The real world.
"So bored. Should I invite a new group member to liven things up a bit?"
Hattori held Angewomon with his left arm while his right hand swiped through a screen in the air.
He muttered listlessly.
Currently, the Darkening CHat Group was in a relatively calm latent period.
Naruto and Sasuke were training in Senjutsu at Ryuchi Cave and Mount Myoboku respectively and wouldn't appear for a while.
Hancock had also started her training in the arena, preparing to reform the Kuja Kingdom.
Seven was wandering around the various parts of the Stan Country, searching for fragments of his lost memories.
Taichi was busy building Dark Towers, aiming to complete the unification of the Digital World as soon as possible.
For a time, the once lively and cheerful group chat was left with only the lonely Group Owner, online and whimpering.
'So lonely.'
Hattori opened a phone app, aimlessly searching for suitable candidates.
Suddenly,
A piece of news about a domestic animation caught his attention.
"'The Story of Hongmao and Lantu: The Seven Heroes' Human Version is scheduled to start filming, tentatively set for the end of this month." (T/N: It's this story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howie_%26_Landau.)
"The plot is a perfect restoration. Characters changed from animals to humans, fulfilling the youth's dream of the martial world."
'A human version of The Story of Hongmao and Lantu: The Seven Heroes?'
A slight curve lifted the corner of Hattori's lips.
Childhood memories buried deep in his heart slowly surfaced.
"Men have courage, roaming the world with sword in hand."
"Women have a swordsman's heart, tenderness filling the mountains."
This martial arts animation was the nostalgia feeling in Hattori's heart.
What he found most difficult to accept was the tragic fate of the Young Master of the Demon Cult in this animation, the tragic simp, Hei Xiaohu.
His life began with deep loyalty and was also destroyed by it.
Loyal to family, he trained tirelessly to achieve divine power for his father, toiling without complaint.
In the end, he died chasing the Seven Heroes, blown up on a cliff, ending tragically.
Devoted in love, he was infatuated with Lantu his whole life, even willing to cut his wrist to save her.
Yet he never received a single bit of favor from Lantu.
That classic line became the final sword piercing the simp's heart.
"I'd rather die in Young Hero Hongmao's arms than be saved by you."
One sentence.
There is no grief greater than the death of the heart.
In Hattori's view, Hei Xiaohu had every reason to turn dark.
Deeply loyal and righteous, yet his loyalty was misplaced.
His father, Heixin Hu, was obsessed with the Qilin's blood his whole life.
Only at the moment of Hei Xiaohu's death did he realize that his ambitions were not worth a fraction of his son's importance.
His goddess, Lantu, remained faithful to Hongmao unto death, steadfast and unyielding.
No matter how much Hei Xiaohu tried to please her, he couldn't gain even a shred of her affection.
A whole life of loving without being loved in return.
The outwardly cold and aloof Young Master's heart was long riddled with scars.
"System, invite the human version of Hei Xiaohu to the group."
Hattori snapped his fingers, having made a decision.
He would guide Hei Xiaohu to turn dark, to become the true overlord of the Demon Cult.
This time, no simping for Lantu, no blind filial piety towards his father.
Slaughter the Seven Heroes, drink the Qilin's blood, and unite the world.
[Ding! Invitation successful. Young Master of the Demon Cult has joined the group chat.]
[Cat Burglar: Welcome, new member! By the way, that name sounds so domineering, 'Young Master of the Demon Cult'.]
[This Queen Is So Beautiful: Usually, those who dare use such names are either super powerful or super lame. I'm guessing the latter is more likely.]
[The Dead-Last Jinchuriki: +1, feels like he's the same type as Second Pillar.]
[Second Pillar Thinks He Can Do It: Naruto! If you call me that nickname again, I'll blast you with a Toad Oil Flame Bullet!]
[Young Master of the Demon Cult: This place... where is this?]
At this moment…
On Black Tiger Cliff, Hei Xiaohu looked bewildered at the group chat before him.
This chat box that suddenly appeared in the void was formless, mysterious, and unpredictable.
The information and the strange way of speaking within it, he could understand all of it.
'Which great master had used their divine power to pull me into this small realm?'
[Dark Group Owner: Welcome to the Darkening Chat Group, Hei Xiaohu.]
[Young Master of the Demon Cult: Darkening Chat Group? What is that?]
[Dark Group Owner: A group chat created to guide you onto the path of darkening.]
[Dark Group Owner: The so-called darkening means facing your inner desires and ignoring all external restraints.]
Hearing this, a cold expression appeared on Hei Xiaohu's face as he muttered.
[Young Master of the Demon Cult: I, Hei Xiaohu, am already a member of the Demon Cult, as black as can be. Why invite me to this group?]
Seeing this message, Hattori chuckled coldly and typed slowly.
[Dark Group Owner: In that case, I'll ask you three questions. Do you dare answer?]
[Young Master of the Demon Cult: Why wouldn't I dare?]
Hei Xiaohu stood proudly, his face full of arrogance.
He was the Young Master of Black Tiger Cliff, his Demonic Path Cultivation peerless in the world.
In terms of talent alone, even the leader of the Seven Heroes, Young Hero Hongmao, was far inferior to him.
His Divine Skill, 'Heavenly Demon's Chaotic Dance' could withstand the combined force of four swords without falling behind.
Unless the tenth level of the 'Whirlwind Fire Dance' appeared, he was the top expert among the younger generation.
With such strength to back him up, why shouldn't Hei Xiaohu be proud?