Chapter 127: Immortal Body
Information related to Naruto was given top priority within Konoha.
Not to mention, this matter was also related to the "Rinnegan."
At a high-level meeting in Konoha, Kakashi had a headache.
The intelligence report brought him a huge problem.
"Absurd!" Koharu Utatane slammed the table. "What does he think he is?"
"He's even planning to spread it across the Five Great Nations."
"That's..."
Kakashi spoke calmly: "The intelligence from the Land of Lightning indicates that Cloud Village was beaten into submission by Naruto. They are already preparing to seal off the village and reduce interaction with the outside world."
"However..."
"If Naruto hands this intelligence over to them, I think they would be more than happy to spread it across the Five Great Nations."
Koharu was taken aback and pressed her lips together.
A slight smile curved beneath Kakashi’s mask.
Being the Hokage was far from pleasant, especially being suppressed by these old folks, making him feel powerless. The only small joy he found was in seeing their speechless expressions whenever Naruto was mentioned.
"But this news is too abrupt," Danzo said, shaking his head in disapproval. "Releasing intelligence so rashly without verification would damage Konoha's reputation."
He paused, and his gaze and tone became somber.
"Moreover, isn’t he no longer a ninja? Using such an almost commanding tone to direct us..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
The door was pushed open.
"No, we must follow Naruto's instructions." Jiraiya burst in, full of energy. "I'll personally guarantee this matter."
Danzo turned to look.
Homura Mitokado frowned: "Jiraiya, do you understand what you're saying?"
"Although the Rinnegan is revered as one of the Three Great Dojutsu, no one has ever..." Koharu Utatane shook her head.
Jiraiya said gravely, "It does exist."
"I’ve seen it with my own eyes."
"And it matches the information Naruto provided, specifically in Rain Village."
Danzo abruptly stood up, his single eye fierce. His mind worked rapidly only in moments like this: "During the Second Ninja World War?"
"Why didn’t you..."
Jiraiya tilted his head and glared at him: "Shut up, Danzo!"
"Now is not the time for this."
Danzo shrank back into his seat.
"Notify the other villages." Jiraiya looked at Kakashi, "Hokage-sama, please issue the order."
Kakashi stood up and walked toward Jiraiya: "Then, as Hokage, I order you, Jiraiya, to take full responsibility for this matter."
Jiraiya accepted.
Kakashi took a deep breath.
For the first time…
He managed to wrest some initiative away from these old folks.
He looked out the window at the continuous rain.
It felt as if the endless rain from Rain Village had drifted into Konoha.
A few days later.
Naruto arrived at the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire.
Standing on a tree, he crossed his hands, using a jutsu he hadn't employed in a long time.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
With several puffs, countless "Narutos" appeared one after another.
Naruto smiled and waved his hand: "Begin the operation."
The clones responded enthusiastically and instantly scattered in all directions.
Kakuzu stared in disbelief: "What are you planning?"
Naruto glanced at him without offering any explanation.
This was a simple math problem. Given the length of the Land of Rain's border and the range of the Mind's Eye of the Kagura being "fifty kilometers," how many shadow clones would be needed to monitor every inch of the Land of Rain's border?
After setting everything up.
Naruto jumped down from the tree.
"Uzumaki Naruto, are you ready to listen to the divine instruction from the gods?" As soon as he entered the temporary base, Hidan couldn't wait to poke his head out. "You've been putting me off for days; it's about time you made a decision, right?"
"I think you'd be a great fit for our cult."
Naruto placed his hand on his head.
During this time, he had confirmed that this guy had a very unique constitution.
He had an extremely powerful regenerative ability. The scar left on his face by “Hadō #31. Shakkahō (赤火砲, Red Fire Cannon)" had completely healed within a few days, even his teeth had regrown.
It was comparable to the Uzumaki clan’s constitution.
But…
It was certain that this guy was not from the Uzumaki clan, and had no blood relation to him or Karin.
This ability must have come from the "blessing" bestowed by that evil god?
"Don’t be so rough," Hidan’s voice grew quieter. "We can talk this over."
"What jutsu were you trying to use on me that day?" Naruto asked him. "You and that other guy went through all that trouble just to cause me some superficial damage?"
Hidan's eyes lit up: "That brings us back to my faith!"
Naruto squinted his eyes, his expression dangerous.
Hidan hurriedly explained: "I'm serious!"
"This is related to the blessing granted to me by the Evil God."
Naruto released his hand.
Hidan began a long-winded explanation, going on for over two hours.
