Ritual of the Evil God, a Bright Future!

When Uchiha Ci heard Hidan mention that name, his gaze flickered slightly.

He only knew a little about the Evil God Cult.

It was a mysterious organization roaming the Land of Hot Water, worshipping a deity known as the "Evil God."

The powerful members of the organization could rely on a unique Blood Curse and Ritual Secret Technique to possess the terrifying ability known as First Kill.

In the Original Work, Yugakure had done nothing out of fear of war, content to remain secluded in one corner, even earning the name Village That Forgot War.

This clashed with Hidan's belief that the Land of Hot Water should be saved through forceful means. He gradually became dissatisfied with Yugakure, so he began paying attention to the Emerging religion in the Land of Hot Water—the Evil God Cult.

Uchiha Ci simply had not expected it.

At this point in time, Hidan, who was not even a genin yet, had already begun taking notice of this organization?

At that moment, Hidan's expression darkened before he spoke.

"Let me put it this way, Ci!"

"Listen—"

"The Land of Hot Water is beyond saving!"

"This Country has already been dragged into the war between the five great nations. Do you know what that means?"

The expression on Hidan's face gradually turned grim as he stated in a Deep Voice, "In the Land of Hot Water, I've seen far too many ninja."

"From Iwagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Suna, and Konoha. Ninja wearing the forehead protectors of these great nations ran rampant across this land. They didn't care about the lives of the Commoners of the Land of Hot Water at all. The moment they met, it was a fight to the death, with large-scale ninjutsu being unleashed recklessly."

"Have you ever experienced something like that? Walking down the road, only for a village beside you to suddenly be flooded, swallowed by chasms torn open by an earthquake, or destroyed by lightning falling from the sky?"

"Then my Teacher, a Jonin from Yugakure, grabbed my shoulder and told me—"

"Hidan, leave this place quickly. Once we get back to Yugakure, we'll be safe."

"I remember the fear on his face. His forehead was drenched in sweat. There was clearly anger in Both Eyes, yet he turned his head away, avoiding the sight before him."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ci could not help taking a deep breath.

In the room, Hidan sat in a chair.

Bright sunlight streamed through the Big Hole in the wall and fell upon him, yet it seemed to be completely swallowed by his body.

Like a black hole.

Hidan's expression was dark and terrifying. Anger flickered across his face, and the skin at the corners of his eyes stretched as though it were about to split. He widened his eyes at Uchiha Ci and gave a low laugh.

"I asked Teacher why he wouldn't save them."

"With your abilities, Teacher, you could do it, right? You could defeat those Chunin slaughtering Commoners, right? After killing them, you could erase all traces and escape, right?"

"Kill them! Why didn't you kill them?"

"Why?"

"Do you know how Teacher answered me?" Hidan fell silent for a moment before raising his head to ask Uchiha Ci.

Uchiha Ci slowly exhaled and sighed.

"Probably something like, 'Hidan, don't cause trouble. We're no match for them,' right?"

The stark contrast made him think of the fiercely protective words Uchiha Setsuna had spoken when facing a Strong Enemy from Kumogakure, words practically tantamount to a declaration of war, all to avenge him.

For the sake of one genin, he had been willing to have the entire clan pursue the enemy!

It was also the first time Uchiha Ci had truly felt just how sickeningly intense the love of the Uchiha, this "clan of love," could become.

Hidan shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"But Teacher said—"

"Those people have nothing to do with us. Don't meddle in other people's business."

"Listen to that."

"He actually said—those people had nothing to do with us?"

"Teacher's hometown was that village. We left the village this time to bring Master's Wife back to Yugakure."

"And he actually said those people had nothing to do with us?!!!!"

Hidan became agitated and could not help snatching the apple from Uchiha Ci's hand.

He hurled it to the ground, smashing it into pulp.

Uchiha Ci: ???

What the hell? That was my apple!

Uchiha Ci shook his head and sighed. Though he had long anticipated how fucked-up this world was, when he truly heard of such a tragedy, he still found it hard to accept.

"This world is just that fucked-up. But what does any of what you said have to do with the Evil God Cult?"

Hidan nodded and pulled a small booklet from the waist pouch behind him.

He slapped it into Uchiha Ci's hand and said with a sincere, excited look, "Ci, look at this."

"Look at this doctrine!"

"The fallen Land of Hot Water has finally welcomed its dawn!"

"Its name is—"

"The Evil God Cult!"

The smile on Hidan's face gradually turned deranged.

"Kill! Kill! Kill everything around you!"

"Kill standing up, kill squatting down, kill with people tied to stable racks, kill after dumping a whole pile of horse manure over their heads and chopping them down, restrain their hands and feet, kick them into a boiling oil pot and kill them—everything, everything!"

"Ninjas, commoners, nobles, daimyo—"

"Kill them all!"

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

"Let this country welcome a purge!"

"Set the stage, let blood dye the flowers, pile up an imperial mound with the heads of countless millions—hundreds of millions—of living beings, and begin the ritual!"

"And then—"

"Welcome the Evil God!"

"When the deity descends, every believer who worships Him will receive eternal pain!"

"Erase all sin!"

"The New Land of Hot Water will become the sixth great nation of the ninja world in the Evil God's embrace!"

"And it will enjoy peace forever!"

As his words fell, Hidan stood within the blazing beam of light with his arms spread wide, staring fervently at the sun.

It was as though he saw a light even more dazzling than the sun!

Uchiha Ci swallowed, stared at Hidan in astonishment, and could not help asking in a raised voice, "You've already joined the Evil God Cult?"

Hidan suddenly shook his head with a dejected look.

"Not yet."

"But they should be here soon—"

Hidan burst into laughter, slapped Uchiha Ci on the shoulder, and said with utter sincerity, "Ci, help me."

"Joining the Evil God Cult requires a sacrifice!"

"Sacrificing myself isn't enough. I need you!"

"Walk to the cross with me and become a believer of God!"

"Then—"

"We'll stand side by side at the top of this country and make the Land of Hot Water—"

"Great forever!"

A bead of sweat could not help sliding down Uchiha Ci's forehead as he stared at Hidan in shock.

No subtitles appeared before his eyes.

That meant—

This kid was actually sincerely inviting him to become a sacrifice with him, and he probably even thought it was a wonderful thing!

Uchiha Ci's face twitched uncontrollably.

For Hidan, becoming a sacrifice was naturally a good thing.

He could gain an immortal body that transcended the terror of death, master the various secret techniques and curses within the Evil God's Secret Canon, then get promoted and earn raises in the Evil God Cult, become general manager, take up the post of CEO, marry the two pairs of sister beauties, Bloody Scythe and Pitch-Black Spear, and reach the pinnacle of life!

Just thinking about it was a little exciting.

But Uchiha Ci... Ci, he—

"Hm?"

Uchiha Ci froze, as though a broad golden road designed specifically for insurance fraud had suddenly unfolded before him!

Angels sang, fairies scattered flowers, just waiting for him to take a step forward.

This was fucking good news for me too!

When it came to a notorious cult like the Evil God Cult, a villainous force, how could Uchiha Ci—Heavenly Strong Man, lover of peace and justice, and sworn guide of the ninja world toward a better future—possibly stand by and do nothing?

Uchiha Ci's face lit up with excitement as he sprang out of bed.

He clenched the Evil God Cult promotional pamphlet in his hand, then gripped both of Hidan's hands tightly.

"Hidan, my good brother! Good!"

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

"We both have a bright future!"