"Once my plan is fully realized, I'll appoint you as the Chief Steward of the Inner Palace," Seisui said, patting Minato on the shoulder. "That's no ordinary position."
"I'll follow you wherever you go—a presence beneath no one, above thousands!"
"Seisui…" Minato's face glowed with emotion as he looked at Seisui.
"I won't let you down!"
Minato clenched his fists, resolute.
Watching this, Hiru and Kushina exchanged a glance, and both felt a chill run down their spines.
What kind of relationship prompts someone to follow another everywhere?
They silently vowed to keep a close eye on these two.
Meanwhile, Seisui's shadow clone had reached the entrance of the cave, holding his tanto. Feeling the chill emanating from within, he took a deep breath and strode inside.
Because the ritual had already started, there was no one guarding the entrance, which allowed Seisui to make his way deeper until he saw the bustling cult members.
"Well, this is lively," the clone muttered.
"Who are you?!" the cultists shouted, tense.
The ninjas not yet delivered to the sacrificial statue perked up, eyes glimmering with hope.
Especially three of Hiru's students—they recognized the Konoha headbands on the intruder and cried, "Sir! We're Konoha ninja! They're going to sacrifice us to Jashin!"
Seisui's clone smiled, drawing his tanto. "Shut their mouths!"
At that moment, the High Priest emerged from deeper in the cave, glancing at the three excited Genin.
"Unexpected to have someone arrive before the ritual even begins," he murmured, chuckling ominously.
The clone raised an eyebrow. "Somewhere, someone who laughs like that never ends well."
"Of course," he added, mimicking the High Priest's eerie laugh, "even in front of me, that laugh doesn't bode well. Heh heh heh."
"A mere brat," the High Priest continued. "Since you're here, I suppose Shinzo failed to capture you?"
Although a question, his tone carried certainty.
"I recognize your skill. Join us, and I may spare you!"
"You?!" the clone arched an eyebrow. "The so-called Jashin raises idiots like you?"
"Impudent!" the High Priest roared. "You don't understand the greatness of our God! You are but an ant in His eyes!"
"You're the ants—I'm the heavens!" the clone shot back, pointing his knife at the High Priest.
"Arrogant!" The High Priest vanished and reappeared before the clone, swiping at his head.
"Pitiful tricks, daring to show off?"
The clone's Sharingan activated. Being a shadow clone, he could only momentarily control the High Priest.
But even that was enough.
He dodged the attack, stabbing his tanto toward the High Priest's stomach.
At the same time, the left and right guardians appeared. Seeing this, they immediately formed hand seals, and a massive earthen wall shot up from the ground.
The clone retreated, avoiding a fatal blow, while the guardians shielded the High Priest, eyes sharp.
"I admit you're strong," the High Priest said cautiously. "But since you don't know your place, you won't see the sun again!"
"Is that so?" The clone sheathed his knife, hands in pockets. "This is only one-fifth of my power."
"Hmph." The High Priest sneered, realizing just earlier that the clone's strength was at elite jonin level.
The guardians were jonin too—though not elite, they could hold their own.
Seeing the disbelief, the clone waved. "I told you. Believe it or not, not my problem. I am a well-behaved youth of the new era."
Watching the exchange, Kamizuki Ichiko drew a deep breath. Her emotions swung wildly—from joy at seeing the clone to anxiety.
Next to her, Fushimi Sosuke, burly and robust, didn't share her emotional rollercoaster, but he was excited. "Maybe… we really can escape!"
Ichiko managed a faint smile, nodding. "Perhaps."
Her confidence wasn't strong. Only one person had come—and apparently, someone had tried to capture him before, but failed.
She didn't trust the cultists to act without certainty, which was why C-rank missions had been issued in various villages.
"I hope you can escape," she whispered, glancing at her three students with a trace of sorrow.
The clone withdrew part of his blade. Being a shadow clone, he couldn't use many techniques—no water chakra modes, no Sage Mode, no Nine-Tails chakra.
Even so, he didn't fear the three before him. Not them, not even Kaguya OOtsutsuki.
"Flying Raijin!"
He vanished and reappeared beside the left guardian, slashing at his waist.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The High Priest spat a fireball at him, while the left guardian, seeing the incoming blade, formed seals to counterattack.
"Earth Style: Opening Earth Rising Excavation!"
"Can't do anything with you," the clone sighed, vanishing again. He reappeared before the High Priest. "Water Severing Strike!"
Water vapor surrounded the priest, binding him in place.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
The right guardian struck, but the clone disappeared and reappeared behind the left guardian, cutting him down.
Standing on the fallen guardian's corpse, the clone laughed heartily.
"Who do you think I am?!"
"Ah?!"
"I am… Seisui!"
The High Priest's water binding vanished. Glancing at the right guardian, he nodded.
"Cursed Technique: Curse!"
He bit the right guardian's arm, letting strange runes spread over his skin.
"This is Jashin's blessing, massively amplifying one's power!" The High Priest glared.
"Join us now, and you still might survive," he said, eyes cold, looking at the corpse.
"Is that so?"
"Then let's see." The clone vanished, targeting the High Priest again.
"Flying Raijin!"
The High Priest didn't flinch, smirking. Suddenly, the rune-covered right guardian appeared beside him.
"Die!"
"Jashin Taijutsu Secret Art: Whirlwind Kick!"
"What?" The clone was surprised but not scared. He now knew the cultists had no other tricks.
"This is enough," he muttered.
"Time for a new opponent." He stood still, tossing his tanto to the cave entrance.
The right guardian kicked it, hitting his head—but no blood spilled.
The clone dissolved into white smoke.
Outside the cave, Seisui chatted casually with Minato and the others. Suddenly, he paused.
"Stay here. Don't move. I'll handle them."
Hiru opened her mouth to protest but saw Minato shake his head.
She realized Minato knew Seisui well—there was a reason.
Once Seisui left, she turned to Minato. "Why the shake of your head just now?"
"If he goes alone, we get a break," Minato said matter-of-factly.
Hiru, secretly hoping to "steal some lessons," could only frown.
Seisui reached the cave entrance, pulling out the tanto his clone had left planted. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.
The air grew tense. The High Priest and right guardian exchanged glances, recognizing the use of Konoha's shadow clone technique—a body that divides chakra, becoming a tangible yet untouchable duplicate.
After a moment, the High Priest murmured, "We've met a formidable enemy."
One clone had slain a guardian—what must the original be capable of?
He recalled the clone's words: only one-fifth of his power.
The clown, it seemed… was himself.
The High Priest inhaled sharply, then ordered the cultists, "Take them to Jashin and begin the ritual. I'll hold them off!"
Just then, footsteps sounded at the cave entrance.
Light, quick steps—yet in the silence, they echoed like thunder.
All eyes fixed on the approaching figure, afraid to even breathe.
A lone silhouette carrying a knife grew clearer.
"This time, I'll play with you," Seisui appeared, his body glowing white, hair blood-red, and Sharingan activated.
"Who are you?!" the High Priest demanded.
Seisui smiled faintly. "Seisui… an ordinary jonin from Konoha."
"Impossible!"
"No ordinary shadow would be this strong!"
"Who are you!" the High Priest shouted, frantic.
"You… shouldn't even be here!"