Of everyone in the Akatsuki, the one who annoyed Kawasaki the most was Hidan. It wasn't because he was a fool. It was because every other member had joined for their own reasons. Hidan was the only one who had joined purely to please his so-called Jashin, proselytizing endlessly in a vain attempt to recruit more followers.
Although there was only one immortal Hidan for now, there was no guarantee a second wouldn't appear in the future. A heretical cult devoted to pure slaughter had to be eradicated at its root.
Initially, Kawasaki had considered bringing Hidan's head back to Orochimaru for research, but he found the idea too disgusting. It was better to just dig a hole and bury him. Out of sight, out of mind.
Kawasaki's eyes shifted, his ordinary Sharingan transforming into the Mangekyo Sharingan as he instantly summoned a colossal Susanoo. Yaoyue stared up in awe at the divine warrior towering dozens of meters high. This was the might of Lord Kawasaki.
Not far away, Shisui Uchiha and his team looked up and saw the immense Susanoo rising from the forest. "It's Senior Kawasaki! Let's go!" Shisui's face lit up with excitement. He hadn't seen his senior in years and never expected to meet him here.
Kisame Hoshigaki and his group also saw the Susanoo appear and began moving toward its location.
BOOM!
With a tremendous crash, Kawasaki's Susanoo slammed its fist downward. Hidan's head, along with the ground beneath it, was smashed into a deep crater. Kawasaki looked down into the pit, where only a bloody pulp remained, silent and still. He was genuinely curious. Now that Hidan had been turned into a paste, could he still resurrect?
The Susanoo withdrew its arm, swinging it left and right to shovel dirt over the remains, burying the paste deep within the earth. BOOM! Using the same method, Kawasaki smashed Hidan's body into a meat paste, dug another pit, and buried it as well.
Yaoyue watched from the side, utterly stunned. Lord Kawasaki was truly ruthless.
With a series of whooshes, Shisui's team arrived first, followed closely by Kisame's group. Seeing that both parts of Hidan's body had been dealt with, Kawasaki dispelled his Susanoo. When Shisui saw Kisame and the others, he tensed. After all, Kisame and Kyoko Kurita were dressed in the attire of Hidden Mist ninja.
However, Kawasaki quickly landed in front of him. "Relax," he said. "They're on our side."
His words put Shisui and the others at ease. "Why are you out here on a mission personally? Is your issue resolved?" Kawasaki asked.
Shisui nodded. "Lord Orochimaru has already prepared a stabilizing agent for us. We'll be fine as long as we use it in moderation."
Kawasaki nodded, saying no more. He would get the full story from Orochimaru later. He gave a simple introduction of everyone's names but offered no further details. Even so, the name Shisui Uchiha was legendary in the Hidden Mist. Kisame's shark-like eyes occasionally darted toward Shisui.
Kawasaki saw this and smiled inwardly. Ever since Kisame had acquired Samehada, his power had been growing daily. But their journey had been rushed, and despite encountering endless bands of small-time bandits, he'd had almost no chance to fight. Now, seeing Shisui Uchiha, his hands were naturally itching for a challenge.
"Complete the mission first. We return to the Sound Village immediately after," Kawasaki said, ignoring Kisame's eagerness.
Shisui reported that they had destroyed three bases belonging to the Cult of Jashin. Some of the cultists had undergone physical modifications, granting them immense strength and an inability to feel pain. While this had caused some initial trouble, they hadn't mounted any real resistance. They had also determined that the cult's main headquarters was located in a cave to the northwest.
It seemed Hidan was the only successful experiment; the others couldn't curse people to death as he could. To save time, Kawasaki briefed them as they traveled.
"The Cult of Jashin has a curse technique. If they get your blood, they can use it to kill you, so do not get injured under any circumstances."
"If you see someone drawing a ritual circle at their feet, you must either destroy the circle or move them out of it."
"There may be other immortals. Even if their limbs are severed, they might still be able to move."
