Yugakure.
This village, known as the 'village that has forgotten the war,' has an appallingly weak military.
Aoki Tsuki easily infiltrated the village, sensing that there was only one Jonin- level Chakra in the entire Yugakure.
Even the remaining forces of Amegakure, which had undergone a great purge, were many times stronger than this place.
The village is actually quite large. As a neutral country and an island nation, it is famous in the Shinobi World for its hot springs and health resorts, attracting many people for vacations.
The controls aren't strict; you definitely won't find anyone late at night.
Aoki Tsuki simply found a hot spring inn to stay at, soaked in the hot spring, and slept soundly until dawn.
He got up early the next morning and strolled around the village. There were quite a few tourists like him, and he specifically headed towards the areas where children were gathered.
Hidan is about seven or eight years old at this time.
He searched several places without success, and just as he was about to give up, he saw a silver-haired boy squatting next to a small garden, poking ants with Kunai.
While stabbing, he kept cursing, "Kill... kill... kill them all..."
Perhaps he was tired, the boy stopped and spat on the ground.
"He can't even scream, how boring."
Just then, a little girl ran over with a kite and said, " Hidan, let's go fly a kite!"
Hidan's expression was full of disgust. He snatched the kite, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it until it was smashed to pieces.
"What's the point of flying kites? Only the cries of the enemy can make me happy. I like the feeling of blood flowing from my body."
Just thinking about that scene excites me, hahaha...
"Waaaaah... Waaah..."
The little girl burst into tears, demanding, "Why did you break my kite? Why did you do that?"
"Because you're annoying..."
Hidan forcefully pushed the little girl to the ground, and she cried even louder.
This annoyed Hidan, and a hint of savagery flashed in his eyes.
"I really want to pierce your neck with this Kunai... This village is like a stagnant pool, utterly boring, I've had enough...!!"
At that moment, the little girl's mother heard the noise and ran over, picked her up, turned around and left, ignoring Hidan.
He scolded, "Didn't I tell you not to play with that bad boy? He's a psychopath, a little pervert."
"Waaah... I'm never playing with him again..."
The little girl nodded vigorously, clearly terrified.
Hidan was an oddball among all the children in Yugakure, and his every word and action seemed out of place in the village.
Hidan ignored the little girl and her mother's words and actions.
"Aren't you eager for a fight?"
"Huh? And who are you...? You don't seem to be from the village, are you a tourist?" Hidan said, pursing his lips.
Unlike other children, he showed no fear of strangers whatsoever.
"Hehe... just call me 'Moon,' I'm a member of the Jashin Cult, and I worship the Lord Jashin."
As Aoki Tsuki spoke, he even made a prayer, and his devout appearance instantly attracted Hidan's attention. Children are full of curiosity about such mysterious rituals.
" Jashin? What kind of god is that..." Hidan asked curiously.
"The god who commands slaughter and destruction, our purpose is to unleash our inner destructive desires to the fullest; this is human nature, and we must follow the way of Deva Path."
Hidan's eyes lit up, then he asked worriedly, "Won't they punish people for killing indiscriminately?"
"That's because you're too weak. We have the protection of the Lord Jashin. Once the ritual is completed, we'll possess immortality and be fearless, but..."
"But what?"
Hidan was tempted; he longed to possess such an ability.
"You must have devout faith in the Lord Jashin. For every person you kill, you must pray to the Lord Jashin and offer the enemy as a sacrifice to him. The ritual is very important."
"A ritual? What's that...?"
Aoki Tsuki, having Hidan, continued to entice him, saying, "The ritual is the only way to communicate with the Lord Jashin. Only by joining the Jashin Cult can you succeed."
"A secret art that can only be bestowed after baptism."
"Then... can I join? I can also worship the Lord Jashin..." Hidan said hurriedly, afraid of missing this opportunity.
Aoki Tsuki shook his head. "Not everyone is qualified to worship the Lord Jashin. Have you ever killed anyone?"
Hidan shook his head; he usually vented his desires by killing small animals and insects.
"Then come with me, let me see your character."
Hidan is an orphan with no relatives or mentors. No one cares where he goes, and everyone even hopes he will leave the village.
Aoki Tsuki led Hidan to a bandit stronghold and said, "Go and unleash your true nature, offer your loyalty to the Lord Jashin."
"Really... is it okay?" Hidan, trembling as he pulled out Kunai.
It wasn't fear, but the excitement of a deep-seated longing about to be fulfilled.
"Sure."
"Hahaha... Lord Jashin, I'm here..." Hidan, charging towards the bandits with Kunai.
Although he doesn't know Ninjutsu, he has mastered Chakra and is Genin of Yugakure. Ordinary mountain bandits are no match for him.
In an instant, screams filled the air as the bandit hideout was wiped out.
After killing the people Hidan used his blood to draw a huge Jashin ritual pattern on the ground. He only saw Aoki Tsuki trace it once, and he accurately copied it.
He lay amidst the crimson patterns, his eyes closed in blissful contentment, muttering something under his breath.
"What a born believer in Jashin."
Headquarters of the Jashin Cult.
"What? You've already found a suitable container...!!" High Priest Takane looked shocked and incredulous.
"Yes, I was guided by the Jashin and found this child in Yugakure."
