16-20

**Chapter 16: Blossoming Blood Flowers** 

 “Teach these two a lesson,” Kikuchi Miura ordered coldly, his face like frost. 

 The two cultists of the Evil God Church beside him hesitated. 

 “Lord Miura, isn’t it improper to punish Hidan and Kaneki? After all, they are the chosen ones of our Evil God Church.” 

Miura’s icy gaze swept over them, his tone as frigid as melted snow. 

 “Are you defying my orders?” 

The cultists stiffened immediately. Defying Hidan or Kaneki might result in death, but offending Kikuchi Miura could lead to a fate far worse than death. At least, that’s how they saw it. 

Faced with this threat, the two cultists gritted their teeth, turned to Hidan and Kaneki, and said reluctantly, “Forgive us, Chosen Ones.” 

 Hidan licked his bloodstained lips, excitement flashing in his voice. 

He didn’t care if these men were coerced or not. If it weren’t for Kaneki’s likely disapproval, he would’ve already wiped out the entire Evil God Church. 

 To Hidan, these cultists weren’t true believers of Lord Jashin—or at least, their faith wasn’t devout enough. Otherwise, why hadn’t the Evil God blessed them? 

 As Jashin’s emissary in the Shinobi world, Hidan felt it his duty to purge all these unworthy followers. 

“Attack!” 

The two cultists steeled themselves, drew their blades, and charged. 

 “They’re coming!” 

Facing their assault, Hidan grew more exhilarated. 

 He pulled a black spear from his cloak and prepared to counter. 

 “Be careful! He’s immortal. Don’t trade blows with him—find a way to restrain him!”   

The cultists strategized as they engaged Hidan.   

This was the disadvantage of having their secrets exposed.   

Ordinary opponents might have recklessly charged at Hidan, unaware of his immortality. But within the Evil God Church, everyone knew that conventional attacks wouldn’t work on him. The only way to subdue him was to immobilize him—or, like Kaneki, decapitate him.   

With this in mind, the cultists opted to attack from a distance. 
 
Shurikens flew from beneath their black robes, aiming to disrupt Hidan. 

But Hidan, with his immortal body, didn’t flinch. His legs surged with incredible power, propelling him forward at high speed. 

Shurikens tore through his cloak, carving deep wounds into his flesh, yet his pace didn’t falter. 

In fact, the pain only fueled his excitement, making him stronger. 

 “Such attacks are nothing to me!” 

Roaring, Hidan leaped into the air. 

 In the three months under Kaneki’s guidance, Hidan had undergone a complete transformation. 

Now, his speed was astonishing. A black shadow descended from the sky, his sharp spear aiming straight for the cultists’ hearts. 

 They dodged just in time, their faces pale. 

“So fast!” 

“When did he get this strong?” 

At the Evil God Church headquarters, every time they saw Hidan, it was usually after Kaneki had sliced him apart, leaving them with the impression that Hidan was simply an immortal fool. 

But now, they realized his taijutsu was formidable. 

Even Kikuchi Miura seemed slightly surprised. 
 
Though often away, Miura was well aware of the headquarters’ affairs and the Chosen Ones’ abilities. To him, Hidan was just a reckless brute who relied on his immortality. He had assumed two cultists would be enough to stall him, leaving Kaneki as his real opponent. 

But Hidan’s unexpected strength was troubling. 

 If Hidan and Kaneki joined forces, this could become a real problem. 

 Miura’s gaze shifted to Kaneki, who, sensing the attention, finally looked up, adjusted his glasses, and smiled faintly. 

“Damn this smug bastard,” Miura thought irritably, though the battlefield’s imbalance demanded his focus. 

 Hidan, unrelenting, charged again. 

 His fighting style was simple: sheer recklessness. 

 Abandoning all defense, he left himself wide open, focusing solely on attacking with his spear to injure his foes. 

 “If this keeps up, we’ll have no chance!” 

 The cultists struggled under Hidan’s relentless assault. 

 Finally, as one cultist spoke, Hidan closed the distance with a sudden burst of speed. 

“Die!” 

 With a deranged laugh, Hidan swung his spear in a heavy strike that sparked against a blocking blade. 

He pressed forward, forcing the cultist to stagger. 

 Seizing the opening, Hidan lunged again, his spear targeting the cultist’s heart. 

The second cultist had no choice but to swing his blade with all his might, slicing deeply into Hidan’s back. 

 Blood spattered everywhere. 

 What would have been a mortal wound to anyone else didn’t faze Hidan. His crazed expression grew wilder as he drove his spear into the first cultist’s chest, ending his life. 

Bathed in blood, Hidan turned to the second cultist with a devilish grin. 

 Terrified, the remaining cultist took two steps back. 