The Uchiha listened with grave expressions. The splinter groups they had wiped out had only undergone simple physical modifications. They never imagined the cult had such dangerous abilities. Ninja were glass cannons—strong on offense but weak on defense. One careless mistake could lead to disaster. Kawasaki's information was crucial.
They soon arrived at the mouth of the cave, where two guards stood watch. Shisui leaped down, and with a sharp glance, both guards collapsed to the ground. The group then entered one by one.
Kawasaki looked up at the eager Kisame. "You go lend a hand too, Kisame."
Kisame grinned. "As you wish, boss." He followed Shisui's team into the cave.
"Wait for us here. This will be over quickly," Kawasaki told the others. Haku and Kyoko had no interest in fighting, and Kimimaro was under a combat ban, so they remained outside. Kawasaki, curious to see Kisame's current level, followed slowly into the cave.
...
Land of Hot Water, Jashin Cult Cave.
The cave was dimly lit by a few torches. But under Kawasaki's penetrative gaze, everything was perfectly clear. He walked forward at a leisurely pace, passing the sprawled bodies of Jashin cultists. They were easy to identify by their rather avant-garde fashion sense. Hidan wore a puffer jacket over jeans and combat boots, and his followers had clearly followed his lead, sporting high-top boots, tight pants, and loose-fitting shirts. They were adorned with metal accessories, each with a unique flair, making Kawasaki feel as if he had stepped into a fashion show.
Their skills, however, were sorely lacking. There were few signs of a fierce battle along the path, only bodies lying motionless on the ground. Those with sword wounds were likely the work of the Uchiha; those mangled into a bloody mess were undoubtedly Samehada's doing. He could faintly see black or silver traces of modification on some of the bodies.
The tunnel was short, and the sounds of battle grew louder up ahead. Kawasaki stepped into a large, open cavern with a high platform at the far end. The platform was stained a dark brown with dried blood, and severed limbs were scattered everywhere. Kawasaki's brow furrowed. This must have been their gathering place or a sacrificial altar to Jashin.
In the center of the cavern, Shisui was already using his signature Body Flicker Technique, his afterimages swarming the cultists and forcing them into a steady retreat. The cultists fought like madmen, screaming "Long live Lord Jashin!" even as they were cut down. Some would charge forward and grab an Uchiha, allowing their allies' blades to pierce through their own bodies in a desperate attempt to land a blow.
Fortunately, Shisui was a master of teleportation, and the enemy was weak. These crude, self-sacrificing tactics were useless against him; they were only ever grabbing his clones.
Meanwhile, Kisame had unwrapped Samehada and unleashed its unique attack. The hilt of the great sword extended, moving like a coiling iron chain as he swung it like a flail. A direct hit was fatal, and even a glancing blow was enough to knock an enemy down. High-level ninja were rare in a place like the Land of Hot Water, and this so-called Cult of Jashin was filled with nothing but cannon fodder.
After Shisui and Kisame cleared out the small fry, only four slightly more skilled cultists remained. The one in the middle, apparently their leader, roared, "You blasphemers! Lord Jashin will not forgive you!"
Kawasaki stepped forward. "Oh? We'll stand right here and see what your Jashin can do to us."
The leader was at a loss for words. Most of the intruders were from the Uchiha clan. The followers he had recruited were completely outmatched, and to make matters worse, his most perfect creation, Hidan, was away.
"Just you wait! When Hidan gets back, he'll slaughter all of you!"
Yaoyue replied, "It's useless. Give up. Hidan has already fallen to Lord Kawasaki."
"What!?" the leader shrieked. "Impossible! I don't believe it!"
Seeing his enemies closing in, he commanded the men beside him, "The time has come to offer your lives to Lord Jashin!"
As if possessed, his followers began to chant, "For Lord Jashin!" They leaped onto the platform, drew their blades, and slit their own throats. Not yet dead, some even twisted the blades deeper. In an instant, blood gushed forth like fountains.
The leader stood high on the platform, screaming, "Lord Jashin, these are the offerings of your most devout followers!"
