Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

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"Slow down, kid. No one's going to steal your food," Jinghang said, watching the young boy in front of him wolfing down his meal. He reached out and added a chicken drumstick to the boy's bowl.

When it came to dealing with the Jashin Cult, Jinghang knew better than to underestimate them. Just one technique, Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood, had allowed Hidan to take down formidable opponents like Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, and Asuma Sarutobi, a highly skilled jonin. The technique's lethality and its user's immortality made it a terrifying weapon. If one wasn't careful, they could easily fall victim to it.

The problem was that no matter what you did, you couldn't kill these so-called "immortals." They were indeed troublesome foes.

However, given how courteous the village leader had been—offering hot springs and meals, and even a generous reward—Jinghang, as the Kazekage of one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, couldn't very well refuse. That would be unbecoming of his status. So, he agreed and began gathering intelligence.

The Jashin Cult wasn't actually that large, with only around a hundred members, fewer than ten of whom were at the jonin level. The real trouble lay with three individuals known as the "Immortals." That was about all the useful information they had.

Jinghang quickly formulated a battle plan. The operation emphasized speed, giving the enemy no time to react. Jinghang would launch the first wave of attacks, followed by Rasa, who would immediately use his Magnet Release: Gold Dust to seal any immortals before they could perform their rituals. Meanwhile, Pakura and the other ninjas would block all exits, ensuring no one escaped.

The operation went smoothly. Of the three "Immortals," all were sealed by Rasa, while the rest of the cultists were eliminated. They also managed to rescue a child, confiscate a triple-bladed scythe, a retractable spear, and a scroll held in the mouth of the Jashin statue. Additionally, they found over twenty million ryō in cash.

And yes, the rescued child was none other than a young Hidan.

It was clear that the cult leader had been experimenting with creating "Immortals" in batches, though with a very low success rate. Many had died, resulting in only three successes. Unwilling to sacrifice more of his own followers, the leader began abducting children from nearby villages, hoping to brainwash and train them into loyal cultists once the experiments succeeded.

After Jinghang and Rasa swept through the cult like a storm, Rasa noticed during the cleanup that one of the tied-up children was still alive, though unconscious from fear. Jinghang pulled the knife from the boy's chest and seemed lost in thought.

"Bandage him up and bring him back," Jinghang eventually said.

Once everything was settled, Jinghang opened the confiscated scroll. Written in blood on the cover were the words Death Controlling Possessed Blood. As he read through it, he was astonished. The so-called curse technique seemed to go beyond the realm of ninjutsu, resembling something akin to the Reaper Death Seal, involving possession by a deity.

The first half of the scroll detailed how to turn someone into a "messenger of the gods"—an Immortal—through a series of gruesome sacrificial rituals and religious ceremonies. However, the text also noted the extremely low success rate, with fewer than one in a hundred surviving the process. The second half of the scroll described how to perform the technique and its associated rituals.

After finishing the scroll, Jinghang looked at the boy in front of him, who was now happily devouring his meal, and fell into deep thought.

Should I poach him from the Akatsuki?

When reading the original manga, Jinghang had always felt that Hidan's potential was severely underutilized. His combat abilities were significantly nerfed, leaving much room for development.

Take a simple example: what if Hidan learned the Eight Gates Release Formation? Imagine the possibilities! He wouldn't have to worry about the technique's side effects, and even Madara Uchiha might tremble before him. Properly trained, Hidan could become a walking insurance policy—a literal lifesaver.

With this thought, Jinghang smiled and poured a cup of hot tea for the boy, who was now leaning back and burping contentedly. Gently patting the child's back, he asked,

"Hey, kid, I see you've got great potential. How about learning ninjutsu from me?"

"We can't thank you enough for your help, Kazekage-sama. Your assistance has saved Yugakure from ruin," the village leader said, bowing deeply.

"Please, Yugakure leader, there's no need to be so formal. Sand and Hot Springs are neighbors and friends. It was a small matter, truly," Jinghang replied.

"What may be a small matter to you, Kazekage-sama, is a matter of life and death for us. Please, allow me to host a proper banquet in your honor."

"No need, no need. I deeply appreciate your hospitality, but I must continue to Konoha to finalize an alliance. Staying here any longer would delay us," Jinghang said, politely declining.

"Ah, the alliance is of utmost importance, of course. But, Kazekage-sama, what should we do with these three?" The village leader's face was full of worry as he pointed to the three individuals bound like pigs for slaughter—the so-called "Immortals."

"These people were originally rogue ninjas from Yugakure. Naturally, you should handle them as you see fit," Jinghang replied.

"You misunderstand me, Kazekage-sama," the leader said, lowering his voice. "These individuals... they can't be killed. They don't die by the blade or burn in the fire. And after years of brainwashing by the Jashin Cult, their minds are deeply corrupted. I truly don't know how to deal with them. I was hoping you could advise me."

At this, Jinghang called over Pakura and whispered a few instructions in her ear.

"Magnet Release: Shield Drill Technique!"

A massive cylindrical block of iron sand rose into the air and began drilling into the ground. In no time, it had created a pit over three meters deep.

With a signal from Jinghang, Rasa delivered three powerful kicks, sending the Immortals tumbling into the pit. They writhed like worms, their muffled groans audible despite their gagged mouths.

"These cultists have committed unspeakable crimes, harming children and spreading evil. They deserve this punishment! Bury them!" Jinghang commanded.

The accompanying earth-release ninjas quickly filled the pit until it was level with the ground.

"Magnet Release: Iron Lion!"

"Scorch Release: Iron Refinement!"

Jinghang formed a massive black iron lion in the air, while Pakura used her Scorch Release to heat it until it glowed red-hot.

"Boom!"

The molten iron lion was fused into a solid block, which Jinghang used to seal the pit.

"This iron block weighs over a thousand pounds. As long as no one moves it, those Immortals can't cause any more trouble, no matter how unkillable they are!"

The Yugakure leader expressed endless gratitude and presented Jinghang with numerous gifts, which he graciously accepted before bidding farewell.

"What do you think of this young man?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing with his back to his advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, posed the question.

At this time, Hiruzen was in his prime—tall, strong, with sharp, piercing eyes. He puffed on his pipe, as if his mind were working at lightning speed.

"A very capable young man," Homura said succinctly.

"We've analyzed his situation and simulated various scenarios. Every decision he's made aligns with the optimal course of action," Koharu added.

"Oh? Impressive," Hiruzen said with a chuckle, turning around and tamping down the tobacco in his pipe.

"No wonder even Danzo fell to him," he mused.

"We unanimously agree that an alliance with Sunagakure is in our best interest," Koharu continued.

"Go on, explain," Hiruzen said, intrigued.

"By allying with Sand, we can withdraw our forces from the Land of Rain, avoiding a two-front war. Konoha will no longer have to worry about pressure from the west and can focus on defending against Kirigakure to the east and Kumogakure to the northeast. This significantly reduces our overall defensive burden. Furthermore, according to the latest intelligence, Iwagakure has fully entered the Land of Rain and has already clashed with Danzo's forces."

"Ōnoki is insane!" Hiruzen fumed, slamming his fist on the table.

"Order Choza Akimichi and Hizashi Hyuga to lead reinforcements immediately. This time, we'll make sure Ōnoki remembers the pain. As for that young man..." Hiruzen leaned back in his chair.

"Let's give him a grand welcome ceremony!"