420 Learning Ninjutsu in a Glance

The next day.

Shinju thought that sitting around was still sitting around, so he might as well satisfy his curiosity.

So, he set off on the road to search for the hot spring that was said to let you see the departed, bringing along a half-asleep Sasuke!

On the steel imitation painting aircraft, Sasuke rubbed his eyes.

"Is it this forest? I haven't seen a single hot spring!"

Shinju said, "According to the local villagers, it's around here… But it's an urban legend. Probably just something people spread randomly. Let's head back."

Sasuke said, "But the villagers also said that flying over the forest is disrespectful…"

Shinju thought it over carefully and felt that Sasuke actually had a point, so he dispelled the steel imitation painting!

The two landed on the ground. Sasuke instantly regretted it.

"Walking?! This forest is huge—how long are we supposed to walk? (´⌒`｡)"

Shinju silently took out some drawing paper.

"Come on, ninjutsu changes lives. How could I really make you walk?"

"Super Beast Imitation Drawing · Giant Elephant!"

"Whoosh—"

A massive ink-painted elephant leapt out of the paper, materializing into a colossal beast seven or eight meters tall!

...

A few minutes later.

The ink elephant reached a fork in the road.

Just as Shinju was thinking about which way to go, a cloaked woman appeared in front of him.

"You two are here to look for the legendary hot spring, right?"

"Follow me."

So, Shinju and Sasuke followed the mysterious woman for several more kilometers along mountain paths.

The whole way, the woman walked in front, while the two of them sat on the ink elephant, chatting and enjoying the scenery along the way—extremely comfortable!

The woman probably felt that these two had no sense of courtesy, because she didn't say another word the entire way.

Soon, the mysterious woman brought them to the entrance of a cave.

After that, Shinju and Sasuke jumped down from the elephant.

Several more cloaked figures emerged from the cave and led the two of them deeper inside.

...

A few minutes later, they arrived at a relatively large open space inside the cave.

Scattered around this space were more than a dozen people—men and women, young and old alike.

When they saw Shinju and Sasuke arrive, they were overjoyed!

"Everyone's here, everyone's finally here! (•̀⌄•́)"

"Yeah! The master said the technique can only be performed once there are twenty people. We finally have enough!"

Hearing this, Shinju exchanged a glance with Sasuke beside him.

What kind of technique required gathering twenty people to perform?

...

A few minutes later, a man wearing an enormous cloak appeared.

"My name is Lyūki. I will use my ninjutsu to help you see your departed loved ones. Please, follow me…"

The man removed the massive hood of his cloak and shouted with overwhelming presence.

Seeing this, Shinju felt an intense sense of familiarity. This Lyūki gave off the same vibe as Gengo—like the head of some pyramid scheme!

Under Lyūki's lead, everyone moved deeper into the cave.

Shinju finally saw the legendary hot spring that could supposedly let people see the dead!

This hot spring didn't look much different from ordinary ones. Thick white mist floated above the surface—maybe the temperature was a bit higher than usual?

"Do you smell something strange?"

Sasuke whispered from beside him.

Shinju nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the ring worn on Lyūki's hand.

"This guy doesn't look like a good person. Let's see what he's planning to do next…"

On a raised platform beside the hot spring, Lyūki raised both hands.

"You may have heard that during the Fourth Great Ninja War, there was a technique that could revive the dead."

"Of course, that technique required living human sacrifices and was strictly banned by the ninja alliance."

"However, based on that technique, I created a new ninjutsu that allows you to see the person you wish to meet while in this hot spring."

"Next, you only need to tell me your name and the name of the person you wish to see. I will communicate with the Netherworld and let you meet!"

After that, one person after another, driven by regrets they wished to mend, stepped into the hot spring.

From within the thick mist came their excited voices as they reunited with people from their past.

On the platform, Lyūki's smile deepened.

"Next, it's this gentleman's turn."

He pointed at Sasuke beside Shinju.

