I Will Use These Eyes to Illuminate the World!

"Hidan, do you still remember your ninja way?"

Jin's gaze grew sharp as he stared directly at the little kid in front of him.

Under the intense and passionate gaze, Hidan involuntarily shifted his eyes and muttered:

"My ninja way…?"

"Yes!"

"Your ninja way!"

"You looked up to the sky with your big nostrils flaring, confidently giving yourself a thumbs-up!"

"You loudly proclaimed that, with nothing to your name, you would become the next Tsuchikage, end the chaos in the Land of Hot Water, drive all the ninjas from this land away, and become the next demigod!"

Jin looked at Hidan, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth, and teased:

"These are your own words. Do I need to help you remember them?"

Hidan's face showed a hint of embarrassment, his expression complicated, and he stammered in response:

"W-well, that was just—"

Before he could finish, Jin's tone turned cold and he interrupted:

"You want to say that was just big talk, empty words, lies?"

"That the real world is far more brutal?"

He grabbed Hidan by the collar, the swirling Tomoe in his crimson eyes exuding formidable energy.

"Don't be a fool!"

"Denying your own heart, your own will, your own dreams, then accepting reality, filling your empty head with illusions, pushing yourself to the scaffold, and bowing and begging before something stronger than the Land of Hot Water."

"If that's the case, what difference does it make whether you're alive or dead?"

"Wait, I…" Hidan was choked by these words, as if he was desperately trying to justify something, to find a legitimate excuse for his actions, to persuade Uchiha Jin and himself, to prove that his actions were correct, the best choice under the circumstances.

But Hidan couldn't find the words to continue.

Because deep down, he knew.

The purpose of the Jashin Cult, with its principle of killing to stop killing, is merely a case of drinking poison to quench thirst.

Jin let out a breath and said in a deep voice:

"Hidan!"

"You are a strong person, you have the resolve to face death, and you want to use your sacrifice to gain the favor of the evil god!"

"But I'll tell you, this is just an escape!"

Jin's words were like a hammer, smashing heavily into Hidan's heart, shattering and tearing apart the barriers he had built up.

Uncovering the candy-coated exterior of the Jashin Cult, what's inside is nothing but a stinking piece of filth!

This forced Hidan to face reality.

His face alternated between red and white, veins bulging on his forehead, and one hand suddenly gripping Jin's hand that was holding his collar.

He tried to pull it away, but with his strength, he could hardly compete with Jin, who was already a Genin.

In the end, he could only shout in anger, his face flushed:

"Enough! Jin, enough!"

"Get out of here! I don't need your pity! And I don't want to hear your preachings!"

"I've heard countless words like these over the past ten years in the Land of Hot Water!"

"How can you possibly understand my situation, my pain?"

"Is it true what they say about the big country ninjas?"

"Don't you find your high-and-mighty attitude disgusting?!"

However, in the face of such a hysterical Hidan, Jin only smiled.

"Is that so?"

He fiercely grabbed Hidan by the collar and threw him to the ground, his expression gradually turning menacing.

Then, like a villainous final boss, he mercilessly mocked the level-one hero wielding a beginner's sword, demeaning his so-called dreams as worthless!

Jin's eyes gleamed with malice as he spoke:

"Listen up, you little punk—"

"I'm not preaching to you; I'm proving to you—"

"My ninja way is above yours!"

Jin released Hidan, stood up, and gazed at the full moon in the boundless night sky, his expression growing deep and contemplative.

After a moment of silence, he looked down with a defiant and indifferent face and said:

"Hidan."

"What you see of the Land of Hot Water is merely a small corner of the entire ninja world!"

"Your goal is just a minor part of my ninja way, something I would have accomplished sooner or later!"

"And my ninja way—"

Jin suddenly revealed his crimson Sharingan, his tone shifting abruptly.

He spoke in a cold, emotionless voice:

"Is to overthrow the current Five Great Nations, unify the entire ninja world, and end the continuous wars since the Warring States period!"

"To bring eternal peace to this world!"

"This is something I must do, even if it means facing life and death!"

"I will use these eyes to illuminate the entire world!"

With the words spoken, a sudden silence enveloped the surroundings.

Hidan, with a look of shock, the girl with chestnut-red hair, and Shinno, who had been sitting silently in the corner as if he didn't exist, all turned their gazes to Uchiha Jin.

Their eyes flickered repeatedly, as if they were deeply moved by the words spoken.

Hidan couldn't help but swallow hard, staring at Jin in awe.

"Your words…"

Before Hidan could speak, the girl with chestnut-red hair stood up from the tree stump, calmly scrutinizing Jin as if he were a delusional madman.

Then she asked coldly:

"What will you use to accomplish your ninja way? On what grounds do you dare to make such a promise? What makes you confident that you can achieve something that no one has ever achieved before?"

"In front of you are the Five Great Nations, the entire ninja world!"

"The strongest Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen; the Third Raikage A, known for his immense power; the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, who surpassed Kekkei Genkai and reached the Kekkei Tota realm; the Sannin; demigods; tailed beasts; and jinchuriki."

"So many renowned ninjas, legendary figures, wouldn't dare to make such grand claims!"

"You, on what grounds do you dare?!"

The girl's words were as sharp as a blade, thrusting directly at Jin's throat, leaving him no room to dodge.

Yet Jin had no intention of evading the question.

As a man of destiny, his mission had been set from the beginning, so at this moment, he spoke decisively and without hesitation:

"What matters is not what is said but what is done! It's about not avoiding it!"

"No one starts at the top; even the hardest tasks are accomplished step by step."

Then he looked at the shocked Hidan and calmly said:

"Hidan, I am no different from you."

"Compared to the entire ninja world, what I have is just this insignificant life!"

"But I only need to be certain that my feet have stepped onto this path."

"As long as I stand at the forefront of this path, my figure will naturally attract countless people to gaze upon it!"

"Even if I fall, behind me, there will eventually be thousands upon thousands who will step forward!"

Jin spoke with determination, his gaze resolute and unflinching:

"In the end, this dream will surely be realized!"

"And the first step towards that ideal, I have already taken!"

"Now, it's just a matter of taking the second step—"

"Starting from the Land of Hot Water!"

"Starting from here!"

"I will end the chaos on this land!"

"I will bring peace to this country!"

[You have accepted a new mission, end the chaos in the Land of Hot Water.]