Chapter 323: Tracking Jashinism
The Space-Time Door opened, and Naruto led the way, his subordinates following him into it.
Next were Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten.
Then came Uchiha Sasuke's three subordinates.
...
Overseas.
A small, isolated island.
Beneath the surface, a space had been excavated. Black-robed figures gathered in a spacious hall, prostrating themselves before an altar with fervent madness.
On the altar lay a corpse. Strange patterns, drawn in blood, surrounded the body and emitted an eerie red glow under the light of phosphorescent stones embedded in the cave ceiling.
Suddenly, someone burst in from outside, shouting, "Someone has infiltrated Jashin Island!"
This announcement immediately sent the black-robed figures into a frenzy.
"Who dares trespass here?"
"Must be a passing ship. Hahaha, now Lord Evil God can claim another offering!"
"This time, I'm going to kill to my heart's content. I'm only 23 offerings away from 100!"
"I only need 10 more, then I'll achieve immortality! Hahaha, let all ninjas and alliances perish!"
...
Shouting, the black-robed figures rushed out in a mad scramble.
Meanwhile, on the island, Naruto's subordinate, Hyuga Kyoko, activated her Byakugan, scanning the not-so-large island.
"Teacher Naruto, there's activity underground!"
Hyuga Kyoko quickly discovered the hidden space beneath the island, as well as its guards.
Naruto's face lit up, saying, "This must be the enemy's stronghold."
He immediately ordered Nawaki, "Nawaki, we can't let a single one escape!"
"Don't worry, Teacher Naruto!"
Nawaki smiled confidently, then raised one hand, his eyes cast down.
Beside him, Uchiha Shii immediately activated her Sharingan, revealing a pair of Three Tomoe.
At this moment, Neji and the others also arrived.
Hyuga Kyoko then shouted, "Teacher Naruto, a large number of ninjas are emerging from underground!"
"Over 30!"
Naruto clapped his hands together, shouting, "Understood! Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten, prepare for battle!"
Just then, Uchiha Sasuke arrived and said, "Leave a few alive to take back. Lord Asuma might find them useful!"
"I'll handle that!"
Nawaki said with a smile.
"They're here!"
"It's ninjas from the Alliance!"
From a hidden cave entrance, black-robed figures emerged. Upon seeing Naruto and the others, they shouted excitedly.
"A bunch of brats!"
"Even better, maybe Lord Evil God fancies young blood!"
More and more black-robed figures emerged from different cave entrances, surrounding Naruto and his group.
Neji looked at them coldly. "So fanatical, it seems we're in the right place!"
"Shinichi, Kozan, Aoki, go!"
Uchiha Sasuke gave the order directly.
His three subordinates, like Naruto's three subordinates, had only graduated from the Academy a few years prior.
However, Shinichi and his two companions were all from commoner backgrounds and hailed from more than just Konoha.
At the command, Shinichi, Kozan, and Aoki charged out in a triangular formation.
Shinichi was in the lead. With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent out a shuriken. The shuriken rapidly multiplied in mid-air, forming a dense swarm that whistled towards the black-robed figures ahead.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
Behind him, Kozan and Aoki simultaneously formed Hand Seals.
Clink, clank, clank!
Puchi!
Ah!
Clanging metal on metal, shurikens bit into flesh, and piercing screams mingled in the air.
The frenzied black-robed figures were caught completely off guard, never expecting such power from a mere child.
Three of them fell in an instant, while the others scrambled to block or dodge the shurikens.
But just then, Shinichi moved aside, and Kozan and Aoki, who were behind him, simultaneously unleashed their ninjutsu.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
BOOM!
The combination of the two ninjutsu sent a roaring storm of flames sweeping through, engulfing seven or eight black-robed figures. Their agonizing screams pierced the sky.
"Careful, these brats aren't simple!"
"Let's go together and surround and kill them!"
The frenzied black-robed figures weren't fools either; they immediately shouted, then coordinated their attacks, their killing intent directed at Naruto and the others.
"Nawaki!"
Naruto shouted.
"Got it!"
Nawaki grinned. The next moment, the plants on the island seemed to come alive, their branches and leaves growing rapidly, entangling the black-robed figures one by one.
"It's Wood Release!"
"That kid is Sarutobi Nawaki!"
"Damn it, run!"
...
The black-robed figures cried out in terror, then turned to flee.
But now, all the trees on the island were under Nawaki's control. Dozens of black-robed figures tried to escape, only to find their paths blocked by the wildly growing vegetation.
Hyuga Kyoko and Uchiha Shii also attacked simultaneously. The former used Gentle Fist to strike pressure points on the black-robed figures ensnared by vines, while the latter used a Chakra Blade to slit their throats.
