Kakuzu: We've fallen on hard times, brothers. Back in the day, Hashirama nearly died at my hands.

The female version of Gojo Rin stood 1.68 meters tall, with a slender, graceful figure. Her ample breasts were especially eye-catching after being carefully adjusted.

At that moment, she gently took hold of the hand of Gojo Satoru, who had also undergone a gender swap and was equally captivating. In a gentle, slightly worried tone, she said, "Teacher Gojo, look at Obito. The way he looks at me from behind that mask seems full of irresistible greed and desire. Did I make my chest too conspicuous? Obito-bro's gaze is always fixed on me."

Gojo Satoru didn't seem embarrassed or shy at all. Instead, she lowered her head and examined Gojo Rin's alluring chest. Paired with those seductive black stockings, they made her seem utterly charming and full of allure, even though she was only about 1.6 meters tall.

She casually adjusted her glasses and said calmly, "Rin-chan, you really are irresistible, but don't let little Obito get too attached, okay? After all, he chose to join the Akatsuki and plan all this because he wanted to create a world where you existed. He's still young, and there's still a part of him that's pure and inexperienced. Back when Sage Two was a kid, he was still Sage Two."

Going back to Obito Uchiha's childhood, his IQ test score was only 2. But that number couldn't measure his potential or his determination.

Behind the Akatsuki's grand scheme was the strategic support of Black Zetsu, a millennia-old schemer who had kept himself hidden. There were also the many brilliant strategies Madara Uchiha had left behind: how to control the Nine-Tails, how to create a Limited Tsukuyomi world, and how to sway people with ease. All of these became important weapons Obito could use to change the world.

As for why Madara Uchiha had made Obito into Sage Two, it was because, according to the Eye of the Moon Plan, he was the best candidate: a potential choice with the strongest bonds in Konoha.

In this unique world, Obito's tangled feelings for Rin and his fixation on her were no different from those in reality—in fact, they were even more profound and complicated.

Hidan watched the two unfamiliar faces before him with great interest: Gojo Rin and Gojo Satoru, the two unexpected new members of the Jashin Cult. Smiling broadly, he teased Hanabi, "Hanabi, you're getting better and better at recruiting people. Are these two fresh faces joining the Jashin Cult too? The cult's grown so quickly in such a short time. Just like you—well-connected and clever!"

Hidan's eyes gleamed with delight and surprise. But it wasn't the impressive figures of Rin and Satoru that amazed him. What truly delighted him was the Jashin Cult's ever-growing ranks.

Beaming, he suggested in his usual exaggerated, joking manner, "Ahem. You two newcomers, as a welcome gift, I've decided to give you a special ceremony. How about I stab you through the heart? Ha ha! I guarantee you'll love the unique sensation!"

Hanabi, standing nearby, couldn't help interrupting him. "Big Brother Hidan, they're not as 'tough-skinned' as I am. They won't survive having their hearts pierced. It took so much effort to find new recruits. If they die just like that, I'll have to look for replacements, and that would be such a hassle."

Hanabi covered her mouth and gave a light cough, then waved a hand and replied as if it were no big deal, "Big Brother Hidan, if they really get stabbed to death, I won't have time to find recruits for you next time. You'll have to figure it out yourself. Have you seen the villagers' spirit? They're basically all ordinary people. Are you going to choose them?"

There was a hint of teasing in her voice. Clearly, she didn't approve of Hidan's extreme way of welcoming new members.

Hidan wasn't about to give up, though. He scratched his head and suddenly changed his tune. "All right, all right. If I can't stab you through the heart, we'll do it another way. You can each stab yourselves in the chest instead. That'll show your devotion to Lord Jashin without getting anyone killed. Best of both worlds, right? It's our Jashin Cult's unique way of offering sacrifices to Lord Jashin."

"..."

Faced with Hidan's string of outrageous demands, Gojo Rin and Gojo Satoru could only stare at him in silence.

Both wore helpless, bemused expressions. They couldn't help wondering: could this guy think about anything besides Lord Jashin?

