AN: Hey guys... I've actually been working on this one for a while. Started when I heard that Jashinism was an actual religion and was very different than portrayed (in fact, some of the followers hate and refuse to watch Naruto for this). It's small and mostly orally based so I couldn't find much. What did find however seemed like it'd be interesting if Hidan was more oriented in that direction.
Warning: This beginning gets kinda dark.
- As with every religion there are different interpretations and beliefs. I just took what would make an interesting story, fit in the universe, and could still represent the largely unknown side of this religious view.
-LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MY CONTUSION OF THIS OR INTERESTED IN ADOPTING (or writing your own version).
- Unrelated but: I've created a Facebook page for those interested in my work. There's a link in my bio.
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The four year old held her ears tightly hoping to drown out the screaming, knees tucked into her chest as she tried to remain as quiet as possible. Lying as still as she could on her side in the clothes trunk her daddy hid her in, all she could do was listen to the going ons outside... unless she wanted to die with them. Her name was Sakura Haruno and the merchant convoy her family was with was currently being attacked by a particularly ruthless group of bandits (or so she thought).
Her parents were reservist nin of Konoha, her dad taking up trade as a merchant. Kizashi Haruno was his name and he used to be a close friend of the late Fourth Hokage. The man frequently said Kizashi could've been in the hat if he had applied himself. Mebuki was her mom, having a reputation as scarily good improvised weapons user. That infamous frying pan technique? Entirely her invention.
Kizashi didn't push himself because outshining his fellows didn't appeal to an empathetic person like him. His academy class remembered him as the guy who helped their dead last reach a passing grade. Mebuki simply lost interest when the complicated politics made themselves known. Overall, they were nice people who stuck to their morals.
Too bad they wouldn't be anything more than distant memories to their daughter.
As soon as the attack started they immediately went for their weapons. The surprise allowed them to take down the first few bandits quickly and easily. After the initial shock wore off, however, the couple noticed one thing. These guys were too skilled and well versed in ninja arts to be simple bandits.
When he arrived, all he saw was wasted death and pain. The faith said he couldn't let that slide, it was their golden rule. His judgement was further enforced by the two who were fighting in defense of something precious to them.
Five years after his first death, he finally knew what Jashin chose him for. Hidan found clarity in being the reaper of sin. Granted an understanding of dying, he was the only one he knew who could deliver punishment to the heathens who killed without understanding death. What he witnessed cemented his faith and showed him what he was chosen for. He quickly brought up his rosary and prayed for both permission and forgiveness for his next actions.
The missing nin disguised as bandits noticed something as the battle continued (other than the fact that these two seemingly unremarkable people could hold off two Jonin and 6 Chunin level ninja). The couple focused their efforts on protecting a certain trunk. Switching tactics, the two Jonin level nin focused their attacks on the trunk. Their teams, however, slowly slipped away from the fight.
The parents realized the plan too late. It was a slight of hand play, misdirection at its finest. You're so focused on the right hand, you don't realize that the left is holding the knife. So, the two powerhouses focused their attention on direct attacks against the trunk, affording their teams to slip behind them unnoticed.
When they realized their mistake, they quickly neutralized the threat to their daughter...at the cost of their own lives.
The rogues left turned their attention to the presumably valuable cargo.
Only to see a grey haired Male in his late teens or early twenties standing between them and it. In one hand was a large red scythe (three blades pointing down) held perpendicular to them in an outstretched arm. In the other was a rosary with a weird symbol held up to his mouth with his eyes closed. He was clearly in prayer.
"Who are you?!"
His eyes opened and he answered cryptically. Eyes burning with a sort of righteous fury.
"'If one does not understand pain, then one has no right to inflict it elsewhere'... This is the unbreakable rule. It's violation means you submit yourselves to my divine judgment."
Two of them charged the newcomer and hit him with wounds certain to be fatal. Except they clearly weren't when he spoke again.
"Lord Jashin has deemed you as heathens, and given permission to deliver his wrath."
The next thing little Sakura heard could only have been called wholesale slaughter, then things went quiet. When the trunk opened she tried to bury herself deeper.
"Hey, hey little one, it's okay. They can't hurt you anymore. The bad men are gone."
His gentle voice probably played a part in her decision to trust him. She turned to her savior and let him pull her out and set her on the ground. That's when she saw them, her parents bodies. The crying was heartbreaking but Hidan knew he had let her get it out. After a few minutes she started calming down and he decided it was okay to talk with her.
Despite now knowing his primary role as a deliverer of divine punishment, he still held the title of a Chosen. As such, he still held the responsibility of spreading Jashin's message.
He knelt beside her and put his hand gently on her back. She instantly turned to him.
"Little one, I know you miss them. I know it hurts... but you shouldn't mourn them. Instead, be happy they lived and have been granted the final gift..."
Sakura may have been a smart girl (and getting the basic idea), but was still just four years old. Hidan understood this and was pretty much giving the abridged version.
"... You know, death isn't the bad thing you think it is. It's actually a gift, and without it the world wouldn't work. Lord Jashin gave it to us to help us."
Seeing that he was starting to lose her, he decided to end it there for now.
"Tell you what, how about you come with me and I'll teach you all about it."
He stood and offered his hand. Hesitant at first, she eventually nodded and took the strange man's hand.
And the world changed for it.