The twelve figures—men and women alike—were dressed in bright red robes. As they appeared, the cave ceiling glowed with light, like a sea of stars, reflections shimmering across the stone.
"It's the Twelve Star Houses!" whispered a female voice beside Shigeo.
Her tone was low, almost as if speaking to herself. Shigeo leaned closer and asked, "How do you know that?"
The woman replied in a whisper, "Of course I know. Look at the ceiling—the star map clearly shows the Twelve Star Houses!"
Shigeo didn't know much about constellations, but this woman intrigued him.
When he turned to see her face, his eyes widened in shock—
It was Mei.
Wasn't she supposed to have been caught by the sharks? How could she be here?
Mei didn't recognize Shigeo. Although the Mist Village kept files on the major shinobi of other villages, she had never looked through them.
Seeing him staring, she thought she had been exposed and quickly fell silent.
Shigeo, seeing her quiet down, didn't press further. He turned back toward the altar.
The old shrine maiden continued shaking the bell in her hands, while the twelve red-robed figures began performing a synchronized series of hand seals. Their movements were identical, their timing perfect.
As they finished, the large circular platform began to glow faintly. Then someone dragged a woman forward and handed her to the red-clad man at the center.
"May the Moon God and the Demon Spirit bless the Orchid Sect. May the ritual succeed…"
The crowd roared in unison,
"Through heaven and earth, Moon God and Demon Spirit, by blood we bless the Orchid Faith!"
The man grabbed the woman, raised his knife, and with a single stroke slit her throat. Blood streamed down the altar, glowing with a dim red light.
Only now did Shigeo understand—it was an altar.
From his angle, he hadn't noticed the markings before, but when the blood flowed, the patterns lit up, revealing runes carved into the surrounding walls.
Mei froze, horrified by what she saw.
The twelve continued weaving signs. As the woman's blood soaked into the stone, the glow turned crimson.
Shigeo's brows furrowed. When they dragged another woman forward, she suddenly shouted,
"The Blue Gate will never forgive you! Our leader, Hyūga Shigeo, will avenge us and destroy you demons!"
The man raised his knife—but before it could reach her, hundreds of Hyōton (Ice Release) spikes shot out, piercing his entire body. Blood sprayed like a fountain.
"Enemy attack!" someone shouted.
The ritual stopped. All eyes swept the area, searching for whoever used Ice Release.
"This is a sealed space! Find the intruder!" shouted a woman who stepped forward, dressed just like the slain leader. "The ritual cannot stop! This is our only chance each year—no one is allowed to interfere!"
Her voice echoed. The twelve survivors resumed their seals, maintaining chakra flow into the altar.
"Carry out my command! Bring all the women forward. If it must be done—then all of them shall be blood sacrifices!"
The backup plan was activated.
The chamber erupted into chaos—some searched for the attacker, while others rushed into the tunnels behind.
Moments later, they returned, each dragging a struggling woman by the arm, kunai in hand.
It was clear they intended to slaughter them all at once.
Among the captives was the Blue Gate woman who had shouted earlier. The red-clad female leader seized her and raised her blade high.
"I'll die fighting!" she cried.
Before Shigeo could move, Mei acted first. She had come to uncover the truth and save lives—she would not stand by while innocents were murdered.
"Yōton: Yōkai no Jutsu!" (Lava Release: Dissolving Monster Technique!)
Her powerful Kekkai Genkai technique unleashed a torrent of molten acid that struck the altar, injuring five of the twelve ritualists. The others barely escaped as the corrosive heat devoured stone.
The massive altar collapsed, melting into glowing sludge.
The old shrine maiden screamed with fury. But she was powerless—her body was twisted and frail. Someone had to carry her away as she trembled, her skin covered in curse marks, her hollow black eye sockets leaking black-red blood.
The bell in her hand began shaking violently, its sound echoing through the entire cavern in endless waves.
Cultists dragged the remaining women to the walls, slashing their throats. Blood ran down carved channels into the ground, feeding the array.
Now Shigeo realized that the central altar was only one part of the ritual. The entire cave itself was a giant auxiliary formation—if the main altar was destroyed, the outer channels would continue the sacrifice.
No wonder it was called the Central Temple.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" (Shadow Clone Technique!)
Shigeo tore off the Orchid Sect cloak and split into over twenty clones that charged in every direction.
"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!" (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!)
"Katon: Hōsenka no Jutsu!" (Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!)
"Jiton: Jisatsu..." (Magnet Release: Magnetic Kill...)
Multiple jutsu filled the chamber, explosions and smoke engulfing everything.
The Orchid Sect members abandoned the sacrifices and fought back in chaos.
Mei gritted her teeth. "Who are you?! Who said you could interfere? This is my mission! Don't steal my credit!"
Though her words carried annoyance, she didn't turn her Kekkai Genkai against him. She knew that now, the Orchid Sect was their common enemy.
The rescued women—many kunoichi—had chakra suppression seals placed on them. Even free, they could only use taijutsu, their strength barely beyond that of ordinary civilians.
Several of Shigeo's clones shielded them, standing firm while fighting off the cultists head-on.
(End of Chapter)
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