Chapter 80: The Second Sacrifice—A Fate Worse Than Death!

Chapter 80: The Second Sacrifice—A Fate Worse Than Death!

Uchiha Ci was bound to a cross, and the High Priest of the Jashin Cult turned away, heading to the edge of a blood pool and beginning a series of hand signs.

"Divine Bloodshed—what the heck is that?" Uchiha Ci muttered, bewildered.

Hidan, hanging on a rack beside him, scowled and replied, "I know what it is. It's the highest ritual of the Jashin Cult. They torture a hundred girls and a thousand other people, offering their suffering to Jashin."

"Through intense agony, they exchange power with the evil god."

Uchiha Ci frowned, glancing to the side.

On the crosses nearby hung gaunt, lifeless figures, their eyes empty from torture, their condition teetering between life and death.

"That doesn't make sense. You're saying they're offering suffering to the evil god, but these people are numb to pain now. How could they still feel anything?" Uchiha Ci raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "So your Jashin Cult can store pain?"

"Torture first, then endow them with suffering—what advanced technology is this?"

"Hey, enough already! I'm not one of those Jashin cultists!" Hidan huffed, irritated.

Staring at the gruesome scene around them, Hidan fell silent, the horrific images making him speechless.

If peace in the Land of Hot Water required such sacrifices, then what difference was there between those who performed these acts and the ninja of the great nations that ravaged the country?

Hidan suddenly lifted his head, frowning as he explained to Uchiha Ci, "The Jashin Cult's sacrificial rituals only work when pain is created to please the evil god and receive his power."

Uchiha Ci glanced at Hidan, his look clearly implying, You seem to know a lot, huh?

"What's with that look? I read it in a book!" Hidan snapped in frustration.

"What kind of book would detail the inner workings of a cult?" Uchiha Ci shook his head, at a loss for words, and continued, "But if what you're saying is true, that can only mean one thing—"

Uchiha Ci's tone grew serious. "A sacrifice has already been completed here."

"The next one is about to begin."

The two exchanged a look, observing the silent, grotesquely contorted bodies fixed to crosses around them. Their hearts filled with dread.

"A second sacrifice…" Hidan lifted his head, scowling, looking around. Other than themselves and the hulking Jashin priest, there were no other beings capable of making a sound.

Tied to the cross, Uchiha Ci gathered his chakra while turning to Hidan. "Hidan, are you the type to scream really loud?"

"What? What kind of question is that?" Hidan shot him a fierce glare.

"Take a look around."

Uchiha Ci smirked dryly. "We don't need to guess—the sacrifices are us."

"But I'm a true ninja!"

"A ninja who could take a sword through the gut without crying out—a man destined to endure the pain of hell!"

"So, the suffering Jashin needs for the sacrifice… probably has to come from you."

Uchiha Ci's tone hardened, and he squinted at the priest initiating the ritual. "Are you ready?"

"What?" Hidan looked confused, unsure of Uchiha Ci's meaning.

Uchiha Ci shook his head, his gaze growing colder, as he focused harder on gathering even a trace of chakra in his battered body.

If his guess was right, then this would be nothing short of cruel for Hidan.

A thousand lives had already been sacrificed, and with this second ritual, they were about to unleash an even greater torrent of suffering to please Jashin.

Uchiha Ci had always wondered what kind of torment could drive Hidan to become the maniacal zealot he'd later become.

But now, with every clue that surfaced, the true nature of this cult's ritual came into view.

This was going to be a sacrifice filled with fear and pain—one that went beyond the limits of death!

A ritual to gain true immortality!

Uchiha Ci had one thought in his mind: to end this atrocity and rewrite the future!

---

Amid the ruins of a destroyed castle, an old man in a deep blue robe landed, leaning on a cane as he surveyed the desolate battlefield with a frown, sighing in mild disappointment.

Beside him, White Zetsu turned, splitting off a spore clone that burrowed into the ground to observe the cave below.

"Lord Madara, that boy's still alive, hiding in the underground caves. Want to keep watching?"

Madara Uchiha shook his head, speaking indifferently, "No need."

"Just now, I was puzzled. Now, I'm certain."

"There is death in his eyes. He fights, risking everything, only because he seeks death."

"He has glimpsed the truth of the world and understands the imbalance of the cycle."

White Zetsu tilted his head in confusion. "Isn't that a good thing?"

"Amazing, really, for someone so young to have a mind like Lord Madara's."

Madara shook his head, visibly disappointed. "No, quite the opposite."

"At an age when he should still believe in fairy tales, he's seen the truth of the world, but lacks the strength to sever the chains of fate."

"His only path left is escape."

"Until the day comes when he has nowhere left to run."

Madara frowned, a powerful surge of emotion passing over him. He was certain that this boy had the potential to awaken the forbidden eyes.

If he could live to see that day, he would definitely awaken them.

Otherwise, he'd just die a clean death.

But if Madara were to manipulate this…

It would mean dragging along someone bent on death, keeping him alive.

And that… was far too troublesome.

He didn't have much time left.

"Sometimes, being too clever is more a curse than a blessing…"

Madara shook his head and disappeared into the darkness.

From a distance, his parting words lingered in the air:

"Zetsu, plant a spore on that boy. When the time comes, give him chakra."

White Zetsu was left bewildered, standing in place.

What exactly did Lord Madara mean?

---

At the entrance of the Jashin Cult's cave headquarters…

Seijiro stood at the door, surveying a battlefield that looked like a parking lot torn apart by a tornado.

The huge, sweeping marks, shattered walls, missing towers…

And the dozens of elite Jashin cultists, lined up in front of him, ready for battle.

With a huge scroll on his back, Uchiha Seijiro gritted his teeth, his eyes wide with determination, his jaw and hands trembling.

"No worries, no worries, I can do this."

"I have the Sharingan, and to these eyes, they're just a bunch of trash!"

With fierce determination, Seijiro took a step forward.

One step, two steps, three… until he was running!

The wind whipped through his hair, and the fear in his eyes turned to a fierce glint.

His hands formed signs, his Sharingan spinning!

"Kill him! Hit him with everything!" the cultists yelled as they launched their attacks.

Facing the overwhelming assault, Seijiro lunged forward, his eyes blazing:

"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"