In a secret hideout deep in the mountains around the Land of River, many mysterious people in black jackets with silver pendant necklaces shaped like an outer circle and inner triangle were busy working.
"Akagi Shinji, Hidan, after the blood collection is complete, let's begin today's taijutsu (physical) combat training."
"Yes, Takihata-sama."
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
In a spacious, somewhat brighter enclosed room, two figures engaged in intense taijutsu combat under the glow of firelight. The sound of fists striking bodies had barely stopped since the beginning.
One figure was knocked to the ground, and the next second immediately counterattacked.
And vice versa!
As the fight continued, with much energy depleted, the movements of both parties gradually became less coordinated, until finally it resembled more of a battle of wills.
One punch from you, one kick from me. See who can't stand up again.
It could be said that fight scenes like this were neither spectacular nor stunning!
These two teenagers who appeared to be 14 or 15 years old didn't possess particularly excellent taijutsu skills, and were still far from proficient in technique.
However, if one only looked at the strength and endurance displayed by these two teenagers, it could be found that their physical condition had reached a level far exceeding the standard of their peers.
Therefore, in the eyes of the black-robed people surrounding them, although this fight didn't have many praiseworthy points, they didn't stop taking notes.
After all, this wasn't a taijutsu lesson, but merely part of a research topic that needed to be observed daily.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Rest for one hour, then continue with Jujutsu (Curse Technique) learning."
The speaker was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties or fifties. Unlike the black robes worn by others, he wore a dark red robe and always had a friendly smile on his face, looking like the uncle next door from the village.
However, in reality, this seemingly kind and friendly-faced man was the one who established the Jashin Cult (Evil God Sect) and made 'endless slaughter' its doctrine, while secretly developing its power and extensively plundering and killing people in the surrounding areas.
Unbeknownst to many, the existence of the Jashin Cult had become taboo in the Land of River and its surroundings!
The two teenagers who were raising their fists, preparing to strike their opponent's face, finally stopped their movements. The distance of their fists to their opponent's right face was perhaps only a few centimeters.
"Tch, you're lucky this time. Otherwise, this fist would have definitely smashed your head first!"
The gray-haired teenager with reddish-purple eyes, sporting a large pompadour hairstyle, and wearing a Yugakure missing-nin headband protector around his neck, was the first to grumble unhappily with his reddish-purple eyes.
If one ignored his disheveled appearance—panting, bruised face, and body covered in dirt—his words might indeed have some intimidating effect and truth!
On the other side, also retracting his fist was a pale-skinned teenager of similar height, with short spiky brown hair, and a somewhat cold face.
However, what was completely inconsistent with his 'fragile' appearance was that in the recent fight, he was completely reckless.
His level of craziness even reached a point that shocked people!
Moreover, if people got to know him more deeply, they would discover that this handsome teenager who looked somewhat 'gentle' was not as elegant as he appeared.
On the contrary, this was a bastard with a bad personality!
Just look, as soon as he heard his opponent start being stubborn again with his mouth, he immediately said vaguely, "With that soft bread fist of yours covered in honey? If you're trying to kill me with sweetness, then I must admit, you succeeded, Hidan."
"Shinji! You bastard, I'll kill you!"
Hidan, who was talkative but couldn't beat his opponent in verbal sparring, immediately had his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"How dare you describe my big fist like that?! By Jashin, today you're really going to die!"
"Oh, sorry, I really shouldn't have said that... After all, compared to a sissy who only knows how to pull hair and scratch faces, at least you don't cry calling for your mother when beaten!"
Shinji didn't back down at all, even leaning his head against Hidan's chest. Every time he spoke words, he pushed forward forcefully, making Hidan 'continuously retreat', and his eyes became increasingly red.
Until he saw Shinji raise his head again, showing a face that seemed to say, 'I already gave you a chance, but you didn't take advantage of it!'...
Hidan finally couldn't hold back!
"Die!"
Shouting loudly, Hidan suddenly pulled out a black short spear from behind his clothes, and under the somewhat resigned gazes of the people around, he directly stabbed Shinji's heart!
*PUCHI!*
Pain!
So damn painful!
Although this wasn't the first time he experienced the feeling of death, the pain of having his heart pierced was still so clear and unbearable.
At the moment Hidan stabbed Shinji's heart with the black spear, the kunai in Shinji's hand also accurately and neatly pierced Hidan's neck, piercing all the way to the hilt!
Clearly from the start, Shinji had predicted Hidan's action, and instead of dodging, he counterattacked to kill at the same time!
This was a man who was cruel to others, and even more cruel to himself.
*PLOP!*
Shinji and Hidan both fell on their backs.
One with a pierced heart, the other with a pierced neck.
For normal people in general, with fatal wounds like these, even if immediately rescued, they would almost certainly die.
However, what was stranger was that the people around had no intention of saving them at all.
They remained unmoved, cold-faced, and even when seeing the two kill each other, their expressions didn't change at all.
Then, the next second, Hidan who was lying stiff on the ground suddenly raised one hand, grasped the kunai lodged in his neck, then forcefully pulled it out!
"Cough cough cough... Hah hah... Ugh! (Pain pain pain... Really painful, bastard!)"
Hidan cursed inwardly while standing back up. The kunai he threw carelessly was covered in blood.
However, despite that, he didn't die, instead lived well, and his wound also healed quickly!
On the other side, only three seconds after his death, Shinji also regained consciousness.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Shinji who had just died suddenly opened his eyes, then nimbly got up from the ground, and casually pulled out the black short spear lodged in his heart, then threw it aside.
Because somehow fate brought him to this terrifying ninja world, he had to struggle hard to adapt, whether killing or being killed!
"Ptui!"
Spitting out bloody saliva from his mouth, Shinji who had just died once, immediately spoke again, "Just this? Seriously? My grandmother when she was still alive had more energy than you!"
Hidan's teeth were almost broken from grinding, but he couldn't do anything!
After all, as survivors of 'that ritual', they had both obtained
Immortal Bodies.
In a certain sense, that was undoubtedly a blessing from Jashin!
In fact, this wasn't the first time Hidan chose to kill Shinji out of anger.
But as if Shinji was his mortal enemy, every time he did it, he never got any advantage, whether it was mutual killing or being killed back.
Even when he succeeded in attacking secretly, he then received crazy retaliation from Shinji.
The bad feeling of having his head decapitated and buried deep in the ground, Hidan really didn't want to experience it a second time!
At that time, the entire Jashin Cult, hundreds of people, played a 'treasure hunt game' for three days and three nights. Finally, after Sect Leader Takihata got angry and issued an order, Shinji pointed to a certain tree...
Since that moment, the grudge between them truly formed.
And it also made many people in the Jashin Cult re-recognize Shinji, a terrifying man with a bad personality.
This was one of the reasons why Hidan mostly just engaged in verbal sparring earlier, and only acted when truly cornered.
If not for that, according to Hidan's original personality, if others dared to stand in front of him and rant, they would have definitely been chopped into pieces!
"The boring little game must end, children. I see your energy is still extraordinarily great, so rest time is canceled. Now immediately go to enclosed room number two, the materials are ready."
Takihata, who enjoyed the drama but didn't stop it, finally spoke up.
In fact, thanks to these two people's vengeful nature, they were able to collect so much valuable experimental data in this short month.
Hidan knew that continuing the fight would yield nothing, so he snorted coldly, turned around, and left.