Night had fallen.
The man crouched before the three children—Hiruzen, Kagami, and Danzo—popped the last biscuit into his mouth, chewing with satisfaction. Empty wrappers littered the ground. His glazed eyes carried an odd glimmer as he swept his gaze across the three silent boys.
"Crunch… crunch…"
From Mako's lips spilled black mist. Though she hadn't started gnawing on the corpses of the Grass shinobi, the unconscious sound of chewing echoed in the still night, unnerving to the bone.
"Oi, curly-haired brat, got anything else to eat?"
Kamihiko rubbed his flat stomach, turning to Kagami. It had been days since he'd tasted real food—snacks like these barely filled a gap in his teeth.
"Eh? No more… I already gave you everything I brought."
Kagami opened his pack for him, showing it empty.
"Click—no raw eggs either?"
Disappointed, Kamihiko licked his lips, smacking them as if savoring an aftertaste.
"…Huh?"
The absurd request yanked the three from their thoughts. They exchanged puzzled looks.
What kind of shinobi carries raw eggs around?!
"Never mind. Story's over. You can die in Mako's belly as enlightened ghosts."
Dusting his hands, Kamihiko rose, stretching lazily, his eyes turning cold.
"Wait! I still have something to say!"
Hiruzen, drenched in sweat, shot his hand up like a desperate student. Kamihiko frowned, gesturing for him to speak quickly.
"Uncle, our teacher is Senju Tobirama—the great inventor of the shinobi world! He knows everything. He could definitely help cure your wife!"
He was gambling now—pulling out the big name to stall for time.
Dad, hurry up! Your good son's about to get eaten alive here!
Even with this chaos, Sasuke hadn't shown up. Hiruzen cursed his father in his heart.
"Tobirama, huh? So you brats aren't just random strays after all…"
Kamihiko studied them, mildly surprised. Still, he had no thought of entrusting Mako to anyone.
"He's amazing! He'll help for sure!"
Kagami chimed in, eyes shining with devotion. That look stung Kamihiko's heart—once, he too had revered his elder so blindly.
"…You kids really respect your teacher?"
The three blinked, then nodded solemnly.
Kamihiko sneered. "Then tell me—if one day your teacher faced a problem, and ordered you to die for him, what would you do?"
The boys froze. They'd never imagined such a thing.
"Impossible! Teacher's the strongest in the village—he'd never sacrifice us!"
Danzo barked first. To him, Tobirama's power and character were absolute.
"Don't be so sure. Shinobi are cold-blooded. To reach their goals, they'll sacrifice anything."
Kamihiko shook his head.
"…I would go."
Hiruzen raised his head. His small eyes shone with firm resolve. "Sensei would never make that choice unless it was necessary. If my sacrifice could protect him and the village… I'd gladly give my life."
"Oh?"
Kamihiko's gaze softened slightly.
So the gloomy little perv also has the makings of a silver-tongued preacher.
Then his eyes turned to Kagami. He expected the polite boy to echo Hiruzen's noble self-sacrifice.
"…Die? Why?"
But Kagami's answer stunned him. His brow furrowed, fists clenched. "My uncle taught me never to give up. Even against the unknown, you fight. You don't just wait to die."
Kamihiko's eyes lit faintly. "…Your uncle must be a remarkable man."
Kagami hesitated. "…Well, in a way, yes."
The three glanced at each other, twitching. Remarkable indeed—Uchiha Gin could make the Hokage bow to him…
Kamihiko nodded. "Fine. For your uncle's sake, if Mako eats her fill, I'll spare you. Leave at dawn."
"…Really?!"
The boys nearly pinched each other to test reality.
"Monkey, you'll regret this!" Danzo whined after being pinched, nursing his arm.
"I'm the captain, Danzo!" Hiruzen snapped back.
Kamihiko chuckled faintly. Their bond reminded him of what he'd lost. Still, he pulled a rope from his back and bound them.
"Just in case you try to tattle."
Meanwhile, Mako finished with the corpses, licking her lips. Only one "corpse" remained. She summoned her black mist… and suddenly, the body moved.
