“AAAHHH!!” A shrill scream echoed throughout the room.
The scalpel slid across Kosaka Otoko’s thigh.
Meiyu smiled in satisfaction.
“My hands feel especially steady today.” “I wonder if it’s because of that medicine.” “Ghh…
you…
old bastard…” “…damn you…” Kosaka Otoko hung his head weakly.
His sweat-soaked face was as pale as a ghost.
His once well-built body had already had an entire layer of flesh carved away.
The wounds had begun to clot, exposing dark red muscle beneath.
Each slice brought unbearable agony at first.
Moments later…
An inexplicable sense of exhilaration followed.
The medicine coating the scalpel was clearly taking effect.
His senses grew sharper.
His mind became increasingly alert.
His body refused to lose consciousness.
He remained awake every second…
Forced to experience every moment of this inhuman torment.
For the first time in his life…
Kosaka Otoko truly hated the effectiveness of the blood-replenishing medicine he had once praised.
He had never imagined…
That death by a thousand cuts could be so horrifying.
It wasn’t merely torture.
It was pure technique.
Or rather…
An unbelievably refined mastery of the blade.
In a strange way…
It reminded him of that boy’s knife work.
Silent.
Precise.
Swift.
Fatal.
No one had ever used blade techniques this way.
Even shinobi relied on genjutsu or secret techniques during interrogation.
Even the nobles who delighted in torture preferred whips, candles, and branding irons.
Just what kind of madman…
Had invented such a cruel punishment?
“AAAH!” Another slice.
Bloodshot veins spread through Kosaka Otoko’s eyes as he growled weakly, “Monster!” “You’re a monster!” “You crazy old bastard!!” Only silence answered him.
The isolated room swallowed his screams whole.
Meiyu behaved as though he hadn’t heard a thing.
Still smiling to himself, he calmly held up each freshly carved piece of flesh as if proudly displaying his craftsmanship.
“Enough…” “Enough!” “Who the hell are you people?!” Kosaka Otoko’s face twitched violently.
“Weak river pirates like you shouldn’t even exist.” “Whose dogs are you?” “Some noble’s?” “Or Hanzo’s men from Amegakure?” At those words…
Meiyu’s hand stopped.
He slowly looked up.
“Hanzo?” He let out a cold laugh, as though deeply insulted.
“That brainless brute?” “That selfish, arrogant fool who envies anyone more capable than himself?” “That hopeless lapdog of the Daimyō?” “…What?” Kosaka Otoko stared blankly despite the pain.
Even the Third Hokage regarded Hanzo with extreme caution.
He had once called Hanzo a man capable of changing the course of a war.
Yet this old man…
Called him nothing more than a brainless brute?
“So…” “It seems both you and your superiors think highly of Hanzo.” Meiyu’s expression gradually turned cold.
“While the nobles indulge themselves in luxury and extravagance…” “Those who speak honestly are stripped of their positions.” “The ones who remain grow fat from war profits, joining hands with the aristocracy while feeding the flames of conflict.” “The officials deceive those above them.” “The Daimyō is incompetent.” “The quality of the shinobi varies wildly.” “So what if Hanzo himself is powerful?” As he spoke…
His tone became increasingly fanatical.
Yet his gaze only grew more resolute.
There were far too many people like him in this country.
People who had long since abandoned hope in those ruling above them.
People who could only watch helplessly as their homeland descended into ruin.
Until…
They met Lord Unkawa.
For the first time…
They saw hope.
Hope for the Land of Rain.
Hope for the entire shinobi world.
“Hah!” “So you’re saying you’re neither nobles…” “…nor shinobi?” Kosaka Otoko laughed mockingly.
“What a joke.” “No matter how many people like you gather together…” “You’ll never change anything.” Then…
He suddenly stopped.
His eyes lit up.
“Wait…” “You look down on Hanzo, don’t you?” His spirits rose once again.
“Our Mizukage is very close to the common people!” “I can introduce you to Lord Mizukage!” “I can help that brat…” “No…” “I can help your Lord Unkawa become the leader of Amegakure!” At the words “Lord Mizukage” and “leader of Amegakure”…
The ridicule in Meiyu’s eyes became impossible to hide.
Idiot.
A shortsighted fool.
Just as Lord Unkawa had said…
How could a sparrow understand the ambitions of a swan?
At that moment…
Meiyu completely lost interest in trying to enlighten him.
The greatest prison wasn’t talent.
It was the chains wrapped around a person’s thinking.
