The ranting figure was Priest Miyano Hiroshi, equal in status and strength to Flower Princess.
Before she could speak, Miyano, with a zealot's fervor, said, "It wasn't Flower Princess who betrayed us—it was the two sentries outside. All Jashin followers are the god's children. If any one of us falls, Lord Jashin knows."
Ebara scoffed. "What's with the act? It's just a secret jutsu tying their lives to something, right?"
Miyano turned to Ebara. "Clever. I know Konoha's young generation boasts four prodigies: the Third Hokage's three students and the lesser-known Sakumo Hatake. Which are you?"
The Jashin cult had gathered plenty of Konoha intel.
"Sakumo Hatake!" Ebara declared boldly.
Sakumo: "…"
Who am I? Where am I? Should I leave?
A new philosophical crisis hit Sakumo.
"Release the children you've kidnapped," Ebara continued. "Surrender, and I, Sakumo Hatake, might spare you. Otherwise, you'll learn what cruelty means!"
Sakumo rolled his eyes inwardly. He's really into this.
"I was about to say the same to you," Miyano said, clapping his hands.
At the signal, dozens of ninjas poured from all sides, surrounding Ebara and Sakumo.
"In the name of Lord Jashin, I offer you two choices: surrender and be tortured to death, or resist and be tortured to death. Choose!"
Miyano's chilling madness echoed through the cave, sending shivers.
"So, either way, we're tortured to death?" Ebara laughed, eyeing Miyano.
"Exactly. Trespassing on Lord Jashin's domain disrespects him. I'll deliver his divine punishment!"
Miyano's fervent voice riled the cultists, brainwashed by years of indoctrination. At his gesture, they howled and charged.
"Watch her. I've got this," Ebara said, handing Flower Princess to Sakumo.
In his mind, he activated the Second Tsuchikage Mu's experience card.
Kage-level power surged through him.
Like a lightning serpent, he tore into the crowd.
The cultists were a disorganized mob, no threat to him.
A punch sent two flying, their combat ability shattered instantly.
He sidestepped a telegraphed fist, tripping the attacker with a kick.
As the man fell, Ebara grabbed him, using him as a shield.
The cultist's ally, too late to stop, stabbed his own comrade.
"Aaah!" the man screamed, serving his purpose as Ebara's blade-blocker before dying.
His allies soon followed.
Ebara leaped, his kicks landing precisely on their chests.
The crushing force snapped ribs, piercing organs, blood gushing as they collapsed.
His final kick sent a chunin-level cultist flying, smashing a crater into the cave wall, dead.
Ebara landed stylishly, glancing at Sakumo.
Cultists were closing in on him, and Flower Princess looked ready to bolt.
"Earth Style: Core Shift!"
Ebara formed seals, slamming his palm to the ground.
The earth beneath Sakumo and Flower Princess rose, matching the Jashin statue's height, shielding them.
He formed more seals.
An identical Ebara appeared—not a Shadow Clone, but Mu's Fission Technique, splitting his body in two with full strength and chakra, far surpassing clones.
The two Ebaras dove into the crowd, slaughtering.
Cultists were flung skyward, unable to touch him.
This wasn't a fight—it was a massacre.
In a minute, the ground was littered with groaning cultists, many silenced forever.
Hiss.
Miyano and Flower Princess gasped.
She regretted provoking Ebara.
His strength made their earlier fight (Chapter 71) seem like child's play.
Miyano hadn't expected Ebara to be this formidable.
He'd hoped to profit, but his forces were decimated.
Worse, he knew he was no match.
He turned to flee.
Ebara appeared before him like a phantom.
"Leaving without a goodbye? Rude," Ebara said with a friendly smile.
Miyano's soul nearly left his body.
He tried to fight, but Ebara's glowing beam caught his eye.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World!"
No nonsense—just a massive attack.
Miyano, recognizing Dust Release, dodged frantically.
He was fast, but Dust Release was faster, engulfing him.
"Aaah!"
A scream echoed as he dissolved into particles finer than dust, gone.
The beam pierced the cave wall, revealing caged children—bruised, scarred, terrified.
Not joy, but fear filled their eyes, broken by Jashin's cruelty.
As Ebara moved to free them, a rumble shook the hall.
"Flower Princess!" he shouted, racing back.
Sakumo was trapped by blood-red curse seals emanating from the Jashin statue.
Flower Princess stood in its mouth—a hidden passage.
"Ebara, we'll meet again!" she taunted. "Next time, I won't let you off so easily!"
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