"Hey, Hidan, you've got to understand what the biggest problem facing our Jashin Cult is right now, right?" Hanabi said, casually tossing the megaphone in her hand aside. She put her hands on her hips, grinning proudly. "We don't have enough members. That's the key. That's why I decided to infiltrate the Akatsuki and bring them down from the inside, then deal with them afterward. That way, we weaken our enemies and turn the Akatsuki members who've lost their support into Jashin Cult followers. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone? Am I right, Hanabi?"

Hidan's eyes blazed with fervor. He thumped his chest and agreed, "Hey, that's our Hanabi for you! Your brain spins faster than a windmill! In that case, why don't we take care of those annoying little nuisances over there before dealing with the Akatsuki, then offer their life force to Lord Jashin? That'll show our loyalty to Lord Jashin and strengthen the Jashin Cult. What do you say?"

Hanabi's smile faded slightly. She shook her head and deliberately put on a serious expression. "Oh, Comrade Hidan, I appreciate your enthusiasm and how ready you are to act, but we can't spend all day fighting and killing, especially when it comes to innocent civilians. Think about it: if we leave blood everywhere and bodies strewn across the ground, do you really think Lord Jashin would be happy to see that? We're here to guide and convert people, not slaughter them indiscriminately."

Hidan was taken aback. He clearly hadn't expected Hanabi to feel that way. He scratched his head, then soon broke into a cheeky grin again. "Aha, you've got a point, Hanabi. Then we'll keep the fighting to the Akatsuki and try to get them to willingly become Lord Jashin's followers. That way, we'll increase our numbers and avoid unnecessary casualties. It's the perfect plan! Looks like I'll have to learn to use my head if I'm going to follow you."

Hanabi nodded in satisfaction. "That's more like it, Hidan. Remember, the Jashin Cult's mission isn't just about pursuing power. We also need balance and wisdom. Let's work together and make Lord Jashin's great vision a reality, step by step!"

They smiled at each other and continued plotting how to grow the Jashin Cult's influence cleverly and efficiently.

About a hundred or two hundred meters away, Konan, Kakuzu, Itachi, and the other core Akatsuki members clearly caught Hanabi and Hidan's conversation. Although they were some distance away, Hidan's excited voice and Hanabi's lighthearted replies stood out in the quiet surroundings. Their plans rang in the Akatsuki members' ears like a thunderclap: they intended to bring down the Akatsuki and expand the Jashin Cult, and their ambition was plain to see.

Kakuzu's expression turned grave. A wary glint passed through his deep-set eyes as he turned slightly toward Konan and asked in a low voice, "Looks like this Uchiha girl came here specifically to cause trouble for us. Konan, a fight seems inevitable, doesn't it?"

His words carried the grim resolve of someone who had endured countless battles.

Itachi followed up, calmly assessing the situation. "Konan, the problem is that Hidan and Hanabi have already reached some kind of understanding. Look—he's already getting ready to activate that immortal transformation of his."

As he spoke, Itachi pointed toward Hidan, who was preparing some strange ritual in the distance. His gaze was sharp, fixed on Hidan and the others.

While Konan was still considering how to respond, the commotion around Hidan grew more intense.

Muttering to himself, he seemed to be performing some kind of ritual. He even began trying to use some of Kakuzu's blood in a sacrifice. Kakuzu was clearly shocked. "That lunatic got my blood, and now he's planning to use it to kill me! Konan, Itachi, be careful. That newcomer is dangerous too."

Kakuzu's words echoed through the air, warning his companions that the danger before them was no joke. Both Hanabi and Hidan were clearly setting the stage for a battle that could decide life or death. None of the Akatsuki members dared let their guard down. They knew that even the slightest mistake could lead to irreversible consequences.

As Hidan's voice faded, a cold, eerie atmosphere instantly fell over the entire area.

He smiled at Hanabi. His slightly crazed face glimmered with a firm, unwavering light, as if he were performing a sacred ritual.

"Watch closely, Hanabi. It's time to witness a miracle."

Before he'd even finished speaking, Hidan didn't hesitate to drive the sharp weapon in his hand straight toward his own heart.

A dull impact rang out. Everyone watching gaped in shock, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Hidan's movements were quick and clean, without a trace of hesitation or pain, as though the heart wasn't even part of his body.

Blood gushed out and stained the ground red. But, astonishingly, Hidan didn't fall. Instead, an eerie blue light began to glow around the wound—the Jashin Cult's unique mystical power.

