Chapter 59
"If that's what happened, then why didn't you go to the police instead of acting on your own?" Kakashi's voice broke the silence, cold and indifferent, as he continued to read his romance novel, eyes never leaving the page.
"This is our failure—for not being able to protect our leader," Shino replied flatly. "As Naruto's followers, if we don't act, how could we even face him?"
"But you're still just children. This has grown far beyond what you can handle. Don't you realize that?" Kakashi's gaze finally rose to meet Shino and Rock Lee's eyes.
The two fell silent. Kakashi then pulled out his phone, muttering, "Send me the other locations. I'll contact people I know to deal with this."
Shino looked aside, understanding clearly. He closed his eyes and said, "Rock Lee, send him the remaining coordinates."
"Understood."
Upon receiving the map, Kakashi studied it carefully. His eyes narrowed slightly as they paused on a particular location. He murmured, "Isn't this...?"
With a heavy sigh, he began typing a series of messages. "I should've thought of this... no, it was nearly impossible to link them both—except through that person. But when did those two even meet?"
"What is it, Master Kakashi?"
Kakashi turned toward the two, their faces full of confusion.
"Oh, nothing important. It seems the hospital is the nearest location. Let's go there."
"Understood!"
---
After leaving the hospital, Sasuke and Ino followed Ringo and Suikan through dim alleys. Ino used the opportunity to send a few messages to the alliance group chat.
When they reached one of the alleyways, Ringo and Suikan turned around coldly. Ringo scratched her head and said, "We don't usually bother with kids, but this is urgent. You two seem to know a boy named Naruto. Do you know where he is? The room he was supposed to be in is empty."
Shock spread across both Ino and Sasuke's faces. "The hospital room is empty?"
"Damn it, they don't know anything. Zabuza's going to kill us," Ringo muttered, irritated, as Suikan drank from his bottle, not caring that the liquid dripped down his lips.
"Excuse me, but who exactly are you? And what do you want from Naruto?" Ino asked with a hint of tension, sweat trickling down her forehead. Sasuke stared at the ground, his lips trembling.
"Us? That's a secret. And if you found out, we'd have to kill you," Ringo said with a wicked grin, placing a finger over her lips.
Ino stepped back, startled.
Sasuke grabbed her wrist, pulling her away. "We're sorry. Let's go."
"Why are you in such a rush?" Ino asked.
Ringo's eyes sharpened. "Stop right there."
Sasuke clenched his jaw, freezing in place. Ino was confused by his sudden obedience.
Ringo approached, eyeing them both. Ino was clearly nervous but said nothing. Still, something about Sasuke struck her as odd.
Circling around him, she stopped right in front of his face and tilted her head to look into his eyes. "You… why are you acting so weird? Look up. Let me see your face."
Sasuke hesitated, then slowly raised his head. His expression was pale, terrified, and dripping with sweat.
"You… you know who we really are?" Ringo gently placed a hand on his hair, smiling. Then she chuckled, "That's why you're so scared. You know about the White Fang?"
"The White Fang…?"
Ino processed the name, her expression instantly changing in realization.
Ringo reached into her jacket. "Sorry, but knowing our identity means the end for you."
Ino saw something glinting in Ringo's hand. Her instincts kicked in, and she jumped toward Sasuke in panic. "Sasuke! Watch out!!"
---
Several years ago.
In a grand palace that seemed fit for a demon king, three people sat on the grass in the lush garden outside.
Itachi sat with his legs stretched out, calmly reading a book. Izumi lay beside him, resting her head on his lap with her eyes closed.
Nearby, Sasuke was playing on a handheld console, deeply focused—until the game's end screen announced he had finished it.
He sighed and placed it down. "That was boring. I thought a ninja game would be hard, but I finished it so fast."
"That's because you're a genius, dear Sasuke," Itachi chuckled while continuing to read.
"Of course I am! I'm your little brother after all," Sasuke said proudly, smiling.
"Don't spoil him too much, Itachi. You'll ruin his character," Izumi puffed her cheeks, clearly jealous.
Sasuke stuck out his tongue at her, even though he knew she couldn't see it.
Itachi gently patted Izumi's head. "Why shouldn't I spoil him? Look how cute he is. But you're cute too, my dear."
Izumi turned her face away, trying to hide the blush creeping across her cheeks.
"You're so unfair," she mumbled, still not looking at him.
Sasuke sat beside Itachi excitedly. "Since it's boring now because of someone," he said pointedly. Izumi fired back, "What did you say, brat?!" But he ignored her and continued, "Tell me one of your old adventures! I heard you used to lead a gang in high school, and you even clashed with some famous group!"
"Who's been telling you these things?!" Itachi looked shocked but sighed. "Well, that gang wasn't famous back then. It gained fame because of its leader—Zabuza. He carried a massive sword, rumored to slice a man in half with a single swing. If you ever hear that name, don't get involved. Understand, Sasuke?"
"No way! You really fought someone that strong?"
"Like I said, he wasn't that strong back then. And actually, we didn't even get to fight them. We were saved… by another gang."
"Really? What happened?"
"A man appeared—with white spiky hair…"
---
That memory was playing in Sasuke's mind, but it was cut short when Ino threw herself onto him, pushing him out of the way just in time.
