Chapter 3: Cast the Bait — I Am the God of Eternity!

[Captain Garrick]:

"To be honest, I can understand gods existing. After all, our world has Calypso, the sea goddess."

[General Li]:

"Wait… are gods actually real?"

[Demonblade Spirit]:

"I don't know about actual gods, but in my world, there've been legends of Emperor Fuxi and Empress Nuwa since ancient times."

[Scientific Shinobi]:

"You claim to be a god… Then prove it. Show us something real."

Lucian smirked.

Just what I was waiting for.

Once curiosity takes hold, there's no need to push. The moment someone challenges you to prove it—you've already won.

[Eternal]:

"Since your hearts are open, I shall bestow two divine gifts."

"Recite my name and know my greatness."

"Offer your devotion—and disaster will avoid you. Whatever you desire shall come."

With that, Lucian uploaded two files into the group:

[Eternal Meditation Sutra]

[Rite of Eternal Offering]

The first was a mantra of meditation—a spiritual focus using high-plane divine script, imbued with a faint soul-mark.

Anyone who chanted the prayer and meditated properly would see a vision of Lucian's divine form.

They would also experience a minor but genuine increase in strength.

The second file detailed a sacrificial rite—a ritual offering method.

Lucian followed up with a message:

[Eternal]:

"Through meditation, you will witness my divine body and receive my blessing."

"Through sacrifice, you may offer anything of value and earn divine favor in return."

"Immortality is but the beginning. Grasping stars, defying death—these are within reach. Being a god is not just fantasy."

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

What a load of nonsense.

Picking stars? Immortality?

They wanted to scoff.

But…

Immortality was the ultimate pursuit.

Even gods—true ones—had limits. Even legends faded in time. If what Lucian said was real…

Then who wouldn't want to reach for it?

The group went silent.

No one made another comment. No memes. No mockery.

But less than a minute later—

The entire online group had quietly downloaded both files.

———

Somewhere in the Naruto world

Inside a dark, damp sea base—

In a dimly lit room filled with scrolls and eerie silence, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes as he studied the file titled [Eternal Meditation Sutra].

"Is this really as powerful as it claims to be?"

His arms, once sources of immense power, now hung limp at his sides—withered and dry like dead wood, lifeless since they'd been sealed.

Even Sage Arts had failed to heal him.

"This isn't a physical issue," he muttered. "It's a matter of the soul."

Orochimaru knew the truth. His hands couldn't be healed by chakra or medicine.

"I've encountered evil gods before. What harm is there in trying this 'eternal meditation'?"

Closing his eyes, he cleared his thoughts.

His consciousness drifted into the void.

There—countless radiant divine sigils floated above like descending stars. The text was cryptic, otherworldly… yet somehow, understandable.

His soul began to detach from his body, drawn toward an unknown dimension.

"No—!"

Startled, Orochimaru yanked his awareness back.

His body trembled involuntarily.

He had felt something immense. Terrifying.

And then—a miracle.

One of his previously paralyzed fingers… twitched.

"It moved…!"

A look of absolute shock crossed his face, followed by wild ecstasy.

"Could it be… the meditation actually works?"

Without hesitation, Orochimaru sat upright and immediately returned to the meditation state—this time, surrendering himself completely.

He stopped caring about where his soul drifted.

He just kept silently reciting the words of the Sutra—again and again.

Then, light.

A radiant divine glow filled the darkness.

And amidst the void stood a colossal figure, towering so high that Orochimaru couldn't even glimpse its face.

The world around it was pitch black—but the figure shone with blinding, sacred brilliance, adorned with endless celestial radiance.

Holy. Sovereign. Untouchable.

Even attempting to look at it… Orochimaru could only make out its knees.

"How small I am…"

This… this was no sage. Not even the Six Paths Sage could compare.

This was a true god.

Time passed—how long, he couldn't say.

When Orochimaru's consciousness finally returned to his body, he felt warmth surging through his limbs.

His previously decaying form now felt restored, as if submerged in a healing hot spring.

"Ah… so this is the power of meditation?"

He burst into maniacal laughter.

"Hahahahahaha…!"

He looked down at his fully restored hands, trembling with awe and madness.

And he could feel everything—every heartbeat, every chakra ripple in the base.

"This kind of power… could only come from a true god."

Orochimaru trembled again—not in fear, but in religious reverence.

He thought of the figure in the void, the Eternal God.

"If meditation alone can do this…"

"What about sacrifice?"

He quickly opened the second file—[Rite of Eternal Offering].

To his surprise, the instructions were astonishingly simple, split into three tiers:

Basic Sacrifices – Using wood and stone to build a simple altar.

Intermediate Offerings – Including livestock like cows and sheep.

Advanced Rituals – Including powerful or fated beings… like Children of Destiny.

"That's all? So accessible… I have to try this."

To ensure a proper offering, Orochimaru set out the next day.

He found an uninhabited island, peaceful and scenic—a perfect place to honor a god.

And there, beneath a crimson sunset, he prepared the altar and gathered the offering.

A chilling smile curved across his lips.

"As one of the legendary Sannin… I know what pleases the gods."