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The List of The "ANBU" Member:
-ar4ngel
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-Ryan biggins
-Kreios
-Sabo
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The Village Hidden in Hot Water had fallen to a shocking state, where cultists boldly promoted their beliefs in broad daylight, recruiting followers without fear.
It was outrageous.
At this point, secret investigations were pointless, so Kazuki decided on a straightforward approach: an overwhelming show of force.
Simple and brutal, but effective.
This aligned perfectly with the principle he had just explained: in the face of absolute power, schemes and deception crumble like paper.
"Yes," Shisui and Itachi responded in unison.
"Be cautious. Their techniques are strange and dangerous. Don't let them hurt you, and don't allow them to complete any rituals. If they do, it could be problematic."
"Our mission is to eradicate the cult completely," Kazuki instructed, leaving the task to Shisui and Itachi.
Shisui was an excellent operative, and this mission would give Itachi valuable experience, helping him grow rapidly.
Eradicating the cult meant many would die.
Anyone associated with the cult, directly or indirectly, would be considered a target for elimination.
After a meal and a brief rest, Shisui and Itachi prepared to set out. Before leaving, they subtly suggested that Kazuki stay behind and rest in the hotel, leaving the mission to them.
Their sense of responsibility was commendable, and Kazuki was happy to oblige, opting to relax at the hotel.
Once outside, Shisui remarked, "The number of people watching us has increased. Let's find an opportunity to act."
While he noticed the spies, Shisui refrained from acting openly, knowing it would cause unnecessary chaos in the streets.
Itachi nodded in agreement, and the two walked conspicuously through the village, openly gathering intelligence about the cult. Their actions made it clear: 'We're here for you.'
"Elder, the Uchiha ninjas from Konoha are targeting us. They're collecting intelligence on the Sacred Cult," reported one of the cultists.
Kazuki, Shisui, and Itachi had been under the cult's surveillance the moment they entered the village.
The rogue ninjas and mercenaries avoided them entirely, realizing they were no match for Konoha's elite.
"Kill them!"
The cult elder's voice was cold. "The Village Hidden in Hot Water is our base of operations. We cannot allow Konoha's ninjas to destroy what we've built."
The village's decay was precisely what allowed the cult to thrive. They would protect their foothold at any cost.
---
As cult members mobilized, Shisui and Itachi exchanged a glance and led their followers to a secluded area of the village.
The cult was primarily an extension of the Jashin cult, the same one Hidan would later join.
Ironically, while some villagers had paid Konoha to eliminate the cult, others believed the cult was beneficial.
These supporters considered the cult one of the village's few sources of strength, capable of deterring external threats.
It was only with the backing of certain influential villagers that the cult had grown so bold and reached its current size.
The internal politics of the Village Hidden in Hot Water were their problem.
For Konoha, the mission was simple: whoever paid for their services became their client.
---
At the village's edge, Shisui and Itachi found themselves surrounded.
"You Konoha ninjas are in the wrong place. The Village Hidden in Hot Water doesn't need you here," said a gruff, one-armed man who led the group.
His fierce demeanor was even more intimidating than Uchiha Jiro's.
Shisui glanced at him and thought sarcastically, 'Someone has a worse face than Jiro.'
Looking him in the eyes, Shisui said, "Sorry, but the village hired us for this mission. As ninjas, it's our duty to complete it."
"Then die!"
The cultists weren't ordinary people—they were fanatics. For them, surviving was a luxury, and death was often welcomed.
"Kill them! Sacrifice them to Lord Jashin!"
As the cultists charged, some drew weapons while others transformed—parts of their bodies turning black or black-and-white, a sign of their use of dark techniques.
---
Raising his hand, Shisui said to Itachi, "Don't get hurt. Leave some alive."
"Understood," Itachi replied, drawing his katana and stepping forward to confront the enemies.
Not far from the battlefield, Kazuki stood atop a tree, watching the fight unfold.
"What a waste of time," he muttered.
The battle started quickly, but it was one-sided from the beginning.
Itachi handled his opponents with precision, but Shisui's approach was a complete massacre.
The cultists' strength paled in comparison to even some rogue ninjas.
Kazuki smirked. 'Of course, if they were truly strong, they wouldn't tolerate rogue ninjas operating on their turf.'
Apart from Hidan, the cult had never produced anyone noteworthy.
Even Hidan, at his peak, would have been no match for Shisui or Itachi.
Unlike Asuma, Shisui and Itachi wouldn't fall for Hidan's tricks.
With a single glare from Shisui's Sharingan, several cultists collapsed on the spot.
Kazuki lost interest in watching. 'This really is a waste of time.'
Shisui had once incapacitated an elite team from the Mist Village with a single genjutsu. A ragtag group of cultists stood no chance.
"These guys are too weak," Itachi remarked, frowning as he methodically eliminated his opponents, sparing only those needed for interrogation.
"It's no surprise," Shisui replied with a smile. "If they were strong, they wouldn't be hiding in a small, weak village like this."
Despite their easy victory, Shisui seemed to enjoy working alongside Itachi again, even against such unworthy opponents.
"The cult's core members haven't appeared yet. Let's interrogate them," Shisui suggested, using genjutsu to extract information from a captured cultist.
The results were both frustrating and absurd.
The cult thrived only because certain influential villagers supported them, believing they could be useful in defending the village.
One faction wanted the cult eradicated, while another helped it grow.
'What a joke,' Shisui thought.
The interrogation revealed that only two elders and one promising child possessed any real strength. The rest were as weak as the ones they had just defeated.
After confirming the information, Shisui eliminated the captives and returned to the hotel with Itachi.
---
"Elder, here's what we learned: aside from the two elders and the child named Hidan, the rest of the cult members are…" Shisui hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.
"Utterly useless?" Kazuki finished for him, smirking.
Shisui twitched slightly but nodded.
"What did you expect?" Kazuki shrugged. "They have no access to proper ninjutsu training or traditional systems of development. That's why most minor villages are weak. If they weren't, this so-called cult would've been eliminated long ago."
Sighing, Kazuki leaned back.
"Anyway, now that we have the intel, you two can handle the rest. Be cautious of the two elders and Hidan—their techniques make them difficult to kill. Destroy their bodies entirely. If they still don't die, seal them and deal with it later."