Settling the Price-Fair Enough, Right?

Dusk had completely fallen.

The sound of the black scriptures turning continued, and Hidan in the center of the blood array was completely immersed in the frenzy of sacrifice.

His figure swayed amidst the flickering flames and Bloody Mist, resembling some kind of pagan priest or a psychic sorcerer—a blend of madness, holiness, and danger.

The surrounding air seemed to have frozen.

The adjutant and soldiers were already kneeling on the ground, their faces deathly pale.

Even though Hidan had already focused his attention on the ancient scripture and the blood array, they dared not move an inch, as if a wild beast with the potential to bite off their spines was watching them from behind.

Kakuzu looked at the "Founding Titan Remains Crystal" encased in crystal.

The black crystal was entwined with blood-like cracks, which were not formed naturally, but rather seemed to be caused by some kind of "will shock" triggered by external forces.

He slowly squatted down, took out a talisman, and affixed it to the surface of the crystal, allowing spiritual energy to flow into it slightly.

The next instant, ripples appeared on the crystal's surface, and a dark shadow, like a snake's shadow, slithered out, trembling slightly.

"As expected... it's remnants of a seal."

Kakuzu sneered, his gaze darkening:

"This thing... is not just simple remains."

He reached out and placed a second sealing talisman, muttering:

"Dismantle--"

"Hiss--!!"

A jet-black mist burst forth from the crystal, nearly knocking two nearby soldiers flying.

The adjutant exclaimed in surprise, "This... this is..."

Kakuzu stood firmly, clenched his fist, and instantly sealed the black mist into the scroll.

"The remains of the intelligent giant do exist, but something else has been 'stitched' into this crystal."

He glanced at his adjutant, his eyes cold.

"Who gave you permission to send out unpurified sealed items without authorization?"

The adjutant knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling:

"I...I don't know...that was forcibly added by the Marley's council, who said it was 'the most crucial part of the gift.'"

Kakuzu silent, his gaze sweeping coldly over him as he spoke, each word deliberate and deliberate:

"Marley ... very good."

He slowly rose, put away the scroll, turned and left, as if he had made up his mind.

But instead of leaving immediately, he stepped into Hidan's blood array.

Hidan currently standing with one foot on the chest of the third heretic, crushing the nearly withered flesh into a lump of mud. The black scripture in his hand gleamed eerily, its pages turning automatically.

"I said... how long do you plan to linger here?"

Kakuzu frowned.

Hidan didn't turn around, his tone cheerful:

"Kakuzu! This place is nice! There's an entire abandoned temple underground, surrounded by land abandoned by the church."

He grinned, his face smeared with blood:

"I want to transform this place into my blood sacrifice altar."

"From this day forward, all believers must come here to donate blood."

Kakuzu scoffed, "You're planning to become the Pope?"

Hidan laughed wildly, "No, I want to be the Holy Blood Pope!"

"Let this world remember that the true god does not dwell in a tower, but in a pool of blood!"

He spread his arms wide, his fingertips pointing to the sky:

"The old world has collapsed, the giant gods are dead, and new gods... are being born here."

Kakuzu stared at him coldly and spoke indifferently:

"You want to be a god? I don't care."

But don't forget, we're still in this world.

Hidan rolled his Byakugan, unconcerned.

"Tsk, I know, I know, you greedy old man."

I will not use you as a sacrifice to the gods.

He suddenly chuckled and leaned closer to Kakuzu:

"But if you die someday, I will melt every single coin in your body into a blood charm and wrap it in my altar."

"So that you, you miser, can continue to hoard wealth even after you die."

He ignored him Kakuzu, instead punching him squarely on the forehead, slamming him halfway into the pool of blood.

"Shut up."

The night grew deeper.

Kakuzu sealed all the spoils of war into Ninjutsu scrolls, leaving only the necessary guards and repair personnel.

He didn't utter a single unnecessary word, only leaving behind a cold, "All done. Leave."

The soldiers of the corps immediately breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly withdrew from the area, as if what lurked in these ruins was not "gods" but "taboos".

The entire ruined royal city foundation now stands with Hidan alone on the altar, bathed in the blood of thirty heretics, like an idol rising from hell.

"Blood is the key, the corpse is the sacred object."

"The world will eventually understand the language of pain."

He gently stroked the Sacrificial Remnant Scripture, licked his blood-stained fingertips, and chuckled softly:

"Kakuzu... I will make these people understand—deceiving the gods is a capital offense."

The next morning.

After sealing the "Remnant Crystal of the Founding Titan," Kakuzu sat alone in front of the scroll array in the basement.

He dissected the fragmented crystal and discovered a hidden "alien consciousness fluctuation" within it—similar to a cursed spirit, but not a product of the Ninja World, clearly originating from an unknown spiritual seal.

This "external source" is something the Marley Council deliberately avoids mentioning.

Kakuzu stared silently at the wisp of black mist-like fragment of consciousness, remaining motionless for a long time.

Then, he slowly put on the mask, his tone calm:

Let's go.

Hidan was already waiting outside, scythe slung over his shoulder, his face filled with undisguised anticipation.

"So you're really going to make a move."

Kakuzu said coldly, "They have no reason to exist!"

"Hahaha, this is the first time I've seen you so angry, Kakuzu- sama!"

Hidan grinned. "Then can I just take care of their so-called 'Holy Light Church' as well?"

Kakuzu: "Don't burn the documents."

Hidan: "I understand."

Marley, a major town in the western border.

An emergency closed-door meeting is being held in the Marley Council Hall to discuss issues such as the loss of control over the remaining crystals, whether the Akatsuki will hold them accountable, and whether to initiate an "alternative partner selection."

They are still covering it up, concealing the fact that the strange, alien energy has already corrupted the remaining crystal;

They are still calculating whether they can make up for it with other "offerings";

But no one expected that the "accountability" would come so quickly and so violently.

"Boom!!!!"

In the very center of the parliament building, a sudden, explosive tremor occurred. A high-heat spiral Chakra ball descended from the sky, piercing through the dome and igniting a massive pillar of fire!

The next instant, two figures burst into the thick smoke--

Hidan arrived first, unleashing his blood-stained black scripture and blood scythe, with the altar projection appearing beneath his feet.

"Gentlemen of Parliament, I heard you sent over a 'polluting offering'?"

"In our faith, there's a rule—if an offering is unclean, it must be returned as a sacrifice!"

"So--"

He raised his hand, and a blood talisman was activated. A councilor suddenly coughed up blood from his mouth and nose, his seven orifices burst open, and he died. His body twisted into a fleshy sculpture and fell in full view of everyone.

"First kill, added to the tally."

"Come on—I need twenty-nine."

"Isn't this a fair settlement?"