"Hehehe... At last! After exploring the realms, I've discovered it—the cult of dedicated blood followers!"
In a nearby monastery, a dark figure watched over the room, delighting in the blood circle below him. According to ancient texts, the Jashin Cult dates back to a time before His Mother descended from the heavens and is one of the enduring religions throughout history.
It is believed that the blood cult's leader, Jashin, holds the secrets to immortality and the everlasting nature of humanity. The blood tendrils absorb blood intensely, allowing for insane regeneration, even in cases of amputation, and emanate a ruthless aura linked to his cult.
In contrast, there's the Divine Cult, which ultimately fell due to its unwavering belief in sacrifices to the Divine Tree. After all, who would willingly meet their end at the hands of these foolish devotees?
Then there's the Phantom Cult.
The dark figure sensed a strong connection between this cult and the mysterious individual he was determined to investigate—the one and only, Yoichi Murakami, the Phantom.
Through his extensive research, Black Zetsu's commitment to saving his mother has remained resolute. He recently stumbled upon crucial intelligence and aimed to leverage the manpower of the Jashin Cult.
"Hear us, Blood God! We bring you this sacrifice as a testament to your power! Show yourself to us, O' Lord Jashin!"
As the ritual concluded, Black Zetsu felt the Chakras swirling within the monastery, as his offerings and the bodies of shinobi were consumed by the apparition he had summoned in the stillness of the night.
"Who...are...you? Where...am...I?"
After waking from his slumber, Jashin felt invigorated and entered his mind to find his close friend resting peacefully amid the serene sea. He called out:
"Hey, wake up! Seimei... Yoichi's here!"
At Jashin's over-the-top shout, Seimei suddenly snapped his eyes open and looked around the vast space, but his previous foe was nowhere to be found. Realizing there was no danger, he rolled his eyes, thinking it was just another one of Shin's harmless, yet pointless, pranks.
"What is it, Shin? Any good sacrifice once more?"
"Did you become an idiot, Seimei? We are reborn now! I can feel that 3 baldy monks are dead! We are finally free from hiding in the dark!"
In Shin's joyous expression, Seimei began contemplating about their previous situation.
Experiencing the loss of their physical bodies gives them a glimpse of what it's like to hover between life and death.
Following the intense battle with the monks, their souls find themselves caught between the earthly realm and the Pure Land.
Initially, they are both filled with fear from the overwhelming sacred energy that radiates from the Pure Land.
Nevertheless, thanks to the selfless sacrifice of some devoted followers, they manage to remain alive in a spiritual state.
At the moment, the peculiar person didn't share the same level of commitment as the others, yet he made a remarkable sacrifice, enough to restore their newly-formed physical bodies once again.
"I'll take care of this, Shin… I can't let you handle this suspicious character with your limited thinking."
"Hold on—" Before Shin could respond, Seimei seized control of the body and unleashed a fierce aura, showcasing the timeless power of Jashin.
"Who are you?" Seimei asked in a rough voice, surveying the visitor with a detached gaze, though a flicker of suspicion glimmered in his eyes.
"There's no need to be so hostile, Lord Jashin. I'm just here to help you against your opponent, Yoichi Murakami. Does that name still ring some bells?"
While Black Zetsu recognized the impressive powers before him, he felt confident in his ability to slip away from the immortal presence standing before him. His tone grew significantly warmer, though it lacked any semblance of devotion.
Looking at his raised eyebrow, Black Zetsu added:
"I assume you have no idea of the current things so I will explain things in a much more detailed way... So it starts with Hagoromo..."
Without a doubt, Black Zetsu left out certain details, like his mother's irrational outburst and their origins, but he underscored the critical need to defeat Yoichi Murakami, who stood as a major obstacle to his grand scheme.
'He's been alive for 2,000 years? Truly a formidable monster!'
Black Zetsu and Seimei made connections based on the facts they discussed at the investigation table.
Yoichi Murakami was clearly an extraordinary being with hidden motives and plans.
"I agree... I'll stay on standby for now. It's thrilling to adapt to such a similar yet modern environment."
"Well then, let's revisit this later. See you soon..."
With shared smiles, the two schemers set their plans in motion as Black Zetsu began to blend into the ground, evading the notice of Seimei and Shin, who were intrigued by their mysterious companion's intentions.
"Hey! Why didn't you let me speak? I can handle this—OI! Seimei! What's happening?!"
Back under his control, Shin noticed Seimei deep in thought and seemingly calm amid the revival's excitement. Not wanting to disturb him, Shin shook his head and stepped outside into a familiar landscape that felt both the same and yet strikingly modern.
...
"... Are you alright, Older Brother Hashirama?"
"You know what happens when we oppose Father..."
'Tobirama, Itama... I don't want your sacrifices to be in vain!'
At his younger brother's funeral, Hashirama was struck by his father, but the desire to end the conflict reignited within him. Despite lacking a clear plan or direction, he felt it was his duty as a brother and a believer in peace to act rather than let the chaotic world continue as it was.
"The Senju Clan is supposed to be about love? What a joke! A real shinobi is just a front for adults sending their children to certain death! We're no better than the Uchiha or those other clans!"
"Everything feels so wrong in this ninja world!"
Butsuma, furious, almost lashed out at his eldest son, but Tobirama stepped in to apologize for his brother's rants.
"Adults are foolish... If they truly want to stop the fighting, they should make a pact..."
The three boys settled on a large wooden stump, calming down after their earlier outburst as Tobirama's words prompted some important thoughts for Hashirama and Itama.
"But what about our friends and clan members who sacrificed themselves for our cause?!" Itama added.
"If you keep thinking that way, this cycle will never break, and it could end up costing you your life... You and the adults are too hotheaded."
"Future shinobi must learn to control their emotions, establish rules to follow, and avoid unnecessary conflicts!"
With his arms crossed, Tobirama's practical viewpoint made Hashirama clench his fists and nod slightly, contemplating other possible solutions.
"Isn't it possible to form a true pact... an alliance?"