow for them.

That very night, the Uchiha clan's troops stationed in the Valley of Hell would march across half the Land of Hot Water, skin him alive, and stuff his corpse with straw!

The cult leader's face darkened as he mulled over his options.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he begrudgingly asked, purely out of professional courtesy,

"You... are a ninja?"

"Yes," Shinji replied with a nod.

"In that case, we don't accept ninjas," the cult leader said, seizing the opportunity.

"What did you say?" Uchiha Shinji eyes widened as he turned his head toward Hidan, his expression seemingly asking, "Bro, what’s going on here?"  

You invited me to the Jashin Cult’s headquarters, but then I find out your team of five is already full? What’s the meaning of this? Look down on me, do you?

Hidan was also taken aback. Standing next to the Jashin Cult leader, he couldn’t help but remind him,

"Boss, I remember we’re recruiting ninjas. Didn’t you specifically tell me last time to bring back another one?"

The Jashin Cult leader’s smile froze on his face as he turned to look at Hidan, who had just exposed the situation.

I told you to capture a ninja. And you bring me back an Uchiha?

Don’t you know that in the Land of Hot Water’s Top Ten Groups You Shouldn’t Mess With, the Uchihas rank second?

"Oh, I might have been mistaken, hm," the Jashin Cult leader stammered, sweat pouring down his back.

But to offer up a Uchiha kid as a sacrifice? That was a responsibility he absolutely couldn’t bear.

His gaze turned icy, and he discreetly signaled to two of his subordinates standing behind him.

Then, with a cold expression, he looked at Uchiha Shinji and asked in a low voice,

"Do you even know the guiding principle of our Jashin Cult?"

Uchiha Shinji froze, thinking to himself, Has the job market gotten this competitive?  

I’m just here to be a silent sacrifice. Do I really need to take a class and study Five Years of Scriptures, Three Years of Faith beforehand?

"Uh, wait a second. I think I remember something about it." Uchiha Shinji face stiffened as he nervously pulled out the booklet Hidan had given him, flipping through two pages in an attempt to turn this interrogation into an open-book test.

However, at that moment—

Swish! Swish!  

Two black spears suddenly shot toward Uchiha Shinji from both sides.

The Jashin Cult leader gritted his teeth and decided to drop the pretense. He let go of the black spear that Uchiha Shinji had grabbed and, with a swift motion, pulled out two more pitch-black spears from a hidden pouch in his black robe.

Glaring coldly at Uchiha Shinji, he sneered,

"Hmph! You don’t even know the most basic principle of our cult. Do you think you’re worthy of hearing the gospel of Lord Jashin?"

"The Jashin Cult doesn’t accept illiterates!"

The two black spears tore through the air, their sharp edges aimed directly at Uchiha Shinji. The sudden attack sent a chill down his spine, and the overwhelming sense of danger swept over him.

In an instant, Uchiha Shinji realized that these three Jashin Cult minions were far from ordinary—they were experts!

The next moment, two lines of text seemed to appear before his eyes:

*[You are under attack by Jashin Cult minions (rogue Chunin from the Land of Hot Water). The leader of the group has openly insulted you as a tone-deaf illiterate!]*

*[Talent: Combat Instinct, S-rank, has been triggered.]*

A surge of adrenaline coursed through Uchiha Shinji’s body, sharp as an electric shock.

In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Shinji turned his head and twisted his body mid-air. His Sharingan darted from side to side, tracing trembling red lines in the air as he locked onto the trajectory of the two spears.

Spinning mid-air, he flung the bloodstained black spear in his hand, deflecting one of the incoming spears with precision.

However, the second spear continued its deadly path, aiming straight for his vital point!

Recalling Hidan’s future techniques, Uchiha Shinji’s pupils shrank. But, suspended mid-air, he had no way to dodge effectively. All he could do was shift his body slightly at the last second to avoid a fatal hit.

Even so, this would leave him injured.

Once his blood was spilled, and coupled with the cuts he sustained earlier while blocking the Jashin Cult leader’s spear, the cultists could easily use it to perform the dreaded Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood.  

Under the power of that terrifying technique, he’d be nothing more than a helpless dish on their menu!

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened in realization. The Land of Hot Water was indeed filled with hidden dangers.

Even a group of passing Jashin Cult minions had such horrifying ambush capabilities!

However, at that exact moment—

A hooded girl emerged from the crowd, frowning deeply. With a sharp slap on the cattle pen, she vaulted over it.

The reddish-brown tassel on her ear swayed in the wind. She pulled out a kunai from beneath her black robe, forming the Snake hand sign with both hands.

Then, glaring at Uchiha Shinji with her bright green, gem-like eyes, she shouted,

"Idiot, duck!"

"Water Style: Water Fang Blade!"

(End of Chapter)