Yuzuru watched the leader of the Hot Water shinobi tremble as he spoke.
"Um… can we discuss this?" the man asked carefully.
After overthrowing their daimyo, they had become the new rulers of the Land of Hot Water.
They had only enjoyed this power for a short while, and now they were being asked to hand the country over. It was hard not to feel unwilling.
"Oh? And what exactly do you want to discuss?" Yuzuru asked with mild curiosity.
Hearing this, the leader forced a smile. "We're willing to become allies of the Land of Lightning and offer tribute every year. What do you think?"
"I don't think so. The territory, the wealth, the authority of the Land of Hot Water…" Yuzuru tightened his fist. "I want all of it."
The leader's smile instantly vanished, replaced by a dark, heavy expression.
Agreeing meant losing everything they had gained.
It wasn't just unfair—Yuzuru's demands made bandits look generous in comparison.
Trying to steel himself, the leader said gravely, "This concerns the entire Land of Hot Water. We need careful discussion to decide. I can't give you an answer right away."
He barely finished speaking when he met a pair of ominous, blood-red eyes.
A moment later, he saw a colossal hundred-meter-tall demonic statue effortlessly crushing the capital of the Land of Hot Water.
Cloud Village shinobi stormed the borders, killing all who resisted.
The entire nation burned under the flames of war.
Every Hot Water shinobi was slaughtered.
Lightning claimed the land.
The hellish vision made the leader shiver violently—especially the demon statue, whose pressure felt suffocating.
"If you refuse to understand, the scene you just saw will become reality."
"Now tell me—your answer."
The leader's mind snapped back.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, he realized his legs were trembling.
That vision…
Was it genjutsu?
He had always been confident in his strength as an elite jōnin.
But before Yuzuru, he felt like a toddler—utterly helpless.
Logic told him to agree immediately.
But greed whispered that he should try one last struggle.
"If you invade to seize our land, other nations will surely turn against you. And to demand everything with no justification… isn't that a bit too unreasonable—"
His words abruptly stopped.
A sharp pain struck his neck, the world spun, his eyelids grew heavy.
In his final instant of consciousness, he saw a headless corpse crash to the ground.
Strange…
Isn't that my body?
"Ah!!!"
The remaining dozen shinobi huddled in a corner, terrified as Yuzuru severed their leader's head.
The others were equally horrified.
He was an elite jōnin… yet Yuzuru killed him as easily as slaughtering a chicken.
Yuzuru flicked the blood from his blade, scanning the room.
"I didn't work this hard to gain power just to reason with you."
"You're the ones in charge of Hot Water Village, right? Now answer my question. Submit… or die."
The moment he finished speaking, several shinobi threw themselves to the ground, bowing deeply.
"Lord Yuzuru, we are willing to follow all your commands."
Surrendering their authority was painful—
but their own lives mattered far more.
Their leader was cut down effortlessly.
How could they dare to protest?
"Good. In a few days, shinobi from Cloud Village will arrive to take over. Prepare all the documents and records in advance."
Taking over an entire country meant endless complications.
With the cooperation of the former leadership, the process would be much easier— and that was why Yuzuru hadn't killed all of them.
Seeing that they were now obedient, he let the killing intent fade before asking, "Does the Land of Hot Water have an organization called the Cult of Jashin?"
"The Cult of Jashin?"
The shinobi exchanged glances, then shook their heads together.
"Lord Yuzuru, we've never heard of such a group."
"Is that so?"
Their confused faces made it clear they weren't lying.
In the original timeline, the Cult of Jashin was a sect worshiping a dark god, and Hidan gained immortality through their ritual.
Yuzuru still felt some curiosity about this so-called evil god.
"Lord Yuzuru, we can send people to investigate immediately."
"No need."
He shook his head.
Since there was no trace of them yet, he didn't plan to interfere prematurely.
After all, his goal was the mysterious Jashin.
If he exposed his interest too early, he might cause unnecessary trouble.
In the ninja world, there were many forces beyond chakra-using shinobi— like the 'Sacred Lands' of Mt. Myōboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryūchi Cave.
These places were ruled by the Great Toad Sage, the Slug Sage, and the White Snake Sage, each possessing ancient inheritances.
The Great Toad Sage had existed since the era of the Sage of Six Paths and played a key role in sealing Kaguya.
The Slug and White Snake Sages never appeared in combat records, but they likely weren't inferior.
Besides them existed beings like Jashin and the Shinigami…
Yuzuru suspected these were indigenous forces predating Kaguya's arrival.
The original story provided little information about them, so even as a transmigrator, he had no special advantage.
Until he gained enough power, he had no intention of provoking them.
After a moment of thought, Yuzuru looked back at the still-kneeling shinobi.
"You may go. Don't worry about me."
"Yes, sir!"
They let out breaths of relief and fled the hall like frightened animals.
Yuzuru glanced at the terrified attendants and lost interest in making them continue their 'performance.'
"Forget it. I'll go soak in the hot springs."