**Drizzling Rain**
The drizzling rain seemed endless, creating ripples on the lake's surface.
The gloomy sky appeared even more oppressive as if it would never change color.
Until a frog's croak suddenly broke the silence.
The next moment, an arm emerged from the frog's mouth.
Then, a white-haired man, covered in wet, sticky mucus, crawled out.
He looked at the distinctly styled village ahead, a confident smile on his lips:
"Infiltration successful!"
---
Countless huge pipes crisscrossed, and giant statues with grotesque masks loomed menacingly!
On the high tower of Amegakure, Pain suddenly turned to the calm-faced woman beside him:
"A familiar chakra..."
"Our teacher has arrived."
Konan's eyes showed a moment of recognition, then she replied in a low voice:
"So, what do you plan to do?"
Pain didn't hesitate, his tone carrying a solemn air:
"For that future, some sacrifices are necessary."
"Jiraiya... is an obstacle."
Konan lowered her head slightly, not arguing.
She suddenly thought of Yahiko, wondering if things would be different if he were still alive.
"Should we deal with him now?" she asked softly.
Pain gazed down at Amegakure, his eyes unmoved:
"After all, he's our teacher; let's let him live a bit longer."
"The meeting will be even more 'surprising.'"
Konan nodded, saying nothing more.
The tower fell silent again.
But not long after, Pain frowned:
"It seems Jiraiya's ninja skills have declined over the years."
"He's heading towards Hidan."
Konan looked up, surprised:
"They've completed their mission?"
Pain nodded:
"They returned last night but didn't leave immediately."
"Hidan is performing a ritual today; it seems Jiraiya will stumble upon it."
"You should go, Konan. Hidan and Kakuzu won't be a match for Jiraiya. Lead him here."
Konan nodded, disappearing into paper scraps without making any hand signs.
---
**Hidan's Shrine.**
This was Amegakure's forbidden area, where Pain had agreed to let Hidan build a shrine for his rituals every three months.
It was to summon the evil god and gain power.
But Pain thought it was just Hidan indulging himself.
After watching several rituals, there was no sign of the evil god.
Hidan's claimed powers seemed more like 'wishful thinking.'
In the shrine, Kakuzu sat, sorting through bounty notices from the underground black market.
Hidan, covered in black oil paint, sat cross-legged in a strange symbol, bleeding from wounds, chanting incomprehensible words.
Kakuzu doubted even Hidan understood them, but he chose to stay silent for harmony.
He quickly picked a target, folded the papers, and stuffed them in his clothes. He then turned to Hidan and suggested:
"Maybe you should try using heads or organs as offerings; it might work."
Hidan shouted angrily:
"Don't talk nonsense, Kakuzu! What offering is better than myself!?"
"And didn't I tell you not to talk during my rituals? You forgot again!"
Kakuzu shrugged, choosing to stay silent, closing his eyes to rest.
But within ten seconds, his eyes snapped open, and he stood up, staring at Hidan!
The next second, an eerie humming filled the air!
The evil god statue on the altar trembled, emitting a dark red glow, exuding a malevolent aura!
Hidan was stunned, then excitedly shouted, fanatical:
"Great Evil God, you finally heard your humble follower's call!"
"Come, please consume me and make me part of you!"
"Hahahaha!"
Kakuzu couldn't believe it, stepping back!
How was this possible!?
Could there really be an evil god!?
The malevolent aura made his skin crawl!
At that moment, it wasn't just him feeling this way!
Jiraiya, transformed into a frog and gathering intelligence outside the shrine, saw everything!
"I can't wait!"
Though he didn't believe in an evil god, the scene before him was too dangerous to ignore!
The next second, he released his transformation, hands quickly forming seals!
"Fire Release: Big Flame Bullet!!!"
*Boom!*
A massive fireball, many times the size of the shrine, swallowed everything in an instant, illuminating the sky!
At the same moment!
Konan, flying in the sky, saw this and her eyes turned cold!
She started forming seals to attack Jiraiya!
"Paper Release..."
But halfway through, a chilling laugh erupted from the flames!
"Space is loosening...?"
"Hahahaha, heaven is helping me!"
"I can feel the nourishing flesh and delicious souls!"
"My most devout follower, for summoning me, I will reward you by consuming you."
The flames parted, revealing a skyward blood-red glow!
Kakuzu emerged from the fire, three masks on his back shattered.
But he didn't hesitate, running away!
"Run?"
"Haha, since you love running, I'll eat you as an appetizer!"
Disgusting tendrils shot out from the blood-red light, quickly catching up!
Kakuzu's scalp tingled!
He realized escape was impossible, so he quickly turned and formed seals!
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
A mask on his shoulder released sharp lightning, hitting the tendrils and rapidly spreading!
But the tendrils, marked with patterns, ignored the lightning, grabbing Kakuzu, his threads failing to break free.
He was dragged back!
Jiraiya didn't stand idle!
But he didn't rescue Kakuzu, instead seizing the moment to attack!
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
With massive chakra, the burning shrine turned into a giant swamp, sinking!
In the sky, Konan reacted!
Though she couldn't understand why Hidan summoned an evil god or monster, she couldn't let Kakuzu die!
The organization depended on him for money!
She flapped her wings, paper shurikens raining down!
The tendrils immune to lightning were wounded by the physical attack, releasing Kakuzu!
But he screamed in pain!
Purple blood from the tendrils dripped on Kakuzu, dissolving his skin and threads, highly corrosive!
In breaths, the remaining two masks melted.
Kakuzu was dead.
The tendrils dragged his body into the blood-red light, followed by horrifying chewing sounds.
---
**PS:**
Hidan's zombie form and curse powers don't seem like bloodline limits.
So, here's an evil god monster.
With Balder's world invasion loosening space, Hidan's summoning coincided, letting the evil god squeeze through.
Next chapter, the divine envoy descends.
---