Evil God * Ninja

Izuna continued, "Besides, you yourself want to retain your human identity. You want the new humans but not the old humans? How can you have such a good deal? Even if you succeed, do you think your so-called perfect new humans would leave behind such a piece of trash as you?"

Bishamonten's face turned ashen. "You!"

"I ask you," Izuna, tucking his folding fan into his sleeve, "What is Civilization? You haven't answered that yet."

Bishamonten turned his head away. "I refuse to answer that question."

"Because you know your answer will be exactly the same as those people you look down on."

Bishamonten glared at him through gritted teeth, his expression filled with resentment.

Ban stepped forward, grabbed Bishamonten from the ground, and shoved him aside.

Kakuzu stood a few steps away, Earth Grudge Fear emerged from his sleeve, catching Bishamonten squarely and binding him tightly in no time before casually tossing him over his back.

After doing all this, Kakuzu silently stepped aside, a gesture that made Madara raise an eyebrow.

This guy is pretty sensible.

Madara turned and walked to Izuna's side, looking down at him.

"You've said everything, now go and get some rest," he said. "You haven't slept all night."

Izuna was both amused and exasperated. "Madara-kun, who here didn't stay up all night?"

Without batting an eye, Ban said, "I don't care about that. You just need to rest."

Izuna took a breath and changed his tone. "Big Brother."

Madara ignored him. "This isn't Konoha, why are you bothering with these people?"

"Oh, right." Izuna scratched his head, his gaze sweeping over the disheveled people around him, his tone softening, "But I'm the one who destroyed their house..."

Ban followed his gaze and scanned the area expressionlessly.

"You have a problem with that?"

The crowd shook their heads in unison.

They shook their heads so fast and in unison that even the nobles who had been cursing were shaking their heads like rattles.

Izuna was both amused and exasperated. "Big Brother, don't force a confession out of me!"

"Didn't you do this before?"

I'm just telling people to fit in.

"Well, I was just encouraging people to fit in," Ban said. "Alright, go to sleep."

Izuna opened his mouth, then turned to look for help. "Hashirama- nii, look at Madara-nii!"

Madara glanced at Hashirama and clicked his tongue in displeasure.

Is this guy considered an equal in Izuna's eyes? That's really annoying.

Hashirama receiving that gaze.

Oh, this.

Izuna, I'm naturally happy that you value me so much, but I'll suffer the consequences.

He coughed lightly, trying to smooth things over. "Well... Madara, Izuna was just worried..."

"What are you worried about?" Madara tilted his head to look at him. "Are you planning to stay and serve as their Hot Spring Shadow in the Land of Hot Water?"

Hashirama swallowed the rest of his words and silently took a half-step back.

Tobirama gave the instructions, he silently gave a thumbs-up in his mind. "Well said! Madara! I acknowledge your expertise in this regard!"

That won't do.

Izuna looked in the direction of the sound and saw the Jurōjin, walking up to Izuna with a cane and bowing slightly.

"Lord Izuna, Lord Madara is right," he said, his voice hoarse. "After all, this matter occurred within the territory of the Land of Hot Water. You just said what we would do if we were to carry out construction."

"So that means you also believe that this country should be built by the people of our Land of Hot Water."

He paused, then looked up, his eyes, etched with wrinkles, shining brightly as he gazed at Izuna.

"We people of the Land of Hot Water still possess some integrity. Please understand, Lord Izuna."

Madara said, "Hashirama, Tobirama, and I will all help, so don't worry."

Izuna scratched his head. "Oh, okay then, I'm going to sleep."

Ban tilted his head to look at Mokushō.

"Take good care of Izuna."

Mokushō had just returned from the sea, carrying Ginkaku on his shoulder and Amber Purifying Pot almost as tall as himself on his back, Earth Flow through the Ruins.

Hearing this, he freed one hand and gave a thumbs-up. "It's wrapped up, it's wrapped up."

Hashirama paused for a moment, then slapped his forehead. "Eh! Right! How could I forget about Ginkaku and the Amber Purifying Pot?" He looked at Mokushō, his tone filled with genuine admiration, "You have a good memory."

Mokushō put the Ginkaku on the ground and caught his breath. "Sigh, who can think straight after being shaken by a storm all night? I've retrieved Divine Artifacts."

"Where did you put it?" Hashirama asked.

"At my Shrine."

Hashirama looked at the barren Ruins before him, even the remains of the Torii had been blown away by the wind, and frowned in confusion. "How did you get in?"

