A moment later!
"The Evil God Cult?"
After learning from the villagers what had happened, Kakashi and the others' expressions changed.
"I've vaguely heard of this cult. It is an evil organization that worships the killing of innocent people and offers them as sacrifices to the so-called Evil God."
Kakashi said gravely, "They are hidden within the Land of Rivers and rarely target Konoha Jonin or important figures from the Land of Fire, so Konoha has had difficulty dealing with the Evil God Cult across national borders."
"I didn't expect them to be this cruel."
"If not for... his appearance, not a single person in this village would likely have survived."
"And in other places beyond our sight, there may already be many similar villages that have..."
"The Evil God Cult truly deserves to die!" Hyuga Nozomu said indignantly, then added with some concern, "But Blood Butcher could not only control blood, he also possessed powerful regenerative abilities."
"This regenerative ability seems to have come from that so-called Evil God?"
"Could there really be an Evil God in this world?"
"Furthermore, although Blood Butcher's Imperfect Undying Body was easily dealt with by Hyuga Chiba without using the Tenseigan's abilities—"
"That does not mean the Evil God Cult has no followers who truly possess an Immortal Body."
At this, Kakashi's expression also became somewhat solemn.
An Evil God Cult follower with an Immortal Body who enjoyed killing innocents everywhere was enough to give anyone a headache just thinking about it.
If his main mission this time had not been to pursue Hyuga Chiba, and if the Evil God Cult had not been outside the Land of Fire, where they would not be easy to eliminate, Kakashi would have wanted to destroy them first.
"Did he say that?"
Meanwhile, Hyuga Nozomu learned from the villagers what Chiba's final words had been. He immediately understood Chiba's intentions and shook his head. "He was right. The less you know about him, the better."
"That way, you will be safer, and he will have fewer unnecessary troubles."
Although the villagers were deeply confused, they did not ask any further questions.
After suffering such a drastic upheaval, they no longer wanted to casually bring more trouble upon themselves or the benefactor who had saved them.
Those quick-witted villagers who had already guessed something were even less likely to continue probing.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Pakkun, leader of the Eight Ninja Hounds, twitched his nose and said to Kakashi and Hyuga Nozomu, "That person's scent is moving away from where it was earlier. He will likely enter the Land of Wind very soon."
"Good!" Kakashi nodded and swiftly decided, "Since his target is most likely Sunagakure anyway, we won't follow behind him. Let's head straight for Sunagakure at the fastest speed."
"No problem." Hyuga Nozomu naturally had no objection and immediately nodded.
Thus!
Kakashi, Hyuga Nozomu, and the eight Ninja Hounds quickly left the village and headed directly toward Sunagakure.
Konoha!
Hokage's Office!
"The One-Tailed Jinchuriki?"
After hearing Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza's report and speculation, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe. His expression gradually turned serious as he asked Nara Shikaku, "Shikaku, do you truly believe Hyuga Chiba would disregard the current One-Tailed Jinchuriki's life and reseal One-Tail Shukaku within his own body?"
"My apologies, Hokage. I cannot be certain either. I simply know far too little about him," Nara Shikaku replied truthfully. "But as long as Hyuga Chiba does not remain in the Land of Rivers for an extended time, then his target can only be Sunagakure's One-Tail Shukaku."
"Only a Tailed Beast's nearly inexhaustible Chakra could allow him to maintain Tenseigan Chakra Mode for a long time."
"However, that does not mean Hyuga Chiba will definitely make himself the new Jinchuriki."
"According to the information provided by the Hyuga Clan, his Tenseigan possesses some kind of ability that can extract Chakra from a target's body."
"If he can control the amount of Chakra extracted, then he should be able to draw only part of the Tailed Beast's Chakra without endangering the Jinchuriki's life."
"Or perhaps the Tenseigan possesses other abilities we do not yet know about."
After hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen considered it carefully before ordering, "Even if Hyuga Chiba does not truly kill the One-Tailed Jinchuriki, it may not be a good thing if he obtains the Tailed Beast's Chakra."
"Activate emergency communications and notify Sunagakure of this matter as quickly as possible."
"Also, have every Jonin in the village who is not on a mission depart for Sunagakure immediately."
"Do everything possible to stop Hyuga Chiba before he obtains the Tailed Beast's Chakra."
"And..." Sarutobi Hiruzen paused before issuing another order. "Find Jiraiya and Tsunade somehow, and have them return to the village."
"Tell them I have an extremely important matter to discuss with them."
"Hokage?" Nara Shikaku's expression changed at once.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's earlier orders had been normal enough, but summoning Jiraiya and Tsunade back at a time like this, and for that reason... no matter how he thought about it, something felt wrong.
A possibility gradually surfaced in Nara Shikaku's mind.
If that was truly the case, then all of Konoha would likely undergo earth-shaking changes.
"Shikaku, do as I say."
Sarutobi Hiruzen offered no explanation, merely emphasizing his tone.
"Yes, Hokage!"
Seeing this, Nara Shikaku could only nod and prepare to carry out Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders.
Root Base!
Danzo sat above, silently watching the Root Ninjas kneeling below him.
The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.
No one knew how much time had passed before Danzo finally spoke. His voice was calm, yet incomparably cold. "You are saying that after all this time, you did not even see Hyuga Chiba's real body before being stopped by several of his Shadow Clones?"
Danzo was furious at this moment.
Not only because the Root Ninjas had failed to bring back the Tenseigan he wanted, but also because the Root Ninjas he had sent to hunt down Hyuga Chiba had mostly been Jonin, with even one or two Elite Jonin among them.
Yet quite a few had actually fallen to Hyuga Chiba's Shadow Clones?
One had to know that even for Root, cultivating a Jonin, much less an Elite Jonin, was no easy task.
"..."
The Root Ninjas below lowered their heads even further, not daring to speak in their own defense.
"Danzo!"
At that moment, a Root Ninja used Body Flicker to appear below. He dropped to one knee and reported to Danzo, "The Hokage has activated emergency communications and contacted Sunagakure."
"He has also dispatched all idle Jonin in the village."
"The reason is that Hyuga Chiba may be seeking Sunagakure's One-Tail Shukaku to make up for his lack of Chakra."
Before you continue