Shigeo's lips curved into a cold smile. He could already sense the murderous intent hidden beneath the false politeness of "Kitaryū"—the man he knew better as Orochimaru's twisted associate, Hiruko.
The mountain wind howled through the Suimi Range, carrying with it the faint scent of blood and steel. From below, the voices of the caged test subjects echoed—a chorus of madness and despair, thrashing against iron bars like beasts deprived of thought. Their bodies were marked by cursed seals, grotesque failures of experimentation, reduced to weapons of chaos.
Shigeo hovered lightly above the chamber floor, his dark-blue eyes narrowing. "So this is your plan? To lure me here with cheap tricks and second-rate actors?"
Inside one of the cages, Fū lay unconscious, her body bound by a sealing robe that glowed faintly with scarlet runes. Nearby, young Shiboku clung to the bars of his cell, his voice trembling as he called:
"Shigeo! Save me, please—I was wrong! I shouldn't have doubted you!"
"Shut your mouth," Shigeo snapped coldly, his tone sharp as steel. "Keep whining and I'll leave your corpse here for your father to collect."
The boy's face went pale. For the first time, he realized just how childish and reckless he had been.
From the shadows, Hiruko stepped forward, his tall collar hiding his mouth, his eyes glowing with bloodthirsty ambition. "So, you've come straight into my snare. Perfect. These test subjects may be Orochimaru's failures, but you… you're the prize." He sneered, spreading his arms as if welcoming Shigeo to his own execution ground.
Around the cavern, torches flared to life, casting long, twisted shadows across the walls. The Grass-nin trio perched on the ledges above, smirking with cruel amusement.
Hiruko's voice thundered through the cavern, echoing against the stone:
"Hyūga Shigeo—today will be remembered as your last. No matter how many bloodline limits you wield, no matter how much beast chakra you hide, here you will fall. Mark this day—it is your grave!"
Shigeo lowered himself slightly, his chakra beginning to stir like a storm beneath his skin. His gaze flicked once toward Fū's unconscious form, then back to Hiruko.
"You think you've already won," he said quietly, his tone icy calm. "But you've made one mistake."
Hiruko tilted his head. "Oh? And what's that?"
Shigeo's lips curved into a deadly smirk.
"You underestimated me."
(End of Chapter)
[50 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[10 Reviews = 5 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]