"Fuuton: Shinkuu Gyoku (Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets)!"
The "corpse" vanished in a puff of smoke, replaced by a wiry middle-aged man with a monkeyish face. Wind bullets erupted from his mouth.
Kamihiko's eyes narrowed. Spotting the forehead protector, his gaze slid coldly to Hiruzen's wide eyes. "…So he's here to save you."
The boys stiffened. Their lives hung by a thread.
"Don't worry. I said I'd spare you, and I will. That man isn't Mako's match anyway."
Kamihiko knew Mako's power all too well—even the elder had lost an arm to her. This man? A morsel at best.
Sasuke's vacuum bullets tore into her… but she didn't bleed. She didn't even flinch.
"What… is this monster?" Sasuke muttered, chilled.
"…Eat."
She blurred, vanishing.
"Too fast!" Sasuke spun, water chakra flooding his arm.
Suiton: Suigaijin (Water Style: Water Fang Blade)!
"Rip!"
He heard cloth tear, relief flooding him. But her rasping whisper still coiled at his ear.
"Boom!"
A crushing blow to his back hurled him like a broken kite, blood spraying.
"Father!!"
Hiruzen screamed as Sasuke crashed into the street.
"Cough…"
Sasuke clawed out of a crater, horror in his eyes. Her strength rivals Hashirama's…
"She's your father?" Kamihiko asked with detached interest.
"Let me go!!" Hiruzen roared.
"You're weak. Even if I release you, what could you do?"
Kamihiko shook his head.
Sasuke spat blood, glaring stubbornly. For his son's sake, he slammed his bloody hand into the earth.
Smoke burst—and a massive monkey appeared.
"Enma! Aid me!"
The monkey king nodded.
"Adamantine Staff!"
Enma transformed into a massive staff. Sasuke swung it, roaring, "Round two!"
"Eat."
Mako caught the staff with one hand, unmoving.
"No way…"
Enma howled, unable to withstand her crushing grip, and fled in smoke. Sasuke was left weaponless.
She flashed forward, palm slamming his chest. He barely crossed his arms in time—then flew again, spitting blood, cratering into the street. Unconscious.
"Father!!"
Hiruzen wept.
"There are no heroes, boy," Kamihiko murmured bitterly.
Once, he too had prayed for a hero to descend. None ever came.
"Damn it!!"
Mako stalked toward the broken Sasuke.
And then—
"Ha! I told Hashirama monkey-face was a fraud! When I get back, I'll rub it in!"
From a rooftop, arms crossed, Uchiha Madara sneered. He had watched the whole affair. He'd meant to save Kagami quickly—but the boys had shown some spirit, so he'd waited.
And then—Kagami awakened his Sharingan.
Madara smirked. An unexpected bonus.
When Sasuke fell, Madara finally began warming up, planning his grand entrance with Susanoo to awe them all.
But before he could, another figure rose on a distant rooftop. Under the moonlight, green-glowing eyes gleamed.
"Eh?" Kamihiko frowned, then waved casually. "Mako, finish him and we'll go home."
"Eat."
"Father!" Hiruzen's heart shattered.
And then—
"Henshin! Turn Up!"
An electronic voice echoed in the night.
"What the hell now?!" Kamihiko snarled, clutching his hair.
From the rooftop, a silver knight descended.
"You… are Kamihiko?"
The knight's low voice rumbled beneath his mask.
"…One of Grass's new toys?"
Kamihiko scowled.
"You're the rogue Kamihiko. Bounty: 35 million ryō. Surrender, or suffer."
"…Bounty?" the boys muttered, confused.
Kamihiko laughed scornfully. "So, just a mangy bounty dog. My head's not so easy to take."
Behind the mask, Kakuzu shook his head in disappointment. He had waited, watching Grass shinobi die, waiting for the right price. Then Konoha shinobi appeared, scaring him with memories of Hashirama's Wood Style. Only when Sasuke fell did he step in—using the Seven-Tails' card to become the armored knight.
"Don't cooperate, then. Fine. My name is Ken—Hunter Knight Ken."
He drew his blade, voice cold.
(End of Chapter)
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