 In that brief moment, Hidan closed the gap, grabbing him in a bone-crushing embrace. 

 “Damn it!” 

The cultist paled as Hidan whispered, “Let’s enjoy death together.” 

“You bastard! Let me go!” 

The cultist thrashed, desperate to break free, but it was useless. 

 Laughing maniacally, Hidan raised his spear high and drove it through both their bodies. 

The spear pierced them cleanly, binding them together as twin blossoms of blood bloomed. 

The cultist’s head lolled lifelessly, while Hidan tilted his own back, letting out a euphoric howl.   

Witnessing this from the shadows, the villagers felt their blood run cold, their skin crawling. 

Hidan yanked the spear free, disdain flickering in his eyes. 

“These weaklings aren’t even worthy of being offered to Lord Jashin,” he muttered. 

His pale face, splattered with crimson, resembled a bloodstained lotus blooming in the snow—a hauntingly beautiful sight. 

 Pointing his spear at Kikuchi Miura, Hidan declared, “You’re next.” 

 *(Chapter Ends)* 

Chapter 17: Another Beheading 

"Two useless fools!" 

Seeing his two subordinates easily defeated by Hidan, Miura Kikuchi couldn't help but curse under his breath. 

 His original plan to use them to stall Hidan had failed, and now he had to face Hidan and Kaneki directly—two absolute freaks.   

But even so, Miura Kikuchi, a battle-hardened veteran, was confident he could handle these rookies.   

To him, an immortal body was not invincible. All he had to do was find an opening and restrain it. 

Hidan grinned wildly, recklessly swinging his pitch-black spear, looking more like a witch performing some chaotic ritualistic dance. 

"I'll sacrifice you, fake believer, to Lord Jashin!"   

With that, Hidan suddenly launched himself like a cannonball, hurtling straight toward Miura Kikuchi. 

Such a reckless attitude deeply infuriated Kikuchi.   

"Just a naive rookie. Do you really think being blessed by Lord Jashin makes you invincible?" 

He moved his hands in a flurry of gestures in front of his chest, forming intricate hand seals with his fingers.   

Not far away, Kaneki watched Miura Kikuchi's movements intently. 

This was clearly the preparation phase for unleashing a ninjutsu—what shinobi called "hand seals." 

It was Kaneki's first time witnessing an opponent use ninjutsu in actual combat, so he paid especially close attention. 

As Hidan charged in, Kikuchi completed the series of seals, channeling energy through his body.   

Large amounts of chakra surged forth and concentrated in his mouth. 

 "Water Style: Water Wave Technique!"   

Taking a deep breath, Kikuchi's stomach swelled slightly before he opened his mouth. The chakra instantly transformed into a massive, torrential wave of water that roared forward! 

It was hard to believe how so much water could come out of one person's mouth, but that was the wonder of ninjutsu.   

Through chakra conversion, reality itself was reshaped. To Kaneki, it seemed like a perfect example of energy transforming into physical matter. 

 The torrent demolished the surrounding shops on both sides of the street, and Hidan, caught mid-charge, was swept away by the rushing water. 

 "You bastard... gurgle, gurgle..."   

Hidan flailed in the raging current, struggling to speak. 

As the turbulent water approached, Kaneki calmly adjusted his glasses. From behind him, a massive centipede-like tail emerged, shielding him from the oncoming flood like a barrier.   

When Kikuchi finally ran out of chakra, the torrent subsided. 

Kaneki, protected by his kagune-like centipede appendage, remained unharmed, though the edges of his coat were slightly damp. 

Hidan, however, wasn't so lucky. 
The torrent had flung him into a pile of debris. 

 The surrounding shops were in ruins, countless people were injured or killed, and cries of anguish filled the air. 

But to Miura Kikuchi, this destruction was meaningless. 

 After all, they were part of the Jashin cult! 

For the sake of their goals, the lives of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people were insignificant. 

 "Ugh, damn it! How dare you soak my clothes!" 

 Hidan emerged angrily from the rubble, his meticulously styled silver pompadour now dripping wet and plastered to his scalp. 

"What an enviable power—immortality." 

 Jealousy was evident on Kikuchi's face. 

 Like their leader, he couldn't understand why Lord Jashin would choose someone as ridiculous as Hidan! 

 "You fake believer will never comprehend the glory of Lord Jashin!" 

 With a sudden burst of speed, Hidan lunged from the rubble. 

The injuries he sustained earlier, which should have been enough to pulverize an ordinary person, had completely vanished. 

Kikuchi grew serious, hurling four kunai in quick succession. 

 Each kunai had a ring at its end tied with paper charms covered in dense, arcane markings drawn with special ink. 

Hidan ignored them and continued his charge. 

To him, this kind of attack was meaningless. 

