Ten Years Ago
In the Great Village, where the
strongest ninja of the era—Ryuu, tied in strength with the legendary Mr.
Taka—watched over the land, a story began. Not of great warriors or epic
battles, but of two little boys, born into a quiet household.
Inside a modest home, lit by morning
sunlight and filled with the comforting smell of warm rice porridge, two
brothers had just entered the world: Goro and Yoro.
From the moment they were born, their
parents knew there was something special about them.
Five Years Later
The years passed quickly. The boys
grew strong, full of boundless energy, laughter, and mischief. By the time they
turned five, they could already walk, run, and talk circles around their
parents.
Inside their house one summer
afternoon, the sound of little footsteps echoed like thunder.
"Hey, you better not slow down—I'm
gonna catch you!" Goro shouted, determination burning in his young eyes.
Yoro laughed so hard he could barely
breathe.
"No, you're not, slowpoke!" he teased
proudly, grinning ear to ear as he dashed down the hallway.
Then—thud! Yoro collided straight into
a pair of legs. He stumbled back and fell onto his rear, clutching his head.
"Ah! Dad, why didn't you give me a
warning you were coming out of the room?" Yoro complained, rubbing his
forehead.
Before his father could answer, Goro
pounced.
"Haha, you're it now!" he grinned
triumphantly, tapping Yoro's shoulder.
"What? That doesn't even count! If Dad
hadn't gotten in the way, you never would've caught me!" Yoro argued, his voice
full of frustration.
"Well, too bad! Next time watch where
you're going." Goro laughed.
"Dang it, my head hurts…" Yoro whined,
tears welling up in his eyes.
Their father bent down and gently
rubbed Yoro's head, his warm smile easing the pain.
"Come on, let's get your mom to
bandage you up, alright?"
Just then, their mother walked out of
the room, her voice soft yet commanding.
"What's all the ruckus out here?" she
asked, though her tone carried more warmth than scolding.
"Me and Yoro were playing tag," Goro
explained, smiling sheepishly. "But he ran into Dad's legs."
The mother sighed but couldn't help
smiling.
"Well, Yoro, come here so I can
bandage you up. And you too, Goro."
A few minutes later, the boys sat on
their mother's lap. Yoro now had a small bandage on his forehead, while Goro
sat proudly as if he had won a great battle.
"Remember what I said?" their mother
reminded them. "No playing tag in the house. You'll end up hurt, just like
Yoro."
"But Mom, we're boys! We're supposed
to be tough and protect you!" Goro protested.
"Yeah!" Yoro chimed in, nodding
firmly.
Their mother tilted her head, amused.
"Oh? And how do you plan to protect me
if you're both too injured to stand?"
The boys froze, their young minds
trying to form an answer.
"Well… we'll just fight through the
pain!" Yoro declared proudly.
"Yeah, what my little brother said!"
Goro agreed.
Their mother laughed softly, kissing
their foreheads.
"You two are so funny."
"Hey, Mom, I've got a question," Goro
said suddenly, his eyes full of curiosity.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"Well… how am I the oldest if me and
Yoro are both five?" he asked.
She chuckled and stroked his hair.
"Because, Goro, you were born two
minutes earlier than Yoro. That makes you the big brother."
"Ohhh, so I came out first," Goro
said, puffing his chest out.
"Yep," she nodded.
"Haha! Looks like you used all your
luck beating me when we were born. That's why you're slow now!" Yoro teased,
sticking his tongue out.
The mother shook her head, laughing.
"Alright, boys, it's time for dinner."
That Night
After dinner, the twins lay in their
shared room, the glow of their nightlight painting the walls in soft yellow.
"Hey, Yoro," Goro whispered.
"Yeah, big bro?" Yoro turned toward
him.
"Let's become ninjas. Strong ones.
Strong enough to protect Mom and Dad."
Yoro's eyes lit up.
"Yeah! And not just strong—we're gonna
become the strongest ninjas ever!"
"Yeah, you bet," Goro grinned.
"So let's make a promise," Yoro said,
holding out his small pinky. "To reach SS Rank. Together."
Goro hooked his pinky around his
brother's.
"I promise."
