Konohagakure.
As the largest shinobi village in the shinobi world, it already had plenty of villagers out on the streets when dawn had barely broken.
Having lived here since childhood, even the slowest among them could sense how frequently the village had been moving its personnel around lately.
The higher-ups might have concealed some things, but the traffic on the streets did not lie. It silently spoke of their movements.
But even if they knew, there was nothing they could change as civilians. They simply carried on with their lives as usual.
The villagers thought this way, and so did the Chunin squad patrolling the walls.
Kakuzu and Hidan clearly had no such thoughts. After crossing Konoha's Spherical Barrier, they appeared before the Chunin squad as dark shadows.
Two of the Chunin did not even have time to draw their weapons before collapsing in pools of blood.
Of the two remaining Chunin, one breathed out searing flames under his teammate's cover, sending a huge fireball hurtling toward Hidan.
Hidan did not dodge. He let the flames engulf him, becoming a dark silhouette within the blaze.
Then, under the Chunin captain's shocked gaze, Hidan used the Body Flicker Technique to close in, grabbed him by the collar, and asked quietly, "Excuse me, would you be interested in joining the Jashin Cult?"
"What... Jashin Cult?"
The Chunin captain looked utterly bewildered, unable to make sense of the situation.
These two missing-nin had attacked the village to spread their religion? That was absurd. And this was Konohagakure, of all places.
Without waiting for the Chunin captain to answer, Hidan snapped his neck and muttered, "This guy isn't worthy of becoming a follower of Lord Jashin."
Kakuzu, who had already finished off the other man, walked over, glanced at Hidan, and said, "This is