One of chinatsu's eyes houses "Kotoamatsukami," the ultimate genjutsu, capable of subtly rewriting another person's thoughts and will—an incredibly overpowered ability. However, against an opponent possessing the Rinnegan, its effectiveness would be drastically reduced. Not entirely useless, perhaps, but certainly nowhere near as invincible as it seemed against ordinary shinobi.
Her other eye possesses a replication ability which, simply put, amplifies the natural analytical powers of the Sharingan. Secret techniques, kekkei genkai, and virtually anything that does not directly alter her own body can be replicated through this eye at the cost of consuming a greatly increased amount of chakra.
However, chinatsu originally believed this ability would become less useful in the later stages. After all, the future battles she anticipated were conflicts between beings standing at the level of gods. Ordinary secret techniques and bloodline limits would eventually lose significance. Even replicating a Bloodline Elimination like Dust Release once felt largely pointless to her.
At least, that was what chinatsu used to think.
Everything changed during the Chunin Exams after she defeated Uchiha Itachi and witnessed him use Amaterasu. At the time, Chinatsu's chuunibyou tendencies had flared up, and she casually shouted "Amaterasu!" while activating her eye ability.
The result completely stunned her.
Black flames instantly erupted wherever her gaze landed.
Including—but not limited to—bloodline limits and secret techniques, even Mangekyō Sharingan eye techniques could be replicated!
This discovery left Chinatsu ecstatic. It meant she possessed yet another trump card. In the future, if the opportunity presented itself, she could even attempt to replicate Kamui itself.
Of course...
Thinking about Kamui inevitably led her thoughts toward the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki alone had been enough trouble in the original history. If multiple Ōtsutsuki descended upon the shinobi world later, Chinatsu felt a headache coming on just imagining it.
Although Amaterasu was often mocked as "the fire that never kills anyone," Chinatsu firmly believed that was merely because of the opponents who survived it. Against most shinobi, Amaterasu remained a terrifying technique.
After all, Uchiha Itachi was not immortal.
"Sasuke, let's go home."
"Hmm."
chinatsu and Sasuke departed from the battlefield and began returning to Konoha.
Coincidentally, chinatsu's real body and Naruto were also returning from the Land of Whirlpools. Taking advantage of the opportunity, she dispelled her Wood Release clone. The clone's memories immediately flowed back into her mind.
"Phew~ Better than I expected. Looks like all those years of ideological education weren't wasted."
chinatsu muttered softly while pressing a hand against her forehead.
But speaking of which, there was still no news from Kisame.
Their efficiency was far too slow!
Placing one hand on her hip, chinatsu clicked her tongue.
"If this keeps up, I'm going to have my salary docked."
Kakuzu: "No... no... Huh? Wait, boss, you haven't even paid me yet..."
Chinatsu: "Uh..."
To be fair, Chinatsu had never intentionally delayed Kakuzu's payment. She simply forgot. Besides, Kakuzu had never directly asked her for it.
Kakuzu was furious.
In reality, however, neither Kakuzu nor Hidan had been slacking off.
With Hidan—Chinatsu's most loyal subordinate—watching constantly, dragging their feet was impossible. The two of them could only work diligently while trying to earn their young lady's approval.
Immediately after receiving Chinatsu's orders, they headed toward the Land of Earth.
Kisame Hoshigaki's assigned target was the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi.
Having left Iwagakure years ago due to disagreements with the Tsuchinatsuge, Rōshi wandered the Land of Earth alone while training and attempting to understand Son Gokū's power.
"Kisame is looking for Rōshi. We're looking for Kisame. So why don't we just find Rōshi first?"
This had become a race against time.
Neither Kakuzu nor Hidan knew how far Kisame's mission had progressed. Therefore, they gathered information regarding Rōshi's whereabouts as quickly as possible, paying informants wherever necessary.
Every payment made Kakuzu's heart bleed.
If he had not been firmly convinced that Chinatsu would reimburse him later, he never would have spent money this recklessly.
Wouldn't eliminating witnesses have been much cheaper?
Kakuzu stared at his rapidly shrinking wallet.
A sinister smile slowly spread across his face.
Even Hidan felt a chill run down his spine.
Hidan: What's this bastard thinking? He can smile more evilly than me. I'm Lord Jashin's most devout believer. I should be the most evil one...
The thought suddenly caused Hidan to freeze.
Jashin.
The young lady.
Which one was greater?
His brain stalled.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Because when chinatsu modified Hidan using Kotoamatsukami, she had intentionally preserved his faith in Jashin. Otherwise, she worried he might lose the ability to perform the Death Possession Blood Technique.
As a result, two concepts now coexisted inside Hidan's head.
"The young lady is supreme."
"Lord Jashin is supreme."
The two beliefs collided violently.
Ten seconds later...
Hidan blinked.
His eyes became extraordinarily clear.
"I understand!"
"You understand what?!"
"I worship Lord Jashin while remaining loyal to the young lady. Yet Lord Jashin has never punished me."
"So?"
"That means there's only one possibility!"
Kakuzu suddenly felt a terrible premonition.
Hidan raised a finger dramatically.
"The young lady must be Lord Jashin's chosen representative in the world!"
"..."
Kakuzu fell silent.
After a long pause, he slowly raised a thumb.
"Haha. As expected of you. You figured it out."
"What?! You already knew?! Damn it! I only realized it now! No wonder the young lady told me to leave those fake Jashin cultists. They clearly misunderstood Lord Jashin's true teachings! The young lady must have been correcting their mistakes all along!"
Hidan's logic became increasingly self-consistent.
The numerous loopholes left behind by chinatsu's modifications somehow connected themselves perfectly within Hidan's mind.
Even chinatsu would probably be stunned if she heard this explanation.
Looking at Hidan's proud expression, Kakuzu's lips twitched.
Whatever.
As long as he remained useful.
"We're almost there."
Kakuzu's expression turned serious.
"Rōshi should be somewhere ahead. Once we confirm his location, we'll immediately send a messenger bird and notify the boss."
The two accelerated toward the remote mountain region where Rōshi was rumored to reside.
However, just as they stopped and looked toward the isolated hermitage ahead, a calm voice suddenly sounded behind them.
"Were you two looking for me?"
Kakuzu and Hidan immediately turned around.
Standing behind them was an elderly man with a sturdy build, wearing a dark red robe and carrying a staff.
The Four-Tails Jinchūriki.
Rōshi.
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