At the doorway, their father stood
quietly, the door slightly ajar. He smiled warmly at the sight of his boys.
"My sons…" he whispered, his heart
swelling with pride.
One Year Later
Life seemed perfect—until the day
everything changed.
The twins were playing tag again
inside the house, their laughter echoing down the hall.
"I'm gonna catch you this time!" Goro
shouted, chasing Yoro toward the kitchen.
"No, you're not!" Yoro laughed,
sprinting forward—until his foot slipped. He slid across the floor and crashed
into the refrigerator.
"Again? Yoro, Goro!" their mother
scolded from where she was cooking.
But Goro was quick to seize the
opportunity.
"Gotcha!" he said proudly, tagging
Yoro.
"Because I slipped!" Yoro protested,
getting back on his feet.
Then, suddenly, Yoro staggered. His
face went pale.
"Are you okay?" Goro asked, concern
flooding his voice.
Yoro swayed side to side, his breaths
shallow.
"Son? What's happening?" their mother
asked, panic rising in her tone.
And then it happened—Yoro coughed up
blood and collapsed.
"YORO!" their mother screamed,
dropping the pot she was holding. She rushed to his side, tears already
streaming down her cheeks.
"Mom! What's wrong with him?!" Goro
cried, his small hands shaking.
"Go wake your father! Now! We have to
get Yoro to the hospital!"
Goro bolted to his parents' room,
shaking his father awake.
"Father, get up! Something's wrong
with Yoro!"
His father's eyes snapped open.
"What?!"
At the Great Hospital
Yoro lay in surgery. The air outside
the operating room was thick with fear.
The doctor finally emerged, leading
the family to a private room.
"So what's the issue? Is my son going
to be okay?" the mother demanded, her hands trembling.
"Is he going to live?" the father
asked, his voice cracking.
"Please, tell me my brother's going to
be okay!" Goro begged.
The doctor sighed heavily.
"…I'm sorry, but your son has
inherited your disease," he said, looking at the mother.
"What? My disease? But I overcame it!
I was the only one in my family who overcame it—this shouldn't be possible!" the mother
cried.
The doctor's expression darkened.
"I've come to one conclusion. Someone
must have injected the disease into your son."
The parents froze, horror in their
eyes.
"Injected… my son?" the father roared.
"Why?! Why would someone do this?!"
the mother fell to her knees, sobbing.
"The surgery may stabilize him," the
doctor continued, "but it cannot cure him. I'll return once I know if he
survives the night."
. So… Mom, is Yoro going to die?" Goro asked, his voice shaking.
Both parents knelt down in front of
him, their eyes filled with determination despite the fear in their hearts.
"No, son," his father said firmly.
"He's going to live."
"Yeah," his mother added softly,
forcing a smile through her tears. "I promise."
Goro's lips trembled. He turned the
hospital doors.
"Wait, brother—we made a promise. You
can't die on me now!"
A few hours later…
The doctor entered the private waiting
room where the family sat in silence.
"Hello," the doctor said calmly,
though his expression was heavy.
The mother and father rushed toward
him at once.
"Is he okay?!" the father asked
urgently.
"Is my son going to be alright?" the
mother pleaded.
The doctor looked at them with tired
eyes, then turned to Goro.
"Goro, you can visit your brother now.
He's two doors down on your left."
A small spark of hope lit in Goro's
chest. He didn't wait another second. He bolted out of the room, his thoughts
screaming: Brother, you've got to be okay.
The door shut behind him, leaving the
parents alone with the doctor.
"So…" the father asked, his voice low
and tense, "what really happened with our son?"
I'm… I'm sorry to tell you this," the doctor said
quietly, his voice calm but heavy. "But I only have bad news."
"No—no, not my baby…" the mother whispered, tears
already spilling down her cheeks.
"What's the bad news?! Tell me now!" the father
shouted, his voice cracking.
The doctor lowered his gaze. "Your son has only
forty minutes to live."
"No! Why my baby?!" the mother screamed before her
knees buckled and she collapsed to the floor.
"Honey!" the father cried, catching her. He looked
back at the doctor, desperation in his eyes. "Are you sure? Isn't there anything you can do to save my son?! Please!"