On the other side, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten were dealing with enemies behind them.
Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke did not attack immediately, each observing their subordinates fight.
Although this group of black-robed figures was frenzied and numerous, their strength was not very great.
In less than 15 minutes, the battle was over.
Except for three survivors, all the black-robed figures who had emerged from underground were eliminated by Neji and the others.
"Someone's trying to escape by boat!"
Nawaki suddenly shouted.
"Leave that to me. Sasuke, you interrogate them!"
With that, Naruto vanished from his spot.
Uchiha Sasuke, Neji, and Uchiha Shii stepped forward, beginning to extract information from the three survivors by force.
Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Shii used Sharingan genjutsu, while Neji used his Byakugan to forcibly control the black-robed figures' minds and consciousness, extracting memories.
Ten years had passed, and although Neji's Byakugan had not evolved into the Tenseigan, his pupil power had increased immensely.
He could faintly feel the sensation of opening the Space-Time Door.
...
The intelligence was quickly gathered. Uchiha Shii said, "Senior Neji, Brother Sasuke, this guy doesn't know much. Their strongholds don't seem to be connected, and they haven't seen the Evil God."
Neji listened and said, "It seems this guy isn't the leader of this stronghold either."
Uchiha Sasuke nodded. "Naruto should have some success."
In less than two minutes, Naruto returned carrying two black-robed figures, handing them over to Uchiha Sasuke and Neji for information gathering.
A moment later, Uchiha Sasuke said, "This guy is the leader of this stronghold. He trained at the Land of Bears stronghold, but he also doesn't know where the strongholds are located!"
Slap!
Naruto clapped his hands together, full of energy. "The Land of Bears isn't big, we'll definitely find them, right, Neji!"
Neji nodded.
Uchiha Sasuke said, "Let's return to the Alliance Headquarters first and hand over the prisoners."
"We need more manpower for the search, so that the enemy doesn't notice and escape in advance!"
Nawaki quickly suggested, "Teacher Naruto, why don't Sasuke and I split up?"
"I can use the Flying Thunder God Technique to bring everyone to the Land of Birds!"
Naruto was overjoyed and turned to Uchiha Sasuke. "Sasuke, let's do that. You guys take the prisoners back, and Neji and I will head to the Land of Bears first!"
Uchiha Sasuke had no objections and immediately nodded.
The group also split up.
Nawaki used the Flying Thunder God Technique to transport Naruto and the others to the Land of Birds, then rushed into the Land of Bears at top speed, beginning a carpet search.
With two pairs of Byakugan active, they couldn't escape even if they were buried underground.
Meanwhile.
At the Allied Forces headquarters, Uchiha Sasuke and his subordinates brought the captives directly to Kakashi.
"Jashinism?"
Kakashi frowned. "An evil entity that was wiped out years ago has reappeared, and they've developed so many followers."
"Sasuke, the cult members you encountered weren't very strong, were they?"
Uchiha Sasuke nodded. "Most of them were at the Chunin and Genin levels."
Kakashi mused, "They've been developing silently, and the Alliance didn't notice at all. Now they've suddenly become so active."
"Do they think we can't track them, or do they have another objective?"
At this moment, Nara Shikamaru said, "I suggest we immediately send people to support Naruto and the others."
"If this is a trap, Naruto and the others could be in danger."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened, and he immediately made a decision. "Sasuke, you go and rendezvous with Naruto and the others immediately. I'll bring reinforcements later!"
Uchiha Sasuke nodded, activated the Space-Time Door, and left with his subordinates.
Kakashi then said to Nara Shikamaru, "Immediately report this matter to the elders and notify the Sage Domain as well."
With that, he vanished from his office.
...
Land of Bears.
Hyuga Kyoko suddenly said, "Teacher Naruto, I've found them!"
Naruto and the others immediately stopped and went to Hyuga Kyoko's side.
Hyuga Kyoko said, "They're under that mountain!"
"The entrance is on the mountainside!"
"There's also a space within the mountain, but that's likely a decoy. I'm looking for their other entrance or exit."
"Well done, Kyoko!"
Naruto gave her a thumbs-up, then said to Nawaki, "Go inform Neji and the others. If they fire a signal flare, it might alert the enemy."
"Understood!"
Nawaki nodded and disappeared.
Just then, Hyuga Kyoko withdrew her gaze and said, "Teacher Naruto, that underground space is very complex. There's a very long passage; even my Byakugan can't see all of it."
Naruto listened and said, "Let's wait for Neji and the others to arrive."
As soon as he finished speaking, Nawaki appeared with Neji and two others.
Naruto explained the situation, and Neji immediately said, "Naruto, you guys block the entrance on the mountainside, and leave the other side to us!"
