“…That guy…” Watching Unkawa’s bizarre footwork and inhuman movements as he carved through the samurai, the Amegakure shinobi had already retreated a considerable distance.
His scalp tingled.
His hands remained locked in hand seals, yet he couldn’t find the right moment to strike.
After all, those samurai were the Daimyo’s personal guards.
If he accidentally killed them, even Lord Hanzo would have a difficult time shielding him from the consequences.
But by the time he finally resolved to attack—even if it meant hitting the samurai as well— The battle was already over.
“Too fast!” “I couldn’t track that brat’s movements at all!” The Amegakure shinobi couldn’t help cursing under his breath.
He had heard that the great nations taught a course called Battlefield Medical Training, where shinobi learned about muscles, bones, and internal organs.
But that knowledge was meant to save lives.
That brat…
Had learned how to dissect people with it.
Even in Amegakure, where assassination techniques flourished…
Even among shinobi who specialized in poison…
He had never witnessed such horrifying methods.
Those samurai wore layered armor, carried gas masks, and possessed explosive physical strength.
Even Amegakure shinobi found them troublesome opponents.
Yet before Unkawa…
They were nothing more than fish sealed inside iron cans, waiting to be carved apart.
Before the shinobi could say anything— Unkawa looked at him.
That single glance made him instinctively tense.
Every muscle in his body tightened.
“Why so serious?” Unkawa smiled faintly.
“Care to guess why your head is still attached to your shoulders?” The Amegakure shinobi’s breathing hitched.
His blood boiled with equal parts fear and anger.
That damn brat…
“This is the Land of Rain.” “This is Amegakure.” Suppressing the terror in his heart, he asked through clenched teeth, “What exactly do you want?” His posture perfectly embodied the phrase: Fierce on the outside, fearful within.
“I don’t much care for your attitude.” Before the shinobi realized what had happened— Unkawa was already standing directly before him.
Smiling.
“Still…” “I’ll let you keep your life with Hanzo for the time being.” “Go back.” “Tell Hanzo…” “And tell Ishibi.” “The people who died…” “…were merely the first payment of interest.” The shinobi’s expression flickered.
What…?
Ishibi?
The Daimyo…
and Lord Hanzo…
have a personal grudge against this kid?
The thought distracted him for only an instant.
That was enough.
The hem of Unkawa’s black robe fluttered like dark wings.
CRACK!!
The Amegakure shinobi’s knees slammed violently into the ground.
Bone shattered with a crisp snap.
His eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness.
“Consider this…” “…another installment of the interest.” Rain slid down Unkawa’s calm face before dripping from the edge of his hand, held rigid like a blade.
His lowered blue eyes seemed deeper than the storm clouds behind him.
Ordinary shinobi relied on ninjutsu and ninja tools for assassination.
Unkawa relied on something else entirely.
Skill.
With the combined abilities of Nanaya Shiki and Bullseye, he possessed complete mastery over the structure of the human body.
Muscles.
Bones.
Organs.
He knew exactly which vital points caused paralysis…
Shock…
Or instant death.
Most of those points weren’t the obvious ones.
Everyone knew about the brain, heart, throat, and neck.
Unkawa knew dozens more.
Obscure…
Ignored…
Yet just as lethal.
More importantly— He knew how to reach every one of them.
The practical improvements granted by the Adamantium Skeleton had exceeded even his expectations.
Judging by his current abilities…
He was already comparable to one of Konoha’s Special Jonin.
Assassination.
Projectile mastery.
Physical durability.
Regeneration.
Beneath that harmless-looking face…
Was a weapon made solely for killing.
“But…” “This still isn’t enough.” Unkawa sighed inwardly.
“If I run into shinobi who excel at chakra shape transformation or nature transformation…” “…or specialists in fuinjutsu and bizarre secret techniques…” “I’ll still end up at a serious disadvantage.” Like that snake-loving lunatic…
Or the one obsessed with toads…
The stranger their jutsu, the harder they were to deal with.
He needed Templates from enemies with truly unique abilities.
Fortunately…
If memory served…
An opportunity like that would arrive very soon.
A gleam flashed across Unkawa’s eyes.
His figure appeared behind the girl.
“My name is Unkawa Yamasato.” “You can call me Big Brother Unkawa.” He gently rested a hand atop her messy hair.
“What’s your name?” The warmth of his hand caught the girl by surprise.
After a brief pause, she quietly shook her head.
“I don’t have one.” “But my little brother is called Crucian.” Unkawa’s eyelid twitched.
…That name is awful.
“So I have to name people again?” After thinking for a moment, he smiled.
“Then…” “From now on…” “You’ll be Jiyun.” “And your brother will be Jiyu.” “Yamasato Jiyun.” “Yamasato Jiyu.” “How does that sound?” The character 霁 (Ji) means the clearing of the rain—the moment when the storm ends and the sky brightens once again.
Though she didn’t fully understand the meaning behind the name…
The girl nodded without hesitation.
Then gently pressed down on her brother’s head as well.
Seeing that…
Unkawa’s smile widened.
What’s the point of Hanzo recruiting disposable cannon fodder?
If you’re going to start a rebellion…
You start with the children.
“Let’s go.” He lightly patted Jiyun’s head before walking away.
Behind him…
Jiyun ignored the blood still staining her lips.
She stuffed another piece of bread into her mouth.
It looked disturbingly like she was eating raw flesh.
Once she regained a little strength…
She walked straight over to the unconscious Amegakure shinobi.
Right in front of everyone…
She thoroughly stripped him of everything he owned.
“Come on, Cruc—” She paused.
“…Jiyu.” She copied Unkawa’s gesture, gently patting her brother’s head.
“Big Sister’s taking you…” “…to live a better life.” In the distance…
Unkawa looked toward the absentminded Yahiko.
His good mood faded slightly.
This kid…
Still has a long way to go.
Smack!
He slapped the back of Yahiko’s head hard enough to make him yelp.
“What are you still standing around for?” He pointed toward the mangled corpses nearby.
“Or are you planning to stay here with them?” Then he glanced toward Konan and muttered to himself, “Let’s just call it buy one, get one free.” Konan’s hearing was good enough to catch every word.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
Without saying anything…
She hurried after him— Completely forgetting about Yahiko.
“Ow!” Yahiko rubbed the back of his head.
A glance toward the blood-soaked battlefield sent another shiver through him.
“W-Wait!” “Don’t leave me behind!” “B-Big Brother Unkawa!” The surrounding refugees watched silently.
Fear filled their eyes.
So did envy.
They feared Unkawa’s overwhelming strength.
And envied the children who had earned his protection.
Perhaps…
In their eyes…
Jiyun was lucky.
She was merely a stray dog.
A mad dog willing to sell her body…
Or even her soul…
So that she and her brother could survive.
What they never realized…
Was that those content to remain weak…
Who made no effort to change…
Who waited like plants praying for rain…
Who dreamed only of begging salvation from the strong…
Were people unworthy of pity.
A stray dog…
Once it sank its teeth into its prey…
Never let go.
“By the way, Elder Brother…” “Where are we going?” “…You’re only asking that now?” “And could you maybe call me something else?” “Understood, Elder Brother.” “…” “Konan…” “I think she’s kind of an airhead.” “Yahiko!” “Don’t suddenly get so close!” “Huh?
But I’m always like this!” Slowly…
Their figures disappeared into the curtain of rain.
Only Unkawa’s voice drifted back on the wind.
“I’m taking you…” “…to the place where the sun rises.” Author’s Note: The PK recommendation begins tomorrow!
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