6-10

Chapter 6: Test Subject

After dinner, Kaneki dragged Hidan into the laboratory.

When our esteemed leader saw Hidan being carried like luggage, he rubbed his temples wearily.

"Kaneki, I know Hidan has immortality, but that doesn't mean you can—"

Before he could finish, Hidan interrupted.

"Cut the crap, old man! Why'd you call us here?"

The leader shot Hidan a glance, his intended reprimand stuck in his throat.

Initially, he thought, Sure, Hidan’s been a brat since childhood, but at least I personally raised him. That’s better than this Kaneki kid who just popped out of nowhere claiming to be a ‘child of the gods,’ right?  

Now, though, the leader wished Kaneki would just chop Hidan into a few more pieces.

Even Kaneki was curious how someone like Hidan managed to survive this long. After all, he wasn’t immortal before.

"Ahem."

As a leader of a religious cult, the man prided himself on maintaining his composure. He wasn’t like some people who decapitated others at the slightest provocation.

He turned his gaze to the two so-called chosen children of Jashin, a flicker of jealousy and bitterness barely visible in his eyes.

"The reason I’ve called you here is to learn what powers you two have received from Lord Jashin."

In an attempt to uphold his persona as the devout leader, he added, "After all, Lord Jashin wields countless authorities. I want to see what blessings he has bestowed upon you."

In truth, he should have asked this question yesterday. But he was too flabbergasted at the time, thanks to Hidan. Seriously, seventeen years old, and he’s still idiot?!  

At the mention of powers, Hidan perked up. With a grand gesture, he tilted his head dramatically—only for it to fall off the table and hit the ground. ┬─┬ ︵ /(.□. \）

...

After three seconds of awkward silence, Hidan, his face flushed red with embarrassment, yelled, "Kaneki, you bastard! Pick me up!"

Kaneki hesitated for a moment before reluctantly pinching Hidan’s hair and lifting his head back onto the table.

Hidan, his failed attempt at showing off leaving him humiliated, gritted his teeth and bore the indignity of having his hair pulled.

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat, Hidan regained his composure and spoke with renewed grandeur.

"As the beloved spokesperson of Lord Jashin, I have inherited his immortality and the power of curses. No matter what injuries I suffer, I cannot die. Moreover, using blood, I can transfer the pain of my wounds onto my enemies!"

As he spoke, his eyes gleamed with a dangerous and fanatical light.

"If I can get my hands on someone’s blood—even the Sage of Six Paths himself—I could kill him for you!"

He turned to Kaneki, adding menacingly, "So watch your back, you bastard. If I get your blood, all you’ll know is endless agony!"

Kaneki adjusted his glasses, unimpressed by Hidan’s threats.

(▀̿ ̿ᵕ̿ ̿▀ )

To be fair, Hidan’s abilities were undeniably troublesome. If kept secret, they could eliminate enemies silently from miles away.

After all, who would suspect that a drop of blood left on the battlefield could become the very weapon that ends their life?

Strategically speaking, it was a valuable and practical skill.

But...

Kaneki glanced sideways at the slick-haired lunatic sprawled across the table. Nothing about him screamed "covert assassin."

If this guy wanted to kill someone, he’d probably charge in swinging his weapon, yelling "Glory to Lord Jashin!" at the top of his lungs.

And that, precisely, was why the leader felt so resentful.

Why would Lord Jashin bless a brainless thug like Hidan instead of his loyal servant?

I was here first!  

Unfortunately, based on Kaneki’s observations, it seemed even Lord Jashin had limited options.

After learning about Hidan’s abilities, the leader nodded slightly.

The cult could definitely leverage Hidan’s powers for new ventures, such as long-range assassinations.

"In that case, let’s see your abilities in action."

The leader rose slowly and had Hidan’s body brought into the room and tied to a crucifix.

"Hey! It’s bad enough you’re using my body for experiments, but do I really have to watch? This is insane!"

Hidan’s complaints were understandable. Who wouldn’t be disturbed by such a scenario?

But Kaneki wasn’t human.

"Kaneki, go ahead."

"Understood."

At the leader’s command, Kaneki unhesitatingly unleashed his [Kagune], slashing Hidan twice with crisp precision.

"AHHH~~"

The noise Hidan made defied description.

The leader’s face twitched for a brief moment, as though suppressing something, before he leaned closer to examine the wounds.

