Kabuto adjusted his rain-soaked glasses and replied with the same gentle smile, "The talks between [[Kumogakure]] and [[Konoha]] failed again. Both sides are tired of the war, and it seems [[Konoha]] will launch an all-out attack tomorrow morning, while [[Kumogakure]] thinks the same."
[[Hidan]]'s eyes lit up, and he licked his lips as if seeing mountains of corpses. He then looked at Kabuto eagerly and asked, "Should we help [[Konoha]] kill [[Kumogakure]] again like last time?"
Kabuto bowed slightly. "You are the cult leader. All actions are yours to decide."
"Fine, fine," [[Hidan]] said, curling his lips. "For your sake, I will try not to go after the [[Konoha Ninja]]." He stressed the word try, with a flash of cruelty in his eyes.
Kabuto stepped back and dropped to one knee, lowering his head deeply. "Wise as always, Cult Leader. Your decision will lead us to rebirth."
As he spoke, hundreds of [[Jashin Cult]] followers knelt in unison, heads bowed. "Wise Cult Leader!" their voices roared together through the rain.
The boy froze, then knelt as well without thinking. [[Hidan]] glanced at Kabuto, knowing well that this man did not truly believe in [[Lord Jashin]]. Still, to fulfill [[Lord Jashin]]'s task of expanding the [[Jashin Cult]] and spreading its glory across [[Ninja World]], he needed Kabuto.
[[Hidan]] was not foolish, only lazy, preferring killing to thinking. He knew his strength lay in slaughter, not in building a cult or gathering information. Before meeting Kabuto, he had made a mess of the [[Jashin Cult]] and apologized daily to [[Lord Jashin]].
When he first met the sneaky man with glasses, he had wanted to kill him outright. But the sacred weapon "[[Silian Tongzi]]" granted by [[Lord Jashin]] had stopped him and guided him to spare Kabuto and bring him into the [[Jashin Cult]]. Time proved [[Lord Jashin]]'s will was correct, as the cult grew stronger under Kabuto's management.
Now, as cult leader, [[Hidan]]'s role was to display divine favor. His gaze fell on the trembling boy behind Kabuto, clutching the black bread. "Come here."
The command was calm but absolute. The boy stiffened and looked to Kabuto for help, but Kabuto only smiled and nodded encouragingly. Under hundreds of fervent gazes, the boy rose with leaden legs and stepped forward until he collapsed to his knees before [[Hidan]], head bowed low.
"Lift your head," [[Hidan]] said. "Open your mouth."
The boy obeyed like a puppet. [[Hidan]] slid the tiny "[[Silian Tongzi]]" into his palm and lightly cut his own hand. Blood flowed out, releasing a strange sweet scent instead of the usual metallic smell.
He held his bleeding palm over the boy's mouth. Drops fell one by one, and when the first touched the boy's tongue, his throat swallowed on its own. Warmth and sweetness spread through his body, hunger fading, strength returning, and even old wounds healing before his eyes.
"What is this?" the boy gasped in shock.
The followers watching trembled with excitement, envy turning into fanatic devotion. [[Hidan]] withdrew his hand, the wound closing instantly. This was the miracle of [[Lord Jashin]], the power of "[[Silian Tongzi]]."
After asking the boy's name and hearing "Yelang," [[Hidan]] declared him a follower and invited him to bring his family. Then he raised his voice to the crowd, stirring their fury and faith. When the chanting ended, hundreds raised their hands and prayed in unison.
Kabuto bowed as well, murmuring along while his eyes remained calm. He knew why the [[Jashin Cult]] grew so fast, because war had crushed [[Land of Hot Water]] and left people with no other way to live. As the voices echoed, he sighed inwardly, knowing there was no turning back now, and could only hope the war would end soon so the [[Jashin Cult]] could finally be dealt with.
[[Land of Hot Water Border]], [[Kumogakure Camp]].
The air was heavy with dampness and sweat, mixed with a smell of blood that seemed soaked into the ground. Inside the tent, the light was dim, with only a single lamp casting a weak glow to push back the darkness. Its unsteady light fell across tired faces, making them flicker between shadow and pale yellow.
Several [[Kumogakure Ninja]] lay or sat crowded together on simple bedrolls. No one spoke, and only deep breathing, the sound of someone turning over, and faint sighs could be heard. Tomorrow, they would go back to the battlefield again.
That thought weighed like chains on every [[Kumogakure Ninja]] present. Weariness of war spread silently, eating away at their will. Even without words, the feeling pressed on each person's chest.
At that moment, a figure on a bedroll in the corner suddenly sat upright. He gasped hard, as if dragged out of deep water, his chest heaving. Cold sweat soaked the messy hair on his forehead and ran down his pale [[White]] face.
His bloodshot eyes were filled with raw fear, his pupils shaking uncontrollably. It was another nightmare. The same nightmare again.
In the dream, he was back on scorched ground stained red with blood, explosions roaring in his ears. He heard the screams of dying comrades and the dull sounds of [[Kunai]] and weapons tearing into flesh. Countless wide eyes stared at him, full of hatred, as if trying to drag him down with them.
At the end of the nightmare, he saw it again. A figure standing within thunderclouds, lifting lightning high above, and comrades burned into blackened shapes. Around them, [[Konoha Ninja]] closed in.
"[[Nurui]]… [[Nurui]]!"
A low, concerned voice sounded beside him. Still half trapped in the nightmare, [[Nurui]] slowly turned his head, his gaze empty and unfocused. Seeing a familiar face, his mind began to clear, but his body started to tremble and no sound came from his throat.
He remembered now. Tomorrow, he truly had to return to the front line. Everything from that nightmare would happen again.
Fear wrapped around his heart like a cold snake, making it hard to breathe. He had not always been like this. He had once been an elite [[Chunin]] from [[Kumogakure]], young and fearless, proud to fight for the honor of [[Kumogakure]].
Every charge and every bloody clash had thrilled him. But the war had dragged on too long. So long that he could not remember how many people he had killed.
It had gone on so long that he could not remember how many familiar comrades had fallen beside him. Each time he left the battlefield, the sounds of slaughter and the sight of torn bodies followed him into his dreams. The eyes filled with [[Zetsu Wang]] and hatred haunted him night after night.
His pride in his courage was worn down at the edge of death again and again. His hot blood turned cold and numb after watching too many companions die. Then, that day came, the day "[[Yunchuan Hyuga]]" appeared.
He saw hundreds of [[Kumogakure Ninja]] burned to charcoal in a single strike. He saw the commander, Lord [[Samui]], kneeling and screaming in agony. He saw Lord [[Yugito Nii]], the [[Two-Tails Jinchuriki]], crying out in helpless rage.
From that day on, all that remained in [[Nurui]]'s heart toward [[Konoha Ninja]] and this war was deep fear. Along with it came disgust and [[Zetsu Wang]] toward endless killing. He did not know when the war would end, only that each day on the battlefield he might become an unclaimed corpse.
"[[Nurui]], are you all right?"