"Tch." Ringo groaned, seeing her blade stained with blood.
Sasuke and Ino crashed to the ground. Ino cried out in pain, clutching her shoulder, where she had suffered a shallow cut.
"Snap out of it, Sasuke! What are you doing?!"
She shook him violently. He finally came to his senses, sweating. "Ah, sorry, I spaced out…" His eyes locked on the wound. "Ino?! Are you okay?!"
"Don't worry. Just a scratch."
They stood up. Ino forced a smile. "Looks like we're caught up in something way over our heads."
"That gang… they're famous across the country. What do they want with Naruto?" Sasuke wiped sweat from his brow.
"You're such an amateur. That's why Zabuza's going to sacrifice you," Suikan said coldly, walking toward Ringo with his bottle. "You should've killed them the moment you got suspicious."
"Whatever. I didn't want to kill someone who had nothing to do with it," Ringo shrugged, walking toward them. "Don't worry—I'll kill them quickly. We need to check the other locations. That boy's likely hiding in one of them."
"Yeah, yeah. Just hurry it up."
Ringo lunged again. Sasuke and Ino dodged as fast as they could. Ringo focused on the weaker one first—Ino.
As Ino backpedaled, Sasuke tried to assist her—but Suikan blocked his path.
"Get out of my way!" Sasuke shouted and kicked Suikan in the stomach—only to feel like he had kicked a pillow.
"What the—?! He didn't even flinch!"
Suikan sighed. "If you want to hit someone, hit with the intent to kill." He lifted his bottle and smashed it on Sasuke's head. The blow left him dizzy and falling to the ground.
"See? That's how you hit. Otherwise, you punch like a weak girl."
Sasuke clutched his head, his hand coming back wet—red.
(Am I going to die? Here?)
It was his first real taste of death. His mind froze.
"Aaah!"
He heard Ino scream. Ringo had stabbed her arm mercilessly.
(Ino?! Are you okay?)
He raised his hand toward her in concern, unaware he wasn't speaking aloud.
He watched as she got stabbed again—this time in the leg. Fear took hold.
But then… he saw it.
Ino was looking at him. Even wounded, her eyes still burned with the will to live.
"Don't worry, Sasuke! Help is on the way. I'm sure of it!" she shouted, dodging Ringo's next blow. "Damn it! This brat is fast! What kind of training did she go through?!"
(Is this all I can do? Just watch while these psychos enjoy torturing us? Will I sit here and wait to die?)
His hands trembled, pressed against the ground.
But then… he stood.
In a sudden burst, Sasuke charged forward in a gap Suikan hadn't noticed. He rushed Ringo, clenched his fist, and punched her hard in the face, knocking the dagger from her hand.
(Let them call me coward, afraid, for choosing to hit the woman instead of the man. Even I know that guy's out of my league.)
He turned to Ino, tears filling his eyes. "What do you mean, 'Don't worry'? And 'Help is coming'? I will protect you!"
Ino looked at him, shocked, then smiled warmly.
"Well, I thought he had lost his will to fight. Incredible," Suikan muttered.
"You little bastard!" Ringo growled, wiping blood from her lips, seething. "How dare you hit a beautiful woman in the face?! I'll kill you myself! Suikan, don't interfere!"
With blazing anger, she charged them again.
"Ino, get back! I'll protect you!" Sasuke stepped forward and swung—but she dodged, landing a fierce blow to his gut.
"Hah? What happened to your big act? You're still just weak," Ringo mocked.
But Sasuke met her with cold, steady eyes. Enraged, she attacked again, pummeling him with fists and kicks until he was bloodied and barely standing.
Then she made a mistake.
Sasuke lunged forward, pouring all his strength into a final punch to her jaw. The blow knocked her backward—then she collapsed, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, Sasuke stared at his throbbing hand. He had gambled everything on that strike—and it had worked.
"What a weak idiot. That's why Zabuza's discarding her," Suikan scoffed, then kicked Ringo's body into a wall.
"You—! Are you trying to kill her?!" Ino shouted, shocked.
"Of course. Just taking out the trash," he said coldly, stepping toward her.
Sasuke stepped between them.
"You fools… why didn't you run when you had the chance?"
"Ino, run!" Sasuke yelled.
But before she could move, Suikan's massive fist struck Sasuke's face, sending him flying.
Ino froze as Suikan raised his fist again. She shut her eyes in terror, one word in her mind: (Brother!!!)
But the blow never came.
Seconds passed. Ino opened her eyes.
Suikan's hand hung above her head—stopped by another hand.
A familiar silhouette with white spiky hair… a forehead protector covering one eye.
"Instructor Kakashi!"
Ino cried with joy, letting her tears finally fall.
Kakashi, one hand still in his pocket, held Suikan's wrist with the other.
Suikan's gaze remained cold. "What a coincidence."
"Yeah. An unpleasant one. I thought I'd never see you again after that day."
"Times change. We're not the same people we used to be."
"You've gotten worse. Raising your hands against children?!"
"I don't like it either. But to preserve the organization's secrecy, sacrifices are necessary."
"You're all sick bastards!"
Kakashi and Suikan braced for battle.
"Let's finish the fight that started years ago," Suikan said coldly. "But this time… the police won't be coming to save you."
---
To Be Continued...