Chapter 14: The Jashinist
"In that case, this meeting is adjourned!"
With those final words, the Deva Path instructed Konan to hand two identical scrolls to Uchiha Naoki and Uchiha Itachi before his projection, along with all the others, faded from view using the Phantom Magic Lantern Body Technique.
Unfurling the scroll, Uchiha Naoki couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. It contained nothing related to their mission targets. Instead, it detailed three exclusive ninjutsu of the Akatsuki organization: the Phantom Magic Lantern Body Technique, the Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragon Nine Seals, and the Five-Seal Barrier.
"Give me a few days to repair my puppets," Sasori said, closing his own mission scroll.
Uchiha Naoki nodded. "That works well. I also need time to familiarize myself with these new jutsu."
If not for the Akatsuki's strict rule that missions required two-person teams, he would have preferred to handle this task alone.
Exiting the Akatsuki's main base, Uchiha Naoki had just parted ways with Sasori and started up a long staircase when he suddenly stopped. A cold, predatory presence blocked his path.
In front of him, Orochimaru stared with naked greed, his long tongue flicking out to wet his lips. "A body possessing the Sharingan… it's a perfect specimen, no matter how you look at it," he hissed. "Since Uchiha Itachi remains out of reach, you will make a fine consolation prize."
Every muscle in Naoki's body tensed. Orochimaru, even in his current form, was on the same general level as Sasori. While perhaps not as powerful as his later "White Snake" mode, he was undoubtedly a formidable Kage-level opponent—an enemy that would require Naoki to fight with everything he had. This was true even after his Magma Fruit development had progressed to 50% following his battles with Obito and Sasori.
"Heh. That's exactly what I was hoping for," Uchiha Naoki grinned back, a fierce light in his eyes. "True strength is only comprehended on the brink of death. Perhaps a battle with you is just what I need to improve."
His fruit abilities were advancing, but his Observation Haki also needed refinement, and that required combat with the truly strong.
"Oh ho? Such arrogance, boy!" Orochimaru's slit-pupiled eyes narrowed dangerously at Naoki's calm and fearless demeanor.
"Then let me see just how strong you are!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his neck stretched out impossibly, his head shooting toward Naoki like a striking serpent, his fanged maw opening wide to bite down.
The speed was even greater than Sasori's initial attacks. So this is one of the Legendary Sannin, Naoki thought, his heart clenching. His body dissolved into magma, allowing the snake head to pass through him harmlessly. Simultaneously, his own hand, glowing with intense heat, shot out to grasp Orochimaru's extended neck.
Sizzle!
The scorching palm seared the flesh, but Naoki's face showed no triumph. Just as expected, in the next moment, Orochimaru's form dissolved into a puddle of mud. A Mud Clone!
Orochimaru reappeared a distance away, but before he could launch another attack, a deep, raspy voice cut through the air from behind him. "Orochimaru. Is your skin itching again?"
It was Sasori, who had turned back. His sudden appearance made Orochimaru freeze his movements immediately. While he wasn't overly afraid of Uchiha Naoki alone, facing the troublesome Sasori as well was a different matter. He could no longer move against Naoki.
"How fortunate you are… Naoki-kun," Orochimaru chuckled hoarsely, a look of profound unwillingness on his face before his body melted entirely into the ground, leaving no trace.
There was no advantage to be gained by facing the combined might of Uchiha Naoki and the Scarlet Sand Scorpion.
"Brother Sasori, thank you for that," Naoki said, letting his chakra settle as he turned to thank the puppeteer behind him.
"After the meeting, I sensed Orochimaru's gaze was off. I guessed right—that fellow intended you harm," Sasori's voice emanated from Hiruko, tinged with a note of gravity. "Orochimaru is not an easy opponent. Deterring him alone is difficult for me as well. It was only because of your considerable strength that we managed to force him back."
Uchiha Naoki smiled. "My thanks to you nonetheless, Brother Sasori. Otherwise, I would have been in for a brutal fight today."
Sasori dismissed it as a trivial matter.
Four Days Later - Land of Hot Water
"Hey there, little brother! I see you have a strong foundation. Interested in joining our religion?"
On a bustling main street, Uchiha Naoki and Sasori, who were making their way through the crowd, were abruptly blocked by a grey-haired man with a slicked-back undercut. He wore a trendy, furry-hooded jacket and carried a massive, triple-bladed scythe.
"A religion?" Uchiha Naoki quirked an eyebrow at the question, exchanging a brief glance with Sasori beside him. He tilted up the bamboo hat he wore for disguise. "What kind of religion?"
The man's face immediately broke into a wanton, flamboyant grin. "A religion where you can kill without consequence! In fact, it pleases Lord Jashin even more! How about it? Sounds great, right? Want to join?"
Uchiha Naoki took a step forward, his smile bright and seemingly innocent. "It does sound really good…"
Just as the man's face lit up with the joy of a successful recruitment, Naoki's tone shifted abruptly. "But I refuse!"
The man's jubilant expression froze, twisting into one of dark irritation. "Hey, you little bastard… are you making a fool out of me?"
Uchiha Naoki shook his head slowly, his gaze sharpening as it locked onto the man before him. "The serial killer and cultist, Hidan. It's you."
Hearing his name, the man—Hidan—didn't seem concerned, instead spreading his arms wide in a fervent gesture. "Murderer? Don't call it that! I'm making offerings to Lord Jashin! It's a normal religious activity!"
"Ah, forget it!" he continued, his mood shifting with psychotic speed. "Since you don't want to join, I'll just offer you to Lord Jashin instead!"
With that, he swung his massive scythe in a wide, deadly arc, rushing toward Uchiha Naoki with startling speed. His thought process was clearly not that of a sane individual.
Shunk!
Uchiha Naoki made no move to dodge, and the scythe tore through his waist. Hidan started to grin in triumph, but the expression froze as he looked closer. He hastily backpedaled.
Uchiha Naoki's body had transformed into flowing lava where it was cut. The severed sections simply melted back together, healing seamlessly. The scythe that had passed through him was now melted and deformed, dripping molten metal.
"Brother Sasori, keep watch. Let me test out this guy's weird abilities myself," Naoki said, his eyes never leaving Hidan.
Hearing this, Sasori, who had been preparing to use poison to end the fight quickly, halted his movements. For him, no matter how strange an ability, it was usually equal before his potent toxins—their leader, "Zero," being the sole exception. But if Uchiha Naoki wanted to take the lead, he had no objection.
"You've got a pretty strange trick there, kid!" Hidan remarked, licking his lips as he eyed Naoki.
"You're not so normal yourself, Mr. Hidan," Uchiha Naoki shot back, his eyes glinting as he spoke the name clearly.
That's right! This grey-haired man with the slicked-back undercut was precisely Uchiha Naoki's mission target: Hidan!
"To know me so well… it seems you came prepared!" Hidan swung his scythe, his gaze turning sharp. He lunged forward again with a serpentine motion, the scythe whipping through the air with the speed of the death god himself, making it incredibly difficult to evade.
Clang!
But this blow was also blocked by Uchiha Naoki. His right arm glowed with intense heat as he grabbed the scythe's blade directly. The metal immediately began to glow red-hot, on the verge of melting completely.
His temperature is significantly higher than during our fight, Sasori observed silently from the sidelines. His growth rate is astounding, Naoki.
Uchiha Naoki's grip was like a vice, preventing Hidan from pulling the scythe free. Gritting his teeth in frustration, Hidan was forced to abandon his weapon and leap back.
But Uchiha Naoki was already upon him, his glowing red arm pulling back for a devastating punch. "Hound Dog, Chase the Red Lotus!"