Mokushō shrugged. "The storm didn't reach far. There were Torii over there too, so I just used the road."

Hashirama opened his mouth. "This is possible?"

"I am a god," Mokushō said, brushing the dust off his hands. "Gods always have certain privileges."

Hashirama's eyes lit up. "Can we do it too?"

Mokushō shook his head. "You are not gods, you can't get in."

Izuna was so sleepy, his eyelids were practically glued shut, but he still blinked when he heard those words.

I feel like I could do it too!

Madara originally wanted Mokushō to take Izuna to the Shrine to rest.

That place is definitely safer than these Ruins. There's Barrier protecting it, and roofs providing shelter, so you don't have to lie in the open and let the sea breeze blow through you.

But after hearing Izuna's muttered remark, he gave up on the idea.

Suddenly, Mokushō seemed to remember something and turned around.

"Before that, Izuna."

Izuna looked in the direction he pointed and saw it was Bishamonten.

Ban followed their gaze, frowning. "What?"

Bishamonten also became alert.

The next instant, Izuna's eyes changed.

The Mitsudomoe swirled in his pupils, the black background and red pupils coalescing into Mangekyō Sharingan shape, like three windmill blades slowly snapping together.

Immediately afterwards, Bishamonten's head drooped down abruptly, like a puppet with its strings cut, his chin resting on his chest, motionless.

Ban's back tensed abruptly; the strikingly similar scene sent a chill down his spine.

He had seen this situation before.

This is what happened after Izuna's first rampage; he lost consciousness in an instant and collapsed to the ground, as if someone had simply turned off a switch.

Hashirama saw it too, and his brows furrowed. "Izuna, what did you do?"

Mokushō spoke first, "Remove the Evil God's mark from him, and while you're at it, see where that Evil God is hiding."

Izuna was taken aback.

Then he understood.

Severing one's consciousness is too sinister; it can't be revealed.

Madara pursed his lips, staring at Izuna's Mangekyō Sharingan that hadn't yet reverted to their original state.

This sounds like Genjutsu, but is it really?

Ban remained calm and composed, showing no emotion on his face, only turning his head to look at Mokushō.

Mokushō leaned closer to Izuna and asked in a low voice, "Where is it located?"

Izuna raised his hand and pointed northwest.

"It should be over there, Rear Mountain the Bishamonten Shrine... ouch." He paused, his expression suddenly turning strange. "How come this is the same place I told that joke about earlier..."

Mokushō silently shifted his gaze away.

Izuna stared at him for two seconds, then realized something was amiss. "This isn't right, is it? Isn't this the world of Naruto? How can there be elements from the Onmyōji world?"

"You haven't seen the movie?" Mokushō turned his head to look at him.

"The theater..." Izuna paused for a moment, then realized, "Ah, the Land of Demons?"

"That's right." Mokushō nodded, then added, "And there's an episode out of over 700 episodes that's about Naruto helping a spirit brother find out why he's still alive."

Izuna was completely bewildered. "Didn't you say you couldn't finish reading it? This kind of story should be in the original, right? You've even read this, and you say you didn't read it properly?"

"Oh!" Mokushō waved his hand, his tone a little guilty, "I just vaguely remember what each episode was about."

"You never tell the truth." Izuna sighed, too lazy to argue with him anymore. "Fine, what's the plan? Go handle this?"

Mokushō stroked his chin. "Hmm, I originally wanted Hashirama to test the waters. But judging from his performance yesterday... that guy is sneaky, but he's also really strong. Hashirama probably can't handle him."

"Then go ahead."

"I can't fight without you here!" Mokushō shrugged.

Izuna pointed to himself. "Damn, I have to do it again?"

"Our bond isn't maxed out yet," Mokushō said helplessly.

Izuna was speechless. "You brat..."

Mokushō shrugged. "There's nothing we can do. What can we say? Go and take it now?"

"Let's go now." Izuna thought for a moment and then asked, "By the way, is it dangerous?"

"It's alright," Mokushō answered lightly, then paused, tilting her head to look at him, "You don't mean to...?"

"Let's take some people to see the excitement." Izuna gestured with his chin towards the people on the Ruins.

The two looked towards the crowd.

While they were talking, the Jurōjin stepped out from the crowd and recounted the whole story of the Evil God.

The Evil God truly exists, bringing countless calamities to the Land of Hot Water, and causing generations to sacrifice their lives to fill that void.

He spoke slowly and deliberately, simply stating the facts.

Even so, the crowd still became restless.

