“Ah!!” While Unkawa dealt with the refugees surrounding them, another cry rang out from the city gate.
Yahiko instinctively looked up.
His vacant eyes suddenly trembled.
It was the frail girl who had offered to sell herself.
She had likely gone so long without food that her vision had become blurred.
Even though she no longer had the strength to stand, she dragged herself across the muddy ground, desperately clutching the man’s ankle.
“Give it back!” “Let go!” The man hugged the two stolen loaves tightly against his chest.
Balancing on one leg, he repeatedly kicked at the girl.
“Get off me, you little brat!” Blood seeped from where the girl had bitten through her own lips.
She stared up at him with savage determination burning in her eyes.
“Damn it…” A chill ran down the man’s spine beneath that gaze.
He instinctively glanced toward the samurai captain.
Seeing nothing but indifference on the man’s face, the last trace of hesitation disappeared.
“Get lost!” No longer kicking at her arms or back, he lifted his foot— Preparing to crush her head as casually as if he were stepping on an insect.
The samurai captain frowned and rested a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Before he could act— “Don’t hurt my sister!” The frightened little boy suddenly lunged forward.
He sank his teeth into the man’s supporting leg.
“AAAGH!” The man cried out in pain.
His balance gave way, and he crashed backward, his head striking the ground hard enough to leave him dazed.
Laughter immediately erupted from the crowd.
Even the observing Amegakure shinobi couldn’t help smiling.
To him, it was nothing more than an amusing sideshow.
Beside him, the samurai captain quietly removed his hand from his sword.
It wasn’t compassion that had made him hesitate.
He simply didn’t want the Daimyo to lose a servant before she could be delivered.
To a samurai like him…
Protecting the interests of the nobility was honor itself.
Yet in the next instant, his brow furrowed once again.
The girl hadn’t used the opportunity to recover the bread.
Instead, before the man could react, she climbed on top of him with both hands— And, amid the crowd’s mocking laughter— She bit into his throat.
“AAAAAH!!” The man let out a shrill scream.
For the first time…
Real fear appeared on his face.
He struggled desperately to push her away.
The laughter stopped.
The entire crowd stared blankly.
“Hrk…!” The girl refused to let go.
She bit deeper.
She tore through his windpipe.
She ripped open his artery.
The wound across his neck became increasingly gruesome.
His struggles gradually weakened.
Blood pooled beneath him.
Little by little…
His body went limp.
At last, he stopped moving.
His bloodshot eyes remained wide open, as though unable to believe he had been bitten to death by a starving girl.
“Ptui!” The girl spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
Cradling all five loaves in her arms, she looked around at the stunned crowd.
The savagery hadn’t yet faded from her eyes.
Instead…
A crazed smile spread across her face.
“Hahaha!” At that moment…
She looked nothing like a young girl.
She resembled…
A wild dog.
“Enough.” The samurai captain barked sharply.
His gaze toward the girl turned ice-cold.
“The farce is over.” “Come with me.” He had already made up his mind.
This dangerous child would need to be taught obedience.
Whether the Daimyo chose to keep her as a maid…
Or use her as a plaything for a few days before throwing her away…
Would be entirely the Daimyo’s decision.
The girl seemed to understand exactly what he was thinking.
The madness slowly disappeared from her face.
Her expression became numb once more.
She stuffed all five bloodstained loaves into her younger brother’s arms.
Then tore off a piece and forced it into his mouth before he could speak.
“This…” “…is the last thing I can do for you.” With that…
She turned toward the samurai captain.
Just as she took her first step— A calm voice sounded behind her.
“Selling your soul to the devil isn’t tragic.” “The real tragedy…” “…is selling it for far too little.” The samurai captain instantly heard something cutting through the wind.
From the corner of his eye— A battered short sword flashed toward his neck.
Decades of swordsmanship training took over.
The blade had originally been aimed at the left side of his neck.
Twisting instinctively, he rolled sideways, drew his katana, and intercepted the strike.
CLANG!!
A shower of sparks burst between the blades.
The sheer weight behind the diagonal slash drove the captain to one knee before he finally dispersed the force.
Only then did he get a clear look at his attacker.
A boy.
Far younger than he had expected.
And…
Smiling.
“You damn brat—” Before he could finish— Unkawa smiled.
“…Ah.” “It’s about to break.” Crack…
Crack…
SNAP!
The battered short sword finally reached its limit.
The blade shattered into countless fragments.
“What perfect timing!” The captain’s eyes flashed.
Without hesitation, he swung his katana toward Unkawa’s head.
The surrounding samurai reacted simultaneously.
Several blades sliced through the rain from every direction.
Whoosh!
Stone fragments exploded beneath Unkawa’s feet.
His body vanished from a standstill.
Nanaya Assassination Arts: Flash Step — One Deer!
The samurai continued swinging toward the place where he had been standing only a heartbeat before.
Only the captain, whose blade was still rising, caught sight of Unkawa high above them.
And the shattered fragments of the short sword floating before him.
The next moment— Unkawa’s arms snapped forward like whips.
Two blade fragments disappeared.
Sonic cracks echoed through the air.
“AAAAAH!!” The samurai captain threw back his head in agony.
Blood and brain matter erupted through the visor of his helmet.
The samurai beside him never had time to react.
The only thing reflected in his eyes was Unkawa’s incoming fist.
That tiny…
pale fist…
Did he seriously think it could hurt someone wearing armor?
Has this kid gone mad?
The instant the thought crossed his mind— Unkawa’s fist connected with the helmet.
CRACK!!
A sickening sound echoed out.
The samurai’s vision went black.
His neck twisted at an impossible angle.
His head folded backward until it slammed against his own back.
“…Tch.” “As expected.” “Armor capable of resisting even some ninjutsu is troublesome.” Unkawa glanced at the shallow cut across the back of his hand.
Only two or three centimeters long.
Already healing.
He clicked his tongue softly.
“Without evolving the Template…” “These iron cans are more annoying than I’d like.” Template Upgraded Name: Bullseye [Master Assassin] → Bullseye [Adamantium] World: Marvel Universe Rarity: Gray Further Evolution: None Abilities ① Deadly Projection — Accuracy and lethality beyond human limits.
Any ordinary object can become a deadly projectile.
Also grants mastery over firearms and other ranged weapons.
② Master Assassin — Perfect hand-eye coordination, rapid mastery of any weapon, complete knowledge of the human body’s vital points, and the ability to kill silently in an instant.
③ Adamantium Skeleton — Most of the skeleton has been fused with Adamantium, rendering the spine, skull, and fists nearly indestructible while also granting a limited degree of physical regeneration.
Upgrade Requirement: 10 / 10 Points (Completed) Remaining Points: 200