"As expected, this level of regenerative power is extraordinary," he remarked.

Within seconds, Hidan’s injuries had completely healed.

"Since the regeneration works perfectly, let’s test the other ability."

The leader clapped his hands, and a slave was brought in.

"Kaneki, put him back together."

"Got it."

Kaneki carefully reattached Hidan’s head.

"You idiot, you put it on backward!" Hidan roared, his face facing his own back.

"My bad."

Kaneki adjusted his glasses and calmly rotated Hidan’s head 180 degrees.

"There, all set."

With a slight smile, Kaneki extended two insect-like limbs from his back. From the tips, he spun threads of silk that swiftly stitched Hidan’s head to his neck.

"Finally! I’m back!"

Hidan spread his arms wide like a triumphant hero. He glanced at Kaneki and decided—for now—to let it slide.

Just you wait. Once I get your blood... heh heh heh! (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ )

Kaneki, noticing Hidan’s goofy grin, frowned.

"Did your brain leak out along with the pork cutlet earlier? Why are you grinning like an idiot?"

"What did you just say?"

Hidan glared daggers at Kaneki.

"Enough!"

The leader, exasperated, intervened.

"Let’s get on with the experiment already."

"Fine! Watch closely and witness the true power of Lord Jashin!"

Hidan’s expression turned sinister as he gazed at the bandit brought before him. With a swift, decisive motion, he stabbed the man’s skin.

The bandit, assuming his end was near, deflated like a punctured balloon.

"Have you ever tasted despair?"

Hidan raised his bloodstained black spear to his lips, licking it with his pink tongue.

"Delicious."

With that unsettling gesture, his skin turned black with white markings spreading across it.

He sliced open his own arm, letting the blood spill freely, and used his foot to smear it into an ominous sigil—a circle with an inverted triangle inside.

"Ready to embrace despair?"

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 7: Only I Am the Most Loyal Dog of the Evil God*

In a dimly lit laboratory, a silver-haired boy with slicked-back hair stood atop an eerie symbol of the Evil God. His entire body was composed of just black and white tones.

The scene was as strange as it could possibly get.

But aside from the captured bandit, neither the cult leader nor Kaneki showed any expression.

“Where should I start first?”

Hidan licked the blood at the corner of his mouth, slowly pointing his spear toward his own heart.

“My heart? No, dying like that would be too quick.”

The tip of the spear moved slightly.

“My lungs? That’s still a bit too fast.”

Hidan appeared to be in a dilemma, but after a few seconds, he finally decided.

“Let’s start with the chest!”

The bandit didn’t understand why this Evil God worshipper was intent on self-harm, but Hidan’s crazed appearance and unhinged behavior were enough to terrify him.

Moreover, a voice inside the bandit’s head kept warning him: something terrible would happen when that boy drove the spear into himself.

“Please, I beg you, let me go. Please spare me.”

At the bandit’s pleading, Hidan’s manic grin widened. His voice trembled with excitement.

“Yes, yes, be afraid. Tremble before me! This fear is the best offering to the Evil God!”

With that, the sharp black spear plunged downward, and an ecstatic expression spread across Hidan’s face.

“Ahhh!”

Blood gushed simultaneously from both Hidan’s chest and the bandit’s.

Hidan spread his arms wide, his expression one of utter bliss.

The bandit, however, writhed in agony on the floor.

He was going to die. If this kept up, he was definitely going to die!

Intense pain radiated from his chest, but the will to survive pushed him to his feet.

Clutching his bleeding chest, he mustered all his strength and staggered toward the laboratory door.

Hidan tilted his head. “As a sacrifice, you can’t leave the altar without permission. The Evil God would be upset with me!”

With that, the black spear moved again.

This time, Hidan drove it through his own thigh.

Just as the bandit was about to touch the door, a flower of blood bloomed from his leg, and he collapsed in despair.

His strength drained rapidly with the blood loss, and his consciousness began to fade.

There was no way to survive. The bleeding was simply too much.

“How boring. You’re already giving out?”

“In that case...”

Hidan raised his spear, aiming it at his heart. A devout smile appeared on his face, as if he were a seeker embracing enlightenment.

“Evil God, this is my offering to you!”

The next moment, the spear pierced through Hidan’s heart, skewering his chest.

The bandit, as expected, succumbed to his fate.