The fear that had been temporarily suppressed after Izuna finished talking about "Civilization" resurfaced.

If they don't witness the Evil God being defeated with their own eyes, some of these people will inevitably turn to the Evil God again to save their lives.

Fear can only be eliminated when its source is completely eradicated.

Mokushō withdrew his gaze. "We really need to show them. I'll wake Tsukimiyo up in a bit; he's a better fighter than me. I'll act as a shield from behind; that's safer."

Quan Nai nodded, then wondered, "But how to use the beads?"

"You can do whatever you want," Mokushō said. "You saw how angry he was when he signed the Contract, didn't you?"

"He can launch Fireballs?"

"More than that," Mokushō waved his hand, "He was once a crow under the command of Amaterasu Ōkami."

Izuna was once again baffled. "Didn't he call himself Tsukimiyo? How are the moon and the sun related?"

"Hmm..." Mokushō mumbled, "Anyway, you just need to know that he's very good with fire."

Before that, Izuna had taken a nap.

Ban stood guard beside him, watching as he leaned against the tree trunk, closed his eyes, and soon his breathing became even.

Mokushō squatted not far away, tightened the ropes binding Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and then took the Jade Purifying Bottle to the Torii gate to store his things.

People on the Ruins weren't idle.

The Jurōjin, leaning on his cane, slowly walked around the Ruins, pointing and telling them to set up Temporary Camp first.

Hashirama followed him. As someone who had truly built Konoha from scratch, he could tell that the Jurōjin didn't really know how to build a country.

The Jurōjin was at a loss as to where to stay, how to allocate food, and what to do next.

After all, a seasoned veteran in officialdom is still just a bean sprout when he gets down to earth.

At such times, Hashirama would bring up a question or two, asking the people where they originally lived, where the merchants preferred to set up their stalls, and what the officials from other countries planned to do next.

Ban's Shadow Clones scattered around, watching the people who were working.

If anyone tries to slack off, they should walk over and stand behind that person, cross their arms, and stare at them.

His hair had long been tousled by the Hurricane, forming a thick, oppressive layer.

When the man turned around and saw the dark, menacing faces, his legs went weak, and he quickly bent down to get back to work.

Tobirama was still giving instructions.

He led the Ninjas and assigned them tasks according to the markings: some cleared Ruins, some built sheds, and some dug drainage ditches.

The Ninjas were suppressed by the three Kage Level powerhouses, and they were as obedient as newly trained apprentices, doing whatever they were told and not daring to complain.

They moved stones, carried logs, dug earth—they did whatever they were told, and they did it incredibly fast.

A Ninja was sent to clear a clogged ditch. He squatted down by the ditch, looked at it, and made a hand seal. The silt and gravel in the ditch were swept away by a stream of water, leaving the bottom of the ditch clean.

The onlookers exclaimed "Oh!" and applauded, cheering and applauding.

Another Ninja was sent to level a clearing. He formed a hand seal, pressed his hands to the ground, and the clods of earth turned up and fell back down, making the whole area as flat as if it had been rolled by a stone roller.

An old man squatted down and touched the firm soil. He looked up, his expression complex.

People then realized that the Ninjas were strong, physically capable, meticulous in their work, and could even turn the ground into water in a second.

They are truly top-tier laborers.

Just moments ago, they were secretly cursing the other party for killing so many people, calling them a scourge to the common folk. But now, watching the Ninjas work, their eyes slowly changed.

These people... if they have such skills, why do they have to commit murder?

The nobles and merchants standing nearby were all getting excited.

One merchant leaned close to another's ear and whispered a few words.

After hearing this, the other businessman stroked his chin, his eyes brightening for a moment before quickly suppressing them again.

Officials, and even Military Advisors, couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

They were all thinking, wasn't it a waste of their talents to only use these people as weapons?

Everyone knows they can fight.

But these powers are surprisingly useful in everyday life.

They were more efficient at their work than the craftsmen they had hired.

If we could get them to obediently focus on construction, how much trouble and money would that save?

One of the nobles looked at them and couldn't help but sigh, "If only they could charge less."

Others also suddenly thought of this problem.

Yes, these things are no problem for Ninjas. They can do in ten days Half a Month what Ordinary People would do with a wave of their hand, but they consume less energy than Ordinary People.

In that case, the money they receive will inevitably be reduced, and Ninjas won't go around doing this kind of work for a little bit of reward.

Why would they abandon such high-paying bounty missions to do these piecemeal, low-paying jobs?