On the battlefield of the Land of Hot Water, the air felt heavy and foul, as if every breath carried the smell of iron and burning flesh. Smoke drifted low, and the ground was soaked dark with blood. Even seasoned fighters found it hard to steady their breathing.
Jiraiya gripped the broad, blunt greatsword called "Laziness", its tip resting on the ground. Within the area centered on the sword point, the flow of time was forcibly stretched and slowed. The space around him felt warped and unnatural.
"Puppeteer" hovered in midair, purple hair whipping in chaotic currents. A bone mask covered the upper half of its face, and a cold curve sat at the corner of its mouth. Its slender right hand was spread open, five threads extending from its fingertips, though they had already been cut countless times.
The two sides were locked in a complete stalemate, both unable to move. At that critical moment, when most of Zetsu's attention was tied up by this clash, the battlefield suddenly erupted elsewhere. Shouts broke out without warning.
"Kill them, for Kumogakure!"
"Dogs of Konoha! Pay with your lives!"
On the edges of the battlefield, the formations of Konoha Ninja and Kumogakure Ninja suddenly exploded into hysterical yelling. Dozens of figures in the uniforms of Kumogakure and Konoha lunged at their enemies without any signal. The fragile balance that had barely held collapsed in an instant.
Blood sprayed as blades struck, and screams rang out across the field. Curses and cries mixed together as fear and rage took control. Konoha Ninja and Kumogakure Ninja charged into each other once more, tearing at one another in blind chaos.
Amid the disorder, a figure moved like a ghost through the crowd. He carried a massive scythe on his shoulder, his eyes filled with manic excitement and a craving for slaughter that bordered on worship. Wherever he passed, bodies fell in his wake.
"Out of my way, useless trash!" he roared.
Hidan let out a shrill laugh as his scythe swung again and again. Whether they were from Konoha Ninja or Kumogakure Ninja, all were torn apart by the huge blade, bodies split open and blood spraying over his clothes. Yet his target was neither Konoha nor Kumogakure.
His eyes were fixed on the being surrounded by many, the so called 'Great Hollow'.
"Roar!"
Sensing danger, the 'Great Hollow' snapped its head around. Its masked mouth opened wide, and a Cero gathered before blasting straight toward Hidan. The crimson beam tore through the air with violent force.
"Hahaha! Cheap tricks!"
Hidan laughed wildly and did not dodge. He swung his scythe with all his strength, hacking straight into the beam. With a harsh hiss, the attack split cleanly in two, and he charged through the middle of it.
"What a powerful, tempting soul!" he shouted. "Come on, let me offer you to Lord Jashin!"
He appeared right in front of the 'Great Hollow', the scythe screaming through the air as it chopped down. With a brutal impact, the entire body, mask and all, was cleaved in half. The black form of the Xu exploded, and blue mental energy rushed straight into Hidan.
His eyes shone with wild joy as he spread his arms, as if welcoming a gift. "Come, come, I..." He did not finish his words.
Thin threads, fine as hair yet impossibly sharp, flashed through the air. In an instant, Hidan's head and limbs were severed, and huge amounts of blood gushed out like fountains.
High above, "Puppeteer" looked down coldly, clearly enraged that Hidan had killed the 'Great Hollow' while it was distracted. The body parts hit the ground with dull thuds, scattering across the field. Yet the expression on the severed head was not pain, but a twisted smile of pleasure.
"Hehehe... hahaha!" the head laughed loudly. "I felt it, I finally felt it! Lord Jashin's blessing has descended!"
From the detached arm and the scythe clenched in its hand, a dark red glow filled with ominous energy surged out. Hidan howled with laughter. "Kill them all! Silian Tongzi!"
A black ritual circle suddenly appeared beneath him, and crimson light swallowed his form. The light erupted outward, covering nearly a hundred meters in every direction. Those caught within it, nearly a hundred from Konoha and Kumogakure, froze in place, their faces drained of all color.
Dull, sickening sounds rang out one after another. Veins writhed under their skin as if alive, then blood was violently pulled from their bodies. It poured from their eyes, ears, mouths, noses, and even their pores, forming streams that rushed toward Hidan.
Blood pooled rapidly on the ground, sketching a ritual formation with a square inside a circle. Beneath Hidan's head, flesh began to regrow at a visible speed. Veins, muscles, and bones took shape in moments.
In just a few breaths, Hidan stood up again, whole and uninjured, as if nothing had happened. The drained Ninja collapsed into shriveled husks, nothing but skin and bone. Nearly a hundred lives were sacrificed in seconds, turning the battlefield into a scene of horror.
The members of the Jashin Cult who had accepted Hidan's blood were not drained. Instead, they absorbed more power, their faces twisting with even greater fanaticism. Hidan laughed loudly, naked and unashamed, hands on his hips as threads sliced across his body without effect.
If one looked closely, the cuts did open his flesh. They simply healed the instant they appeared.
"This ability, this presence..." "Puppeteer" studied the scythe in Hidan's hand, clearly weighing its options. His regeneration countered its threads too well. After a final glance at the laughing Hidan and a look toward the distant, furious Jiraiya, it tore open space and vanished.
"Damn, it ran off," Hidan muttered, sounding disappointed. "I still wanted to offer that thing to Lord Jashin. If only I could fly."
He kicked the scythe up onto his shoulder and turned his gaze toward Jiraiya. Jiraiya looked back, forcing himself to endure the weakness caused by maintaining the time field. His expression was heavy as he stared at the naked madman in the distance.
But Hidan did not attack. Instead, he scratched his head in confusion. "Tch, another one from Konoha. I did promise that guy to try not to kill people from Konoha."
With that, he ignored Jiraiya and turned toward the terrified Kumogakure Ninja. A crazed smile spread across his face.
Night fell under thick clouds, blocking out the moon. The once brilliant and heavily guarded residence of the Daimyo was now drowned in panic and the stench of blood. Corridors and gardens lay in ruins, shattered objects and dark stains scattered everywhere.
Cries echoed as nearly a hundred samurai formed ranks, trying to block the black figures closing in. Their blades struck, but it was like moths caught in a web. Steel rang uselessly against hard limbs, while bone claws tore through armor and flesh.
Some managed to stab a 'Xu', only for it to seize them and rip out their souls. Despite the losses, the samurai roared and charged, throwing their lives into the line. Their Kenjutsu and coordination, once their pride, looked clumsy before these monsters.
Deep inside the residence, the heavy doors of the main chamber were shut tight. Inside, the Land of Fire Daimyo and his family hid behind a large Folding Screen, shaking violently. Sweat soaked his robes, and his eyes were full of terror.
"F Father..." the young heir whispered, clutching his sleeve. "What are those things?"
"Do not be afraid," the Daimyo said hoarsely, trying to sound steady. "As the future Daimyo, you must remain calm." His words rang hollow, even to himself.