The cult leader’s eyes burned with fervor. Was this the power bestowed by the Evil God?

If he could obtain such power for himself—

“How dull.”

This was Kaneki’s evaluation after observing the entire ritual.

“You dare call my ritual dull? I’ll offer you as a sacrifice to the Evil God!”

Hidan yanked the black spear from his chest and lunged at Kaneki.

No matter how many times he was decapitated, Hidan would never stop provoking death.

This was Hidan’s way of the ninja!

Kaneki easily dodged the attack and once again cleanly severed Hidan’s head.

Pinning Hidan’s head to the Evil God’s symbol, Kaneki mused, “What do you think would happen if I offered you to the Evil God?”

Hidan’s eyes widened in panic, his tone finally betraying a hint of fear.

“Damn it, Kaneki! What are you thinking? I’m the Evil God’s chosen one! I haven’t killed enough people yet. How can I just return to the Evil God like this?!”

Kaneki adjusted his glasses with his slender fingers and said calmly, “I was just thinking out loud.”

The cult leader glanced at Kaneki. While Hidan’s abilities were strange, Kaneki’s combat prowess seemed far superior.

At least for now, Hidan stood no chance against Kaneki.

“Kaneki, now that Hidan has demonstrated his abilities, it’s your turn,” the cult leader said flatly.

“Yes, yes! I’m curious to see what kind of power you’ve been given!”

Even Hidan was intrigued.

After all, Kaneki, as another of the Evil God’s representatives, might be the only person Hidan actually cared about.

As for everyone else? He just wanted to kill them all!

Kaneki, however, had already prepared for this moment.

“If Hidan inherited the Evil God’s curse and immortality, then I’ve inherited the Evil God’s body.”

“The body?”

Hidan was the first to ask.

The cult leader merely frowned, lost in thought.

Kaneki glanced at Hidan’s severed head on the ground and continued, “Hidan’s immortality and ritualistic blood techniques are just fragments of the Evil God’s power. My kagune, however, comes from parts of the Evil God’s body.”

As he spoke, his body twisted.

First, a massive purple centipede emerged from his tailbone.

“This is the Rinkaku—Centipede.”

Next, his ribcage jutted outward, causing Hidan to wince—he’d been decapitated by these countless times! Two dark-red scythe-like limbs shot out, resembling the Grim Reaper’s sickles.

“This is the Ukaku—Mantis.”

Finally, eight lumps swelled on Kaneki’s back, bursting open to reveal eight dark-red limbs tipped with white threads of webbing.

“This is the Koukaku—Spider, for stitching up worthless injuries.”

Kaneki clapped his hands. “That concludes the demonstration. For now, I’ve inherited three parts of the Evil God’s body.”

“Of course, the Evil God is the embodiment of all creation and wields the power to command everything. The secrets of His body far surpass my understanding, and my talents can only contain a small fraction of His essence.”

At first, Hidan bristled when Kaneki described the Koukaku—Spider as a tool for patching up "worthless" injuries. But after hearing Kaneki’s subsequent reverence for the Evil God, he nodded in agreement.

“Yes, the Evil God is the strongest, the most glorious!”

Kaneki pressed a long, elegant finger to his glasses, suppressing the madness in his voice. “My goal is to offer the entire ninja world to the omnipotent Evil God!”

“Hahaha! That’s right! We’ll kill everyone and sacrifice them to the Evil God!” ᕙ(░ಥ╭͜ʖ╮ಥ░)━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

The cult leader frowned at Hidan, who had descended into fanaticism.

They were both chosen by the Evil God, yet the difference in their ambitions was stark.

Kaneki’s sights were set on the world, while Hidan was fixated on simple slaughter.

But regardless of their grand aspirations, the cult leader saw it all as a test from the Evil God.

If he could obtain the abilities of both Kaneki and Hidan, he would personally present the ninja world as an offering to the Evil God.

However, the one to deliver the offering could only be him.

Only he was the Evil God’s most loyal dog.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 8: Knowledge Is Power

"I already know both of your abilities,"

The leader of the cult gave a kind smile and patted the shoulders of Kaneki and Hidan.

"Since you've received the blessing of Lord Jashin, you must strive to spread the teachings of the Jashin Cult, conquer the ninja world as soon as possible, and repay Lord Jashin for His grace."