The two Nine-Tails were impatient and went out to play.
Karin forced herself to stay by Naruto's side.
Most of this was nonsense.
The useful information, in summary, is that Hidan joined a secret religious organization in "Hot Water Village" and underwent their experiments, becoming the only person favored by the evil god and granted the ability of "immortality."
Their strategy was to extract even a single drop of blood from Naruto. As long as there was "a drop of blood," Hidan could use his jutsu called "Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood."
Both sides would suffer the same damage.
"How about that? The power granted by the evil god is amazing," Hidan's eyes gleamed. "Though I may be weak, with this ability, no one can kill me!"
"You're the only one, a freak like you, whose attack couldn't pierce my skin."
"But even if you're that strong, so what?"
"As long as I get a drop of your blood, you'll die with no place for burial."
Karin's scalp tingled as she listened, and the writing on the scroll trembled slightly.
This was truly an extremely evil and bizarre ability.
"Are you really completely immortal?" Naruto scrutinized him.
Hidan nodded, speaking proudly: "Of course!"
"No matter what kind of attack, it won't kill me, even if my head is cut off or my heart is crushed..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
A flash of red light.
With a "snap," Hidan's head fell to the ground.
No blood spurted from the severed neck, rendering the jutsu Naruto had prepared ineffective.
The head on the ground started shouting: "I won’t die like this."
"But it hurts!"
"If you want to experiment, at least give me a heads-up so I can prepare."
"It really hurts!"
Naruto picked up the head, holding it at eye level: "You're really still alive."
"Don't pull my hair! It's hard to style!" Hidan kept grumbling, but with less bravado toward Naruto, "And it hurts too, you're tearing my scalp, put me down."
Naruto ignored him, feeling the aura from his body, deep in thought.
On the head and body... there was no strange connection between them.
"Can you control your body?" he asked.
Hidan pouted: "What kind of question is that? How could anyone control their body after losing their head?"
"Of course not!"
"Sew my head back on; it'll heal in a few days."
Naruto nodded.
So he can't control his body...
He tossed the head aside and reached for the headless body.
"Can you still feel this?" Naruto asked as he made a cut on the arm.
Hidan yelled: "Of course not!"
"My head is separated from my body, okay!"
So, the head is the key.
Naruto thought for a moment, then took out a section of the Eight-Tails' tail and placed it on the headless torso.
"What are you trying to do?" Hidan's eyes filled with terror.
Naruto softly replied: "Of course, I want to test the limits of your immortality."
"Even though it's just a piece of the tail, it's enough to make you a jinchūriki."
He extended his hand, and chakra surged.
Using the Four Symbols Seal, he reversed it, sealing this part of the tailed beast's power within Hidan's body.
Karin handed over Hidan's head, carefully sewing the wound with a needle and thread she found in an old ninja tool pouch.
Once the head and body made contact, they immediately became whole. Hidan tried to struggle, but the Adamantine Chains immediately bound his body completely.
"Don't move," Naruto said gently as chakra flowed. "This is my first time conducting human experiments."
"It makes me quite nervous."
Hidan cursed and swore.
This time, it didn’t matter at all.
Naruto fully released the Four Symbols Seal and removed the Eight-Tails' tail.
Hidan's life force rapidly drained, and his body withered and shriveled before their eyes.
But, his head remained intact, though his lack of strength made his cursing feeble.
Naruto stared at him.
Even like this, he wouldn't die?
Karin was also shocked, recording every one of Hidan's life signs and taking flesh samples for later analysis.
So, this is a power akin to a "rule"?
No matter the state of his body, "Hidan is immortal," just like "the sun rises in the east," it's one of the rules of this world.
Have I finally found traces of a real god's existence?
Naruto focused on his research.
Meanwhile, in Rain Village...
The construction of this village is in a style very different from other villages. Every building is wrapped in iron, and the smell of rust mixed with the stench of stagnant water permeates the air.
In a tall building in the center of the village, a massive head with its tongue sticking out was erected, and an orange-haired figure sat on top of it, overlooking the entire village.
"Zetsu sent word that Naruto has informed the Five Great Nations," a woman with light purple hair approached, speaking softly. Her voice was barely audible over the rain. "He has also arrived at the border of the Land of Rain, but has no intention of entering."
"He even used shadow clones to completely seal off the border."
The orange-haired man turned around, his face covered with piercings, making him look like a puppet: "Konan, I understand."
"This is truly an unexpected decision."
Konan murmured, "This could be troublesome."
The orange-haired man didn't speak, only gazed into the distance.