The young man was thrown heavily to the ground. The intense pain wracked his body, forcing a scream from his lips. As he struggled to sit up, he noticed shadows surrounding him. Looking up, he saw a group of mysterious figures watching him intently. Their gazes were predatory, like hunters admiring their prize.
"Is this brat the sacrifice that meets the requirements?" one of them asked.
"Yes. It wasn't easy to catch him. Two Konoha ninjas suddenly appeared during the capture. Fortunately, their target was the ghost's father. Otherwise, things would have been even more complicated," another replied—the one responsible for bringing him here.
"That's good. With the Miko's ability to predict events, I feared we might encounter trouble, but it seems everything is under control," the first speaker said, nodding slightly. He turned to the boy and smiled—a cold, predatory grin.
The young man's face paled with fear, his expression frantic. Though he came from a family of officials, his youth and sheltered upbringing had left him weak and inexperienced. Confronted with this sudden crisis, his mind froze in terror, leaving only a hollow, blank sensation.
One of the Jashin believers, watching his panicked state, felt a tinge of boredom. Sacrifices to the Jashin were usually more entertaining in their suffering, and he had hoped for a more dramatic display. This boy's stunned silence was disappointing.
"Take him away and keep an eye on him," commanded a high-ranking cultist. "If those Konoha ninjas show up, we'll be ready for them. It's time to show the so-called great Konoha Ninja Village what we're capable of. Let's remind them of our power."
While the Jashinists discussed their plans, Kakuzu stood silently in their midst, his body wrapped in dark cloth that obscured his expression. However, behind the veil, his lips curled into a mocking smile.
"They truly don't know their place," Kakuzu thought to himself.
In all fairness, Konoha's treatment of smaller nations during the Ninja Wars had been relatively benevolent—at least in Kakuzu's eyes. The Fire Nation, as a powerful country, had not reduced the Land of Hot Water to a mere war buffer but had offered compensation and preferential treatment. While this might have been a magnanimous gesture from a position of strength, it was still far more than other nations provided.
This had led the Land of Hot Water to align itself closely with the Fire Nation, sacrificing some autonomy in exchange for survival and stability. The country cut funding to its ninja village, shifting its focus away from military strength, which allowed for a more comfortable, if dependent, existence. From Kakuzu's perspective, this was the wisest course of action.
He had seen far too many smaller nations in the Warring States Period attempt to strengthen themselves, only to become targets for larger nations and be wiped out with ease. In the current era, the Five Great Nations held dominion over most of the land, with smaller nations caught in their shadow. Any attempt to grow stronger under the watchful eyes of these powers was doomed to fail.
For Kakuzu, the Jashinists' hatred of Konoha was laughable. It stemmed not from political or military oppression but from blind religious fanaticism. Konoha's efforts to maintain peace interfered with their dark teachings, fueling their resentment.
"A group of fools marching to their own destruction," Kakuzu mused, shaking his head.
Still, Kakuzu had no intention of dying alongside them. His only reason for staying was the ninja code—credibility was essential in his profession. He couldn't simply abandon his employer mid-mission. However, if the cultists were to perish, his obligation to them would vanish, and he would walk away without a second thought.
But his thoughts shifted slightly when he considered another factor: Fumori Masaki.
Reaching up, Kakuzu touched a scar near his eye—a wound left by Masaki's blade. His fingers tightened as he recalled the searing pain. If not for his powerful grudge-fueled jutsu, that single strike could have ended his life.
"His Wind Release... superior to my own," Kakuzu admitted, grudgingly impressed. "If I could obtain his chakra pathways, I could surpass my current limits."
The thought of a rematch against Masaki stirred something within him—a desire to test his full strength against a formidable opponent.
"Hurry up, Fumori Masaki," Kakuzu whispered. "Show me the true extent of your power."
###
Meanwhile, Masaki and his team had arrived near the former site of Ninshū. The ancient ruins were overgrown with weeds, their structures long eroded by time. Only a faint shadow of the once-majestic buildings remained.
"Where are the Jashin followers?" Tsunade asked, scanning the area.
"They're hiding inside the rock walls," said Hyūga Kei, pointing toward a specific direction. "They've carved out living spaces there."
"How should we deal with them? Attack directly?" Tsunade suggested.
"No," Kei shook her head. "The enemy's tunnels are riddled with traps. Charging in recklessly would only leave us vulnerable."
"Then why not collapse the entire area with Earth Release?" Tsunade asked, turning to Sarutobi jonin.
"We can't," Masaki interjected firmly. "The Ninshū ruins must remain intact. There's crucial information within that we can't afford to destroy."
The group nodded, understanding Masaki's priorities.
"We'll stick to the original plan," Masaki continued. "I'll summon assistance to dismantle the traps discreetly."
Biting his finger, Masaki performed a series of hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A plume of smoke appeared, revealing a large slug. Its soft, ethereal voice echoed, "Masaki-sama, how can I assist you?"
Masaki quickly explained the plan. The slug nodded, "Please don't worry, leave it to us, Masaki-sama." With that, the slug's body suddenly "collapsed" and turned into thin slugs, crawling densely on the ground, toward the rock wall where the followers of the evil god stayed.
"Sensei, is this Grandpa's psychic beast?" Tsunade watched the slug go away, and said to Masaki who was pressing one of his eyes.
"Huh? Ah, that's right, why, Tsunade, do you want it too?" Masaki's attention seemed to be somewhere else, and after a while, he answered.
"Grandpa's psychic beast..." Tsunade was thinking about how to answer. Seeing Masaki's behavior was a little strange, he asked curiously "Sensei, what are you doing?"
"Don't disturb Captain Masaki, Tsunade-Hime," Kei Hyūga squatted down slightly and explained to Tsunade: "Captain Masaki is connected with the slug's vision because Captain also has the ability to perceive. Connecting with people will greatly enhance the perception ability, and it will be easier to destroy those traps."
"Does the psychic beasts look like this? The two sides can work together to increase their strength," Sakumo asked immediately about the psychic beasts he didn't know.
"Hirazo-kun, there should also be psychic beasts in your house, don't you think?" Hyūga Kei did not answer directly, but looked at Hattori Hirazo.
"I remember there was.." Hattori Heizo thought for a while and said.
"That's right, as far as I know, only Captain Masaki's slug can be connected with the power of the contractor. Although the first order also has slugs as psychic beasts, but with the strength of the first generation, there is no need for slugs to act as psychic beasts. Support, we also occasionally saw Captain use slugs, and only then did we know the role of slugs."
Tsunade let out a surprised voice. At this time, Masaki said "That's it, Tsunade, I think you can also sign a contract with slugs. For me, you can't fully use the power of slugs. There is only this. Only then can the slugs appear
####
After a period of time, most of the traps had been removed, and the rest were ones that couldn't be solved in a short time. However, they could be avoided during the mission. Masaki thanked the slug, and after it disappeared, he turned to the others and said, "Let's proceed according to the plan. Start now!"