Hearing this, Hidan sneered dismissively. "Conquering the ninja world? What’s the point of that? My dream is to kill everyone and offer them all to Lord Jashin!"

Kaneki, with his usual indifferent expression, said, "The correct approach is to sacrifice the entire ninja world to Lord Jashin."

"You idiot, Kaneki! Killing people is the only correct way!"

Kaneki glanced at him. "Say another word, and I'll sew your head onto the backside of 700-pound bitch."

"Damn it!" (ಥ﹏ಥ)

Though gritting his teeth in frustration, Hidan ultimately refrained from arguing further.

The cult leader looked at the two before him and silently thought to himself, Lord Jashin must be testing me!  

After steeling his resolve, he spoke to the two of them. "Though Lord Jashin’s blessing is incredibly powerful, neither of you can yet wield its full potential."

He produced two syringes and continued, "Each of you, draw a vial of blood. I’ll study it and let you know how to unlock the true power bestowed by Lord Jashin."

Hidan raised an eyebrow, about to curse out the old man, whom he’d long disliked. But when he caught Kaneki’s gaze, he thought better of it.

After all, he knew Kaneki wasn’t one to make idle threats. If he did end up with his head sewn onto a fat woman backside—especially with Kaneki’s infamously crude stitching techniques—well… the very thought made Hidan gag.

His head, still detached from his body, began dry heaving on the floor. Kaneki looked on in mild surprise.

"Hidan, don’t tell me you’re afraid of needles," Kaneki remarked.

"Are you kidding me? I’m not afraid of anything! Blood, needles—ugh!" Hidan tried to retort but gagged again before he could finish.

Fortunately for him, he no longer had a stomach, so nothing came out.

"Enough nonsense, just draw the blood already," the cult leader said, unusually impatient. He felt that if this went on any longer, he might end up as brainless as Hidan.

He inserted the syringe into Hidan’s body and extracted a full vial of blood. For someone like Hidan, who frequently practiced self-mutilation, this amount of blood loss was nothing. He’d shed far more in a single ritual.

Kaneki offered no resistance as the cult leader drew his blood as well.

But then the leader paused, as if recalling something. "Kaneki, your body is… unique. I’ll need samples from a few other areas as well."

Kaneki nodded without objection. A little blood was nothing to him.

After all, his kagune and clones were expendable—he could produce as many as he wanted, so long as he had sufficient energy.

What mattered more to Kaneki was gathering intelligence. He still didn’t fully understand the power dynamics of this world—how strong its elites were or the cult leader’s true level of strength. Until he had more information, he wouldn’t act recklessly.

He wasn’t like Hidan—a brainless idiot.

However, an unexpected issue arose when the cult leader tried to extract blood from Kaneki’s kagune:

It was too tough! The needle couldn’t penetrate it.

"Hold still, Kaneki," the cult leader said, pulling out a weapon from under his black robe.

It was a kunai—a weapon use by ninja. A pale blue energy began to radiate from the cult leader, enveloping the kunai and greatly enhancing its sharpness. With this power, he managed to slice through Kaneki’s kagune and collect three more vials of blood.

"That energy you used just now…" Kaneki asked, curious.

The cult leader chuckled at Kaneki’s apparent confusion. Chakra is far beyond the grasp of someone like this mountain-dwelling child. If not for Lord Jashin’s will…  

Despite his private disdain, the cult leader decided to indulge Kaneki’s curiosity. "Chakra is a special energy refined from the combination of spiritual and physical energy. It’s the foundation of ninjutsu and the essential power for becoming a ninja."

A ninja…

Kaneki’s eyes narrowed slightly as if deep in thought.

"Hah! Nothing is stronger than the power of Lord Jashin! Ninjutsu, ninjas, the Five Kage—they’ll all die at my hands and become offerings to Lord Jashin!"

The detached head on the ground had begun its delusional rant again, but neither Kaneki nor the cult leader paid it any mind.

Seeing Kaneki’s interest, the cult leader asked, "Do you want to learn ninjutsu?"

Without hesitation, Kaneki nodded. "Only by mastering enough knowledge and power can I offer the ninja world to Lord Jashin."

Hearing this, a hint of admiration flashed in the cult leader’s eyes. He even began to consider whether Kaneki might make a valuable ally.

