"That's simple."
Rin put down his teacup, his fingertips stopped tapping, and his eyes became unusually firm as he spoke each word clearly:
"Because what I want isn't to solve a problem, but to possess the ability to solve problems. Even if I kill you now, so what? That's just a shortcut; I wouldn't have faced your full power directly."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it struck Kenjaku's heart like a heavy hammer.
"And if that happens, I won't have made any progress."
Rin's gaze swept over the crowd outside the window, carrying a trace of imperceptible weariness:
"If, one day in the future, another schemer like you continues to target me in the dark, I might still die then.
And I would live with that thought, in constant unease for my entire life. That's not what I want."
"What I want is true strength, a strength that no one can threaten."
He turned to look at Kenjaku, his eyes no longer indifferent, but filled with pure obsession:
"Only then will I feel at ease."
Kenjaku trembled all over, the stitches on his forehead quivering slightly.
He finally understood.
Rin wasn't eager for battle, nor was he seeking death; he was afraid.
Afraid of unknown threats, afraid of potential crises, afraid that one day he would die because he wasn't'strong enough'.
This fear drove him to actively seek the most extreme trials, even if it meant gambling with his life.
Over a thousand years, he had seen countless people pursue power, but he had never seen anyone value 'peace of mind' so highly, so much that they were willing to fight to the death for it.
An invisible pressure once again swept through the corner, but this time it wasn't from Rin's Cursed Energy, but from the other party's almost insane obsession.
Kenjaku subconsciously clenched his fists, his doubts completely dissipating, replaced by intense interest and calculation.
"So that's it..."
He murmured to himself, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, "To feel 'at ease', you're willing to jump into a desperate situation. Rin, you're even crazier than I imagined."
"Crazy or obsessive, it doesn't matter."
Rin accepted the evaluation frankly:
"I just want to completely eradicate all threats, not by killing the enemy in front of me, but by making myself impregnable. And you are currently the only one who can give me this kind of trial."
"You need to unite all the forces you can, use all the means at your disposal, to kill me."
He emphasized again, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty:
"Only in desperation can I break through my limits. And in return, I can temporarily not interfere with your plans, and even... provide some 'help' when you need it."
Kenjaku looked at Rin's resolute eyes, his calculations rapidly spinning in his mind.
He finally understood that this deal, for him, was not a 'demand' but a godsend opportunity.
Rin actively gave up the chance to kill him now and was even willing to offer help, while all Kenjaku had to do was execute a 'death-defying trial' after gathering enough power.
Even if he ultimately couldn't kill Rin, he could use this time to complete his own schemes.
"Truly... insane and interesting."
Kenjaku murmured to himself, his smile now containing a hint of genuine appreciation:
"Aren't you afraid that I'll actually kill you?"
"I am."
Rin admitted frankly:
"But if I don't do this, I will never feel at ease. Rather than living with potential threats, it's better to actively face the challenge."
He stood up, tidied his clothes, and his tone returned to its initial indifference:
"I'll give you time to consider. If you agree, use sukunas finger as a signal. When you've collected enough fingers, when you've united enough powerful forces, I will appear."
"Now you can do whatever you want without any qualms, and I won't disturb you."
With that, he didn't linger, turning and walking towards the entrance of the Sushi restaurant.
Kenjaku sat still, watching his back disappear through the doorway, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, his eyes as deep as night.
The sunlight outside the window was completely obscured by dark clouds, making the warm yellow lights of the Sushi restaurant appear somewhat dim.
"Seeking death for survival, seeking death for peace of mind..."
Kenjaku chuckled softly, the stitches on his forehead wiggling slightly:
"Rin, you truly are an unfathomable monster."
He picked up the teacup and drank the remaining matcha, the warmth of the tea unable to warm his cold calculations.
"However, this is an interesting deal."
He murmured to himself, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes:
"Since you want to die, I will grant your wish. When I gather enough power, I will not only overturn the Jujutsu World but also personally shatter this ridiculous obsession of yours."
He stood up, paid the bill, and merged into the shadows of the street corner. A collaboration starting with'seeking death' was quietly forged amidst the tea and sushi aromas of the Sushi restaurant.
Behind this transaction were two schemers, each with their own hidden motives, placing another dangerous piece on the chessboard of fate.
Rin pushed open the glass door of the Sushi restaurant, and the evening breeze, carrying the city's hustle and bustle, rushed towards him, dispelling the scent of tea and sushi from his body.
As soon as he stepped onto the street, a low, mocking laugh abruptly echoed in his mind, carrying undisguised ridicule:
"Haha... So that's it, you've always lived in fear, Rin."
It was Sukuna's voice.
Rin's steps did not falter, his eyes remained calm, as if he hadn't heard, and he walked straight into the depths of the crowd.
The laughter in his mind grew more unrestrained, Sukuna's tone filled with amusement and a hint of cruelty:
"What a dangerous and cruel path this is. Rin, do you know how many people your decision will cause to die?"
"If that guy Kenjaku's plan truly succeeds, you will become everyone's enemy."
Sukuna's words were like a venomous snake's fangs, accurately striking the most sensitive spot:
"Whether it's your classmates, your teachers, or those Cursed Spirits, Kenjaku, or even me, everyone will become your enemy.
Do you know what you're facing?"
His voice carried both temptation and threat, as if painting a picture of a blood-soaked apocalypse:
"At that time, you will be betrayed by all, abandoned by the entire world.
The 'peace of mind' you seek will only turn into the most utter loneliness.
You will exhaust your strength in endless battles, and finally die in some unknown corner, leaving not a single trace."
Rin's steps finally paused slightly, stopping at the crosswalk before the intersection.
The red light glowed, and traffic flowed past like a torrent of steel, its lights flickering on and off his face.
He was silent for a few seconds, then a faint, almost indifferent curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he softly uttered a few words to the voice in his mind:
"I don't care."
There was no hesitation, no wavering, only a stubborn resolve bordering on obsession.
The laughter in his mind abruptly ceased. Sukuna seemed not to have expected this reaction, and after a moment of stunned, he let out a meaningful cold snort:
"Hmph... Don't care? What a boring and terrifying brat. However, I'm getting more and more excited, anticipating the day you're abandoned by the whole world, anticipating how you'll struggle in desperation."
"I hope you can still say 'I don't care' then."
Sukuna's voice gradually faded, and his mind returned to peace.
Rin looked up, saw the green light illuminate, and stepped across the crosswalk.
The Crimson Sharingan flashed in his eyes for a fleeting moment, then disappeared, leaving only an unfathomable indifference.
He truly didn't care.
Classmates, teachers, Cursed Spirits, Sukuna... none of these mattered.
What mattered was that he had to become strong enough, so strong that no one could rival him, so strong that no threat could approach him.
For this, he could pay any price, even if it meant being an enemy to the whole world, even if his hands were stained with blood.
This was the only way he could find to live with peace of mind.
The Japan lights on both sides of the street flickered, illuminating his solitary figure. His silhouette gradually merged into the crowd, disappearing into the city's night.
In the distant sky, the dark clouds grew thicker and thicker, and a storm capable of overturning the entire Jujutsu World was quietly brewing.
At the center of this storm was the man who, for 'peace of mind,' did not hesitate to push himself into the abyss.
....
Please Read My new Rimuru Fan Fiction if you ever wanted to know what evil Rimuru Will Look like.
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