At the same time Hidan carried out his self-sacrifice, Itachi, who had been calmly watching the situation, reacted at once.

He knew Hidan was immortal and that an injury of this magnitude meant nothing to him. It might even bring out greater power. So Itachi decisively summoned the chakra within him and activated the first stage of Susanoo. A huge, translucent warrior gradually appeared behind him, majestic and imposing, radiating an overwhelming presence.

The villagers who witnessed this scene were already fleeing in every direction, terrified of being caught up in this extraordinary battle. Their running figures left blurred silhouettes in the setting sun. Their panicked footsteps and screams mingled, painting a bleak, all-too-real picture beyond the battlefield.

The other Akatsuki members were on high alert too, especially Kakuzu. He knew what Hidan could do. He watched Hidan's transformation while staying wary of Hanabi and any other potential threats who might attack at any moment.

Faced with Hidan swinging his weapon and stabbing toward his own heart once more, Kakuzu's face turned ashen. He shouted in outrage and exasperation, "That bastard's trying to stab me to death again!"

His eyes were full of annoyance at Hidan's erratic behavior and self-mockery at his own wretched luck.

After all, in the current group, Kakuzu was the man with five hearts and should have been the toughest to kill. Yet he still had to put up with his teammate threatening his life every now and then.

Even so, Kakuzu didn't let himself get caught off guard. He knew that in the chaos of battle, only a swift counterattack could keep him safe.

Almost as soon as he cursed Hidan, he darted forward and seized an innocent villager who had the misfortune of being nearby.

The villager's terrified eyes widened. Before he could recover from the sudden horror, Kakuzu used his Secret Technique: Heart Extraction.

Kakuzu's hand instantly became an invisible claw. It pierced the villager's chest with unerring accuracy and seized his still-beating heart.

In an instant, the villager's once-vibrant life force ebbed away like the tide. The light in his eyes quickly faded, and his body slumped limply to the ground, lifeless.

After extracting the heart, Kakuzu's expression returned to normal, as if his fury just moments ago had been no more than a brief emotional outburst.

He quickly composed himself, ready to deal with Hidan's next attack. But Hidan, the fanatical immortal, didn't seem at all deterred by Kakuzu's actions. He continued with his twisted ritual, driving his spear into his own heart again without hesitation.

In that instant, Hidan's body suffered a fatal wound. But instead of falling like an ordinary person, he stood back up, whole and unharmed, as a strange force rippled around him.

And Kakuzu once again found himself being "killed" by Hidan. For him, though, it had become an everyday occurrence.

Every blow that seemed to end a life was merely another strange interaction between him and Hidan, a pair unlike any other.

Amid the chaos and tension, Kakuzu glanced at Konan and Itachi beside him. A bitter smile of exasperation and anger crossed his face as he asked heavily, "Konan, Itachi, given all this, should we still insist on inviting him to join the Akatsuki?"

His words clearly expressed his doubts and dissatisfaction with the situation, as well as his deep concern over Hidan's wildly unstable personality.

As he spoke, Kakuzu flipped his wrist and, with his unique Secret Technique: Heart Extraction, swiftly grabbed two villagers who happened to be nearby.

He expertly pulled their hearts from their chests. They were ordinary hearts, devoid of chakra, but to Kakuzu they were necessary for keeping himself alive—for now.

Back in the day, Kakuzu had dared to challenge the First alone and had launched an assassination attempt from eight hundred meters away. His fame had once shaken the entire Ninja World. In those days, he had taken the hearts of powerful shinobi, each with a different chakra nature.

Now, the years had passed, and his former glory had faded. Under the pressure of Hidan's repeated suicidal sacrifices, he had fallen so low that he was forced to take life energy from ordinary villagers.

Hearing Kakuzu's question, Konan and Itachi exchanged a glance. They knew how much trouble Hidan caused, but they had to admit that his immortality and fanatical faith in the Jashin Cult made him irreplaceable on certain missions. Faced with Kakuzu's question, they fell silent for a moment, weighing whether they should continue accepting this uncontrollable partner.

"Uh, then why don't we just use force to settle this?" the Mysterious Masked Man said.