They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 100 Religious Invasion

"Is it inappropriate to give them the title of Minister of Foreign Affairs?"

After watching those people leave the venue with confidence, Yukinagi looked at the materials in her hand and couldn't help but ask Hozuki Shingetsu a question.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a subordinate department of the Ministry of the Interior, it wouldn't be a problem to hand over the position of Minister to these people.

Although these people are all from commoner backgrounds and do not meet the "basic" requirements for holding this level of position in the past, as long as Hozuki Shingetsu persists, there will definitely be no problem.

However, the problem is that some positions cannot be judged solely by the position itself; their associated political significance must also be considered.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is a position with extremely strong political implications. This is because the previous Minister of Foreign Affairs was Hozuki Shingetsu, who not only excelled in the position but also stirred up chaos in the ninja world.

Given that Hozuki Shingetsu has already been officially designated as the Fourth Mizukage, this handover of positions is particularly noteworthy.

Although Yukinagi wasn't particularly politically astute, she still vaguely sensed that this action was contrary to usual practice.

"It's just a department head, not the Mizukage's assistant. It doesn't matter who's in charge, right?"

Hozuki Shingetsu didn't say much and gently changed the subject.

This was partly because he didn't want to answer and wanted to keep a low profile, and partly to protect Yukinagi, not wanting the girl who had accompanied him through his growth to get caught in this turbulent vortex.

"Compared to this, I think your secretary outfit doesn't quite suit your style. I have many other secretary outfits here; would you like to take a look?"

Hozuki Shingetsu looked Yukinagi up and down in her black silk skirt suit, intending to cultivate her aesthetic sense before she came of age, so that the secretary would know what her boss really liked.

Having finally acquired a female secretary, Hozuki Shingetsu naturally decided to recreate all the various outfits he had drawn when he was bored.

After all, a secretary who is pleasing to the eye can double one's work efficiency, right?

Of course, this is on the premise that you have to avoid Kushina Uzumaki and enjoy the view when the two of you are alone in the office.

-

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Hozuki Shingetsu frowned as he looked at the action report in his hand.

Although he knew that the probability of being able to apply what he had just learned among the group of people was ultimately too small, when he actually saw this scene, Hozuki Shingetsu still couldn't help but sigh in disappointment.

The action plan is basically a copy of Hozuki Shingetsu's previous measures. The only change they made was in the dissemination channels, and there was nothing particularly innovative or eye-catching.

"Lord Crescent Moon, would you like to take a look at this report?"

At that moment, Akiba Masanobu suddenly handed a report to Hozuki Shingetsu.

When Hozuki Shingetsu looked up, he saw that it read "Feasibility Analysis Report on the Invasion of Religious Culture".

"That's interesting..."

Hozuki Shingetsu's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but flip through the pages.

As Hozuki Shingetsu flipped through the documents, Akiba Masanobu couldn't help but steal a glance at Yukinagi standing next to him.

It's not that it's strange that she's standing here as a personal secretary, but... have you ever seen a secretary wear a JK uniform to work?

Of course, Akiba Masanobu didn't know that this kind of clothing was called JK. He just felt that wearing this outfit of a short skirt, white over-the-knee socks, and brown leather shoes was a bit frivolous and not suitable for this serious office atmosphere.

Completely baffled, I could only suppress my curiosity and attribute it to some of the big shot's little quirks.

Yukinagi, on the other hand, didn't think there was anything special about wearing such clothes. After all, it was quite appropriate for her to wear such clothes at the age of thirteen.

Lacking much political acumen, she was instead smug because of Hozuki Shingetsu's praise during their morning meeting, unaware that she was being gradually transformed by Hozuki Shingetsu's XP.

"Did you write this?"

At this moment, Hozuki Shingetsu finally finished reading the entire report and finally recognized the author from the familiar handwriting.

"Those who believe in evil gods gain eternal life... If I'm not mistaken, the religious ideas here seem to be borrowed from the Jashin Cult of the Land of Hot Springs?"

This plan details a series of steps to conduct propaganda in various ninja villages through religious means, using immortality as an incentive, bloody battles and cruel sacrifices to please the evil god, and ultimately transcending the mortal realm to obtain an immortal body.

It even stated its purpose: to create a bloody atmosphere within each ninja village, making civilians live in fear and severely damaging their ability to produce and survive.

Seeing this, Hozuki Shingetsu couldn't help but look up and examine his adopted secretary with admiration in his eyes.

Although I knew my secretary was a talented person—after all, someone who dared to be the first to step forward and try something new under those circumstances, hoping to gain merit by "supporting the emperor," was definitely not a simple character—I never expected him to have such a sharp mind.

Although this plan still has some immature and imperfect aspects, the fact that he was able to thoroughly understand the materials in just three days and propose a feasible plan based on the situation in the ninja world is truly remarkable. Akiba Masanobu is indeed a talented person.

"Yes, I had some contact with the Evil God Cult when I was on a mission in the Land of Hot Springs. Because of their fanatical beliefs and bloody actions, they left a deep impression on me."

