Lucian Carter withdrew his divine presence.
Though he had only remained for a few short moments, his overwhelming pressure had already caused rifts across the Naruto world's fragile spatial fabric.
"That's enough for now."
"Any more and this entire dimension might crumble."
He retracted his projection fully, the storm of divine light vanishing as if it had never existed.
Now, it was time to enjoy his rewards.
And to see how far Orochimaru would go to spread his faith.
The skies cleared.
The wind settled.
Aside from Manda's body having vanished in a stream of golden light, it was as if nothing had happened.
But the silence was deceptive.
Everything had changed.
Orochimaru stood at the altar, still looking skyward, a subtle, eerie smile playing on his lips.
Behind him, Kabuto stirred, finally regaining balance. He approached cautiously.
"Lord Orochimaru… Has the god departed?"
His voice trembled with both awe and lingering terror.
Even his steps were unsteady, as though the echo of divine presence still clung to his body.
Orochimaru turned to him with a faint nod.
"Yes. The Eternal God has returned to his realm. But before departing, he gave me a mission."
"He commanded me… to preach his name. To let this world know what it truly means to worship."
Kabuto blinked.
Religion wasn't common in this world—at least not in any structured way. Cults, yes. Myths and fables, maybe.
But this?
This was new.
This was real.
"A new definition of god…"
Then, a voice broke through the silence.
"Can I receive his blessing too?" asked Sasuke, who had finally recovered.
"If I believe in this god… will he help me get revenge?"
His voice was sharp, desperate. The fire in his eyes hadn't dimmed, only redirected.
Orochimaru turned to him with amusement, but no mockery.
"The Eternal God is benevolent. Anyone who believes may receive his grace."
Then, he stepped closer and said something that froze Sasuke in place.
"But tell me, Sasuke… Do you really think Itachi killed your clan out of hatred?"
Sasuke clenched his fists.
"He murdered our parents. He slaughtered our clan. Of course he hated them! That bastard deserves to die!"
He was still young.
Still blind to the deeper truths behind the Uchiha massacre.
Once, Orochimaru would've fed that hatred—manipulated it like a puppet string.
But now?
"I've touched divinity."
He no longer cared about petty vendettas. His sights were on the entire world.
Still… Sasuke was a useful seed. One that could grow into a devout warrior in service of the Eternal God.
Orochimaru smiled.
"Words won't change you. But one day, you'll see the truth with your own eyes."
"The Eternal God is all-powerful. If you serve me—if you help me build temples across the shinobi world…"
"…I will plead with Him to bring your parents back from the dead."
Sasuke's mind reeled.
At first, he wanted to argue.
But how could he? He had seen the god.
Felt the weight of eternity pressing on his soul.
"If anyone could bring back the dead…"
"Fine," Sasuke said at last.
"If it means I get my family back… I'll do whatever it takes."
Even if it meant spreading divine belief.
Even if it meant becoming a god of vengeance.
Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction.
He raised his hand—and with a simple gesture, they all lifted into the air, soaring back toward the hidden base.
The first divine emissary…
The first believer…
The first convert.
On that day, Orochimaru passed down the first sacred teachings of the Eternal God.
Every subordinate, every ninja under his command, began their spiritual practice, reciting the Eternal Meditation Sutra day and night.
And within hours… the results were undeniable.
The power of the Eternal God flowed into their minds like a divine current.
Even the most skeptical ninjas, upon glimpsing the god's spiritual form, fell to their knees in reverence and fear.
In just two days, every member of Orochimaru's hidden force had advanced to the Artifact Tier—their physical strength enhanced, their chakras refined, their spirits fortified.
Among them, one shined the brightest.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Driven by the searing hatred in his heart, his breakthrough came like a storm.
He awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
And from it, Susanoo.
But it was unlike any version seen before.
In the original timeline, Sasuke's Susanoo shimmered in cold purples and blues, its aura detached and aloof.
Now, it burned with divine gold, wrapped tightly like a suit of celestial armor—compact, radiant, and lethal.
A seamless fusion of offense and defense.
Its chakra consumption was minimal, its output devastating. Its power far exceeded that of a typical Kage.
And this was after only two days of divine contact.
All around him, shinobi whispered the same thing in awe:
"This… is the power of a god."
Orochimaru sat atop a high cliff, robes billowing in the wind as he watched his forces evolve. His expression was calm, but within his chest—
A storm raged.
"Even I… never imagined this much power."
His reverence for the Eternal God surged again, climbing to even greater heights.
"Ninjutsu? Shinobi techniques? They're obsolete."
"We spend decades crawling toward strength… and in two days of worship, I gained what a lifetime of training couldn't offer."
"All I did… was sacrifice ten thousand snakes."
His golden eyes narrowed, aflame with ambition.
"What if I offered more?"
"What if I sacrificed an entire shinobi village?"
"Or… the entire world?"
Orochimaru clenched his fists.
"Could I truly grasp the stars?"
"Could I become... a god myself?"
That vision consumed him. Eternal life. Eternal power. The truth behind the universe.
He would stop at nothing.
Just then, a figure appeared behind him.
Sasuke Uchiha, kneeling on one knee.
"Lord Orochimaru. All forces are assembled. We're ready to move."
Orochimaru stood, the wind hissing around him like whispers of fate.
"Good. Then we begin."
He turned, golden robes swirling behind him.
"We start with Kirigakure. The Village Hidden in the Mist."
"It will be the first to receive the Eternal God's grace."
Sasuke bowed.
"Yes, High Priest."
Orochimaru paused, smiling thinly.
"Good. From now on, do not call me 'Lord Orochimaru.'"
"You will address me as High Priest, or Divine Herald."
"Understood?"
"Yes, High Priest!"
That same day, a massive caravan of ninja departed from Orochimaru's hidden base.
Over a thousand elite shinobi, all of them now artifact-level powerhouses—led by Orochimaru and Sasuke themselves.
Their objective was singular.
Spread the doctrine.
Raise temples.
Unite the world under the Eternal God.
And if any resisted?
Conversion by sword. Peace through dominance.