The doctor shook his head, frustration flickering
across his face. "I'm sorry. Whoever did this… they knew exactly what they were
doing. They added far too much. Even I can't save him."
The father's hands trembled. "What about the
Spiritual King? Is there anything he can do?"
The doctor blinked, then nodded sharply.
"Wait—you're right." He pulled out his cell phone and quickly dialed the
Spiritual King's office.
The line rang. Once. Twice. Three times. No answer.
"Sorry," the doctor muttered, lowering the phone.
"He's not answering."
Why isn't he answering? the
doctor thought, his brow furrowing. I saw him only a
couple of hours ago. Something's not right…
"Damn it… damn it… DAMN IT!" the father roared,
slamming his fist against the wall as tears streamed down his face.
Inside Yoro's room, Goro rushed to his
brother's side.
"Brother, are you okay?"
Yoro managed a smile.
"Goro… I'm going to die."
"No, you're not! Don't say that!"
Goro's tears fell freely.
"Remember our promise? To become SS
Rank ninjas?"
"I haven't forgotten," Yoro whispered.
"That's why I need you to carry it out. For both of us."
"No! We promised we'd do it together!"
Goro cried.
"I'll always be with you, big brother.
No matter what happens." Yoro's smile wavered, pain flashing across his face.
"And I'll always love you."
"Please… don't leave me," Goro begged,
clutching his hand.
Yoro's voice weakened.
"I'm hurting so much. This is my last
wish… I want it to end."
"No, don't—"
But before Goro could stop him, Yoro
bit down hard on his tongue.
Blood spilled. His body went still.
"YORO!" Goro screamed, his cries
echoing through the halls.
Five days later, grief still hung
heavy in the household.
Goro walked into his parents' room to
speak with his mother—only to freeze in horror.
"Mom…?"
She stood with a katana pressed
against her stomach, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom, no!" Goro cried, dropping to his
knees.
"I'm sorry, my son… I couldn't protect
him. It's all my fault. Please forgive me."
Before he could reach her, she drove
the blade into herself.
"Mom!" Goro screamed, rushing forward
as she collapsed.
His father burst into the room.
"Honey—!" He dropped to the floor,
pulling his wife's lifeless body into his arms.
Goro sobbed uncontrollably.
"Dad… she… she killed herself…"
His father grabbed his face, forcing
him to look into his eyes.
"Listen to me, son. I will always be
here for you. But you must promise me one thing, just as you did with your
brother… Never"
Present Day – The Laybirth Kingdom
The sun rose over the ruined kingdom,
casting light on smoldering rubble. On the lower west side, a once-proud
district lay in ashes.
Inside a destroyed home, a man twisted
his hair and smirked.
Que stepped in, twisting his hair with a cocky grin.
"Oh, you're done, boy," he sneered.
But then a faint voice cut through the silence.
"Give up," Goro said.
Que froze, eyes widening. "Huh? You're still able to
talk? I thought you were dead!"
Goro's body twitched. Slowly, painfully, he began to
rise from the ground, his eyes burning with defiance.
"How… how are you able to move?!" Que shouted.
Goro's lips parted again. One word came out.
"Father."
Que blinked. "What…?"
Suddenly, an orange aura blazed around Goro,
flickering like fire.
"What the hell?! You still have spiritual force?!"
Que cried, disbelief twisting his face.
"Mother."
The heat surged, growing hotter and hotter.
"What the hell—are you even human?! Why is it
getting so hot?!" Que screamed, sweat dripping from his brow.
"Brother."
The aura burst, igniting into roaring flames that
wrapped around Goro's body. His voice thundered with resolve:
"If I control heat… then I must become heat."
Que staggered back, eyes wide with terror.
"Impossible… this shouldn't even be possible! What are you?!"
The flames burned brighter until half of Goro's body
was engulfed in fire. His eyes glowed like molten steel.
"This… this is the form Azar once used," Goro said,
his voice deep and unyielding. "Half Hell State."
Que gritted his teeth, trembling. "What the hell is
driving you this far?!"
"My family."
At that moment, the spectral forms of his father,
mother, and brother appeared, their souls circling around him like guardians.
To Be Continued…