Jashin Cult

The streets of Yunosato were not particularly wide, and under the afternoon sun, pedestrians were sparse.

Uchiha Shaoyu and Tiehuo carried their purchased supplies, their pace appearing casual, though they were quietly accelerating toward the secluded area where Songfeng Pavilion was located.

However, they had not gone far before Shaoyu's Mangekyō Sharingan caught several unusual gazes from behind.

Those gazes came from within the town, carrying a sticky, blended sensation of greed, scrutiny, and... a certain fanaticism. They were being targeted by a group.

"Lord Shaoyu," Uchiha Tiehuo noticed it as well. He tilted his head slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper, his hand already moving unobtrusively toward the kunai holster hidden at his waist.

Shaoyu nodded. "Someone is following us. They aren't ninjas; their chakra signatures are chaotic, but there are quite a few of them, probably four or five. They started tailing us the moment we left the grocery store."

Shaoyu remained calm, sweeping a quick glance behind him from the corner of his eye.

Several men dressed in ordinary civilian clothes from the Land of Hot Water, but with physiques significantly sturdier than the average farmer or merchant, were trailing them at a distance.

Their eyes flickered as they exchanged subtle glances; their movements appeared casual, yet they maintained a consistent distance and angle for tracking.

"Not people from Konoha."

Shaoyu judged quickly. The presence of these men was entirely different from the well-trained concealment of a ninja; they seemed more like local thugs or...

Mihuo recalled that when they were buying maps, he had heard the shop owner complaining in a low voice that things had been restless near the town lately, as if some "Jashin followers" were active.

"Lure them away," Shaoyu commanded in a low voice. "Don't engage where there are many people."

The two understood each other perfectly. Instead of returning directly to the inn, they deliberately turned onto a quiet path leading to an abandoned mine in the hills behind the town.

This road was rarely traveled, flanked by dense bushes and jagged, strange rocks—a perfect place to settle matters.

Sure enough, seeing their targets enter a remote area, the four or five pursuers did not retreat. Instead, they quickened their pace, rapidly surrounding them and blocking Shaoyu and Tiehuo's path.

Leading them was a burly, bald man with a scar on his face and a fierce expression. He looked Shaoyu and Tiehuo up and down, grinning to reveal a mouthful of crooked, yellow teeth.

"You two are new faces, aren't you? Not locals, I take it? You bought so many things; it seems you have plenty of spare cash on you."

His tone shifted, taking on an eerie, chant-like quality.

"However, money is merely a worldly possession. Looking at your faces, you don't seem like fools. Come with us, come and pay your respects to the great Lord Jashin! Lord Jashin will grant you eternal life and power!"

The men behind him echoed his words, their eyes gleaming with a twisted light that blended threat and fanaticism.

Jashin? So it really was these people.

Uchiha Shaoyu understood. It seemed the seeds of this Jashin Cult in the Land of Hot Water already existed at this point in time, and they were acting quite brazenly, daring to forcibly recruit "believers" in broad daylight.

"Jashin?"

Shaoyu spoke indifferently, his tone giving nothing away.

"What if I said I wasn't interested?"

"Not interested?"

The scarred man's face darkened, and he grinned hideously. "That's not up to you! It is your honor to be noticed by Lord Jashin! Follow us obediently, and you'll suffer less!"

As he spoke, he signaled to his men. Two of his accomplices reached out to grab Shaoyu and Tiehuo, their movements crude; clearly, they did not hold these two outsiders in any regard.

Uchiha Shaoyu did not even move his feet; he simply lifted his eyes slightly, and the Sharingan in his left eye instantly activated! Within the scarlet background, strange light patterns swirled suddenly like an abyssal vortex, locking directly onto the gazes of the scarred man and the two who were reaching for them.

No hand seals, no violent fluctuation of chakra. It was merely a glance.

The movements of the scarred man and his accomplices froze instantly. The hideous grins and fanaticism on their faces were like frozen oil paintings; their eyes quickly turned hollow and dull, as if they had lost their souls.

They remained in their lunging or reaching postures, fixed in place like a few crude statues.

"Take me to see your so-called 'Jashin,' or to the place where you gather."

The scarred man, thoroughly controlled by the genjutsu, nodded mechanically with hollow eyes and turned to walk toward the deeper parts of the mountain. The other two controlled accomplices followed him blankly.

"Mihuo," Shaoyu said to Uchiha Tiehuo beside him, "return to the inn first. Inform Lianhuo and the others to pack up immediately and be ready to depart at any moment."

"This place is not suitable for a long stay. The appearance of these Jashin followers and the fact that I am about to take action might draw the attention of the local authorities. I will return once I finish dealing with this small trouble."

Mihuo glanced at the guys who were being controlled by the genjutsu, moving like walking corpses, and nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"Understood, Lord Shaoyu! Please be careful!"

He knew the power of Shaoyu's Mangekyō Sharingan well; dealing with a few thugs and so-called cultists would be more than enough. The priority was to ensure the safety of the main group and prepare for their departure.

Mihuo did not delay. He picked up the purchased supplies, and with a few leaps, his figure disappeared at the end of the path, speeding toward the inn.

Uchiha Shaoyu walked slowly behind the controlled believers, the tomoe in his eyes rotating slightly as he observed everything around him.

The reason he sent Mihuo away to go alone was not out of arrogance. Aside from clearing out these annoying flies, he truly harbored a sense of curiosity.

The Land of Hot Water, the Jashin Cult...

This was the place that, in the original timeline, would eventually give birth to the immortal Hidan.

Although, according to the timeline, even if Hidan were born now, he would likely be a toddler just learning to walk, or perhaps not even born yet.

But what exactly was this "Jashin" that could grant ordinary people the bizarre ability of immortality? Was it some unrecorded ancient summoning beast? A collection of negative energy similar to Mōryō? Or just a scam concocted by a ninja or cultist skilled in forbidden techniques and curses?

The Uchiha clan's Sharingan, especially the Mangekyō, possessed unique resistance to and understanding of genjutsu, spiritual power, and even certain forbidden techniques involving the soul.

Perhaps he could take this opportunity to peek at the truth behind this Jashin.

If it were just some swindling ruse, he would wipe it out on the way to avoid it becoming a hidden danger later.

If there really was something to it... learning about it wouldn't hurt. On the path of a rogue ninja, mastering more unconventional intelligence or power might come in handy in the future.

The few believers controlled by the genjutsu led Shaoyu unconsciously along the increasingly rugged and desolate mountain road toward a hidden hollow in the hills.

In the air, the faint scent of sulfur seemed to be masked by another indescribable smell, one carrying a faint, fishy stench of decay.

Deep in the hollow, some simple stone structures and the remnants of a bonfire were vaguely visible. That appeared to be the stronghold of this group of Jashin followers.

Uchiha Shaoyu narrowed his eyes slightly. The light patterns in his Mangekyō Sharingan swirled faster, like a precision detector, beginning to fully perceive the chakra and energy fluctuations in the area ahead.

"Jashin... let me see what exactly you are."