Poaching Akatsuki's Talent

"Eat slowly. No one's going to steal it from you." Jing Hang watched the child wolfing down his food and reminded him, casually adding a chicken leg to the child's bowl.

Jing Hang did not dare underestimate the Cult of Jashin. With just one cursed technique, Jashin Ritual: Death by Blood, Hidan had killed Yugito Nii and Kaede, two jinchuriki, as well as Chiriku and Asuma Sarutobi, two first-rate experts, across multiple levels of strength.

If one did not understand its secrets, it was extremely easy to fall victim to it. The problem was that this thing could not be killed no matter what, making it truly difficult to deal with.

However, the Hot Spring Shadow had been so courteous, treating him to hot springs and meals while offering a considerable price. As the Kazekage of one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, refusing would have been beneath his dignity. So, he agreed and asked for detailed intelligence.

The Cult of Jashin did not actually have many members, only around a hundred. Fewer than ten had reached jonin level. The truly troublesome ones were the three so-called "immortals."

That was all the useful information. Jing Hang immediately devised a battle plan. The entire operation emphasized speed, leaving the enemy no time to react. Jing Hang would launch the first wave of attacks, followed by Rasa. The moment they encountered an immortal, Rasa would seal him with the Gold Dust Seal without hesitation, before he could perform any cursed ritual. Pakura and the other ninja would block the exits, ensuring that not a single person escaped.

The operation went smoothly. Aside from the three sealed by Rasa, they also rescued a child. All the other Cult of Jashin members were killed, and they seized a three-bladed scythe, a telescopic spear, and the scroll hidden in the mouth of the Jashin statue. They also found more than twenty million in cash.

That rescued child was none other than the young Hidan. Clearly, the Cult of Jashin's leader had been mass-producing "immortals." Unfortunately, the success rate was low. After killing countless people, only three had succeeded.

The leader was unwilling to let his followers be sacrificed for nothing any longer, so he began abducting children from villages. Once the experiments succeeded, they would be brainwashed and raised as followers.

After Jing Hang and Rasa swept through most of the cultists like an autumn wind scattering fallen leaves, Rasa noticed the bound child while cleaning up the battlefield. The child was still alive, merely frightened unconscious. Jing Hang pulled the dagger from the child's chest and fell into thought before saying, "Bandage him up. Take him back."

After everything was settled, Jing Hang opened the seized scroll. Four large words were written on it in blood: "Life Commanded by Blood." He was quite surprised at first glance. This so-called cursed technique seemed to have moved beyond the scope of ninjutsu, carrying something of the same meaning as the Reaper Death Seal's summoning of a god.

The first half described how one could turn a person into a "messenger of god"—in other words, an immortal—through a series of mystical religious rituals and bloody sacrifices. Of course, it also mentioned that the success rate was extremely low, barely one in a hundred. The latter half contained the method and ritual for casting the curse.

After reading the scroll, Jing Hang looked at the child still stuffing his face and sank into thought. How about poaching someone from Akatsuki?

When he had read the manga, he had felt that Hidan's combat strength had been severely nerfed. There was plenty of potential left undeveloped. Take the simplest example: if Hidan knew the Eight Gates, wouldn't he take off on the spot? He could completely ignore the technique's side effects. Even Six Paths Madara would tremble at the sight of him! If he were trained properly and kept by my side, he'd be a guaranteed lifesaver!

With that thought, Jing Hang smiled and gently poured a cup of hot tea for Hidan, who had finished eating and was belching with satisfaction. One hand lightly patted the child's back.

"Little brother, I can see that you have exceptional potential. Are you interested in learning ninjutsu from me?"

"Thank you so much for coming to our aid this time, Lord Kazekage. The Hidden Hot Spring Village will never forget such kindness."

"Ah, Lord Hot Spring Shadow, you are too polite. The Hidden Sand Village and Hidden Hot Spring Village are neighbors as well as friends. It was a small matter, not worth mentioning."