"That’s a good mindset," the leader said. "But for now, your focus should be on mastering the abilities granted to you by Lord Jashin. Trying to do too much at once will only hinder your progress."

"Understood," Kaneki replied with a slight bow.

"That’s all for now. You may leave."

"Yes, sir."

After leaving the laboratory, Kaneki turned to Hidan. "Where does the cult keep its historical records?"

"Historical records?" Hidan rolled his eyes disdainfully. "What kind of Jashinist wants to read that junk?"

Unfazed, Kaneki replied, "Better than being a brainless idiot like you, who once accidentally flushed his own brain down the toilet."

"What did you just say?!"

As Hidan began to bristle, Kaneki cut him off with a chilling tone. "I recently found a few wild boars in a mountain cave, big ones with massive tusks. You wouldn’t want your body sewn onto one of their heads, would you?"

(ｏ ‵-′)ノ”(ノ﹏<。)<

"You wouldn’t dare!"

"Take me to the archives, then."

Faced with his companion’s veiled threats, Hidan could only grumble in defeat and reluctantly agree.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 9: The Secrets of the Ninja World

Although Hidan reluctantly submitted, Kaneki had still overestimated him.

“I haven’t read a single book in over ten years. I can’t even read! How would I know where the archives are?” Hidan, bruised and beaten, grumbled pitifully.

“If you ask me, instead of looking at those tadpole-like scribbles, I’d rather kill a few more people to honor Lord Jashin!”

“Shut up.”

Kaneki had nothing more to say to this illiterate savage.

Fortunately, although the followers of the Jashin cult weren’t fond of reading, they at least knew where the archives were.

Soon enough, one of the cultists led Kaneki and Hidan to the entrance of the archive.

“Lord Kaneki, Lord Hidan, this is the archive,” the guide said, bowing with extreme deference.

It wasn’t out of any genuine desire to curry favor, but rather pure fear of losing his head for no reason.

Despite being there for only a day, Kaneki and Hidan’s reputations had already spread across the entire cult.

Kaneki was called the Head-Chopping Maniac, while Hidan earned the nickname the Immortal Demon.

Some secretly wanted to call Hidan the Immortal Idiot, but no one dared. Even if Hidan frequently had his head chopped off by Kaneki, his strength was not something they could challenge.

“Thank you.”

Kaneki nodded slightly at the guide, then dragged Hidan’s head as they walked into the archive.

The cultist heaved a huge sigh of relief, thankful to have survived another day.

Upon entering the archive, Kaneki realized that he had not only overestimated Hidan but the entire Jashin cult as well.

Good grief, the archive was practically a ruin.

Bookshelves were carelessly toppled, cobwebs covered everything, and books were piled up in chaotic heaps, untouched for who knew how long.

Kaneki rubbed his temples and said with a sigh, “No wonder they produced someone like you, Hidan. Truly a place for extraordinary talents.”

Hearing this, Hidan proudly lifted his chin. “Exactly!” ✧｡٩(ˊᗜˋ)و✧*｡

It was clear that Lord Hidan’s IQ couldn’t grasp the sarcasm in Kaneki’s words.

Looking at Hidan’s smug expression, Kaneki sighed.

The fact that this guy managed to receive such an overpowered ability from Jashin could only be chalked up to dumb luck.

Using his [Spider Thread] ability, Kaneki spit out silk and hung Hidan’s head from the ceiling.

Naturally, Hidan protested against such a humiliating treatment. Just as he opened his mouth to complain, Kaneki shot another glob of sticky webbing to gag him. Hidan could only let out muffled “mmph, mmph” noises in frustration.

Now free from Hidan’s interruptions, Kaneki could finally focus on studying the books.

Despite the cult’s neglect of the archive, many of the ancient books within held significant value due to the cult’s long history.

“It seems the ancestors of the Jashin cult had at least some sensible people,” Kaneki muttered.

Otherwise, the cult wouldn’t have survived to this day.

Before long, a particular book caught Kaneki’s attention: Ancient Gods.

Rather than a book, it felt more like a collection of stories.

It described various gods that once existed in the ninja world.

The first and supposedly strongest god mentioned was, of course, the Jashin worshiped by the cult.

This god, who governed immortality and curses, was glorified beyond belief in the book.

The book also mentioned other gods, such as the Shinigami, who controlled death and the Pure Land, and the God of Nature, along with mythical figures like the animal sages.

