Ino was praying fervently in her room. She had tried to resist the urge in the days leading up to it, and she had succeeded, but each time the moon rose, she felt an overwhelming desire to pray, to pray to those words she had heard in her dreams.
She didn't know why, but since waking up she felt a connection, she fervently desired to connect completely.
But she wasn't stupid, she knew this wasn't normal, but when she thought about telling her father, she had a terrible premonition, something awful would happen if she did it, she didn't know where it would come from, but she listened.
She resisted for a few days, but soon she couldn't anymore, the deep longing in her heart grew stronger each night, until she couldn't bear it any longer, and she prayed to him.
Her prayers began weakly but quickly gained fervor, she felt the connection growing stronger. An extremely heavy aura descended upon her, but she only felt the embrace of happiness, of desire. Her eyes gleamed with a sinister red for a moment as her body warmed.
She wanted to break free completely from the shackles of the world, to do what she wanted, to let out everything she normally hid, but at the same time, her mind seemed trapped, with Ino still perfectly controlling her body, there, still praying.
Such a contradictory feeling, as if euphoria and restraint were going hand in hand.
But as Ino continued to pray, she soon found herself in a completely different place.
Before the girl's shocked eyes, she found herself in a gigantic stone hall, but as she tried to get her bearings, filled with fear, she noticed the large throne on the high platform, stone steps separating her from it.
Seated there on the throne, a vague figure, a humanoid being, looked down at her, only its red eyes seemed to cut through the black mist, ensuring that she was looking directly at it.
Ino was trembling all over at that point.
She was screwed.
She wasn't stupid, she was praying to what appeared to be an evil deity.
Based on the stories her mother told her when she was younger, her soul would now be devoured.
She wanted to cry and slap herself for being so stupid.
Why was this happening to her?
-Girl... who allowed you to call me?- the creature asked calmly.
His voice seemed to come from everywhere, deep and guttural, full of extreme malice. Ino wanted to deny everything, but she knew there was no turning back from that point.
-I-I'm sorry, please, I'm sorry, don't kill me, please, I won't do it again...- She pleaded softly while crying.
The creature stared at her for what seemed like the longest time Ino had ever felt pass in her life.
It was only when the terrifying laughter echoed through the palace that she came to her senses, staring at the creature in utter fear.
-Interesting, you summoned me, but you fear me. You're quite an interesting little mouse.- The creature seemed amused, its body barely moving, but Ino could still sense the mockery in its eyes.
She would normally be furious at that kind of look, but this only made her cry even more.
This seemed to bore the creature, because its eyes became emotionless again, something Ino didn't see, still crying with her head down.
-Girl, I thought you were brave enough to call me, but I see you're just a stupid lamb. But it doesn't matter, from the moment you called me, your fate was sealed. You are my servant now.- the figure said.
Ino trembled even more, lifting her head and looking at him with teary, red eyes. She wanted to protest, but quickly dismissed the idea, she didn't think she had any options now.
What would he ask of her? Human sacrifices?
-You don't need to worry, little girl, you're too weak to be of any use to me right now. I'm not interested in useless things like senseless massacres, either, I don't need the help of a weak little girl for that.- The figure spoke, as if reading her mind.
Ino trembled even more, but inside she felt a little relieved.
-So... what should I do?- Ino asked, her fear evident.
-Now? Get stronger and await my call. When you are useful, you will know.- The deep voice sounded again, as the black mist began to swirl around her. Ino looked on in shock as this happened.
-Don't speak my name under any circumstances, don't talk about me. If you dare betray me, you and everyone you love will perish...- The voice continued to speak calmly and mockingly. The next moment, Ino woke up again, inside her own room, still in a prayerful position.
Ino jumped back, shocked, looking around in fear and confusion, but while she was relieved thinking that perhaps it had only been a dream, she noticed the backs of her hands had changed, a purple mark had appeared on her left hand, resembling a chained arm, while on her right hand the image was red, forming the head of a goat.
As she stared in shock, the two marks vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
Ino pinched her arm and felt pain.
She trembled even more, it was real!
Lying there on the floor, she crawled backward to the corner of the room, curled up, and continued shivering, searching for warmth for hours, only when dawn broke did she realize how much time had passed.
With her eyes red from tiredness, Ino finally calmed down a little, feeling the daylight on her.
But she knew, he was still there, looking at her, she could feel his eyes on her back. She thought for a moment about telling her father, but quickly dismissed the idea. Such a powerful being, all that malice she sensed, she didn't want her parents to be affected because of her.
If he kept his promise and killed them all...
Ino returned to bed, her body heavy, hiding under the covers. She cried softly, wondering why this had happened to her.
She seemed to remember something at that moment, it all began when she entered the mind of the ninja from Otogakure, Jugo. Her eyes widened. Could he be like her? Or was he a true believer in that being?
Ino didn't know, but even if she wanted to ask him, she didn't have the courage, she shouldn't talk about him, he had made that very clear.
In her mind, she recited... Lord of Abyss... Chained Curse... Father of Devils...
Ino wondered if this being was some kind of evil creature that had been chained up and was trying to break free, but even so, she didn't have the courage to confront it.
Ino cried a little longer before exhaustion overtook her, she soon fell into the land of dreams, but there was no light there, only nightmares.