Sasuke heard this and was about to stand up, but Shinju gently tugged him back…

Their eyes met, and a moment of confusion appeared in Sasuke's eyes.

About half a second later, Sasuke walked up to Lyūki and said,

"My name is Yaryū. The person I want to see is Hidan. He's my idol!"

As soon as these words came out, Lyūki's pupils trembled.

"Y-you're also a fan of Lord Hidan?! (´◊ω◊｀)"

Below the platform, Shinju grinned.

"Wood Release · Vine Bind!"

"Swish swish swish—!!"

Several thick vines burst out of the ground, binding Lyūki's body up like a dumpling!

Finally caught you!

Shinju had noticed long ago that the pattern on Lyūki's ring looked extremely familiar—very similar to the heretical cult array Hidan used to draw…

So before Sasuke stood up, Shinju used genjutsu to tell him his guess and had Sasuke test him.

He didn't expect villains these days to be this stupid!

Looking down at Lyūki from above, Shinju asked coldly,

"A remnant of an evil cult, huh? Were the people who've gone missing in the Land of Hot Water these past few days taken by you?! (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ)"

No matter how dumb Lyūki was, he knew he was finished.

"Damn it! You actually used my idol to trick me! Unforgivable! Jashin will judge you in my place! (Ծ‸ Ծ)"

Shinju said, "You believe in Jashin? Back then, I traded Hidan's head for money, and I didn't see any Jashin judge me. ╮(╯▽╰)╭"

Hearing this, Lyūki became wildly agitated.

"So you're Shinju! Shinju of Konoha Village! The murderer who killed Lord Hidan! ╰_╯"

"You won't die well!!!"

Villains who get caught usually end up hysterical like this. Shinju was long used to it. He simply placed his hand on Lyūki's head, wanting to see where all these twisted thoughts came from…

At first glance, nothing seemed off. At the second glance, it was shocking.

Lyūki had originally just been an ordinary person. Later, by sheer coincidence, he obtained books related to the cult of Jashin and began cultivating their techniques. He even used the "Dream-Fulfilling Hot Spring" as a pretense to trick people into coming here, sacrificing human blood to Jashin in an attempt to gain the power of immortality!

After reading through his memories, Shinju handed Lyūki over to the Land of Hot Water security bureau.

...

On the way back to regroup with everyone, Sasuke asked curiously,

"Could he really let people see the departed?"

Shinju shook his head.

"Nonsense. Do you remember that strange smell in the hot spring cave? That was what caused hallucinations…"

Sasuke continued,

"Then how does Jashin supposedly grant immortality? What's the principle behind it?"

"You studied medicine—do you have any ideas?"

Shinju shook his head again.

"I don't even know what kind of god Jashin actually is."

"I'll try sacrificing a Wood Clone later and see if I can get an immortal body. ( ´◔‸◔`)"

"Wait, no—Wood Clones don't bleed. They turn back into wood when damaged. I should try it with an Aoki-no-Mikoto clone instead!"

Sasuke silently gave Shinju a thumbs-up.

"Using yourself as the test subject—yeah, you're ruthless!"

...

Deep inside the cave, at Jashin cult's altar.

The ground of the altar was covered with blood channels and grooves, all of which led to a stone pillar in the center engraved with the cult's symbol.

From Lyūki's memories, Shinju knew that the ritual only required dripping blood into the channels…

Sasuke stared in shock.

"You're really going to try it?! ◝₍ᴑ̑ДO͝₎◞"

Shinju remained calm.

"Yeah. Otherwise, how would we know what Jashin really is? ┐(´-｀)┌"

Sasuke couldn't understand it.

"But this is an evil god. If you establish a connection with it and something goes wrong…"

Shinju spread his hands.

"That's exactly why we need to try communicating with it—because it's an evil god."

"Jashin cult has plagued the world for years and never been fully eradicated. If we deal with their Jashin now, wouldn't that solve the problem at its root?"

Sasuke's mouth twitched when he heard this.

(≖╻≖;)

Slaying a god?! Shinju really dares to think big!