Chapter 234: What! I'm Actually the Culprit?
After applying a sealing technique on Yamato that left him only able to clutch his backside and wail for half an hour, Uchiha Ci turned to greet Aburame Ryoma, who was walking toward him with a smile.
"Ryoma-senpai, long time no see."
"You really have a twisted sense of humor!" Aburame Ryoma replied with a helpless expression. Glancing at Yamato, who was crawling away clutching his backside to heal himself, Ryoma walked to the edge of the cliff.
"Thank you for the compliment."
"That wasn't a compliment! Never mind." Aburame Ryoma shook his head in exasperation. "I have some information for you. It seems to be related to you."
Aburame Ryoma's expression became serious as he said gravely, "But you must stay calm."
Seeing the grave look on his superior's face, Uchiha Ci realized that something significant must have happened in the Ninja World during the month and a half he had been training. He immediately composed himself, raised his head, and asked seriously, "I'm calm. So, what's happening in the outside world?"
Aburame Ryoma took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "You've been placed on a wanted list!"
"Me? Wanted again?"
Uchiha Ci was stunned, confused by the turn of events.
The last time he was wanted was a month and a half ago, and it ended with Kumogakure retreating, bounty stations across the Ninja World being decimated, and the S-ranked rogue ninja Kakuzu being captured by the Uchiha clan. He couldn't understand—who would dare provoke the already enraged Uchiha clan at this critical moment and issue a bounty for him again?
"It's not a bounty from the underground black market," Aburame Ryoma clarified, shaking his head. "It's from the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning!"
"A month ago, an organization called the 'Immortal Heretics' infiltrated the Land of Lightning's capital. Under the banner of ending war, they launched a terrorist attack during the Daimyo's public appearance."
"Twenty ninjas from this organization carried out a suicide attack. At the cost of 19 lives, they managed to obtain the blood of the Daimyo and his guards amidst the chaos, showcasing the effects of their heretical techniques on the spot."
"The last member used a technique called 'Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood.' At the cost of his own life, despite being just a Genin, he successfully cursed and killed one of the Daimyo's elite guardian Jonin!"
"They then issued an ultimatum to the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning:
'Cease all war immediately, or a divine child will descend and torment you a hundred thousandfold!'"
Hearing this, Uchiha Ci's pupils contracted sharply as he instantly recalled the letter he received from Hidan back in Konoha.
The Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood should only be known by the Jashin Cultists who survived the cult headquarters' destruction or by Hidan, who inherited the cult leader Hayato Tōgō's relic, the Jashin Ritual Codex.
And the Jashin Cultists were certainly not peace-seekers. So, the one orchestrating this was undoubtedly Hidan!
It was likely that Hidan, using methods he learned from Uchiha Ci, had manipulated the surviving Jashin Cultists, who, in their confusion, elevated him as their leader. Driven by a zeal for a cause that seemed impossible yet compelling, they devoted themselves, even sacrificing their lives for this so-called "righteousness."
Having experienced the suffering in the Land of Hot Water and the misunderstandings stemming from it, Uchiha Ci knew firsthand how terrifyingly infectious such "righteousness" could be. For the Hot Water Ninjas, who had been driven to desperation amidst the Iwagakure-Kirigakure conflict, this "righteousness" might as well have been divine will.
When a group of people proficient in high-level Jashin curse techniques gathered together, this ragtag organization could gradually grow into a force capable of impacting the Ninja World.
But—
"This won't do. He's playing with fire!"
Uchiha Ci furrowed his brows tightly.
Jashin curse techniques were most effective when their details were unknown. Once their mechanics were exposed, countless countermeasures could be devised!
Now, the people gathering around Hidan were recklessly publicizing information about these techniques, trading their actual power for intimidation, hoping to use such extreme methods to force a great nation's leader to submit.
Such an outcome was simply impossible!
Especially after the death of an elite Jonin guardian, and with the Third Shinobi World War underway, Kumogakure wouldn't sit idly by for the sake of the Daimyo's support or the reputation of a great nation.
Hidan was now in danger!
Uchiha Ci's first thought was this. But then, he noticed another layer of meaning in Aburame Ryoma's words. Looking at him in disbelief, he asked, "I get what you're implying. Are you saying… the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning has put a bounty on me?"
"But why me, when the Daimyo was the one attacked? I didn't do anything!"
Those Jashin Cultists were supposed to have died during that catastrophic sacrificial ritual. In that ritual, Hayato Tōgō had linked their lives to Hidan's, intending to use them as sacrifices. However, Uchiha Ci's intervention disrupted the ritual, allowing the cultists to survive. Combined with his influence on Hidan, this sequence of events indirectly led to the Daimyo's assassination.
Tracing the root cause, the Daimyo's death—Uchiha Ci was indeed the ultimate culprit!
But this truth was only known to Uchiha Ci and Hidan, who were present back then. It had never been leaked, so how could anyone else know about it?
At this thought, Uchiha Ci felt an urge to take off his shoes and start hitting someone.
Soon after, Aburame Ryoma clicked his tongue and looked at him with an expression of amazement.
"Of course, you didn't do anything. But someone did it for you!"
"This 'Immortal Heretics' organization, before launching their attack on the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, publicly spread their ideology of 'ending wars and ushering in peace.'"
"During this time, they announced to the world the deity they worship and their leader—"
"Named Uchiha Ci."
"They claimed that you are a man destined to bring the Ninja World to its ultimate end!"
Hearing this, Uchiha Ci covered his face, feeling utterly mortified.
Goosebumps erupted all over his body. For a moment, he wished he could dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the ground with his toes.
What was supposed to be a casual remark to Hidan—telling him, "I'll be your god"—had apparently been taken seriously. Hidan had turned those words into reality, creating a quasi-religious organization that allowed him to enjoy playing god.
It should have been touching for Ci.
But why the hell would they use such a method to name him?!
Now the whole world believed that Uchiha Ci was an extreme terrorist!
Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Ci restrained the urge to dash to the Land of Lightning, hang Hidan upside down, beat him for eight days straight, and starve him for another ten nights.
The priority now was figuring out a way to rescue his little brother.
He raised his head, his gaze sharp as he asked Aburame Ryoma, "What's the current situation with this organization?"