Closing the book, Kaneki pondered a question.

“With so many gods, why are they all gone?”

The book described countless deities, and Kaneki himself had witnessed the existence of Jashin, even experiencing the god’s power firsthand.

Though Jashin didn’t seem as strong as the book claimed, the fact that the god existed was undeniable.

If Jashin was real, it wasn’t far-fetched to believe that the Shinigami, animal sages, and other gods also existed.

So why had these gods vanished?

Another point of intrigue: none of the descriptions of these gods mentioned chakra.

Perplexed, Kaneki continued flipping through book after book.

Hours flew by as he read, and by the time the sun had set and darkness engulfed the world, Kaneki had gained a rough understanding of this world.

First, this world was known as the Ninja World.

The Ninja World consisted of numerous nations.

Similar to Kaneki’s previous life, the five strongest nations dominated the world: the Land of Fire, Land of Lightning, Land of Water, Land of Earth, and Land of Wind.

These five nations were collectively known as the Five Great Nations.

Each Great Nation had a powerful military organization called a ninja village.

Ninja villages served as the backbone of a nation’s military, producing powerful warriors known as ninjas.

The nominal leader of each village held the title of Kage.

For example, the Kage of the Land of Fire was the Hokage, and the Kage of the Land of Water was the Mizukage, and so on.

In theory, these Kage were equals to their respective nations’ political leaders, known as daimyos.

The Kage controlled the military, while the daimyos held authority over politics and taxation.

To Kaneki, this system made no sense. After all, power comes from the barrel of a gun (or in this case, the edge of a blade). He couldn’t understand how daimyos without military control managed to remain in power.

That said, considering this world transitioned from chaotic tribal societies to structured nations only a few decades ago, the flaws in their system were somewhat understandable.

They were, after all, still figuring things out.

Unfortunately, Kaneki found no records in the archive about the period between the age of the gods and the Warring States period.

In fact, there was barely any information about the Warring States period itself.

The scarcity of records was likely due to age, damage, or a lack of documentation in the first place.

Most books merely glossed over the Warring States era with phrases like, “The Sage of Six Paths created chakra,” before abruptly moving on.

Instead, they focused on the tale of “The God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, ending the Warring States era and founding the first ninja village.”

Even now, just sixty years after Hashirama’s era, his legendary deeds continued to be passed down.

Setting the book aside, Kaneki tapped his thigh thoughtfully.

“Jashin, the Shinigami, the Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, the God of Shinobi, the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan...”

“The secrets hidden among these names are tantalizing.”

At this moment, Kaneki felt like a gamer obsessed with solving mysteries, utterly captivated by the hidden truths of the Ninja World.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 10: This is the Command of the Evil God

Kaneki put down the book in his hands, his eyes gleaming with a strange light.

From the ceiling above came a muffled “woo woo woo” sound.

｡゜(｀Д´)゜｡

“What now?”

Kaneki looked up at the ceiling and casually removed the web stuck to Hidan’s mouth.

Finally able to bark again, Hidan immediately started cursing. “You bastard, Kaneki! You’ve been reading all day, and I’m starving to death over here!”

It suddenly dawned on Kaneki that this guy hadn’t eaten anything since the morning.

No, to be precise, he did eat, but the food hadn’t actually made it to his stomach.

“Alright, alright. I thought someone as tough as you, with your immortal body, wouldn’t need to eat.”

Kaneki dusted himself off and stood up, pulling Hidan to his side with a web thread.

Hearing this, Hidan huffed proudly. “Well, yeah! I don’t need to eat, but eating gives me the energy I need to prepare sacrifices for Lord Evil God and stuff!”

“Uh-huh.”

Kaneki nodded nonchalantly.

Hidan became flustered and explained earnestly, “I’m serious! Even if I don’t eat, I won’t die!”

Kaneki nodded again, this time with a serious expression. “I believe you. After all, the immortal body granted by Lord Evil God wouldn’t require food. That makes sense.”

Hidan’s face flushed red. This bastard, Kaneki, was clearly treating him like a child!

To prove the greatness of Lord Evil God’s immortality, he made a decision.

“I’m not eating!”

“Huh?”

Kaneki looked at Hidan like he was an idiot.

One moment he was complaining about hunger, and now, at the cafeteria, he refused to eat?

