"This is impossible!"
Hidan couldn't believe that Naruto actually managed to break the Jashin's curse.
'What on earth is that murky figure looming behind him?'
Everyone's mind was filled with questions, including Itachi.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal, an ultimate self-sacrificing Sealing Technique, had long been categorized as Forbidden Technique. So even someone as skilled as Itachi had no means of accessing it.
Seeing everyone stunned, Naruto didn't show any signs of joy. He was eagerly anticipating the arrival of Jashin and secretly hoped that Jashin would be powerful enough to rival the Shinigami.
Otherwise, it is a foregone conclusion that Naruto's resurrection coin will be consumed.
Whoosh!
The once clear and sunny sky suddenly turned dark as ominous winds brought heavy clouds rolling in.
'Here it comes!'
Naruto's breathing was a little rapid, and he waved his hand and said, "Jashin is here. Watch how I subdue him! Everyone, stand back and don't get caught in the crossfire!"
Even at this critical moment, Naruto couldn't resist putting on a show.
Hearing that Naruto intended to confront Jashin, the others grew visibly tense. No matter how terrifying they were as Missing-nin, they were ultimately human. Faced with a god, a primal fear stirred in their hearts.
However, their respect for Naruto deepened.
Naruto's fearless defiance against a god and his audacity to challenge one left them in genuine awe.
Only Hidan sneered coldly, "You? Dare to oppose Jashin-sama? Truly courting death!"
Hearing that Jashin was arriving, Hidan was overwhelmed with excitement. This was his first time witnessing the god he had devoted himself to. The fact that Jashin's mere presence had caused the weather to change was proof of his immense power.
All of Hidan's earlier insecurities vanished. He knew that worshiping Jashin was indeed the best decision he'd ever made.
As a massive purple silhouette gradually emerged from the clouds, Kisame, Itachi, and Kakuzu heeded Naruto's warning and retreated to a safe distance, leaving Hidan standing alone in place.
Finally, Jashin fully materialized.
In midair, the purple figure became clearer. This being, no, this god, bore a striking resemblance to Hidan. White hair, red eyes, and an aura of sheer malevolence exuded from every part of him, making him look eerily like the vampire Count Dracula.
"Jashin-sama, I am your most devoted follower. It's an honor to finally behold you..."
Hidan rushed forward and knelt before Jashin with absolute reverence, speaking fervently. Yet before he could finish, Jashin waved his sleeve, sending Hidan flying over a hundred meters.
Bang!
Hidan crashed heavily to the ground like a broken kite, coughing up a massive amount of blood. His weakened body sprawled limply on the ground.
"Why... why..."
Hidan stared at Jashin, utterly confused.
Jashin snorted coldly, "A mere ant dares to block my path?"
"But I'm your most faithful follower..."
Hidan managed to utter before spewing another mouthful of blood.
"If not, you'd already be dead." Jashin said coldly, sparing no further glance at him.
The icy indifference in Jashin's gaze left Hidan feeling utterly crushed.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Throwing yourself at someone who doesn't care for you. How pathetic. This is the god you believe in? Hahaha."
Kisame mocked without hesitation as he grabbed Hidan and dragged him off to safety.
"Mere ant, and yet you dare..."
Jashin raised his hand to obliterate Kisame when a grayish-white figure suddenly appeared before him… it was the Shinigami.
"Mere Jashin, and you dare touch one of my subordinates? Shinigami, finish him!"
Naruto snorted coldly.
These words reached the ears of Kisame and Hidan, and Kisame burst into hearty laughter. "Hidan, see this? This is what it means to follow the right person."
Kisame was utterly elated.
After all, he had followed countless leaders, but who among them had ever shielded him from danger?
Who else in this world would dare challenge a god?
Even if such a person existed, they would only do so for their own gain. Why would anyone stand up for someone else, let alone a subordinate?
Just based on Naruto's act of shielding him from Jashin at this moment, Kisame felt it was something he could boast about for a lifetime. For the rest of his life, he would repay this act with gratitude and loyalty!
Meanwhile, Hidan was no longer his previous smug self. All his bravado had evaporated, leaving behind empty eyes and a bitter smile on his lips.
"Could I have been wrong all along..."
Hidan murmured to himself. Being treated as an ant by the god he worshipped, being gravely injured, and then mocked by Kisame, this double blow to both his body and spirit was too much to bear. His vision went dark, and he passed out completely.
"Getting this cocky idiot to finally eat dirt wasn't easy."
Kisame said with a hearty laugh. He had bullied Hidan before, but never had he seen him so utterly broken.
In fact, Kisame knew in his heart that Hidan's belief in Jashin had always strengthened Hidan's heart, but now that his belief had collapsed, it completely defeated Hidan. Breaking the pride of an arrogant fool like Hidan was no easy feat.
Kisame dragged Hidan five kilometers away and regrouped with Itachi and Kakuzu. Pulling out a pair of binoculars, Kisame watched the situation unfold on Naruto's side from a safe distance.
Although Naruto exuded confidence, the group couldn't help but worry. After all, his opponent was Jashin, a god who had injured Hidan with a mere wave of his hand. The unimaginable terror of Jashin's strength left them all on edge.
At the same time, while Naruto appeared calm on the surface, he was actually panicking inside.
He had forgotten one critical detail: even if the two gods annihilated each other, he, standing in the epicenter of their battle, might be affected by the battle and die...
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became.
"Hmph!"
Jashin snorted coldly, "Mere ant, how dare you show disrespect!"
With a wave of his hand, a purple aura condensed into a blade-like energy slash, instantly hurtling toward Naruto.
Naruto felt the terrifying power embedded within the attack and wanted to dodge, but it was too late.
Even with the Flying Thunder God Technique, the purple slash seemed to defy space and time, ensuring it would strike him no matter what. The eerie sensation of inevitability left Naruto frozen in place.
At this moment, Naruto realized just how powerless he was before a god. He truly was nothing more than an ant.
But just as the slash was about to hit, a grayish-white figure appeared in front of Naruto and shattered the slash with a single swing of a sword.
It was the Shinigami!
The Shinigami opened its mouth and spoke its first words in a cold, spectral voice, "This is my sacrificial offering, not yours to touch. I have already promised to obliterate you. So, please, disappear!"
Holding a short blade, the Shinigami flew toward Jashin. Though its movements appeared slow, it seemed to transcend space and time, far surpassing the speed of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In an instant, Shinigami closed the distance to Jashin and delivered a vertical slash.
Shkk!
The short blade didn't even seem to touch Jashin, yet his robe was suddenly torn apart.
Whether it was delayed damage or the blade possessed some hidden range, Naruto didn't care.
All that mattered was that he was still alive, and that was a victory in itself.
"Well done, Shinigami! Finish off that worthless Jashin!"
Naruto roared in encouragement.
At this point, he no longer cared about wasting the resurrection coin. The Shinigami's commitment to their pact had won Naruto over. Meanwhile, Jashin's blatant attack on him had filled Naruto with fury.
This time, no matter the outcome, Naruto had only one wish: Jashin must die!