SWNOVELXO Chapter 100: Chapter 100 – Coup
"What exactly is this Evil Cult?"
Sakumo frowned. The name alone already gave off a sinister feel.
The female Hot Spring Village ninja quickly added, "They're nothing but a group of fanatics who worship a so-called evil deity, glorifying slaughter and bloodshed. Their beliefs contradict the very foundation of our Land of Hot Springs. They often carry out small-scale terrorist attacks. Once, in the worst incident, they slaughtered dozens of families in one of our small villages."
As she mentioned the Evil Cult, the expressions of those three Hot Spring ninjas turned grim.
After all, the actions of the Evil Cult violated the founding principles of the Land of Hot Springs.
"Massacring civilians—such an organization has no right to exist," Junko Watanabe stated. Although she served in Anbu, her targets had always been dangerous rogue ninjas threatening the village and nation.
"This kind of organization should be eradicated with full force, shouldn't it?" Minato added, his eyebrows knitted tightly together. Their actions were even worse than those rogue ninjas who had killed his parents.
Killing innocent people under the guise of faith? Such individuals and organizations have no place in this world.
"Naturally, but unfortunately, the cult has far too many followers. Given the current strength of our land and the Hidden Hot Spring Village, we simply don't have the capability to eliminate them completely. Worse still, any large-scale operation would cause panic among the citizens and attract scrutiny from the Five Great Ninja Nations..." the Hot Spring ninja explained further.
While Uchiha Yan and Minato might not fully understand yet, Sakumo and Junko Watanabe could see the implications.
Konoha having absolutely no knowledge of the Evil Cult proved just how carefully and thoroughly the Land of Hot Springs had contained the issue.
But every strength has its weakness. This excessive caution gave the Evil Cult an opportunity to grow like a parasite, becoming a malignant tumor within the Land of Hot Springs.
"So what exactly is this 'evil deity'?" Yan Uchiha asked. Considering everything, he deeply disliked this so-called Evil Cult as well.
"A deity worshipped by the cultists. Even we don't know exactly where it came from," the female Hot Spring ninja awkwardly replied.
Yan let out a mocking sound. "Such nonsense actually has so many fanatics worshipping it?"
If even the Hidden Hot Spring Village and the Land of Hot Springs couldn't figure out its origin despite having to deal with so many followers, then clearly there was something special about it.
The expressions of the three Cloud ninjas slightly stiffened. One of them hesitated before finally saying, "Because... this so-called evil deity holds the power to grant its followers [Immortal Body]."
"[Immortal Body]?" Minato and others' pupils constricted in shock. The first thing that came to mind was that practically unkillable monster—Tachiyama Shinsaburo.
"From your reactions, I take it you've already encountered someone extraordinary from the Evil Cult. Your country's rogue ninja, Tachiyama Shinsaburo, is also one of their followers—and apparently, he's about to become their first Divine Envoy."
"Utter nonsense! How can anyone truly possess [Immortal Body]?"
Yan Uchiha hadn't witnessed the battle between Junko and Tachiyama Shinsaburo last night. Even though he had seen numerous fatal wounds on Tachiyama's body, he still couldn't believe it was real.
Even ninja possess merely greater power than ordinary people.
As for life itself, everyone remains equal. Even someone as powerful as the First Hokage, revered as the God of Ninja, eventually passed away.
"Do you think we're lying to you?" The young Hot Spring Village ninja clearly felt somewhat impatient upon being questioned, especially since Yan appeared even younger than him.
Even Sakumo, Junko Watanabe, Minato, and others couldn't believe their own eyes.
After all, it just sounded too crazy to be true.
"It's just a legend indeed. Whether a true [Immortal Body] exists remains a mystery. We'll only know once the first Divine Envoy appears."
The female Hot Spring ninja spoke while shooting a glare at the boy beside her.
"So according to what you said, Tachiyama Shinsaburo is about to become the first Divine Envoy. That's the real purpose he came to the Land of Hot Springs?"
Sakumo analyzed all the information they had gathered so far. What the Hot Spring ninjas said couldn't be completely trusted nor entirely dismissed.
After all, he himself had witnessed Tachiyama's incredible ability to survive death.
"Yes, it's said that after becoming the Divine Envoy, the Evil Deity's power will attach itself to the Envoy, granting them an undying body and sufficient strength to conquer the entire world!"
"So that's why Tachiyama defected? Such a bizarre reason really takes the cake."
Sakumo chuckled. Even if such a thing as an immortal body actually existed, there'd still have to be ways to stop it.
The Tailed Beasts possessed [Immortal Bodies] and massive chakra reserves, yet they'd been sealed inside Jinchuriki as weapons, becoming bargaining chips among the Five Great Ninja Nations.
"To become a Divine Envoy requires performing a ritual, which needs a weapon regarded as sacred by the Evil Cult—the Bloodthirsty Sickle of Three Moons. Tachiyama came here specifically to retrieve it."
The cute-looking Hot Spring ninja added, "We destroyed one of the Evil Cult's bases previously, so the Bloodthirsty Sickle of Three Moons is currently within our Hidden Hot Spring Village."
Sakumo nodded slowly, deep in thought. It was becoming clear that Tachiyama was planning a major operation in the Land of Hot Springs...
Relying solely on his own forces and the Evil Cult wouldn't suffice. Even if some ninja existed among the Evil Cult followers, they couldn't possibly defeat the Hidden Hot Spring Village.
That's why he joined forces with Kumogakure, who even sent powerful ninja like Ryo Yagura.
This arrangement would allow Cloud Village not only to obtain intelligence from the Land of Fire but also create significant problems for them.
Located at the border of the Land of Fire, letting a rogue ninja like Tachiyama gain control wouldn't be good news in the current situation.
"Not long ago, the Evil Cult attempted to assassinate our Daimyo but were stopped by our Daimyo and his guards. Their target this time will undoubtedly be our Hidden Hot Spring Village..."
As the Hot Spring ninja spoke, Sakumo quickly figured out their intentions.
No ninja in the Hidden Hot Spring Village could rival the strength of Ryo Yagura.
Even if they managed to prevent this coup, in the current turbulent situation, their forces would be greatly weakened, likely facing the crisis of national destruction.
"I've always heard that the Third Hokage and the Konoha Ninjas love peace. Therefore, we humbly ask you to help us stop the Evil Cult's conspiracy and protect our homeland."
The cute female ninja from the Hidden Hot Spring Village bowed deeply, but Sakumo immediately helped her rise.
"There's no need for that. The Hokage already made it clear in his orders—we're here to assist the Hidden Hot Spring Village."
Sakumo said. Originally, this was supposed to be merely an assassination mission targeting a rogue ninja; now it had turned into involvement with another nation's internal affairs...
This kind of mission was unheard of—not just for Minato and Yan Uchiha, but even for him.
He then turned to Junko Watanabe and the others, nodding as he said, "Looks like we're headed to the Hidden Hot Spring Village."
However, he then frowned as he looked at Minato.
His body...
...
...
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