Naruto: Fire-Release system

Chapter 18: "Brother, would you like to join the Cult of the Evil God?"

On the road to the Land of Hot Water.

A lone traveler, wearing a straw hat and carrying a bundle, walked alone.

Suddenly, a man with slicked-back hair, wielding a large, red, three-section scythe, blocked his path.

"Brother, would you like to join the Cult of the Evil God?"

The man with the slicked-back hair asked the traveler in a calm tone.

But faced with such a bizarre question, the traveler was confused, thinking he had encountered a crazy person. He tried to ignore him and walked around to avoid him.

However, just as he sidestepped, a sharp sound cut through the air from behind, and he felt a sharp pain in his waist.

Looking down, he realized he had been slashed.

Damn it, a lunatic!

There was no doubt in his mind that this was the work of that crazy man!

"Ah!"

"Bastard, what the hell do you want!?"

Fear and confusion filled the traveler's mind, but his question was met with the man's maniacal laughter. He licked the blood on his scythe, a satisfied expression on his face.

Terrified, the traveler dropped his bundle, clutched his wound, and began to run away.

"Anyone who refuses to join the Cult of the Evil God..."

"...is destined to face the punishment of the Evil God!"

The man with the slicked-back hair spoke to himself, indifferent to the traveler's actions, as he used the blood to draw a circle on the ground, placing an equilateral triangle symbol within it.

More chillingly, the man's entire body was covered with black and white markings, giving him an eerie and terrifying appearance.

Standing inside the red circle, he held a sharp weapon pointed at his heart, watching calmly as the traveler ran for his life.

With a sickening sound, the sharp weapon pierced his chest, its sound clear and distinct in the quiet road.

Surprisingly, the man with the slicked-back hair drove the weapon straight into his heart.

Was he committing suicide?

No!

Despite piercing his heart, he showed no signs of life fading away. He stood there as if nothing happened, with that same crazed smile, completely unbothered by the insanity of his actions.

"How...is this possible?"

Meanwhile, the traveler, who thought he was safe, suddenly stumbled as pain stabbed at his chest, and blood poured out like a fountain.

Soon, his vision grew dark and blurred, and his body grew cold.

With a look of confusion, he died.

"Tch! Another heretic who won't believe in the Evil God!"

After finishing his ritual, the man with the slicked-back hair removed the weapon from his chest, annoyed that he couldn't recruit someone into the Cult of the Evil God.

Before leaving, he made sure to nail the corpse to a tree on the side of the road.

Not long after, three figures arrived at the scene, stopping beneath the corpse.

"No motive for money, nor revenge!"

"He simply killed because he felt like it!"

"It looks like the person we're trying to recruit is a complete lunatic."

Staring at the corpse with open, lifeless eyes, Kakuzu couldn't help but comment.

"From the blood patterns, it looks like the work of Hidan, the Evil God follower!"

"The blood hasn't even dried; he must still be nearby!"

"Let's split up and find him."

Unmoved, Konan coldly analyzed the situation and began searching in one direction.

Then, Kakuzu and Uchiha Yi went off in their chosen directions to track him.

Once separated from his teammates, Uchiha Yi wandered slowly, not particularly enthusiastic about the task of finding Hidan, letting fate decide.

Joining the Akatsuki organization was a last resort, a means to have a place to stay after the fall of the Uchiha clan, and he hoped to leverage Akatsuki's strength to complete his revenge and awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.

But how to go about his revenge, he still wasn't sure.

Though Konoha seemed weak, like a flower ready to wilt, easy to crush, he knew it wasn't as simple as it seemed.

Even if Uchiha Madara were resurrected at full power, he wouldn't be able to simply overthrow Konoha.

So Uchiha Yi wouldn't let a bit of power make him arrogant and invincible, as that would surely end in defeat.

How should he carry out his revenge?

"Help me!"

"Is anyone there? Please save me!"

While deep in thought, Uchiha Yi's attention was drawn by a distant cry for help from a girl.

Soon, he saw a slender young woman, leaning helplessly against a tree, her leg bearing what looked like a beast's claw mark.

"Hey, handsome brother over there, could you help me? I really want to know what it feels like to...go to the bathroom?"

What kind of twisted question is that?!

In that moment, Uchiha Yi felt a shiver run through him.

Those familiar, unsettling words reminded him immediately of White Zetsu.

How could it be so coincidental that he would appear here?

Did that mean Tobi was nearby?

That haunting guy!

His thoughts barely lasted a second before his expression turned cold.

With a move, he cast Amaterasu without a hand sign, targeting White Zetsu in disguise as the girl.

"Ouch! Handsome brother, why did you suddenly set me on fire?"

The clueless White Zetsu, still unaware of the problem, asked in confusion.

"Idiot!"

Only an idiot like White Zetsu could botch something like this so badly.

Hidden in the shadows, Uchiha Obito couldn't take it anymore and revealed himself in a space-time ripple.

"Ah, Yi, what's with the attitude? I'm just helping an elderly lady cross the road, then got lost!"

"And happened to see you here, Yi. I was just about to ask for directions!"

With an embarrassed look, Tobi, who wore a mask, scratched his head.

"Heh."

Watching Tobi lie through his teeth, Uchiha Yi sneered.

For now, he couldn't do anything to Tobi with his Kamui intangibility, but Tobi, who didn't fully understand his abilities, was also unable to harm him.

Since that was the case, he decided to mess with Tobi, so he wouldn't keep stalking him.

Uchiha Yi quickly thought of an idea.

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