 As soon as the kunai pierced Hidan, the charms ignited instantly, and— 
 
*BOOM!* 

Intense flames erupted from the paper charms, creating a powerful explosion that left a massive crater in the street and shrouded the battlefield in black smoke. 

 "So that's what an explosive tag is?" 

Kaneki's expression remained calm as he silently observed the battlefield and analyzed the tactics shinobi might employ in combat. 

At the center of the crater, Hidan was charred black, his entire body reduced to a carbonized husk. 

 As he moved, the burnt skin crumbled to the ground.   

This searing pain was a sensation he had never experienced before. 

 "Ha ha ha!" 

"This... feels amazing!" 

Hidan burst into maniacal laughter.   

"Yes, only an opponent like this is worthy of my judgment—worthy of being offered to the great Lord Jashin!" 

 His crazed laughter abruptly ceased as he leapt from the crater, wielding his black spear, and plunged it down at Kikuchi from above. 

 Shrouded in smoke, the attack was sudden and caught Kikuchi off guard. The spear pierced straight through his chest. 

"Got him." 

 Hidan grinned cruelly. 

 But Kikuchi turned his head unnaturally, revealing a sinister smile. 

The next moment, his body dissolved into a torrent of water that exploded outward!   

Hidan's eyes widened in shock as he tried to retreat, but it was too late. 

 The water coalesced into a five-meter-wide sphere, trapping Hidan completely inside. 
 
"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!" 

Hidan flailed and thrashed within, his muffled words bubbling out incomprehensibly. 

 Kaneki didn't need to hear them to know it was probably just another "I'll kill you!" rant. 

He'd heard it so many times over the past three months that it was becoming tiresome. 

What mattered more to Kaneki was Kikuchi's whereabouts. 

 As expected, after successfully trapping Hidan, Kikuchi emerged smugly from a nearby puddle. 
 
He looked at Hidan, who was thrashing about in frustration, and said disdainfully, "So what if you're immortal? If you're trapped, you're nothing more than a rabid dog barking in vain." 

 Kaneki stroked his chin and nodded approvingly. "Well said, Senior Kikuchi." 

 This only fueled Hidan's rage. 

But his anger was cut short as Kikuchi placed a hand on the water sphere's surface. 

 "Water Style: Aqua Decapitation Technique!" 

 A swift current materialized within the sphere, slicing it cleanly in two. 

The cut passed directly through Hidan's neck. 

 In other words, Hidan was beheaded—yet again! 

 Kikuchi stepped on Hidan's severed head, his body still restrained by flowing water, and sneered, "As long as your head and body are separated, even immortality won't save you." 

 --- 

 *(End of Chapter)* 

Chapter 18: Hidan — "So This is Delicious!" 

“Damn it, I’ll kill—” 

Before Hidan could finish his sentence, Miura Kikuchi raised a leg and stomped down hard. 

The sheer force sent Hidan’s face smashing into the ground. Blood splattered everywhere, and the impact left a small crater that perfectly encased his head. 

 Now, he couldn’t even speak.   

Bound by Miura’s Water Prison Jutsu, his body was completely immobilized. 

 “This should do it,” Miura remarked, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. 

“The so-called Child of God isn’t much after all.” 

Brushing off his hands, Miura’s grin widened. As a devout follower of Jashinism, defeating a Child of God so easily filled him with immense satisfaction. 

 He slowly turned, planting one foot firmly on Hidan’s head. His gaze locked onto a calm figure wearing glasses. 

“And now, it’s your turn, Ken Kaneki.” 

Seeing Miura effortlessly dispatch Hidan, Kaneki began clapping lightly, his tone full of admiration. 

“Impressive as always, Senior Miura. Your seamless use of jutsu is extraordinary.” 

 “First, you disrupted Hidan with Water Style and explosive tags, luring him into thinking he had an opening. Then, using the explosion as cover, you executed a Water Clone Jutsu, concealing your real body.” 

“When Hidan launched his attack, thinking victory was at hand, you trapped him in the Water Prison Jutsu with the last bit of chakra in your clone. Finally, you reappeared to claim his head effortlessly.” 

“That level of precision and coordination is remarkable. I’m truly impressed.” 

 Kaneki spoke sincerely. This was his first time witnessing such intricate ninjutsu execution, and it left a deep impression on him. 

 From a certain perspective, Miura had opened Kaneki’s eyes to the true art of ninja combat. 

However, Miura didn’t take the compliment well. His face twisted in anger, and he barked, “You rookies always act so high and mighty, even though you’re nothing but amateurs!” 

“Let’s see what makes you so special that Lord Jashin favors you!” 

 Kaneki maintained his polite smile. “If I’m not mistaken, Senior Miura, your chakra reserves must be nearly depleted, right?” 