Gritting his teeth, Hidan declared fiercely, “I must prove the greatness of Lord Evil God. I can’t bring shame to Him!” ┗( ●-﹏ ｀｡)づ

“Uh…”

Kaneki scratched his nose, taking a moment to sort out the chaotic logic in Hidan’s head.

So… not eating would demonstrate that immortality doesn’t require food, which would prove how amazing the immortal body is, thereby showcasing the greatness of Lord Evil God?

For the sake of maintaining the fragile bond between himself and Hidan, Kaneki patiently explained, “I swear, I’m not mocking you just because you want to eat.”

Unfortunately, Kaneki’s attempt at reassurance backfired. Hidan could almost see the smug grin hidden in Kaneki’s heart, waiting to ridicule him the moment he ate.

No way. Absolutely not!

Hidan shook his head resolutely.

Seeing this, Kaneki gave up persuading him. Instead, he ordered ten servings of Hidan’s favorite pork cutlet bowls and began eating them one by one right in front of him.

The crispy, golden-brown cutlet was coated in breadcrumbs. When cut open, rich, gooey cheese stretched out, releasing an irresistible aroma.

Hidan clenched his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut, but the tantalizing smell lingered around his nose.

After finishing his meal, Kaneki finally sewed Hidan’s head back onto his body.

“Good night, Hidan,” Kaneki said with a small smile before closing the door to his room.

Hidan looked grim. He touched the stitched scars on his neck, which had been patched up countless times, his expression gloomy.

The worst part? He was still ravenous!

But for the honor of Lord Evil God, he had to endure.

Until midnight.

At last, Hidan couldn’t stand it anymore.

After confirming that Kaneki was fast asleep next door, he tiptoed out of his room and headed for the cafeteria.

Little did he know, a small spider clung to the ceiling, silently watching his every move.

It was late at night, and the cafeteria was empty, allowing Hidan to sneak in easily.

“Damn Kaneki. Just wait until I’m full! One day, I’ll take you down and show Lord Evil God that I’m His most powerful follower!” ୧༼ಠ益ಠ༽୨

Grinding his teeth at the memory of the humiliation he’d suffered, Hidan rummaged around until he found his beloved pork cutlets.

Though cold, he couldn’t care less at this point and took a big bite.

“Mm! So good!”

As Hidan devoured the food, his brow furrowed. Something felt off.

“Ptui!”

He spat out whatever was in his mouth, revealing a small object the size of a thumb.

“Who’s the jerk that hid something in the cutlets?!”

Grumbling, he picked it up for a closer look. It was a tiny scroll.

“A scroll?”

Hidan frowned. He had a bad feeling about this.

But curiosity got the better of him, and he carefully opened the scroll.

“Enjoying the pork cutlet, Hidan?”

The moment he read those eight words, embarrassment and rage surged within him, exploding into an inferno of fury.

“Ken Kaneki, I’m going to kill you!”

Far away in his dorm, Kaneki casually cleaned his ear with a smirk. This was all part of his plan.

But staying up late wasn’t just about teasing Hidan.

In the temple, the blood pool suddenly began to boil violently.

The anomaly was quickly noticed by the guarding cultists, and within minutes, the High Priest himself arrived on the scene.

“High Priest, look!” one of the cultists exclaimed, pointing to the ground.

The blood from the pool had flowed out, forming a single crimson character: *Sacrifice*.

The High Priest’s eyes glimmered with shock and excitement.

“Lord Evil God has manifested!”

His trembling hand hovered in the air. For years, countless sacrificial rituals had been performed, but Lord Evil God had never responded—until now.

Could this mean the time for Lord Evil God’s return to the shinobi world was near?

With a pounding heart and shaking hands, the High Priest immediately summoned all cultists to start gathering wild beasts and venomous creatures for sacrifices the following day.

Meanwhile, Kaneki, lying in his room, wore a satisfied smile.

The life energy accumulated in his body—the blood pool—had been depleted through gene analysis, creating human bodies, and crafting kagune.

Now, he needed a significant replenishment of life energy to analyze genes and create more of the Evil God’s race, thus strengthening his power.

Why bother hunting animals himself when he could leverage the resources of the Evil God’s cult to gather everything he needed?

More rest, more energy, greater strength—it was a win-win!

And so, the Evil God cult entered a period of feverish activity in the days that followed.

(End of Chapter)