The crimson blood on the ground seemed to come alive, glowing with an eerie light. "Hahahaha..." The leader laughed maniacally. Once the ritual was complete, he would possess an undying body. Then, whether he was beheaded or his heart was gouged out, he would be immortal.
Kawasaki's brow tightened. He leaped into the air and looked down, seeing the blood on the ground flowing along specific grooves to form a triangle inscribed within a circle. It was the same symbol Hidan had drawn. A power seemed to transcend the void, coalescing on the leader.
"Hmph," Kawasaki snorted. "Kisame! Wash all this blood away!"
Kisame's lips curled into a wide grin. "Leave it to me, boss!" He slung Samehada onto his back and quickly formed hand seals. "Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
A monstrous wave of water erupted from Kisame's mouth. With a deafening roar, it was as if a dam had burst, and a cataclysmic flood swept through the cavern. The rushing water instantly cleansed the grooves on the floor. Not only was the blood washed away, but the bodies of all the cultists were flushed out into the tunnel.
The Uchiha were all stunned by the sheer power of the water jutsu. They leaped upward, landing on the rising water's surface. The situation, however, quickly turned awkward. Kisame had spewed out the water too fast, and the tunnel, now clogged with bodies, offered no drainage. The water level in the cavern rose at an alarming rate.
Kawasaki sighed in exasperation. Kisame clearly hadn't fought in a long time and was getting carried away. The water wasn't enough to drown them, but it was certainly making a mess of things.
"Susanoo!"
Kawasaki's eyes swirled into his Mangekyo pattern as he summoned the giant avatar once more. With a tremendous crash, it smashed through the mountainside.
...
Outside, Kyoko Kurita heard the sound of a surging tide and knew it had to be Kisame. Only his water jutsu was that powerful. But they were inside a mountain, weren't they? Confused, she instinctively tightened her grip on Haku's clothes.
CRASH!
The side of the mountain suddenly exploded outward, and a massive torrent of water shot from the newly formed opening. Kyoko leaped into the air, landing lightly on the surface of the rushing water and pulling Haku up with her. Kimimaro, with his superior agility, jumped onto a large, nearby tree.
A colossal Susanoo emerged from the breach. It was followed by several Uchiha, with Shisui carrying an unconscious man. Kisame, soaked to the bone, leaped out last, Samehada in hand.
He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, boss. I forgot the space was a little tight." Though his words were an apology, his tone held no remorse.
Kawasaki didn't mind. He knew Kisame wasn't one for subtleties, and besides, he hadn't fully considered the consequences either. The flood came as quickly as it went. Soon, the water calmed, and everyone stood on its surface.
Kawasaki turned to the Uchiha and scolded them. "You saw him gathering power for a big technique and you didn't interrupt him. What were you all doing?"
Shisui rubbed his nose. "Senior Kawasaki, don't be angry. I was the one who stopped them from intervening."
Kawasaki snorted. That was just like Shisui, always overthinking things and often missing the perfect opportunity to act.
Shisui awkwardly changed the subject. "Senior Kawasaki, what should we do with this guy?" He tossed the cult leader onto the muddy ground. The man choked on a few mouthfuls of water before scrambling to a sitting position, where he immediately began raving. "You interrupted the ritual of Lord Jashin! You will all be cursed!"
At a nod from Kawasaki, Shisui's sword flashed, severing the man's head from his body. Miraculously, just like Hidan, the man did not die.
"Hahaha, I am immortal! Jashin protects me! I succeeded! I have an undying body!" the head cackled.
Kawasaki looked at the cult leader, who had clearly lost his mind. He had no interest in discovering the secret to this immortality. He manifested his Susanoo and swung a heavy fist.
BOOM! Muddy water splattered everywhere. If the others hadn't dodged in time, they would have been soaked. The still-babbling head was smashed into a pulp, leaving another deep crater in the ground. Frowning, Kawasaki delivered another punch, reducing the man's body to paste as well. Then, with a sweep of its arms, the Susanoo filled in both pits.
