Simu watched the middle-aged man before him dancing his hands with great interest. The man wore a frantic smile, his face filled with the fanatical expression of a long-held dream finally coming true.
Simu was curious to see what kind of jutsu the Leader would use to plunder the abilities from his body. Furthermore, he was equally expectant regarding any technique capable of stealing the powers of others.
"This is the jutsu I prepared specifically for you lot..."
The Leader's wide-open eyes burst with fanatical light in the dim room.
"Return Lord Jashin's power to me obediently! Kamizuki Simu!"
"Living Corpse Reincarnation!"
Following the Leader's roar, countless brown scales suddenly surfaced on his skin.
His mouth tore open wider with every shout, and his pupils transformed into reptilian slits. Cold and terrifying, he looked like a monster.
Immediately afterward, his neck elongated rapidly. In an instant, the man transformed into a giant brown serpent. He opened his massive maw and swallowed the weakened Simu in a single gulp.
Darkness enveloped Simu's consciousness. Soon, a powerful surge of spiritual power flooded his clone, attempting to annihilate the soul residing within.
To occupy and dominate my body by transferring his soul into it and erasing my will, all to obtain the abilities granted by Jashin?
Under this mental assault, Simu's soul remained as still as a well of ancient water, showing no reaction.
Had this been a few days ago, Simu might have been moved. However, after increasing the Jashin Religion's reputation and successfully promoting to Level 2, this kind of mental attack was virtually useless against him.
Nevertheless, Simu decided to remain a bystander to better understand this fascinating jutsu. He withdrew the soul residing in the clone, allowing the Leader to successfully occupy his body.
The previously glazed-eyed and drowsy "Simu" suddenly snapped his eyes open, his face flashing with wild joy.
"It worked!"
"I actually succeeded!"
Controlling Simu's body, the Leader crawled out from the belly of the giant brown snake.
Ignoring the disgusting slime clinging to him, he stared at his hands in excitement.
"I really did it!"
With a single thought, the centipede Bikaku sprouted from his waist. It moved as easily as his own limbs, as if it had always been part of him!
Immediately following this, he tested the Antman, Mantis, and Spider Kagune.
The sensation made him even more exhilarated, leaving him in a state of euphoria.
"Is this the power bestowed by Lord Jashin?!"
The Leader could no longer suppress the excitement in his heart. After several minutes of testing, his mood finally began to settle.
"Heh, that fellow Orochimaru actually said performing this jutsu would meet resistance from the opponent's soul. I didn't feel a thing."
The Leader looked at his fair, delicate hands and muttered to himself, "Is Simu's soul too weak? Or do I have an unexpected talent for soul-based techniques?"
"Or was Lord Jashin helping me in secret?"
The more the Leader thought, the more excited he became. He vaguely began to feel like he was the chosen protagonist of a novel.
Suddenly, the door to the room was kicked open.
"Simu! Didn't you say you were going to show me something good? Let's go!"
A figure burst into the room; it was Hidan with his signature silver slicked-back hair.
Hearing Hidan's voice, the Leader's scalp instinctively crawled.
However, he quickly realized something was different. He was no longer the bullied Leader; he was Kamizuki Simu! This body possessed the terrifying power to decapitate Hidan at will.
With such power, why would he, the grand Leader of the Jashin Religion, fear a mere brat like Hidan?
What a joke!
To be safe, however, he decided to wait a few days to get used to the body before teaching this annoying kid a lesson.
Upon entering, Hidan saw a giant brown snake and Simu crawling out of it. He frowned in disgust, a hint of confusion surfacing on his face.
"What is this giant snake?"
"Uh..."
The Leader hesitated for a moment but decided to tell the truth. "It's the Leader."
Hidan's eyes immediately lit up with excitement. "You finally made a move on the Leader? I've been annoyed with that old geezer for ages!"
The Leader's fist tightened.
He had taken Hidan in and raised him since he was a child. Even though they hadn't met many times and lacked an emotional bond, he had primarily done it to cultivate a follower. Was it not a bit much to be so eager for his death?!
However, a thick aura of resentment soon surged from Hidan.
This caused the Leader's fist to slowly relax. It seemed raising Hidan all these years was worth something after all.
Unexpectedly, Hidan pulled out his pitch-black spear and pointed it at Simu's neck, shouting sharply, "You bastard Simu! You didn't invite me for something as blood-pumping as killing the Leader!"
Leader: ...
Nevertheless, to maintain his persona, "Simu" explained, "The Leader attacked me suddenly. I had no choice but to fight back..."
Halfway through his sentence, Hidan's spear was already thrusting toward his neck without hesitation.
Startled, "Simu" scrambled backward. The various Kagune he had just mastered entered combat mode instantly, aiming at Hidan.
"Hidan, what are you doing?"
Hidan's face was as dark as a leaden sky, like a heavy storm cloud brewing thunder.
"Simu"—or rather, the Leader—had never seen such an expression of rage on Hidan.
In the past, no matter how Hidan acted up—even when punished, hung up and beaten, or decapitated by Simu—he was always laughing or just throwing a fit.
He had never looked like this: so dark, so terrifying.
"Where is Kamizuki Simu?"
Hidan looked up. His eyes were as calm as an iceberg. Beneath that iceberg, however, was an endless, raging tide!
"Simu" explained with a look of feigned confusion, "Hidan, what are you talking about? Am I not right in front of you?"
Hearing this, Hidan suddenly burst into laughter. He laughed until he doubled over; he laughed until tears streamed down his face.
"Hahaha, hahahaha..."
"I'm asking you... where exactly is Kamizuki Simu?"
Hidan finally straightened his body. Terrifying lightning threatened to erupt at any moment.
Seeing that he could no longer fool the boy, "Simu" stopped pretending. He said candidly, "Since you've seen through it, I might as well tell you."
"Simu" swayed the Bikaku behind him like a trophy, speaking with a hint of smugness, "Kamizuki Simu's body has already been occupied by me. As for his soul..."
"It likely vanished into thin air under my mental attack."
The corners of "Simu's" mouth curled into a slight smile.
"But I'm curious. How did you realize I wasn't the real Kamizuki Simu?"
Hidan quietly gripped the spear in his hand and said coldly, "That bastard Simu wouldn't explain anything to me like a groveling dog."
"And..."
Hidan looked up and kicked off the ground, charging at his enemy.
"Don't use that guy's body to make such a disgusting face!"
At this moment, the rage in Hidan—enough to swallow the entire world—completely transformed into terrifying lightning and exploded!