Tahm's First Kill

Turning back the clock a little, far from Hidden Hot Water Village, a large flock of birds roosting in the dense mountain forest was startled into flight, circling beneath the blue sky and not daring to land.

A clearing had abruptly appeared amid the endless forest, surrounded by shattered rocks and trees, as well as traces of scorching and corrosion left by various ninjutsu.

A man with gray slicked-back hair and purple eyes, carrying a sinister red scythe, panted as he watched his opponent—a monster covered in black tentacles and no longer resembling a human. It was Tahm's old acquaintance, Kakuzu.

If Tahm had been there, he would certainly have recognized them as the future immortal duo: Kakuzu and Hidan.

"Your body is really interesting. This is the first time I've encountered someone I couldn't successfully sacrifice." Hidan spoke with a strange, savage grin.

"Likewise. You're also a rare person I can't kill. If I have you as my partner, you definitely won't die as quickly as the previous ones." Kakuzu remained as calm as ever. "What, do you still want to keep fighting?"

"No need. I'm joining your organization." Hidan looked at Kakuzu with an evil grin. "I've found a target that can ultimately please Lord Jashin."

"Heh heh. You're welcome to try. Just don't die too soon." Kakuzu sneered. "Now, come with me?"

Hidan put away his scythe and said, "Wait. Before we leave, I have to perform one final sacrifice. Sacrificing someone beside you is the highest secret of the Jashin Cult!"

"What a troublesome fellow. Finish it quickly. Don't delay me from making money."

"That won't do. One mustn't be careless when it comes to sacrifices." A blood-red light flashed across the red scythe.

The nights in Hidden Hot Water Village were extraordinarily beautiful. Its abundant resources had created prosperous streets, while its picturesque natural surroundings fostered a harmonious atmosphere. When night fell, the stars in the sky and the lamps on the ground shone together, while majestic mountains stretching in every direction stood guard around the village, making it seem like a kingdom in the heavens.

With its rich resources, small population, and many years of peace, Hidden Hot Water Village lacked the roughness of other shinobi villages entirely. Every corner of it could put people at ease, body and mind.

"Such a beautiful place really has a depraved cult that would exterminate humanity?" Standing on a cliff outside the village and overlooking the entire Hidden Hot Water Village, Tahm couldn't help sighing.

"Don't underestimate the darkness in human nature." Jiraiya sighed as well. "Even happy, comfortable lives can't restrain the darkness in some people's hearts."

"The cult's gathering is on this mountain?"

Jiraiya explained the information he knew. "According to the investigation over the past few days, this cult gathers here every night to recite some strange scriptures. But I still haven't discovered any connection between them and the organization Orochimaru is part of."

"Let's stop talking and go up to take a look together." Tahm was getting a stronger and stronger sense of familiarity.

The two soon reached halfway up the mountain. A fairly large cave entrance glowed with lamplight, and several cultists in black robes stood guard outside.

"What a heavy smell of blood!" Jiraiya immediately grew serious. "I didn't smell it when I came a few days ago."

A sharp, miserable scream then came from inside the cave. Even Tahm, whose nose was not as sensitive, could faintly guess what was happening inside.

Jiraiya thought for a moment, then formed a summoning seal and summoned an extremely tiny toad from Mount Myoboku. As an honorary sage of Mount Myoboku, Tahm recognized at a glance that it was a ninja toad from the Mount Myoboku clan, specially used for infiltration and investigation.

"I'm counting on you!"

The little toad stealthily slipped into the cave. Jiraiya formed another seal, and a light screen suddenly appeared in the air, displaying high-definition footage synchronized with the toad's point of view.

Seeing this, Tahm suddenly understood how those photographs in the newspapers had been taken before. Orochimaru probably also knew similar techniques. Tahm's thoughts went off on a tangent again, and, thinking of the Third Hokage's crystal ball, he decided it was a shame the three master and disciples had not opened a paparazzi studio.

As the little toad ventured deeper, the scene inside the cave became clearer and clearer.

The strange patterns painted in flowing blood across the ground and walls were already horrifying enough. Then a group of bizarre people in black robes appeared on-screen. They formed a large circle, prostrated themselves on the ground, and chanted incessantly as if conducting some kind of ritual.

When the view turned toward the circle in the middle of the crowd, Tahm saw a mountain of flesh.

Yes, it was a mountain of flesh made from human severed limbs, tendons, bones, and internal organs.

It was immediately obvious that the victims were powerless civilians unable to defend themselves. There were elderly people, young adults, and even children. Tahm stared at the sight with eyes wide with fury.

If the previous mission had allowed Tahm to witness the cruelty of the Shinobi World—Karin had not even been seven years old, yet those adult shinobi had been able to cruelly torment her without the slightest pity for their own benefit—

then the scene before him now truly shattered his worldview. Was this the darkness behind the Shinobi World?

In the vast shinobi world, how many powerless weaklings had become lambs to be abused and slaughtered for ridiculous reasons such as human experimentation, kekkei genkai research, or sacrificing them to an evil god?

What can I do? Even Naruto and Sasuke in the original story only managed to inherit Konoha. The Shinobi World was still the same Shinobi World.

Tahm fell silent. He was no longer the chuuni youth from the roadside who felt compelled to save the world whenever he saw injustice. His experiences in his previous life had already taught him that the world was simply this cruel, and that most of the time, one was powerless to do anything about it.

That principle applied everywhere.

However, this life was indeed somewhat different.

At least I've learned how to cut people down!

Tahm clenched his fist and was just about to step out.

Jiraiya, whose face was equally livid, grabbed him instead and said in a repressed voice, "If you go now, you won't be able to save those people anymore."

"And we still haven't found the connection between this cult and the mysterious organization. If you reveal yourself, our only lead will be cut off."

Tahm's expression did not change in the slightest, but Jiraiya saw an utterly unshakable strength in that comical toad face.

"You're right about everything, Senior Brother Jiraiya."

"But..."

"I simply want to cut people down."

Looking at Tahm's back, Jiraiya gave a bitter laugh. He had taken off his forehead protector for so long, yet he was still a standard shinobi at heart. His junior brother, who had put on a Konoha forehead protector, would never be a proper shinobi.

Tahm shot forward like a cannonball. Before the guards at the entrance could react, a tough, powerful tongue tore through the air, pierced their chests, and strung them together.

They did not even have time to let out a cry of agony. Blood surging from their ruptured organs choked their windpipes, and the men whose hands were covered in blood were finally sent to meet Jashin as well.

So this is what killing feels like? It's disgusting. There isn't any so-called pleasure in slaughter at all.

But these people must die!