That was all the time Kakashi had left.
The city looked peaceful.
But somewhere…
Someone had already made the first move.
— That afternoon…
Mom handed me a small shopping list.
“Niku, can you buy these things from the nearby market?” “Okay, Mom.” “I’ll be back soon.” I picked up my bag and walked out of the house.
The streets were quiet.
The weather was pleasant.
Everything felt completely normal.
Or so I thought.
As I walked through a less crowded road…
A cold breeze suddenly passed by.
I stopped walking.
“…Hm?” The air around me felt strangely heavy.
Before I could turn around— A deep voice echoed behind me.
“So…” “You’re the chosen one.” I quickly looked back.
There was no one there.
“W-Who’s there?” No answer.
Instead…
A dark mist slowly surrounded me from every direction.
“What is this…?” I tried to step back.
But my body suddenly felt weak.
“My head…” Everything around me began spinning.
The strange magic was slowly forcing me to lose consciousness.
I struggled to stay awake.
“No…” “I have to…” My vision became blurry.
Just before I collapsed…
A tall shadow stepped out of the darkness.
His face couldn’t be seen.
Only his glowing eyes.
Without saying a word…
He caught me with one arm before I could fall to the ground.
My head rested against his shoulder as I lost consciousness completely.
“…Sleep.” His cold voice echoed through the empty street.
A black magic circle appeared beneath his feet.
The next second…
Both of us disappeared without leaving behind a single trace.
— Meanwhile…
Kakashi was quietly walking across the rooftops of the city.
Suddenly…
He stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
“…” The tracking spell…
It had started moving.
“Niku…” Without wasting another second…
He followed the magical signal.
Moments later…
He reached the street.
It was empty.
No sign of Niku.
No ordinary explanation.
Only the faint trace of powerful magic.
His expression became serious.
“…She’s been taken.” Without hesitation…
He rushed toward my house.
A few moments later…
He quietly reached my bedroom window.
The room was empty.
He looked toward the living room.
Mom and Dad were talking normally.
They hadn’t realized I was missing yet.
“…” If he left now…
Soon they would panic.
And once that happened…
Everything would become much more difficult.
Kakashi closed his eyes.
A blue magic circle appeared beneath his feet.
Soft light gathered beside him.
Slowly…
It took the shape of a girl.
Within seconds…
An exact copy of me stood before him.
The clone looked at Kakashi.
He spoke calmly.
“For today…” “Become Niku.” “Stay with her family.” “Don’t let them worry.” “If they notice she’s missing…” “It will create unnecessary problems.” The clone nodded.
“I understand.” Kakashi looked at the clone for a brief moment.
Then turned toward the glowing trail created by the tracking spell.
His eyes became colder.
“…Hold on.” “I’m coming.” The next second…
He disappeared.
His speed was so incredible that only a powerful gust of wind remained behind.
— Far away…
Deep beneath an abandoned structure…
Cold magical chains tightly bound my wrists and ankles.
Dark energy flowed through every chain.
I remained unconscious.
The shadow figure stood silently before me.
His face was still hidden beneath endless darkness.
The chamber was completely silent.
Only the faint sound of the chains echoed through the room.
— Across the city…
Kakashi moved faster than he ever had before.
Building after building disappeared behind him.
The tracking spell continued leading him forward.
His heartbeat remained steady.
But inside his eyes…
For the first time since arriving in the human world…
Fear…
And anger…
Existed together.
No matter who had taken Niku…
No matter how powerful they were…
He had already made his decision.
He would bring her back.
No matter the cost.
End of Chapter 18