Meanwhile, in the basement of Tayuya Village's largest church.
At its center was a massive blood pool constantly bubbling up. Yet oddly, instead of any foul stench of blood, a fresh and natural aura surrounded it.
Before the blood pool stood an elderly man with a kind face, silently gazing at it with immense fanaticism.
Behind him were dozens of Tayuya ninja, all wearing the same look of obsession.
The bishop raised his arms dramatically and shouted, "It's almost here! The perfect host body for our Holy Deity will soon be ready. Therefore, we need even more sacrifices!"
The gathered crowd erupted in frenzied unison, chanting, "Sacrifice! Sacrifice!"
However, at that moment, a somewhat discordant voice rose from among them. "Your Grace," one of the ninjas spoke cautiously, "there are already Hidden Leaf and Cloud shinobi investigating us. Shouldn't we slow things down slightly until they leave? Then we can continue with the Holy God's ceremony."
Bishop frowned as he turned to look. "Do you really think these insignificant Hidden Leaf and Cloud ninjas deserve us to delay the descent of our Holy God?"
"Just insignificant Hidden Leaf and Cloud?" The speaking ninja couldn't help but stare blankly — had Bishop been out of touch with the outside world for so long?
Thinking this, he couldn't help reminding him, "You see, I heard the one sent by Konoha this time is none other than Seiki Shimaseki himself, a war machine capable of turning the tide of battle on his own. Many Hidden Cloud ninja even call him the Great Demon King!"
Unexpectedly, the bishop expressed delight rather than concern. "Excellent! Last time, just one Hidden Leaf ninja was worth ten sacrifices. If this Seiki Shimaseki you mentioned is truly that powerful, perhaps he alone could count as a hundred sacrifices! In that case, the day our Evil... cough cough, our Holy God awakens will come even sooner!"
Just then, sudden footsteps rang out.
The group of ninja standing before the blood pool immediately turned toward the entrance. A team of ninja wearing Hidden Leaf forehead protectors appeared within their sights.
Bishop's expression shifted slightly. "How did you find your way here?"
Kurenai snapped her fingers. "After we locked onto the target, it was simple — just a quick genjutsu did the trick."
Asuma shrugged, exasperated. "Seriously, handing us your inside man like that? Have you lost your damn mind?"
Mizuki's killing intent flared. "You moron!"
Bishop flushed red with anger. Was it because he had no experience being the mastermind behind the scenes this time?
"Insolent fools! Our Holy God will punish you!"
Seiki Shimaseki asked coldly, "Where are our Hidden Leaf ninja?"
"Hidden Leaf ninja? They've already become part of our Holy God!" Bishop answered viciously. "Don't rush — you'll reunite with them soon enough!"
"My followers, let these heretics witness your might. Let them repent under the holy light of our Holy God!"
Except for a few newly-joined ninjas still hesitating slightly, most of the villagers rushed madly at Seiki and the others.
Though they looked fierce and terrifying, most of them weren't even real ninja — just villagers in disguise. Moreover, when comparing shinobi villages, stronger ones always held overwhelming advantages against weaker ones. Thus, naturally, Seiki and his companions remained extremely calm.
"Seiki, leave these guys to us!"
"You can just rest over there!"
Seiki warned, "This religion is likely related to blood. Be careful not to bleed, and don't let their blood touch you!"
"Got it!"
As soon as they started moving, Mizuki charged straight at the Bishop.
He couldn't just let that threat against Seiki slide.
"Mizuki is being really sneaky!"
"Forget it, let's find other targets!"
There were still many others after this Bishop, though none seemed eager to fight over him with Mizuki.
Seeing Mizuki charging toward him, the Bishop remained calm, saying, "Impudent fool, let me show you the power of Holy God—"
Before he could finish, a kunai pierced his heart. He fell down in disbelief.
"That's all? What an idiot!" Mizuki snorted in disdain and turned away.
However, at that moment, a faint whistling sound came from behind him.
Without thinking too much, Mizuki instinctively dodged sideways.
In the next instant, a tanto smashed down at where he once stood.
"Close call!" As Mizuki turned around while still relieved, his eyes suddenly widened.
The Bishop who should've been dead was now alive again, grinning sinisterly while grabbing the tanto for another wild slash.
"How is this possible? Could it be Substitution Jutsu?" Yet Mizuki quickly ruled out this guess, "No, I clearly pierced his heart!"
At the same time, panicked voices rose from other corners of the room.
"How come these guys won't die?"
"Are they immortal monsters?"
"Use Fire Release! Burn these monsters to death!"
Ahhhh!
Soon after, pained screams rang out through the basement, and piles of ashes gathered on the floor.
"Pheew! Scared the hell outta me!"
"I actually thought they were truly indestructible monsters!"
Just as everyone started relaxing a bit, Mizuki's heavy voice came from another direction.
"No, Fire Release doesn't work on him either!"
Everyone turned their heads only to see Mizuki currently chased by a flaming monster.
"Erhahaha! Don't compare me with those knockoffs! My body is the masterpiece of Holy God himself!"
Despite saying so, he inevitably cried out in agony when enduring the burning flames of Holy God's creation.
Clearly, his ability didn't grant immunity to pain.
"It's definitely similar to Hidan's Immortal Curse Technique, but somehow it feels slightly weaker than his." Seiki observed quietly from a distance.
He could sense that the Bishop's aura weakened somewhat after his heart was pierced. If we do this a hundred times, it might finally kill him.
"Now that I think about it, this ability seems somewhat like Impure World Reincarnation. Physical attacks and regular energy assaults are both ineffective. Then how about soul attacks?" Seiki's hands swiftly formed hand seals.
[Spirit Transformation Technique – Binding Death!]
The Bishop who was "chasing" Mizuki felt something pass through his body. Immediately afterward, he clutched his head and knelt to the ground, letting out anguished cries that tore one's heart apart.
"What kind of ability is this?! Why is my body breaking down?"
"This is impossible! No one should be able to truly harm me!"
Everyone instinctively looked toward Seiki and witnessed a beam of white light returning into his body.
"He was the one who moved first!"
"Incredible! Even against an undead monster like this, Furui Jonin remains unmatched!"
Hearing the ninjas' praise, Bishop roared in frustration, "Damn it! My body isn't perfect yet. If I were in my true Complete Form, there's no way you ninja could've killed me!"
"Just wait! You sinners will surely be punished by the holy… Lord of Demons!"
Seiki, of course, ignored the enemy's curse entirely. Instead, he mused inwardly, "So it's indeed the power of the soul—manifesting reality through soul energy?"
"Back in the original story, Orochimaru's arms had their souls taken by the Shinigami, leaving them completely immobilized. Also, when Minato's soul departed from his body into the afterlife, he no longer had arms at all. It's highly likely that [Truth-Seeking Balls] destroyed the soul of his arms, which explains why his reincarnated form lacks arms as well."
Even Seiki's usually calm heart stirred slightly as he thought further, "If a soul is strong enough, perhaps even a regular human body could achieve such feats?"
At that moment, Asuma's voice came from beside the Blood Pool, "Quick! Come take a look, there's still a child alive over here!"
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