He had spent all this time talking about the Daimyō and the nobles.
Yet even while making promises…
This Kirigakure shinobi only dared to offer the position of Amegakure’s leader.
He didn’t even dare imagine overthrowing the Daimyō of the Land of Rain.
Just like him…
The samurai.
Most shinobi.
Almost everyone in the shinobi world.
All were trapped inside a fortress of outdated beliefs passed down for thousands of years.
“It doesn’t matter.” “Someone like you…” “…will never understand.” Meiyu’s expression returned to calm.
“I do all of this of my own free will.” “Even if death is the final outcome…” “I have no regrets.” “Just as Lord Unkawa once said…” “I would rather be a praying mantis raising its blades against a speeding chariot…” “…than a starving corpse waiting quietly for death!” “Hahaha!” Seeing the blazing conviction in Meiyu’s eyes…
Kosaka Otoko shuddered.
A nameless fear erupted from deep inside him.
It was like icy snakes slithering across his body.
Cold.
Relentless.
Crushing.
“You’re insane!” “All of you are insane!” “What exactly did that brat feed you to brainwash—” “AAAHHH!!” Meiyu casually replaced the now-dulled scalpel with a fresh one.
Then he began carving the soles of Kosaka Otoko’s feet.
The soles of the feet were among the most sensitive parts of the human body.
The pain was beyond unbearable.
After witnessing Meiyu’s fanatical conviction…
Kosaka Otoko’s mental defenses collapsed even faster.
Blood poured from his already broken nose.
His eyes were completely bloodshot.
Veins bulged from his temples.
His entire body swelled unnaturally, as though it might burst apart from within.
For one brief moment…
His mind drifted.
His teeth clenched tightly.
Death filled his eyes.
He ground his back molars together.
Then…
He suddenly froze.
The poison capsule that should have been hidden between his cheek and molars…
Was gone.
“What are you looking for?” Meiyu smiled.
Reaching into his pocket, he pinched a tiny pill between two fingers.
“I suppose…” “…you’re looking for this?” It was the suicide pill issued to Kirigakure ANBU operatives.
A final safeguard to prevent captured shinobi from revealing classified information.
Kosaka Otoko had planned to die before betraying his village.
Now…
Even death had been taken from him.
“Enough!” “I’ll talk!” “I’ll tell you everything!” “You crazy old bastard!” “Just kill me already!!” The scabs on his cracked lips split open once more.
Unable to endure the physical and psychological torture any longer…
Kosaka Otoko finally broke.
He screamed that he would confess.
“There’s no rush.” Meiyu merely waved his hand cheerfully.
“Let’s try some of the other torture devices first.” Watching the light fade from Kosaka Otoko’s eyes…
Meiyu quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Of all the prisoners he had ever interrogated…
This one had lasted the longest.
Fortunately…
He hadn’t disappointed Lord Unkawa.
—————— “What?” Inside the guest room…
Meiyu pointed at himself in bewilderment.
Looking at Unkawa, who sat on the bed reading through the intelligence report, he asked in disbelief, “Lord Unkawa…” “Are you saying you don’t need me anymore?” He never sought rewards for his work…
But he certainly didn’t want to be dismissed.
“Uncle Meiyu, what are you thinking?” Unkawa looked up helplessly.
“I’m telling you to take a break.” “Spend more time with Little Shigure.” “When I need you again, I’ll call for you.” “I’m not abandoning you.” He paused.
Then met Meiyu’s eyes.
His voice softened.
“Besides…” “You still have some personal matters you need to settle.” Meiyu stood frozen.
Without saying another word to him…
Unkawa lowered his gaze back to the intelligence report extracted from Kosaka Otoko.
The Third Mizukage’s personality had changed drastically.
The once-moderate leader had suddenly begun using ruthless measures against the shinobi clans.
A large number of middle-ranking shinobi from prominent clans had already been purged.
Most of those who openly opposed him during meetings…
Had been executed on the spot.
The sudden transformation in his temperament shocked everyone.
The brutality of his methods terrified the entire village.
At the same time…
He had ordered Kirigakure into complete lockdown.
No personnel were permitted to leave the village without authorization.
Foreign trade had been suspended.
Meanwhile…
He had begun secretly mobilizing large numbers of shinobi.
Their target was…
The Land of Whirlpools.
Tap…
Tap…
Unkawa’s fingers, which had been rhythmically tapping the table, slowly came to a stop.
A complicated emotion flickered across his eyes.
At last…
The curtain was about to rise…
On this grand performance.