Akiba Masanobu did not become complacent because of Hozuki Shingetsu's praise, and still kept in mind the principle of being cautious.

"The evil cult of the Land of Hot Springs..."

As Hozuki Shingetsu muttered these words, he couldn't help but think of the man who killed Asuma, the unit of measurement in the ninja world.

Judging from the description in the original work, the series of rituals performed by this evil god cult can indeed grant immortality, although the success rate is extremely low.

Hidan's immortality means that even if his head is severed and his body is torn to pieces, he can still survive. In fact, if the four pieces are too close together, they can even heal themselves and return to their original state.

However, immortality does not mean agelessness, much less eternal life. Coupled with the pitifully low success rate, Hozuki Shingetsu did not consider using the ritual methods of this evil god cult to achieve immortality.

"The report is good, but it's not practical."

Hozuki Shingetsu came to his senses and pointed out the shortcomings to Akiba Masanobu.

"First of all, the concept of immortality is too unrealistic. Even the Sage of Six Paths is not immortal. Without any popular support, the promotion of this idea will inevitably be hindered."

"As long as religious beliefs cannot be fulfilled immediately, they must firmly grasp people's current inner desires."

Hozuki Shingetsu spun his pen and wrote two words after this line: reincarnation and fortune.

"Everyone is born with a certain fortune, so some people are born into wealthy families, while others are born into poor families. Some people live their whole lives without illness or disaster, while others experience a series of bad luck within a year."

First and foremost is the foundation of religious theory. This foundation must be superficial, so simple that even illiterate people can easily understand it. Only in this way can it have a basis for widespread dissemination.

Secondly, this religious theory must be expanded and applied based on its foundation, clearly pointing out how to obtain what people desire but cannot obtain in their hearts.

When something cannot be realized immediately, it must be like a flower in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water, giving people the feeling that with a little more effort, it can be truly achieved.

"What if we claimed that by going through the rituals of an evil cult, we could strip the sacrifices of their good fortune and be reborn into a happy family in our next life? Would that be tempting for ordinary people living in poverty?"

"At the same time, we widely publicized the fact that chakra can carry emotional memories, so that ordinary people would know that this was not unfounded and that it was very likely to be realized."

There is no doubt that chakra can carry emotions and memories, as evidenced by Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze in the original work.

Since there are ready-made examples, if chakra can work, why can't religion?

For ordinary people who live a life of hardship, what difference is there between chakra and religion?

Anyway, they've never seen it; it's all just a dream that's out of reach.

At this point, seeing the thoughtful Akiba Masanobu and the bewildered Yukinagi, Hozuki Shingetsu smiled. He then circled a line heavily and wrote down the words "brotherhood of faith" and "blood revenge" after it.

"Not only that, we can spread the word that all those who believe in this evil god cult are half-brothers. Blood sacrifices between brothers will not please the evil god. Those who arbitrarily sacrifice their brothers will only be punished by the evil god, their luck will be diminished, and they will suffer endless disasters for the rest of their lives, and be reborn as animals in their next life."

This rule is to prevent the emergence of "luck hunters," those who don't obtain luck from outsiders but instead attack their own people.

Similar to the sixth player in a battle royale game who doesn't search houses but instead robs other players.

"Since we are brothers, we must help each other. Anyone who harms any member of our sect is doing the same to their own brother. The Evil God is delighted and pleased with such people's cruel revenge and bloody sacrifices. The Evil God will treat those who can preside over the sacrifices with special favor."

Akiba Masanobu gasped, feeling a chill run down his spine. While he had made outstanding contributions to warming the ninja world, he couldn't help but marvel at Hozuki Shingetsu's ruthless scheme.

Once this doctrine emerges, it is foreseeable that the cult of evil gods will develop at an extremely rapid pace.

Above, there is the allure of reincarnation to absorb good fortune; in the middle, there is the safety guarantee that members of the religion must not harm each other; below, there is the practical need for joint defense, mutual protection, and mutual assistance.

At a critical moment when the lives of ordinary people in the ninja world were low and a great war was about to break out, which ordinary person would not want to join such a religion once it appeared?

All it takes is a bloody sacrificial ritual to not only gain a phantom spiritual anchor but also join an organization that will protect you—it's an incredible deal!

As for the issue of dead people... in today's ninja world, is that even a problem?

Once this kind of religion, which is bloodthirsty on the outside but united on the inside, gains momentum, it's foreseeable that the entire ninja world's atmosphere will change. That will be the time when the ninja world truly descends into chaos!

Hozuki Shingetsu looked at the utterly shocked Akiba Masanobu without showing any pride. What he said was merely based on various "mature" experiences.

Moreover, he hasn't revealed part of his ultimate plan yet!

In the ninja world where extraordinary powers exist, what use is such an organization even if it is prevalent among ordinary people?

Wouldn't they just get blasted to smithereens by a single ninjutsu?

Therefore, his target audience for propaganda is actually... the civilian ninjas in various villages who are referred to as cannon fodder!

What happens when a religion based on commoner ninjas develops, and when most of its members have experienced discrimination from the ninja clan?

That's of course...

The Blue Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise!

(End of this chapter)