When Ren heard Hidan mention that name, his eyes flickered.
The Jashin Cult. He only knew a little about them. They were a mysterious organization wandering the Land of Hot Springs, worshiping a deity known as "Jashin." The powerful members of the cult could rely on unique blood curses and ritualistic secret arts to possess a terrifying "one-shot kill" ability.
In the original story, the Hidden Hot Springs Village (Yugakure) had become known as the "Village that Forgot War" due to its pacifism and inaction. This conflicted directly with Hidan's philosophy of saving the nation through iron-fisted strength. Eventually, his frustration with the village led him to the rising Jashin Cult.
However, Ren hadn't expected that Hidan—who wasn't even a Genin yet in this timeline—would already be eyeing this organization.
Hidan's expression darkened as he leaned in. "Let me tell you something, Ren! Listen closely—the Land of Hot Springs is beyond saving!"
"This country has been dragged into a war between the Five Great Nations... Do you have any idea what that means?" Hidan's face twisted into something grim. "I've seen too many ninjas here. Stone, Mist, Cloud, Sand, and Leaf... ninjas wearing those Great Nation headbands are ravaging this land. They don't care about the lives of our civilians. If they meet, it's a fight to the death; massive jutsus are released without a thought."
"Have you ever experienced it? Walking down a road, and suddenly, a village next to you is flooded, swallowed by an earthquake, or obliterated by lightning from the sky? And then, my teacher—a Jōnin of the Hot Springs—grabs my shoulder and tells me: 'Hidan, leave quickly. Once we get to the village, we'll be safe.'"
"I remember the fear on his face. Sweat on his brow. His eyes were full of rage, but he turned away. He didn't dare to look."
Ren took a deep breath, listening. Sunlight streamed through the hole in the wall, hitting Hidan, but it felt as if the light was being swallowed by his body. Like a black hole.
Hidan's eyes were wide and bloodshot, the skin at the corners of his eyes looking ready to tear. He let out a low, jagged laugh. "I asked my teacher, 'Why don't you save them? With your skills, you could do it, right? You could kill those Chūnin slaughtering civilians, erase the evidence, and escape, right? KILL THEM! Why won't you kill them?!' Do you know what he told me?"
Ren exhaled slowly. "Probably something like, 'Hidan, don't look for trouble, we're no match for them.'"
The stark contrast made Ren think of Setsuna Uchiha. Facing the powerful Cloud ninjas, Setsuna had been willing to hunt down an entire village just to avenge a single Genin. It was the first time Ren had truly felt the pathological, overwhelming "love" of the Uchiha clan.
Hidan shook his head with a hollow smile. "No. My teacher said: 'Those people have nothing to do with us. Don't meddle in business that isn't yours.'"
"Can you believe it? He said those people have nothing to do with us?! My teacher's hometown was that very village! We left Yugakure specifically to bring his wife back! And yet, he said they have nothing to do with us?!!!"
Emotionally charged, Hidan snatched the apple from Ren's hand and smashed it onto the floor, pulverizing it.
Ren: Wait... that was MY apple, you jerk!
Ren shook his head and sighed. He knew this world was messed up, but hearing the tragedy firsthand was still difficult to stomach. "The world is indeed garbage. But what does this have to do with the Jashin Cult?"
Hidan nodded and pulled a small pamphlet from his waist pouch. He slapped it into Ren's hands, his face glowing with a fanatical sincerity. "Look at this, Ren! Look at these teachings! The fallen Land of Hot Springs finally has its dawn! And its name is—The Jashin Cult!"
Hidan's smile began to turn truly demented. "Kill! Kill everything around you! Kill them standing, kill them crouching! Mount them in stables and take their heads! Shackle their hands and kick them into boiling vats of oil! Everything!"
"Ninjas, civilians, nobles, Daimyos—kill them all! Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill! Let this country welcome a total purge! We will pave the altar with blood, pile up millions of heads to reach the sky, and begin the Ritual! And then... we welcome Jashin!"
"When the God descends, all followers who worship Him will receive eternal pain! All sins will be erased! A reborn Land of Hot Springs will become the Sixth Great Nation in Jashin's embrace! And there will finally be peace!"
Hidan stood in the beam of light, arms spread wide, staring at the sun as if he were seeing a light even more blinding than the sun itself.
Ren swallowed hard, staring at Hidan in disbelief. "Are you... already a member?"
Hidan suddenly looked dejected and shook his head. "Not yet. But they should be arriving soon—" He laughed again, slapping Ren on the shoulder. "Ren, help me! Joining the Jashin Cult requires a sacrifice!"
"Sacrificing myself isn't enough. I need you! Come to the cross with me and become a follower of the God! Then, we will stand together at the peak of this country and make the Land of Hot Springs Great Forever!"
Ren broke into a cold sweat. No system subtitles appeared. That meant... this kid was being 100% sincere. He was honestly inviting Ren to become a "sacrifice," and he genuinely thought he was doing Ren a massive favor!
Ren's face twitched. For Hidan, becoming a sacrifice was a good thing. He'd get the immortal body, master the secret jutsus, get promoted, become the CEO of Cults, and marry the "Blood-Soaked Triple-Bladed Scythe."
But for Ren...
"Wait..."
Ren froze. He saw it. A broad, golden highway paved specifically for his "Insurance Fraud" goal! Angels were singing, fairies were throwing flowers, just waiting for him to take a step forward.
Wait a damn minute... this IS a good thing for me!
Facing a notorious evil organization like the Jashin Cult, how could Ren—a hero of justice, a lover of peace, a man destined to lead the ninja world to a better future—just sit idly by?
Ren jumped out of bed, filled with excitement. He gripped the Jashin pamphlet tightly and shook Hidan's hands with equal fervor.
"Hidan, my brother! YES!"
"Let's go to the Jashin Cult together! We both have a very, very bright future ahead of us!"