It took Kakuzu a while to accept the reality. The Akatsuki was after the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but now he had become the subordinate of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Truly, life was unpredictable.
The three of them walked into the nearby village together. The sight inside surprised Naruto. He had only briefly sensed it earlier, assuming it was an abandoned village. But upon entering, he realized the place was filled with a nauseating stench.
Most of the buildings were thatched huts, but the walls were made of earth and stone, a very outdated construction method.
In the center of the village, however, there was something strikingly out of place.
It was a massive, crouching statue with a pair of folded bat-like wings on its back. This statue was the source of the foul smell.
As the three approached, they noticed that the statue had no facial features. Where the face should have been carved, there was only a blank surface. At the base of the statue lay the true source of the revolting stench.
A pool of thick, crimson liquid, like mud, with faint glimpses of pale bone fragments floating within.
As veterans who had survived countless battles, both Orochimaru and Kakuzu remained expressionless. Only Naruto couldn't help but frown slightly. 'Cults truly were a blight on humanity.'
"When I arrived, I checked the village. The rooms were covered in dust. It seems no one has lived here for a long time."
Kakuzu noticed Naruto's expression and casually explained, not wanting to be misunderstood.
"Hehe, this must be the so-called 'Jashin experiment.' To gain immortality, one must resort to unorthodox methods."
Orochimaru spoke up, glancing at Kakuzu as he did. Whether it was Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear or his Living Corpse Reincarnation, both were unorthodox methods.
They had all become something less than human.
"Let's go find Hidan directly."
Naruto strode toward Yugakure directly. After all, this environment wasn't suitable for rest.
---
Yugakure was known as the 'village that has forgotten wars.' It was passionate about peace and, after the Third Ninja World War, believed that peace had arrived. The village began using its abundant natural resources to develop its economy, which led to a decline in its military strength.
Now, the entire Yugakure and its surrounding areas were devoid of life.
Beneath the village lay a secret base.
Unlike Orochimaru's base, this one was primarily used for sacrifices.
At this moment, in this underground base, there stood another tall, faceless Jashin statue. However, this one was different from the ones outside.
It stood tall, not crouched like the others, with its wings spread wide as if ready to take flight. If not for the blood pool at its base, it would be hard to believe this was a Jashin statue.
In the blood pool, numerous corpses floated, each dressed in black robes with silver necklaces featuring an outer circle and an inner triangle floating on the surface.
These were the followers of the Jashin cult.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
A series of footsteps echoed as a man with slicked-back gray hair, pale purple eyes, and a bare upper body walked in. He knelt before the Jashin statue, holding a Jashin necklace in his hands, his eyes closed in prayer.
This man is Hidan.
Not long ago, the Jashin cult had sacrificed the entire Yugakure and the surrounding residents, granting Hidan the power of immortality.
But after gaining this power, Hidan killed the other members of the Jashin cult.
Because he saw their eyes were filled with greed, no longer holding the piety they once had. Their faith in Jashin had become impure. Those who had turned into heretics were unworthy of Jashin's blessings, so Hidan sacrificed them as well.
Every day, he would come here to pray for a while. After his prayers, he would pierce his own heart, offering his blood to Jashin.
But this time, Hidan suddenly opened his eyes. His devout expression twisted into a mischievous grin. 'New sacrifices had arrived.'
---
Outside the underground base, Naruto and the others had entered Yugakure. Along the way, the strange statues became more numerous, and the stench grew even more unbearable. Fortunately, all three were top-tier experts with exceptional control over their Chakra, or else they wouldn't have been able to approach this place.
However, the moment they stepped into the village, the three of them frowned.
They all felt a strange, oppressive sensation, as if something heavy was pressing on their chests, making their breathing slightly labored.
Naruto activated his Sharingan, observing the surroundings and sensing for any enemies. He could feel that the entire village was enveloped in a strange energy, somewhat familiar but not entirely clear what it was.
"Huh? Interesting."
Orochimaru, who was also observing the surroundings, let out a sound of surprise, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This was the expression he wore when something piqued his immense interest.
Naruto and Kakuzu both looked at Orochimaru with questioning gazes.
Orochimaru couldn't help but lick his lips again and said: "This energy is similar to that of a little test subject I recently acquired. It's not pure Chakra but a mix of Natural Energy and Chakra… Senjutsu Chakra."
"Senjutsu Chakra?" Kakuzu was surprised. Having lived for nearly a century, he had never heard of such a thing.
Naruto, however, understood. In the Ninja World, aside from Chakra, the only other energy was Natural Energy. The reason it felt familiar was because he had recently encountered Jugo. The auras of the two were very similar.
"That guy Hidan probably gained his immortality by fusing the Natural Energy here into his body during the Jashin experiments. I'm really curious now… is he even human anymore?"
Orochimaru's face twisted into a cold smile, his eyes filled with eager anticipation. After carefully sensing the Natural Energy around them, he continued.
"The Natural Energy here is so dense. Given time, this place might even become a holy land… a holy land for Jashin."
"Haha, like what you're saying, you gloomy, twisted guy. How about joining our Jashin cult? I can make you the vice-leader."
Hidan had just emerged from the underground base when he heard Orochimaru say that this place could become a holy land for Jashin. He was greatly pleased and couldn't help but extend an invitation to Orochimaru.
In Hidan's eyes, the quality of this batch of sacrifices was exceptionally high, so losing one Orochimaru wouldn't upset Jashin. Moreover, he could always sacrifice Orochimaru the next time Jashin needed offerings.
"Hehehe, worship Jashin? I'd love to study this Jashin of yours."
Orochimaru's fanaticism was unmistakable as he stared at Hidan like a rare treasure. He felt Hidan was even more valuable than Jugo for research purposes.
"What the hell are you saying, you bastard?" Hidan's expression instantly turned ferocious. He swung his massive three-bladed scythe and charged at the three of them.
"You blasphemer of Jashin-sama! I'll place your head right in the center of the altar!"
"Oh? Facing the three of us, instead of running away, you're coming right to us?"
"Wind Release: Finger Gun!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Secret Technique: Earth Grudge Fear!"