The remark made Miura’s expression darken like a gathering storm. 
 

Kaneki was correct. Hidan had proven more resilient than expected, draining most of Miura’s chakra reserves.   

Holding his blade tightly, Miura sneered. “Even with low chakra, it’s more than enough to handle someone like you.” 

“Oh? I look forward to Senior Miura’s performance then.” 

 Kaneki’s composed response, coupled with his slight smile, made it clear he didn’t regard Miura as a threat. 

That indifference ignited Miura’s rage once again. Channeling his remaining chakra, he gathered it into his feet through intricate chakra pathways and released it in an explosive burst. 

 **Body Flicker Technique!**   

Miura vanished, leaving behind a shallow depression in the ground from the release of chakra. 

Kaneki remained still, unmoving.   

In a blink, Miura appeared right before him. 

*He didn’t react?* 

Miura felt a brief surge of delight. 

He had assumed Kaneki would be an even tougher opponent than Hidan. To think this guy couldn’t even respond to the Body Flicker— 

Moreover, unlike Hidan, Kaneki lacked immortality. As long as he inflicted a critical injury, the battle was over!   

This time, he’d prove that the so-called Child of God was nothing more than a stepping stone for his greatness.   

“Die!”   

Miura’s blade sliced through the air with a shrill whistle, aimed directly at Kaneki’s arm. 

 But just as Miura’s attack was about to land, a sharp whistling noise cut through the air behind him. 

“What the—?!”   

Miura’s body froze momentarily, alarm bells ringing in his mind. 

 His combat instincts told him that if he pressed forward, he might sever Kaneki’s arm. However, he would also be pierced by the attack coming from behind—possibly a fatal blow. 

 In an instant, Miura made a decision: he abandoned the attack. 

Spinning around, he slashed his blade with all his might. The blindingly white edge collided with a jet-black spear that had been hurtling toward him. 

 The impact sent sparks flying, and the force nearly dislodged the sword from his grip. 

Although his hands were numb, Miura successfully deflected the lethal strike. 

 Relieved, he exhaled deeply. 

But his relief was short-lived. 

 The deflected black spear twisted mid-air, redirecting itself. 

 Under the sunlight, thin golden threads glinted as they connected the spear’s shaft to its origin. 

 “It’s not over yet!” 

From the ground, Hidan, whose head was still embedded in the dirt, grinned wickedly. 

From the severed stump of his neck, countless thin threads of flesh shot out, anchoring themselves to the spear’s shaft. 

 *This is bad.* 

 Miura’s face turned ashen. 

 The threads yanked the spear back with unrelenting force, driving it toward him like divine retribution. 

Unsteady from his hasty parry, Miura was forced to dodge to the side. 

 But Hidan wasn’t an idiot. Anticipating Miura’s movements, he redirected the spear with his threads.   

Even though Miura reacted quickly and dodged, the spear still grazed his cheek. 

 *That was close.* 

As he prepared to regroup, a sharp pain followed the trail of blood trickling down his face. 

The spear returned to Hidan’s hand, and he swiftly reattached his severed head to his body using the same flesh threads. 

 “Kehehe! I’m back!” 

 With his head reconnected, Hidan’s body surged with power, breaking free from the water bindings. 

Rising to his feet, he stretched out his blood-stained hand, gripping the spear. 

 A deranged grin spread across his face as he licked the spear’s bloodied tip. Shuddering with delight, he muttered: 

 “Now, let’s begin the ritual for Lord Jashin’s…” 

 “SACRIFICE!” 

As his words rang out, Hidan’s body underwent a shocking transformation. 

His pale skin turned pitch black, with eerie white markings spreading across his body in a sinister pattern. 

 Seeing this, Miura instinctively touched the wound on his cheek. His hands trembled. 

Hidan had acquired his blood. He knew exactly what that meant. 
*Am I… going to die?* 

 No! 

“If I can interrupt his ritual, there’s still a chance!” 

Miura’s resolve hardened as he quickly formed hand seals, gathering what little chakra he had left. 

But before he could act, Hidan had already carved into his own stomach, spilling blood onto the ground. 

 The crimson liquid spread as he used his foot to draw an ominous symbol: a circle enclosing a triangle—the mark of Jashin. 

 --- 

Kikuchi Miura stared at the scene before him, his eyes wide and filled with rage, while his hands moved faster and faster to form seals. 

 "Faster! Even faster!" 

“Water Style: Water Wave!” 

Just as he completed the hand seals and before the water could gush forth, Hidan raised his spear and pierced it through his own mouth! 

 Out of nowhere, a matching injury appeared on Kikuchi Miura's mouth, mirroring the exact damage. 

