The First Mission

A short while later...

Hidan walked out of the room, his fists clenched and his teeth gritted!

"Bastard, bastard, bastard!"

"It was just a lousy 'Divine Punishment.' The great Hidan didn't need anyone sticking their nose into his business."

"Damn it!"

Meanwhile, as Hidan headed back, seething with resentment, a smile suddenly appeared on Shinji's lowered face.

Because just moments ago, the system notification had sounded.

His Bond Points with Hidan had shot up by 80!

Adding the 20 points he had earned from the hot spring mission, he had met his previous monthly quota in just ten days or so.

Clearly, he was getting better and better at handling Hidan.

Getting eighteen bloody holes stabbed into him in front of all those people hadn't been for nothing!

And before Hidan arrived, he had died once, earning a "low death spectacle rating," which gave his chakra, willpower, and physical conditioning another small boost.

He couldn't help complaining. What exactly counted as a spectacular death?!

Did my head have to explode into multicolored fireworks, or did my death need to mean something?

I seriously don't get it!

The "Divine Punishment," which no one had ever survived, had finally been overcome. Akagi Shinji became the first person to undergo it and live.

Of course, that wasn't particularly surprising. It was only a dozen or so stab wounds and some blood loss, after all. Immortality wasn't that pathetic.

So most people thought little of it, and the Jashin Cult's internal activities returned to normal.

Over the following days, Hidan stopped coming to make trouble for Shinji. Instead, in a very un-Hidan-like turn, he began honing his taijutsu.

Clearly, he hadn't given up. He was preparing to settle the score with Shinji after growing stronger!

Cult Leader Takihata and the others were naturally delighted by this change in Hidan.

They had already begun considering whether to separate Hidan and Akagi Shinji completely for their training, only to receive this unexpected pleasant surprise. Truly, Lord Jashin had blessed them!

Immediately, large amounts of resources began flowing toward Hidan and Shinji.

After all, Cult Leader Takihata understood perfectly well that, despite the rapid growth of the Jashin Cult he had founded, they could only bully small nations at best.

If the Five Great Nations got serious, they could crush the cult with a mere twitch of a finger!

That was also why he had chosen to keep to one corner of the world and never dared provoke the Five Great Nations.

But now, the appearance of Hidan and Shinji had given him renewed hope!

A pair possessing immortality, combined with the two powerful jujutsu, [Death Controlling Possessed Blood] and [Blood Manipulation]-once they matured, they would certainly be no weaker than any Kage-Level Strongman!

Only with a Kage-Level Strongman backing them could the Jashin Cult truly grow powerful and become a force the Shinobi World couldn't ignore!

It had to be said that Cult Leader Takihata had great ambitions and had planned things out well.

But plans might never keep pace with change.

"Shinji, how long have you been here?"

Having cooperated with yet another blood draw for experimental material, Shinji paused at the question, then thought for a moment. "About... three months, I think."

Cult Leader Takihata, who already knew the answer, nodded lightly. "Since it's already been three months since you joined us, hmm... I have a mission for you now."

Shinji was surprised at first, then forced himself to calm down.

Did he really trust me now, or was this a test?

But on second thought, he suddenly realized it didn't matter.

After all, he wasn't ready to jump ship from the little dinghy that was the Jashin Cult yet.

Even if he did leave, he would only run after squeezing every last bit of value out of it. So whether the man had begun to trust him or was using this opportunity to test him, he had nothing to fear. He only needed to be himself.

With that in mind, Shinji immediately said, "I await your orders, Lord Takihata. I am willing to offer everything to Lord Jashin, including my life!"

Seemingly pleased with Shinji's declaration of loyalty, Cult Leader Takihata's smile grew even warmer.

"You and Hidan are the future of our Jashin Cult. Even greater burdens will rest on your shoulders in the future, so don't be so quick to think of going to serve Lord Jashin. The other believers and I have long awaited that day. It's not your turn yet."

"Yes, Lord Takihata. I spoke out of turn."

Who the hell wants to go serve some Evil God?!

You can have that honor. Hurry up and take those believers along to meet him!

Shinji looked respectful on the surface, but inwardly, he was furiously snarking.

After giving Shinji's shoulder a light pat, Cult Leader Takihata continued, "It's not a particularly difficult mission, really. A wealthy man in the Land of Waves has been secretly funding us for some time. He's run into some trouble recently and needs us to take care of it."

"We've all seen how hard you and Hidan have been training lately. But if you want to grow stronger quickly, you can't keep hiding here and training in isolation."

"Only through enough deadly battles and trials of blood can you become a strongman capable of standing on your own!"

"So I've decided to send only you and Hidan on this mission. I hope the two of you won't disappoint me."

Looking at Cult Leader Takihata's kindly smile, Shinji solemnly accepted while inwardly rolling his eyes.

Who are you trying to fool?! Like hell I'd believe you haven't made other arrangements behind the scenes!

Otherwise, how much of an idiot would you have to be to let Hidan and me go out on a mission together without worrying?

If we died out there or ran away, you wouldn't even have anywhere to cry. Hah!

Besides...

Who the hell wants to go on a mission with Hidan?!

Who wants to go on a mission with that bastard?!

Hidan, who had received the same mission from the Cult Leader, couldn't help shouting inwardly as well.

But since Takihata, as Cult Leader, had already made his decision, he certainly wouldn't change it over their personal preferences.

Besides, in Cult Leader Takihata's eyes, the conflict between Hidan and Shinji was nothing more than childishness, born of their mutual dislike.

Once they went through a few more experiences together, their relationship would improve in no time.

Take the last incident, for example. Who could have expected Shinji to plead for Hidan of his own accord, even volunteering to take his punishment?

And who could have expected Hidan, without knowing anything about that, to nearly beat a cultist to death for badmouthing Shinji behind his back, all to stand up for him?

So Cult Leader Takihata firmly believed his arrangements were correct!

Immortality wasn't impossible to counter. But if two immortals with powerful jujutsu worked as partners, one plus one would surely add up to far more than two!

And to make Shinji and Hidan true partners, they had to start fighting side by side now, cultivating that understanding and that bond!