Kawasaki dispelled his avatar and ordered, "Shisui, go back inside and destroy the floor of that cavern. Leave no trace of it."
Shisui accepted the command and departed. The surrounding Uchiha watched with eyes full of longing for the power of the Susanoo.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
After a series of explosions, Shisui leaped out of the cave. "Senior Kawasaki, the floor has been completely destroyed."
Kawasaki clapped his hands together. "Alright, mission complete. Let's head back."
...
Konoha, Hyuga Clan Compound, Council Chamber.
The Main House Head, Hiashi, and the Branch House Head, Hizashi, sat with the clan elders in a circle. The Fourth Elder, Kaito, knelt before them, his expression calm. No one spoke, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled the room.
The First Elder finally broke the silence. "I believe the Uchiha's withdrawal from the Military Police Force is a good thing. The Hyuga clan now has complete control."
SLAP!
In a rare display of anger, Hiashi Hyuga slammed his hand on the table. "First Elder! I was against this from the very beginning. The Police Force is already filled almost exclusively with Hyuga. Our influence is great enough!"
"With the Uchiha there, we had a buffer. When we encountered situations we couldn't handle ourselves, we could ask them for help, and the problem would be solved. Now they've all left! What good are the positions you gained from Root?"
The Uchiha clan's power had grown exponentially, making them the strongest clan in the ninja world. In the past, if the Hyuga in the Police Force encountered a difficult case with powerful figures involved, they could leverage their good relationship with the Uchiha to ask for their assistance, and the issue would be resolved in an instant. But now that was impossible. The Uchiha had walked away and shut up shop.
The First Elder looked at the furious Hiashi, feeling a bitter regret. It was true. The Hyuga and Uchiha used to have a strong relationship. They would assist each other in the Police Force or team up on difficult missions, drastically increasing their success rate. It was all his fault for being greedy, for being tempted by Danzo's promise of an Honorary Elder position. He'd thought that shuffling a few positions around was no big deal.
But the Uchiha's reaction had been severe. The moment Root members showed up, they quit. The villagers were even complaining. When the First Elder realized his mistake, he had repeatedly gone to the Third Hokage to demand that the promise be honored, only for the Third to claim it was Danzo's private deal and held no weight. In the end, he didn't get the Honorary Elder title, only the empty slots Root had left behind.
The Hyuga could have cut their losses then, but unexpectedly, Danzo had approached the Fourth Elder, Kaito.
Kaito was a rare individual who genuinely had the clan's best interests at heart. He cared little for the distinction between the Main and Branch Houses, promoting young talent based on merit alone. Though he was disabled, he burned brightly for the Hyuga clan. No one could have predicted his actions, even though the First Elder had been the one to start it all.
Elder Kaito spoke up. "Clan Head, I acted alone in this matter. The First Elder was not involved." He then produced a scroll and handed it to Hiashi.
Hiashi took it, confused. He unrolled it and found it was an appointment letter for the position of Honorary Elder. The name section was blank.
"You didn't use the appointment for yourself?"
"An Honorary Elder position is of no use to me. The Clan Head can appoint someone more suitable."
Hiashi was surprised. He knew about the deal between Kaito and Danzo but never expected him to surrender the letter. The other elders looked at Kaito with newfound respect upon hearing this.
Hiashi set the letter down. "Explain." For many years, Kaito had served the clan diligently. There had to be a reason for his actions.
Kaito nodded and took out a report given to him by Danzo detailing the Uchiha clan's financial earnings. He had prepared several copies, which he distributed to all the elders. As they read through the astonishing figures, their expressions shifted from surprise to avarice.
Once everyone had grasped the situation, Kaito finally explained. "A younger member of our clan who is on good terms with the Uchiha told me something. The Uchiha no longer need to take on missions for money. The clan provides them with a regular stipend. Their only reason for accepting missions from Konoha was to hone their skills. They never relied on it for income."