The chakra that Kikuchi Miura had painstakingly gathered scattered entirely with the emergence of the injury. 

 “No!” 

Despair filled Kikuchi Miura's eyes. 

Meanwhile, Hidan grinned maniacally, revealing a twisted smile. 

 The jet-black spear pierced through one side of his face, going from one cheek, through his mouth, and exiting the other side. The sight alone was painful to witness. 

But Hidan seemed to revel in it. 

 He slowly pulled out the spear, his mocking gaze fixed on Kikuchi Miura. 

 “Senior Miura, where should the next attack land, hmm?” 

Hidan raised the spear, letting its sharp tip graze over his body—his heart one moment, his head the next, and then his abdomen. 

 “Why…” 

“Why have you been graced by Lord Jashin’s favor?!” 

 Under the pressure of impending death, Kikuchi Miura’s composure shattered. 

 With a roar, he swung his ninja blade recklessly and charged at Hidan. 

 Hidan, however, merely cackled, watching the scene like a grand festival he’d carefully arranged for Lord Jashin. He spread his arms wide and allowed Kikuchi Miura’s blade to pierce through his heart. 

 “Lord Jashin, did you see this?” 

Hidan stretched his arms like a giant cross, tilting his head back with a devout and euphoric smile on his face. 

Kikuchi Miura’s blade impaled his heart completely. 

 “Ahh~”  (⁎⁍̴̆Ɛ⁍̴̆⁎)
Hidan let out a satisfied moan.   

Meanwhile, Kikuchi Miura, holding the blade, trembled violently as a gaping wound appeared over his own heart. 

 The moment he pierced Hidan’s heart, his own heart was similarly pierced. 

 Blood gushed from his mouth in torrents. Consumed by overwhelming bitterness and regret, Kikuchi Miura finally collapsed before Hidan. 

 With the enemy dealt with, Hidan’s strength seemed to drain away. He collapsed onto the ground, weak and limp, unwilling to even remove the blade from his own heart.   

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, savoring the scent of blood lingering in the air. His expression radiated pure delight. 

 This bizarre scene left the hidden onlookers in stunned silence. 

 When Hidan opened his eyes again, he was met with Kaneki’s faintly amused expression. 

 “What are you staring at?” 

 Hidan raised an eyebrow, his tone betraying a hint of guilt. 

 Kaneki stood with his hands in his pockets, smiling lightly. “Nothing much. Just admiring how skillfully you’ve mastered *Parasitic Spider*.” 

Hidan panicked instantly, springing to his feet to explain. “I’m not! I didn’t!” 

 Kaneki chuckled and waved dismissively. “I know, I know.” 

Hidan grabbed Kaneki as he turned to leave, anxiously insisting, “Damn it, Kaneki, I’m telling you I didn’t secretly practice *Parasitic Spider*!” 

Kaneki turned back with a serious expression. “I believe you.” 

 Then he added, “Really.”   

“Aaagh! I’ll kill you, Kaneki!”   

Once the two had left, the hidden villagers finally dared to step forward. 

They surveyed the bloody aftermath, the water-scarred streets, and the ruined buildings. Fear filled their hearts as they exchanged glances, relief washing over them. 

Anger? 

That was impossible.   

They didn’t even dare to be angry. 

In this era, ordinary people had little choice when faced with the overwhelming power of ninja warfare. 

When two groups of ninja clashed, the ones who suffered the most weren’t the combatants but the unfortunate villagers and townsfolk caught in the crossfire. 

 They didn’t even dare to dream of revenge, knowing they lacked the ability. They could only accept their fate passively. 

 All they could do was pray—pray that calamity wouldn’t fall upon them. 

 After all, what good was revenge? 

Ninjas wielded terrifying powers capable of destroying mountains and parting seas. 

Even a single explosive tag or kunai could snuff out any hope they had! 

 What did they have in return? 

They didn’t even know what chakra was, let alone how to refine it or learn ninjutsu.   

“Caw! Caw! Caw!”   

A dense cacophony of caws broke the grim silence. 

At some point, a massive flock of crows had gathered above the village. 

 Their dark feathers blotted out the sunlight like storm clouds, and their eerie black eyes glinted with a faint crimson hue. 

 “Caw! Caw! Caw!” 

 The ominous sound echoed incessantly until, suddenly, hundreds of crows—or perhaps ravens—descended from the sky all at once. 

“Get out of the way!” 

Faced with such a strange scene, the villagers quickly scattered. 
 
The birds enveloped the three corpses, pecking at them ravenously. In just three minutes, the bodies had vanished entirely, leaving behind only bloodstains. 

The bloodstains formed a symbol: a circle enclosing a triangle—the emblem of the Jashin cult. Like an otherworldly eye, it seemed to sear itself into everyone’s memory. 

