Masaki assigned tasks to everyone. Takuma and Shigeru were sent to investigate possible ghost sightings in the Land of Demons. Since it was the government of another country, Masaki couldn't conduct a direct investigation, but with the help of the local miko, they were able to screen some suspicious individuals for easier tracking. Meanwhile, Hyūga Kei and Sarutobi Konosuke headed to the former site of Ninshū to investigate Jashin's followers. Kei's Byakugan allowed for long-distance observation, ensuring they could retreat if discovered.
Senju Risa remained at the shrine. As a medical ninja, she couldn't confront dangerous Jashinists, nor did she possess investigative skills on par with Takuma and Shigeru. Instead, Masaki asked her to provide psychological support to Kana. Though Kana insisted she was fine, Masaki worried she was just putting on a brave face and might take drastic measures due to her personality.
Watching Senju Risa counsel Kana, Masaki slightly shook his head. It was clear that Risa's approach to psychotherapy still needed refinement. Psychotherapy, after all, was a new concept in the shinobi world, where no one had previously cared if a ninja's mental health was sound.
Masaki believed that, with the right maturity, psychotherapy could greatly benefit the Uchiha clan. Given that the Uchiha often experienced intense psychological trauma due to their Sharingan awakening conditions, their temperaments frequently became more extreme. But, with the right support, their mindsets might become less volatile. Although the Sharingan had a profound impact, examples like Sasuke showed that individuals could be guided back onto a better path.
"When are we going to act against those people?" Tsunade asked Masaki eagerly as they waited outside.
"Soon. If we rush without solid intel, we risk needless casualties," Masaki replied.
Tsunade understood, though she yearned for immediate justice against the Jashinists intending harm to her family.
"Don't worry; it won't be long. Within three years, they'll be dealt with," Masaki assured her with a smile, ruffling her hair.
Tsunade nodded, pleased with the timeline. She raised her fists and said, "Once I'm strong enough, I'll handle them myself."
"Then keep training after we return. But don't worry too much—being young still limits you," Masaki said.
Just then, Senju Risa exited the room. Kana followed behind, smiling at Masaki as she said, "You're too cautious, Nii-san. I'm perfectly fine, yet you still had Risa check on me."
"My apologies, I was just being thorough," Masaki shrugged.
"It's fine; it shows you care," Kana replied. Then, turning to Senju Risa, she asked, "Any word from the others?"
"They should have results soon," Risa nodded.
"So quickly?" Kana looked surprised.
"They've handled similar missions for the village before, so they have experience," Risa explained. "Plus, these cult followers don't seem particularly cautious—overconfident, perhaps."
"Obsessed fanatics can sometimes be predictable," Masaki added, "but let's hope they aren't too hard to deal with."
"I honestly don't understand their mindset," Risa said with a frown. "What could they possibly expect to gain by summoning this so-called Jashin?"
Tsunade and the others, who had been briefed on the cult's goals, agreed. "If they were trying to summon the Shinigami, maybe it'd make some sense, since there are legends about it," Tsunade said. "But Jashin? That's nothing more than a fantasy."
"Still, there's one other possibility," Hattori Hirazo suggested. "Maybe 'Jashin' is just another name for the Shinigami."
"Perhaps," Risa considered. "But from what I've gathered, they seem to treat the two as separate entities."
"It's just a theory," Hirazo replied. "Even summoning the Shinigami would come at a huge cost. It's the guardian of the underworld, not something that can be summoned casually."
"The Shinigami…" Kana murmured, "I think I remember my sister mentioning something…"
"Hm? What was that, Kana?" Senju Risa, standing closest to her, asked.
"Oh, nothing," Kana said quickly.
With his sharp hearing, Masaki caught Kana's whisper. He knew that the Uzumaki clan had researched the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, a sealing technique that summoned the Shinigami. He also recalled the mysterious masks kept by the Uzumaki elders, which hinted at the cost of such research.
As he pondered this, Masaki also recalled Hirazo's suggestion. If Jashin did exist, it might resemble the Shinigami—a spectral entity limited in its interactions with the world. Being in the Land of Demons, where the sprite legend originated, brought this idea to mind. However, Masaki knew that the immortality granted by Jashin, as seen in Hidan, differed significantly from the abilities of the sprite. And some had speculated that Hidan's "immortality" might even be an artificial secret technique.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, and Maitreya, looking flustered, appeared. Her miko robes were slightly disheveled as she rushed toward Masaki and the others, her face filled with urgency.
"Fumori-sama," she began, "I had a terrible vision. The Jashin followers have turned their attention toward a high-ranking official of the country!"
"What?" Masaki asked, startled. "Do you know who?"
"No, I only saw him once, and my mother didn't give me details," Maitreya explained. "But he seems important. Could you protect him?"
Although Maitreya wasn't the mission's official client, as the priestess's daughter, her concerns held weight. Yet Masaki realized he couldn't leave the shrine; it was too distant from the inner city where the official resided. If the cultists launched an attack, he wouldn't reach the shrine in time.
Instead, he proposed that Yamanaka Takuma and Inuzuka Shigeru protect the official, believing they'd be effective in that role. Maitreya found his plan reasonable, but she still wanted to confirm it with her mother.
When Maitreya shared Masaki's plan with the priestess, she was also shocked by the cult's daring move. Nonetheless, she named the official, and Masaki immediately wrote a letter, asking a ninja hawk to deliver it to Takuma and Shigeru, instructing them to guard the official but prioritize their own safety. The official wasn't their client, so they weren't required to risk their lives.
The cult's goal wasn't to seize control or harm the state directly; they sought only to summon Jashin. Yet, if summoning required a sacrifice, it made sense to target a high-ranking official.
"Could this person be a 'sacrifice' for the Jashin summoning?" Sakumo Hatake asked.
"That seems likely," Masaki nodded. Regardless of his belief in Jashin's true nature, he couldn't dismiss the possibility that these followers would go to extreme lengths to achieve their goals.
He considered using a shadow clone to prepare for emergencies but decided against it. The chakra required would reduce his own strength, and with an opponent like Kakuzu potentially lurking, he couldn't afford the risk. Unlike Naruto , Masaki didn't have enough chakra to create multiple clones with substantial power without weakening himself.
The next morning, Kei and Konosuke returned, reporting that they had fully assessed the enemy's setup at the Ninshū site. The traps laid by the Jashinists were no match for the Byakugan, which saw through them easily.
Upon hearing of the situation with the official, Kei and Konosuke volunteered to help. Masaki approved, noting that their involvement would increase the mission's success rate.
Later, Takuma and Shigeru returned, slightly injured but not seriously. As Risa tended to their wounds, they reported that while the official was unharmed, they had overlooked something critical—the real target was the official's son.
Everyone was stunned, including Maitreya, who hadn't realized this in her vision. Looking back, she admitted there had been hints, but her haste had clouded her perception.
"I'm sorry," Maitreya apologized.
"It's fine; this was an unexpected turn," Masaki reassured her. "But the cult now has their sacrifice. Time is short, so let's finalize our strategy and move out."
With a unified "Yes," Hyūga Kei, Sarutobi Konosuke, and the others joined Masaki to plan their next steps. Tsunade and the younger generation participated in the strategy session as part of their training.
Once the plan and assignments were complete, Fumori and the team set out immediately, heading toward the former Ninshū site without further delay.