"Kamihiko!"
Seeing Mako's tear-streaked face ignited the fury Kamihiko had been suppressing. That ominous gate on the Box of Bliss was a place of no return. His palms glowed faintly blue, and he struck at the guard dragging the girl.
"Happou Shou (Breaking Palm)!"
Fueled by anger, his strike was lethal—even a captain-level shinobi would have to avoid it. These guards weren't even close.
"Boom!"
"Thud~"
Their hearts burst instantly, lifeless before they could scream. In moments, only three living people remained.
"…I'm sorry. I came late."
Kamihiko stood protectively before the panicked Mako, facing the elder with a cold stare. The scene mirrored the past, filling them with bitter, tangled feelings.
"You shouldn't have come, Kamihiko."
The elder sighed. He had raised this youth like a disciple—saving him from the chakra training camp of no return, passing him the secrets of the Grass style.
"Elder… forgive me. Mako is more precious than my life."
He reached for his blade, face apologetic even as he prepared to fight. If not for this man, he and Mako would've starved in the streets.
"Rumble~"
"You've just destroyed your last chance," the elder said coldly, unmoved by their bond.
"Elder, you may not be my match anymore."
Newly promoted to elite captain, Kamihiko brimmed with confidence. To him, this old man was nothing but a candle in the wind.
"Step aside. I don't want to hurt you."
With a flourish of his blade, he threatened. His earlier instant kill of the guards had been meant to intimidate the elder.
"If you hadn't killed them, perhaps there would still be another way…"
The elder looked at the corpses with regret. Had they lived, they could've replaced Mako. Now, one of the three must be sacrificed to the Box.
"No reinforcements are coming. I've already knocked out the outer guards."
Kamihiko had planned ahead, knocking out his comrades to secure his escape with Mako.
"Young ones… always too rash."
The elder's cloudy eyes bored into them, unsettling their hearts.
"Clang~"
Kamihiko didn't waste time—he swung his blade toward the unmoving elder.
"Kamihiko!"
Mako gasped. Her memories of childhood rushed back. This man had saved them. Could they really raise their blade against him?
"Don't worry. I'll only knock him out."
Kamihiko turned his blade to its flat.
"Then let me give you one last lesson."
The elder lifted a wrinkled hand. A red glow flared. His voice was cold.
"Never show mercy to anyone in your way."
Agonizing heat ripped through Kamihiko. His freshly refined chakra drained instantly, leaving his body barren. He collapsed, writhing in unbearable pain.
"Arghhh!!"
"Kamihiko!"
Mako rushed to his side, horrified to see fiery chain-like marks burning across his skin.
"This… what…"
Kamihiko gasped.
"If you had endured longer, perhaps you'd have learned this too."
[ Katon: Tenrou (Fire Style: Heaven's Prison) ]
The elder's clan-exclusive jutsu—chakra-sealing chains that cripple the enemy.
"Ugh…"
Kamihiko's eyes filled with unwillingness.
"Elder! Spare him. I'll go instead!"
Mako stood, tears streaking her face.
"No! Mako!"
Kamihiko howled, but the flaming chains dragged him down.
"If you want her to live, then you enter," the elder said coldly.
"…Fine."
Kamihiko turned to the dark gate of the Box. He nodded.
"Please, Elder. Keep your word. Don't harm Mako."
"Hmph. Once the Box is opened, I'll have no time for a little girl."
Relieved, Kamihiko touched Mako's head.
"Mako, take care of yourself. Don't starve."
"Kamihiko, no!"
She clung to him tightly—so tightly he screamed.
"Too tight! You'll break me!"
Flustered, she let go, cheeks red.
"You're stronger now. Good. If anyone bullies you… blast them with lightning."
Kamihiko forced a smile.
Mako's eyes wavered. A daring thought struck her.
Her eyes darted to the ominous Box. Then, without warning, she lashed out—
"Crack!"
Kamihiko screamed as her knee struck true. Even the elder paled, clutching his own groin instinctively.
"…Sorry, Kamihiko. But you're an idiot."
Mako smiled sadly, then stroked his head. Her stomach growled.
"Kamihiko… if I die hungry, will I become a hungry ghost?"
Her last words carried regret. Then she turned and leapt into the Box's dark gate.
"No!!"
"Rumble!!"
The Box exhaled a wave of black energy.
"It's done! It's done!"
For the first time, the elder trembled with joy.
"MAKO!!"
Kamihiko screamed in despair.
"Be quiet. To be a sacrifice is an honor. Her name will be etched in our monument."
The elder dismissed his grief. The Box retracted its black aura, the gate still waiting.
"Finally… Box of Bliss! Grant us, the Grass, dominion over the world—"
"Grrrrrr~"
"…Whose stomach?"
The elder snapped irritably.
"Not me," Kamihiko muttered. But the sound was oddly familiar.
"Step. Step."
Footsteps echoed. The elder turned, eyes wide.
"Mako?!"
Kamihiko too gasped, joy flooding his voice.
From the gate, Mako walked out barefoot, each step echoing. The Box fell silent, ignoring the elder's summons.
"How… what did you do?!"
The elder's face twisted in shock.
"Mako!!"
Kamihiko staggered toward her—until the elder roared, "Stop! That's not her!"
"…Eat…"
The girl smiled unnaturally. Red light gleamed in her eyes. She blurred, crouching by a corpse, black mist rising.
"MAKO!!"
The elder snarled.
His Heaven's Prison chains ignited on her skin—only to be devoured by her black mist.
"…What monster are you?"
The elder spat, horrified.
"…Eat."
Her red gaze fixed on him.
In an instant, his arm was torn off. She held it, smiling, and devoured it in black mist.
"Monster!"
The elder bled, shaken.
"…Eat… eat…"
Her tongue licked her lips. She was no longer Mako.
"Not good…!"
The elder raised his one hand, releasing Heaven's Prison across the camp.
Guards rushed in.
"Kamihiko, you traitor!"
"Shut up! Capture her!"
They surrounded Mako.
"Attack!"
They charged—only to be swallowed in black fog, screaming.
The elder's face darkened. This "Mako" was now the key to Grass's fate.
"Continue!" he ordered, but the men hesitated.
"MAKO!"
Kamihiko stumbled toward her.
The elder allowed it.
"…Eat."
She bared her teeth at him.
"Mako… sorry…"
He gently stroked her hair.
"…Eat… Kamihiko…"
Her body trembled violently. Red and black mist swirled. Then she collapsed into his arms.
"…What now, Elder?"
The shinobi turned anxiously.
"Imprison them. Separately."
The elder ordered.
Chains, seals, iron shackles—Mako was bound, yet her hunger could not be sealed. She needed blood and flesh daily. When she rampaged, only Kamihiko's touch calmed her enough for resealing.
This became his torment.
But fate shifted. A coup swept Grass. The one-armed elder was slain. His Heaven's Prison dissolved.
Kamihiko was free—yet wasted from years in chains. Too weak to escape.
Mako, however, shed her seals with black mist. She devoured everyone in the prison but him, then vanished into the dark.
Later, under new rule, Kamihiko found his chance. He slew a guard and escaped into the night, clutching a broken blade.
He wandered Grass from west to east, a youth turned into a ragged man.
Until, at last, in a small town of the Fire Country, he heard rumors of a man-eating ghost.
Before the anxious town elder, Kamihiko rested a hand on his sword.
"…My name is Hoshin. A shinobi of Grass. I hear you have a request?"
Ps: Finally wrapped this side story. Some say I'm padding… but every character I write has meaning!
n(｀^´)n
(End of Chapter)
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