The crows, having consumed the flesh, flew off, eventually reaching the Jashin cult headquarters by dusk. 

There, they descended upon the temple, regurgitating the flesh into the blood pool. 

Kaneki manipulated his body, carefully sorting the flesh from the three corpses. 

The flesh from the two ordinary cultists wasn’t of much research value, but Kikuchi Miura, skilled in multiple Water Style jutsu, held great significance. 

 As a transmigrator, Kaneki was deeply curious about this world’s power system. 

Finally obtaining Kikuchi Miura’s remains as research material, he wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. 

 “Gene [Water Style Ninja] is being analyzed.” 

 “Progress: 1%.” 

 Using the flesh brought back by the ravens, Kaneki began decoding Kikuchi Miura’s genetic makeup and reconstructing his body. 

The former would allow Kaneki to replicate bodies with an affinity for learning Water Style techniques or even integrate these genes into other races, creating new hybrids. 

The latter would help Kaneki understand a ninja’s physical structure, deduce the principles behind jutsu, and improve his understanding of the chakra-ninjutsu system. 

**End of Chapter** 

Chapter 19: Human or Pig? 

This was a remote fishing village on the edge of the Land of Rivers. Despite being evening, the village was eerily quiet—so much so that not even a wisp of cooking smoke could be seen rising into the air. 

 In a small, run-down courtyard, a little girl who looked no older than four or five lifted her head. Her dark, shiny eyes brimmed with misty tears. 

 "Big brother, when will Mom and Dad come back?" 

 Standing next to her was a scrawny boy with short, neatly cropped hair and skin tanned dark from the sun. 

 Hearing his sister's question, a flash of anger passed through his eyes, quickly replaced by a deep sadness. 

But he hid his emotions from his sister, reaching out to ruffle her hair with a smile. 

"Don’t worry. Mom and Dad just went out fishing. They’ll be back soon." 

 "Really?" 

The little girl brightened instantly, her face full of anticipation as she looked at her brother. 

The boy forced a smile and replied, "Of course." 

 "Ka-cough, ka-cough..." 

A raspy cough interrupted their conversation. 

 It was their grandfather. 

Dressed in tattered clothing, the hunched old man emerged from a small mud hut. His frail body looked as if it could fall apart at any moment, his crooked frame draped in sun-blackened, wrinkled skin. 

Leaning heavily on his cane, he rasped, "Mori, Rin, come inside for dinner." 

The boy's name was Shiraishi Mori.   

Hearing his grandfather’s call, Mori stood up, took his sister’s hand, and prepared to go inside. 

"Ka-ka-ka..."   

Suddenly, an unpleasant cacophony of crows' cries filled the air. 

 A dense swarm of black crows flew overhead, blotting out the dimming sky as they quickly descended upon the small fishing village. 

 One of them perched on the withered tree in Shiraishi’s yard. 

 The setting sun’s crimson rays fell across the courtyard like spilled blood. 

 "Ka-ka..." 

 "There seem to be more crows in the village than usual today," Mori remarked, watching the crow on the withered tree preen its feathers. 

His grandfather glanced at the crow before averting his gaze. He muttered, almost inaudibly, "Too many crows… that’s never a good omen." 

 With that, he turned to head back inside. 

At that moment, two shadowy figures emerged from the blood-red sunset. 

 Mori stared at them, his mind briefly going blank, as if he were seeing two people stepping out of a sea of blood. 

 "You two, get inside. Now!" 

His grandfather’s tone turned stern. 

Neither Mori nor Rin dared disobey. They hurried into the hut. 

As the two figures drew closer, their conversation also became audible. 

 "Damn it, Kaneki! I’m starving!" 

 Hidan clutched his grumbling stomach, complaining incessantly. 

 "I feel like I could eat an entire cow!" 

 Kaneki glanced at him and said flatly, "Shut up, or I’ll cut off your head so you won’t eat anything at all." 

 At this, Hidan instinctively touched his neck. 

While he admittedly enjoyed the sensation of having his head chopped off by Kaneki, that was an experience best saved for after a meal. 

 Unaware of Hidan’s twisted thoughts, Kaneki walked straight toward the courtyard. 

"May we trouble you for a meal?" Kaneki asked politely, addressing the old man standing at the courtyard gate. 

Leaning on his cane, the old man quivered as he replied, "Of course. Please, come in." 

The frail figure struggled to step aside, making room for Kaneki and Hidan to enter. 

Hidan raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Didn’t expect the old geezer to be so accommodating." 
 
Kaneki shot Hidan a glance, silently lamenting his companion’s lack of tact. 

 Hidan swaggered into the courtyard like he owned the place, striding straight into the small house. 