Aoki Tsuki smiled and gestured to her chest, saying, "Thank you, Lord Jashin!"
'Could it be that I misunderstood him?'
Takane had always felt that Aoki Tsuki's background was questionable, but now he was a little unsure. As the saying goes, you'll know if it's a mule or a horse once you put it to the test.
"Then let's give it a try. May the Lord Jashin protect us."
Hidan was taken to the laboratory with great excitement, and lay down on the operating table with a devout expression, cooperating perfectly.
This greatly surprised the researchers. In the past, all the experimental subjects struggled fiercely and seemed to be dying, but this child was not only unafraid, but also looked very expectant.
As the experiment came to an end, everyone prayed to the Jashin as usual, though they didn't have much hope, since they had never succeeded before.
Just then, Hidan, who was lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes, his body covered in black and white stripes.
"Hahaha... Lord Jashin, I can feel you... right inside my body..."
Hidan's expression was manic, and with runes covering his body, he looked like the embodiment of Jashin god.
"What?... It worked..."
"Unbelievable, it actually happened..."
"We did it..."
The researchers celebrated; all those years of exploration and experimentation had finally paid off.
"High Priest, how is it?" Aoki Tsuki asked in a deep voice.
Seeing this, Takane fell silent, took out the antidote from his person and handed it to Aoki Tsuki, saying, "From today onwards, you are the Grand Steward of my sect, in charge of security matters."
"Hey, I offer my heart to the Lord Jashin!"
Aoki Tsuki successfully rose to a high-ranking position within the Jashin Cult, and even became a high-ranking member with real power.
The Jashin Cult poured all its resources into Hidan, researching his various unique abilities in Jashin Mode.
After becoming the Grand Butler, Aoki Tsuki gave orders to keep the members' activities under wraps and to keep them from being so arrogant.
No riots are allowed in broad daylight. The Jashin is such a great being; he is very picky about food and will not eat just any offering.
The selection should be meticulous, with ninjas being the best choice.
This will minimize the impact on ordinary people.
For a period of time afterward, the Land of Hot Water suddenly became peaceful. People went missing from time to time, but there were no more large-scale massacres.
The daimyo of the Land of Hot Water warmly received Aoki Tsuki.
"You guys are really amazing. You managed to quell this riot in just two months. That's fantastic!"
The elderly daimyo had no idea that the young man before him was actually the Grand Deacon of the Jashin Cult.
"Hahaha... This is merely the tip of the iceberg of our Akatsuki's strength. Our goal is world peace, and any organization or individual that hinders world peace is our enemy."
"Oh..., so your ideology is also peace? But I've heard..." the Daimyo asked, puzzled.
In the underworld, Akatsuki has a bad reputation. They are an assassin group that only cares about money and not people. They only do the dirty work that the ninjas of other villages are unwilling to do.
"Rumors are unreliable, Your Excellency. We are merely nameless ninjas who take the blame for others, paid to do our jobs."
"I see."
"If the Land of Hot Water ever needs anything in the future, please feel free to contact us. As a major client like you, we will be there to help you as soon as possible."
Da Ming nodded, which was taken as agreement.
Due to the unique geographical location of the Land of Hot Water, in order to ensure that it is not invaded, tasks are equally distributed among the Kumogakure, the Konoha, Kirigakure.
Xiao is better suited to handling tasks that can't be done in the open.
Aoki Tsuki was then led by a servant to the backyard, a large garden filled with bellflowers, where the daimyo's wife received him.
An elderly woman, well past sixty, had snow-white hair but remarkably well-maintained skin.
"Young man, I have heard that you quelled the infidel riots for our country, saving our people from war and death. We are truly grateful."
The Jashin Cult has been active here for many years, growing increasingly rampant, which often worries the lord.
"It is Great Goddess Amaterasu who protects the Land of Hot Water. Such a peaceful and tranquil place should not have war. I have only done my small part."
"Haha... you seem quite different from the other ninjas I've met," the daimyo's wife laughed.
"That's what everyone who knows me says."
"Hmm, if it's convenient, could I witness your Ninjutsu?"
"Sure."
Aoki Tsuki turned to look at the garden full of blooming bellflowers, and took out the poison bottle that Takane Priest Takane had given him.
The little bottle was quite pretty, so he kept it on purpose, and it came in handy today.
With a gentle stretch of his hand, invisible Chakra spread out, a breeze swept through the garden, and countless petals began to evaporate wisps of milky white mist.
The water mist was drawn in and condensed into tiny droplets in Aoki Tsuki's palm, which he then poured into a small bottle.
"The meaning of the bellflower is 'eternal love.' Madam, you must have a beautiful and unforgettable memory. Consider this perfume, extracted from thousands of bellflowers, my gift to you."
From initial confusion to later shock, Lady Daming looked at the perfume offered to her, seemingly stirred by memories.
It took her a while to come to her senses, and she murmured, "How nostalgic..."
"Meeting again is already a stroke of good fortune; one must look forward, madam."
Once people get old, all they have left are memories. Aoki Tsuki isn't good at comforting people; he's better at making them angry.
"Haha... I'm sorry to have made you laugh. I haven't seen someone as interesting as you in many years. Thank you for the gift."
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
If we leave a good impression on the Daimyo and his wife, we can at least share some of the spoils with the Akatsuki members if there are any suitable missions in the future.