Evil God-sama (Is it Hidan's voice echoing here?)
To become a Chūnin at such a young age was enough proof that Uchiha Tsuki wasn't a fool. His provocation against Shirō wasn't out of immaturity, but rather a calculated attempt to secure initiative in this mission.
By gaining an early advantage, his team's overall performance rating would improve, which in turn meant greater recognition for his own future advancement.
Although Nakamura was captain of Shirō's squad, he made no move to interfere. Konoha's shinobi culture tacitly allowed a single contest of strength before joint operations began. Once the mission was officially underway, however, further internal conflict was forbidden. The mission always came first.
Now that they had reached the border of the Land of Hot Water, the window for such contests had already closed. Tsuki knew this was his only chance to establish dominance for his team. After all, Shikamaru's tactical ability already gave his side an advantage—if he didn't act now, they risked receiving only basic mission rewards with little chance for extra credit.
Tsuki had expected his Sharingan to secure him an edge. Instead, he was shocked to find that the other side also possessed one. His supposed trump card had been matched, leaving him with nothing.
When the dust of the brief clash settled, Nakamura stepped forward to mediate.
"Enough. The mission is a priority. Taiyi, explain things to Shirō, and then we move."
"Yes, Captain."
As they continued their march, Shirō asked curiously, "So what exactly did the Captain ask you to explain?"
Taiyi gave a light shrug. "Nothing much. Just don't take Uchiha Tsuki's behavior too seriously. He wasn't aiming at you personally—he only wanted to seize initiative before the mission began. You've never taken part in joint assignments like this, so you may not know: unless one side has an overwhelming reputation, these contests always happen. It's almost an unwritten rule."
"Normally, the one who provokes first apologizes after the fact. But… you know how members of my clan are." Taiyi smirked faintly.
"Captain only worried you might hold a grudge and let it affect teamwork."
Shirō nodded in understanding. "I see. He's not wrong though—my Clairvoyance really isn't as sharp as your Sharingan. Still, you went a little overboard back there. Don't tell me you were being intentional too?"
Taiyi chuckled. "Only an Uchiha understands the true power of the Sharingan. And only an Uchiha can truly read another Uchiha."
"Tsk. So your heart is just as dark," Shirō teased.
Yet he admitted silently, He's right. The Sharingan is terrifying—its genjutsu enhancement, its copying power, even its ultimate Mind Reflection abilities.
With that, their group pressed forward in silence.
Uchiha Tsuki's little gambit had already failed before it truly began. He and his team could only swallow the loss. To Shirō, the boy's antics were nothing more than childish mischief. Thirteen years old or not, Tsuki was still just a mischievous child in his eyes. And for children, Shirō had patience—so long as they didn't cross the line.
Three days later, the squad finally reached Yugakure—the Hidden Hot Water Village.
"We're here," Nakamura said firmly. "Let's report in."
He strode to the gates. "We're from Konohagakure, dispatched for this mission."
The gate guard inspected their token. "Wait here."
Moments later, a middle-aged official appeared, frowning when he saw the team's youthful faces. "This is who Konoha sends? Mere brats?"
Nakamura's expression hardened, his tone sharper than Shirō had ever heard. "Who Konoha sends is Konoha's business. Your role is only to provide the intelligence."
The official bristled. "What did you say?!"
"Or does your village mean to question the Hokage's judgment?"
The man froze, lips pressed thin, then forced a bow. "…No. Follow me. I'll hand over the information."
Shirō blinked in surprise. It was his first time seeing Nakamura so domineering. Then again, small hidden villages like Yugakure had little standing. Their strongest forces were at best a handful of Jōnin—far from the level of the Five Great Nations. In truth, Shirō's team alone could cripple Yugakure and escape intact.
The lesson was clear: power dictated respect.
Inside, the official returned with a scroll. Nakamura handed it to Shikamaru, who quickly examined its contents.
"What information do you have?" Nakamura pressed.
"Not much. They call themselves Gakin-kyō—a death-worshiping cult. Their followers fight without fear of dying. Beyond that, we know little. Their movements are erratic; they leave no fixed strongholds."
"That complicates things," Shikamaru muttered.
"Gakin-kyō…" Shirō frowned, the name tickling at the back of his mind. "I've heard it before, long ago. Do you have their emblem? That might help me remember."
"Y-yes, one moment."
As the official left to fetch it, Shikamaru asked, "You recognize them?"
"Barely. Just a faint impression. What about you—did you find anything useful?"
"Some. Based on reported sightings, I've narrowed down a few possible stronghold areas. They'll need scouting to confirm."
"Good. I'll have Gray Snake investigate—he won't draw attention."
Soon the official returned, holding a pendant. A circle encasing an inverted triangle, each point touching the inner rim.
The moment Shirō saw it, his heart jolted. Of course. That's where I've seen it.
It was the ritual sigil of Jashin—the same wicked symbol used in Hidan's Death Possession Blood technique.
"Well?" the man asked. "Does this jog your memory?"
Shirō nodded slowly. "Yes. They use curse-type techniques. But the exact conditions… remain unclear."