The house was modest. After ushering his sister under the bed to hide, Mori was the only one left in the room when Hidan entered. 

 Hidan, for his part, had no interest in children. He plopped himself down on a wooden bench and bellowed, "Hey, old man! I want fried pork cutlets! Go prepare some for me!" 

 Mori was about to say something but stopped when he caught his grandfather’s subtle signal. With an ingratiating smile, the old man replied, "Right away, esteemed guests. I’ll get started immediately." 

 Turning to Mori, he said, "Mori, come help me." 

 "Yes, Grandpa." 

 Mori couldn’t help but steal another glance at Hidan before running toward the kitchen. 

Kaneki entered the house quietly. 

 The interior was simple: a bed, a table, and dusty walls adorned with broken fishing nets and rusty tools. That was all. 

 Yet, it was remarkably clean. 

 In the kitchen, Mori watched his grandfather prepare to slaughter their only pig. 

 "Grandpa, why are we killing this pig for those guys?" Mori asked, confused. 

 This was the family’s last pig, and it was still a piglet—not yet grown. Slaughtering it now seemed wasteful. 

Without hesitation, the old man raised the knife and killed the pig. He looked at Mori gravely. 

 "Those two men… we must not offend them." 

 "If I’m not mistaken, they’re followers of the Cult of Jashin." 

"The Cult of Jashin?" 

 Mori’s face filled with confusion. 

 His grandfather’s expression darkened as he nodded. 

 "They’re a fanatical sect that worships an evil god. They love blood sacrifices. Five or six years ago, the neighboring village of Shiraha was massacred by them." 

 The old man paused, as if recalling the horrors of that slaughter. 

 Mori’s face turned pale, his fists clenching tightly. 

His voice came out hoarse, trembling despite his effort to control it. 

 "Why are they here?" 

 The old man could only shake his head. 

 "Who knows what those people want? It’s beyond us to understand." 

 "But if I had to guess, it’s likely related to the Sakamoto Trading Company." 

 At the mention of the Sakamoto Trading Company, Mori gritted his teeth, his face twisting with hatred. 

 The old man sighed when he saw this. 

 "Mori, I know you’ve never gotten over what happened to your parents. But the Sakamoto Trading Company is too powerful. They’re not enemies we can fight." 

"So we’re just supposed to let them take Mom and Dad?" 

 Mori’s fists clenched even tighter as he struggled to contain his emotions. 

 "Ah…" 

 The old man didn’t say more. He simply finished cleaning the now-lifeless pig and began to butcher it. 

With so little oil in the house, the old man had to compromise, convincing Hidan to settle for roasted pork instead of fried cutlets. 

 As the piglet turned on the spit, Mori felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. 

In the end, how was he any different from the pig being roasted? 

 *(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 20: The Sakamoto Trading Company 

 "Since this roast pork chop tastes decent enough, I'll spare your life, old man," Hidan declared arrogantly, sitting cross-legged on the floor and devouring the pork chop with both hands. 

 "I'm glad the guest enjoys it," the elderly man responded with a sycophantic smile, unfazed by Hidan’s overbearing tone. 

Watching this unfold, Shiroishi Mori discreetly clenched his fists while Shiroishi Rin timidly observed the two visitors. 

 One of them, with slicked-back silver hair, displayed blatant rudeness—he had eaten their family's prized pig and then insulted them! The other, by contrast, seemed more approachable. With black, neatly combed hair and rectangular glasses, he exuded a polite and scholarly demeanor. 

 Of course, these thoughts remained confined to Rin’s heart. Saying anything out loud might endanger her entire family. 

 Kaneki, meanwhile, tore into his pork chop thoughtfully. 

Despite the lack of fancy spices or sophisticated cooking techniques, the suckling pig’s tender meat spoke to the care and effort the old man had put into roasting it. 

The crispy golden exterior, combined with the juicy and soft inner meat, offered a delectable balance of textures. The tantalizing aroma filled the room, causing Mori and Rin to gulp involuntarily. 

"You two should eat some as well," Kaneki said, handing three pork chops to the children. 

 Mori hesitated and looked toward his grandfather. Only after receiving his nod of approval did he cautiously accept the offering. 

 "Thank you, sir," Mori said respectfully. 

 Kaneki waved dismissively. "It was yours to begin with. No need for thanks." 

 Without another word, the siblings clung to their pork chops and devoured them ravenously. Ever since the Sakamoto Trading Company had arrived and taken their parents away, they hadn’t tasted meat in weeks. 

 Kaneki wiped his mouth and glanced at the elderly man, who hadn’t touched a single bite of the meal. "Old man, why are there so few young people in this village?" 

Under the surveillance of his flock of crows, Kaneki already had the area—including the nearby sea—under his control. 