"It may have been a small matter to Lord Kazekage, but for the Hidden Hot Spring Village, it was a matter of survival. Please allow me to properly entertain you this time."

"No, no. I am deeply grateful for Lord Hot Spring Shadow's hospitality, but I must still travel to the Hidden Leaf Village to conclude an alliance. I have already delayed here for too long and cannot stay any longer."

"Oh, the alliance comes first, of course. But, Lord Kazekage, how should these three be dealt with?" The Hot Spring Shadow pointed anxiously at the three figures bound like pigs awaiting slaughter. They were the three "immortals."

"These people were originally rogue ninja of the Hidden Hot Spring Village. Naturally, Lord Hot Spring Shadow may deal with them however you wish."

"You misunderstand, Lord Kazekage..." The Hot Spring Shadow lowered his voice. "These people cannot be killed by blades or fire. They have also been brainwashed by the Cult of Jashin for years, and their evil beliefs are deeply rooted. They cannot be reformed. I truly do not know how to deal with them. I hope Lord Kazekage can enlighten me." A group of Hidden Hot Spring ninja escorted the three captives over.

"This? Easy." Jing Hang called Pakura over and whispered a few words to her.

"Magnet Release: Shield Excavation Technique!"

A massive clump of iron sand rose into the air and formed into an enormous cylindrical block of iron. It drilled fiercely into the ground, and before long, a deep pit more than thirty feet deep appeared.

Jing Hang gave Rasa a look. Rasa delivered three savage kicks to the three immortals, sending them tumbling into the pit. They writhed like insects, but with their mouths gagged, they could only make muffled whimpering noises.

"These cultists harmed children and committed every evil imaginable. They deserve this punishment! Bury them!" Jing Hang pointed at the pit and gave the order.

Naturally, there were ninja accompanying them who excelled in Earth Release. Before long, the pit had been filled in smooth and level.

"Magnet Release: Iron Lion!" "Scorch Release: Iron Smelting!"

Jing Hang condensed a huge black iron lion in midair, while Pakura controlled a Scorch Release fireball and roasted the iron lion. Before long, the lion glowed red-hot.

"Bang!" Before long, the iron sand making up the lion had melted into one solid mass, sealing the entrance to the pit.

"This iron lion weighs a thousand jin. So long as no one moves it, it does not matter if they are immortal and indestructible. They will never be able to stir up trouble!"

The Hot Spring Shadow repeatedly thanked Jing Hang and presented him with many gifts. Jing Hang accepted them all with a smile before reluctantly bidding farewell.

"What do you think of this young man?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his back to the two advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.

At this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in his prime. He stood tall and strong, his gaze deep and sharp. He puffed on his pipe, as though his mind were also working at high speed.

"A very outstanding young man." Homura Mitokado spoke briefly.

"Based on his circumstances, we placed ourselves in his position and simulated the entire situation. Every decision and judgment he made was the optimal solution for the circumstances," Koharu Utatane said.

"Oh, hehe, impressive. No wonder even Danzo fell into his hands." Hiruzen turned around and tapped his pipe.

"We unanimously believe that forming an alliance with the Hidden Sand Village would benefit us."

"Mm. Explain in detail."

"If we form an alliance with the Hidden Sand Village and withdraw our army from the Land of Rain, we can avoid fighting on both northern and southern fronts. The Hidden Leaf Village will no longer need to worry about pressure from the west. We would only need to defend against the Hidden Mist in the east and Hidden Cloud in the northeast, greatly reducing our overall defensive pressure. Furthermore, according to the latest intelligence, the Hidden Stone Village has fully entered the Land of Rain and has already had small-scale clashes with Danzo."

"Onoki is a lunatic!" Hiruzen angrily slammed his fist on the table.

"Order Torifu Akimichi and Renga Hyuga to lead reinforcements out immediately. If we do not make him hurt this time, he will never learn his lesson. As for that young man..." Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down in his office chair.

"Give him a grand welcoming ceremony!"