At the end of Konoha Year 36.
The war was gradually coming to an end.
Kirigakure had not participated in this great ninja war, so apart from the tense atmosphere in the village, there had been no other changes over the past few years.
But...
Tonight, the village was filled with an unusual tension...
"Captain Hoshigaki," a Kiri-nin ANBU said respectfully to Hoshigaki Fuguki, "The Mizukage has ordered that all subsequent actions are to be arranged by you."
It could be said...
After resisting the temptation of Uzushiogakure and enduring countless hardships to return to Kirigakure, Hoshigaki Fuguki had become a role model for all ninja.
A benchmark of loyalty and righteousness.
To think that in such a harsh environment, he had never once considered betraying Kirigakure. Instead, he chose to cross the sea, enduring the cold and helplessness to return to the village.
How deep his love for the village must be!
Thus...
The Mizukage immediately declared Hoshigaki Fuguki a model for Kirigakure, demanding that all ninja learn from him.
At the same time...
Those with wavering resolve, those without loyalty to the village or the nation, were harshly criticized for an entire afternoon.
According to ninja world tradition...
Traitors must die!
And die horribly at that. No matter what kind of traitor you were, the rules of the ninja world applied.
At best, you would be erased from the village and hunted across the ninja world. At worst, your entire clan would join you in the Pure Land.
And...
Those who betrayed and immediately joined another nation? No need to explain further...
Today, the entire village was enveloped in an eerie silence.
It seemed everyone knew something was about to happen.
"Must it really come to this?" Hoshigaki Fuguki sighed. "Those who betrayed had no other choice."
"Captain Hoshigaki," the Kiri-nin ANBU said coldly. "A traitor is a traitor."
Though he also felt the Mizukage's decision was cruel, in his heart...
The traitors were in Uzushiogakure, but their families were in Kirigakure.
Would Kirigakure still trust them?
And tonight's decision...
Wasn't it also a way to test Hoshigaki Fuguki's loyalty?
After all, everyone else had betrayed, yet only he had sneaked back.
Some of Kirigakure's higher-ups still didn't fully trust him.
"The families of the traitors are all inside," the Kiri-nin ANBU pointed to a house. "We ANBU have gathered them. Now, you must carry out the execution yourself."
"Captain Hoshigaki, do not disgrace the title of hero."
"Ah!" Hoshigaki Fuguki's face showed helplessness. He nodded, then replaced his expression with a cold one. "Understood."
He gripped the ninjato prepared for him by Kirigakure and stepped inside.
After all...
His own sword was still in Uzushiogakure's research facility...
...
"Mom, why did those ninja bring us here?" a little girl asked, looking up at her mother. "Did we get news about Dad?"
"Yes," the mother nodded, forcing a smile, though her eyes betrayed worry. "Don't be afraid, Momoko."
As a former Kiri-nin, now a housewife retired from the ninja world, she could still pick up on certain rumors.
Families of traitors...
Would always face discrimination in the village!
And for those who had betrayed and joined another nation...
Tonight, they likely wouldn't survive.
"Are you sleepy, Momoko?" The mother gently stroked the little girl's head. "If you're tired, go to sleep. When you wake up, we'll probably be home."
She...
Didn't want her young daughter to witness or suffer through such a bloody scene.
All the families of the traitors huddled together. They already suspected what was coming. Perhaps...
Tonight would be their last.
Some even resented their own kin. Why had they betrayed? Why had they sent word back?
If they hadn't, they would still be the families of heroes!
Though in the past few years, the village had yet to deliver the promised support to the families of heroes, they understood...
After all, the village was poor!
But now, why was the village they loved treating them like this?
They knew nothing.
A deep resentment toward the village began to fester in their hearts.
Then...
Creak.
The old wooden door opened.
An orange-haired, heavyset man walked in.
Everyone fell silent, fearfully watching the man holding a sword. They clutched their children tightly.
So...
The village really was abandoning them, making an example for all traitors.
Their hearts grew cold.
They had loved this village so much, yet this was how they were repaid.
Why...?
Hoshigaki Fuguki spat disdainfully at the wooden door. "This shabby place."
Not even comparable to Uzushiogakure's labor camp.
At least there, they had electricity, lights, fireplaces, and fine tiled floors.
Kirigakure...
One of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, yet even its ninja and higher-ups mostly lived in mud huts, with doors still made of wood.
A far cry from Uzushiogakure's architecture.
Hoshigaki Fuguki sighed as he looked at the fearful faces before him. Of course, they had guessed what was coming. But this was inevitable. After all...
No village wanted its ninja to become traitors.
But this was for the best. They would surely come to appreciate Uzushiogakure afterward.
Thinking this...
Hoshigaki Fuguki felt a surge of excitement. He was about to complete his mission, join Uzushiogakure, marry a beautiful woman, and rise to the peak of life.
So...
Carefully, he pulled out a strangely shaped kunai from his pocket.
...
Yuki Kiyoi gazed at Kirigakure's nightscape, sighing inwardly. "Forgive me."
As Mizukage, he didn't want to do this. But if he didn't, the consequences would be unthinkable. After all...
Betrayal was something no village could afford.
So...
"There's no other way," Yuki Kiyoi muttered under the cold, sacred moonlight. "Everything I do is for Kirigakure!"
As for those traitors in Uzushiogakure...
Yuki Kiyoi's eyes hardened.
Traitors...
Must die!
...
Uzushiogakure.
Nighttime.
Labor Camp.
The seven Kiri-nin calmly watched Pakkun Jūzō, who held a ninjato. They knew...
It was time to choose.
For the sake of their families in Kirigakure, they would not betray. Though Pakkun Jūzō had said Hoshigaki Fuguki wouldn't report them to the village, how long could that last?
They didn't dare test it.
From the moment they became ninja, they were prepared to die. But...
They never thought they'd die at their own captain's hands.
They understood Pakkun Jūzō's reasoning. On one hand, it was to spare them—if they died, word would reach the village, and they'd be remembered as heroes. On the other hand...
It was to preserve Hoshigaki Fuguki's image of loyalty and righteousness.
Captain Hoshigaki...
Was a hero!!
So...
"Captain Pakkun, do it," one Kiri-nin said calmly. "We won't blame you."
They...
Truly could not bring themselves to betray.
"Ah!" Pakkun Jūzō glanced at his sword, sighed, then looked at the composed faces before him. "I'm sorry. For Uzushiogakure, for Hoshigaki Fuguki, I..."
"Have no choice but to do this."
"So..."
His grip on the sword tightened.
"If you must hate someone, hate me—"
"Your useless captain, who led you to Uzushiogakure!"
"Now..." His voice turned icy. "It's time—"
But before he could finish...
Creak.
The labor camp door suddenly opened.
Who... was here?
As the Kiri-nin stared in confusion at the entrance...
"Dad!!"
A voice shattered the tense silence.
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