The elderly man’s face clouded with unease, and he hesitated. 

 Who knew if these two men from the Cult of Jashin had ties to the Sakamoto Trading Company? Saying the wrong thing could lead to his immediate demise. 

 "Speak freely," Kaneki urged. "We have no connection to the Sakamoto Trading Company." 

 Hidan, growing impatient, barked, "Spit it out, or I’ll kill you!" 

The sudden surge of killing intent filled the room, leaving the Shiroishi family frozen with terror. 

“Hmm?” Kaneki cast a sidelong glance at Hidan. 

Clicking his tongue in irritation, Hidan relented. "Tch, how boring." 

Turning back, Kaneki flashed a kind smile. "Don’t worry, old man. If he causes trouble, I’ll cut off his head myself." 

The Shiroishi family’s faces turned even paler at Kaneki’s words. 

Hidan merely scoffed in response. 

This exchange made the old man even more deferential to Kaneki, who clearly held the dominant position between the two. It seemed Kaneki might be a leader of some sort within the Cult of Jashin. 

Finally, under their oppressive gazes, the elderly man began to speak. 
 
"Mori, take your sister outside for a moment," he instructed. 

"Yes, Grandpa," Mori replied, taking Rin’s hand and leading her out of the house. 

Once the children were gone, the old man continued, "It’s all because of the Sakamoto Trading Company." 

He paused briefly, studying Kaneki and Hidan’s expressions to gauge any possible connection to the company. However, Kaneki maintained his polite smile, while Hidan licked the grease from his fingers with evident satisfaction. 

Sighing, the elderly man pressed on.   

"Our Mizuna Village was once a humble fishing village at the border of the Land of Rivers."   

"But when the Sakamoto Trading Company arrived, they announced plans to build an offshore casino and claimed that our fishing activities interfered with their business. They prohibited us from fishing in the surrounding waters." 

 His already hunched frame seemed to shrink even further as he continued. 

"But... fishing is all we know. Our village has survived on it for generations. Without fishing, we have no way to live." 

"The land around here isn’t suitable for farming. Without fishing, we’re doomed." 

"So, Mori’s parents, along with the other villagers, tried to negotiate with the Sakamoto Trading Company. But instead of listening, the company accused them of causing trouble and detained them all." 

"It’s been over half a month now, and we don’t even know if they’re still alive." 

 Kaneki stroked his chin thoughtfully and nodded. 

 Indeed, his crows had spotted a massive cruise ship on the nearby waters. That must be the Sakamoto Trading Company’s base—and also the target of their current mission for the Cult of Jashin. 

After the old man finished, Kaneki quietly sipped some water without comment.   

A while later, he stood up and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, old man. We’ll be on our way." 

The elderly man quickly rose, trying to dissuade them. "But it’s already dark. Why not stay the night?"   

Of course, his offer wasn’t genuine. He was merely afraid of offending the dangerous pair. 

Roasting their only suckling pig had already been the Shiroishi family’s ultimate gesture of goodwill. They would likely go without meat for months because of it. 

Adjusting his glasses, Kaneki replied indifferently, "No need. We have some matters to discuss with Mr. Sakamoto."   

With that, he picked up his suitcase and headed toward the shore. 

 "Goodbye, old man!" Hidan shouted, waving casually before trailing after Kaneki. 
 
"Hey, you jerk, wait for me!" 

The old fisherman watched their retreating figures and let out a long sigh of relief.   

Although he had no idea why Kaneki and Hidan were headed to the Sakamoto Trading Company, at least they seemed unlikely to harm his family for now. 

 He returned inside, extinguished the candle, and closed the door. 

In the dead of night, Mori woke up to use the bathroom. As he passed by the table, something caught his eye—a crimson necklace lying quietly near a chair leg. 

"What’s this?"   

Mori glanced back to ensure his grandfather was still asleep, then crouched down to pick up the necklace. 

Under the faint moonlight, he examined it carefully. 

A circular pendant with an inverted triangle inside. 

"This… this is the symbol of the Cult of Jashin that Grandpa mentioned!" 

 Recalling the earlier conversation, Mori realized it must have been left behind by one of the two men. 

 If he hadn’t misheard, the two cult members were planning to confront the Sakamoto Trading Company. 

Clutching the necklace tightly, Mori’s thoughts raced. 

 "If I have this, maybe I can sneak into the company and find Mom and Dad!" 

 Pressing his back against the bathroom wall, Mori felt his heart pounding in his chest. 

"Brother, when will Mom and Dad come back?" Rin’s voice echoed faintly in his mind.   

Taking a deep breath, Mori steeled himself, gripped the necklace firmly, and slipped out of the house.   

(End of Chapter)