"Alright!"
Naruto nodded.
The two teams split up again.
To prevent the enemy from detecting them, Naruto first had Nawaki use a Wood Clone to infiltrate underground towards the mountainside.
Nawaki's Wood Release ability allowed him to blend seamlessly with the trees, remaining undetected.
His main body, along with Naruto and the others, flew through the air to above the mountain, concealing themselves with the Transformation Technique.
Once they received the signal from Neji's group, they would use the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly appear at the cave entrance and charge in.
After waiting less than 5 minutes as a white cloud in the sky, a signal flare rose in the distance.
Naruto immediately said, "Nawaki!"
Nawaki didn't speak. The next moment, the four of them appeared from the air on a tree by the cave entrance.
There were sentries on the mountaintop who also saw the signal flare and immediately leaped down from the peak.
But as they reached the cave entrance, Uchiha Shii suddenly appeared, driving a kunai into the sentry's neck.
And almost simultaneously.
The other sentry left on the mountaintop, who had just become alert, was swallowed by plants and bound like a rice dumpling.
In front of the cave, Truth-Seeking Balls appeared one by one behind Naruto. He entered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and charged into the cave first.
Behind him was Nawaki, then Hyuga Kyoko, with Uchiha Shii, whose Sharingan had Three Tomoe, at the very end.
There were many traps in the cave, but before Naruto and the others entered, Nawaki had already acted. A large amount of vegetation grew inward along the cave, smashing all the traps and mechanisms.
Combined with the Byakugan, those hidden in the shadows were also exposed.
The hidden individuals hadn't even made a move before Nawaki's Wood Release dealt with them.
The group of four advanced like a hot knife through butter, quickly reaching the mountain's interior.
The area had already been hollowed out.
As soon as Naruto and the other three appeared, a large volume of hidden weapons rained down upon them.
There were also powerful attacks like chakra cannons and giant crossbow bolts.
However, Naruto blocked them all with his Truth-Seeking Balls.
Surrounded by the Truth-Seeking Balls, Nawaki's thoughts shifted, and thick wooden vines erupted from the ground, sweeping outwards like a tide.
Poof poof poof!
"Ah!"
"It's Wood Release!"
"Damn it, use the chakra cannons quickly!"
"We can't block it at all, report to the priest immediately!"
"Curse it, my immortality, no..."
Screams, roars, and the booming of chakra cannons mixed together.
As the wooden vines swept through, black-robed figures were pierced.
Even if some possessed the same immortality as Hidan, the vines that pierced them could absorb their physical and mental energy.
Their bodies withered at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving them on the verge of death.
There were over fifty black-robed figures in the hollow mountain interior, many of whom possessed the strength of an elite Jonin.
They had also deployed numerous scientific weapons and ninja tools, but facing the terrifying power of Wood Release, it was all futile, utterly crushed.
Then, the four proceeded deeper underground through the passage.
Meanwhile.
On the other side.
Neji and the other two also fought their way through the underground passage.
And in contrast to Naruto's group's massive commotion, Neji's side was remarkably quiet.
Because before any encounter, the guards' minds and consciousness were controlled by Neji.
The path was smooth sailing all the way.
Soon, Neji and Naruto's groups reunited.
And this large underground base had now been transformed into a forest.
Naruto and the others had barely had to lift a finger, as Nawaki had handled everything with his Wood Release.
"Nii-chan, this guy should be the leader here!"
Nawaki pointed at the middle-aged man he was hanging in the air.
Neji immediately stepped forward, controlling the man's mind and consciousness to acquire his memories.
But the next moment, his expression changed, and he retreated while shouting, "Be careful!"
Naruto immediately moved to shield Nawaki, while two Truth-Seeking Balls hovered near Hyuga Kyoko and Uchiha Shii, ready to protect them at any moment.
In the air, black stripes appeared on the suspended middle-aged man, and the vines binding him exploded with a bang.
Before Nawaki could grab him again, the middle-aged man appeared like a ghost on the cave ceiling, hanging upside down.
Neji warned, "Be careful of this guy, there seems to be something else inside him!"
Naruto also chimed in, "I've already sensed it, a very evil presence!"
At this moment, Nawaki reached out with a grasping motion.
Wooden vines drilled out from the cave ceiling, reaching for the middle-aged man.
But just as he was about to succeed, the middle-aged man suddenly vanished from the cave ceiling.
"Nawaki, be careful!"
Naruto and Neji shouted almost simultaneously, both turning their heads towards Nawaki's back.
"On you, I sense a familiar aura!"
The middle-aged man appeared behind Nawaki, reaching out with one hand towards his neck.
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