Fumori Masaki stood quietly, his figure blending into the night as though it were part of it. He sensed the positions of the nearby ninjas and moved slowly, silently, using the complex terrain at the former site of the Ninshū to draw closer without detection.
The heightened perception granted by his Sage Mode was incredibly useful. Masaki felt like a true sensory ninja, able to perceive the presence of others with clarity that rivaled the insight of the Sharingan. However, he still couldn't hear their voices from a distance, so he had to get closer to identify them based on their conversations.
He knew that he could rush forward and capture them all quickly, interrogating them one by one. But without specific information about their abilities, this approach seemed reckless. Even though he was confident in his skills, Masaki reminded himself of the importance of caution. His teachings emphasized that underestimating the enemy could lead to disaster, no matter one's abilities.
As he approached, Masaki began to pick up bits of their conversation. They didn't speak often, mostly remaining silent, but occasionally, out of boredom, they exchanged words. The conversation wasn't particularly valuable—mainly idle talk. However, Masaki was able to identify their accents and realized they were from the Land of Hot Water. Coincidentally, he had recently passed through that region with his team.
It clicked in his mind—these were Yunokuni ninjas.
Masaki was puzzled. Why would ninjas from the Land of Hot Water be here in secret, forbidding even the people of the Land of Demons from approaching? He instinctively knew this was not an official mission from the Yunokuni village. Smaller nations like this rarely took action outside their borders, and if they did, they were careful to avoid unnecessary risks. This was likely a rogue group acting independently.
His suspicions were confirmed as he listened further. These ninjas, despite wearing forehead protectors from the Yunokuni village, spoke dismissively about their own village, showing no respect for it. Clearly, they were not here on behalf of the village.
Masaki's curiosity deepened. He assessed the skill level of the ninjas and decided it was time to act. Just as he was about to move, he overheard a familiar name:
— Jashin.
Masaki hadn't expected that the ninjas here would be followers of the Evil God. He thought back to Hidan, who was also from the Land of Hot Water, and remembered seeing someone preaching about the Evil God when he'd visited with Hyuga Hideaki. The followers of the Jashin seemed to have a significant following there.
Masaki, along with many readers of the ninja records, was curious about the Jashin's true identity. The original records only offered glimpses into its power—an immortal body, a co-death spell involving blood, and strange rituals performed by followers like Hidan. If someone encountered such powers for the first time, they would likely be horrified.
Masaki suspected that these ninjas were here to conduct some sort of ritual, possibly aiming to gain the same power that Hidan possessed. He remembered that Hidan was supposedly the only one of the Evil God's followers to succeed in such a ritual, which implied that many had tried before him—and failed.
The goals of the Ninja Academy and the Jashinists were fundamentally opposed. While the academy sought peace, Jashinists glorified chaos, celebrating sacrifice and death. The Jashinists holding a ritual at the Ninshū's former site seemed a mockery of the Ninshū itself. Masaki wasn't sure if the cult had additional motives, but mocking the Ninshū certainly seemed to be part of it.
In his efforts to revive Ninshū ideals, Masaki knew that a group like Jashinists could pose a significant threat. Their disregard for life and law made them dangerous, especially if their beliefs led them to oppose the Ninshū revival movement. He could foresee them attempting to assassinate important figures or attacking towns influenced by the movement.
Masaki's breath grew heavier. If these people were truly Jashin followers, then he had no reason to hold back—he could eliminate them all.
As he continued listening, he sensed more people approaching. Concealing himself, he watched as a new group arrived and exchanged words with the ninjas present, indicating a shift change.
Moving stealthily, Masaki circled around and came up behind the departing group, considering a substitution. The Transformation Jutsu was a valuable tool, but, like the Substitution Jutsu, it didn't deceive skilled shinobi. For a master, sensing a difference in chakra could expose an imposter immediately.
Masaki was confident that there were no high-level shinobi in the Land of Hot Water, as Konoha's intelligence had never indicated otherwise. He was just about to act when he felt an unusual ripple through his perception, completely distinct from anything ordinary. Before he had time to consider it further, he vanished from his position, just as someone rapidly approached.
The newcomer was a tall man in a dark cloak, with his face mostly covered, revealing only a pair of cold, dark green eyes. His gaze, chilling and intense, scanned the area in silence. One of the ninjas present, seemingly the leader, addressed him.
"Kakuzu, why are you in such a hurry? Did something happen?" the leader asked.
"It's nothing—just sensed something strange," Kakuzu replied, his voice low and heavy, his gaze shifting warily.
"What strange presence? It can't be an ancient secret technique, can it?" one of the other ninjas joked. "Just kidding. There's no powerful technique left here—only remnants like those the people in the Land of Demons revere. That's nothing compared to the might of Jashin-sama."
"Fine, maybe it was just my imagination," Kakuzu replied dismissively. "You should leave—keep your rituals to yourselves. I'm not interested in any of that."
"You should show proper respect to Jashin-sama!" one of the Jashinists protested.
The leader intervened, raising his hand. "Relax. Kakuzu isn't one of our followers. He doesn't understand the Jashin-sama's greatness. Just focus on the ritual; Kakuzu, if you want, I could explain the faith to you later."
"No need," Kakuzu replied coldly. "My job is just to ensure your ritual proceeds smoothly. I'm only here as long as I'm paid."
As Kakuzu walked away, the Jashinists muttered complaints, but the leader remained unfazed. He knew Kakuzu's power all too well; even if he disapproved of Kakuzu's attitude, he valued his skill. Years ago, Kakuzu had survived an assassination attempt against the First Hokage, later killing the leaders of his own village in revenge. Despite his disdain for the Evil God, Kakuzu had been hired to guard the ritual.
Meanwhile, Masaki observed from his hiding place, shocked to see Kakuzu here. Based on his perception, he could sense the man's chakra system, noticing the five hearts and unusual meridians—a sure sign of Kakuzu, the "immortal" shinobi who had once fought the First Hokage.
Knowing Kakuzu's strength, Masaki felt his mission had just become significantly more complicated. He'd been prepared to face ordinary cultists, but this was entirely different. The Jashinists could not be allowed to complete their ritual, yet dealing with Kakuzu was a different level of challenge.
For now, he would have to avoid a direct confrontation with Kakuzu. But for the sake of his mission and the future of the Ninshū movement, he would find a way to disrupt the cult's plans.