The grand hall fell silent. Only Wu Youhua and Shigeo remained, surrounded by her guards.
"You won't escape today." Wu Youhua sneered coldly, and the guards rushed forward.
But they were no match for Shigeo. With Hyōton: Hyōdō no Yaiba (Ice Release: Spears of Ice), a forest of sharp ice spikes shot forth. Without Shigeo even moving from his spot, more than ten guards were skewered like hedgehogs, dying instantly.
On the high seat, Wu Youhua's eyes glowed with delight. A kekkei genkai? How wonderful!
"Everyone, retreat! Shut the doors!" she barked.
The guards withdrew, and the windows and doors slammed shut, plunging the hall into darkness.
Wu Youhua's long violet hair shimmered, and her eerie laugh echoed through the room, like the sound of bones being gnawed.
"Little brat, if only you had investigated thoroughly before speaking. I might have spared you a few more days. But since you've ruined my plans, I cannot let you live." She leaned forward, floating down from the dais.
Shigeo stared coldly at her, unflinching. "Why did you gather so many shinobi in this city?"
Wu Youhua smirked. "For Shikigami Kisu (Corpse Demon's Kiss). I want their chakra, their jutsu!"
"And those medical-nin you lured into your castle's basement? What do you want from them? Wu Youhua, you're working with the Sora-nin, aren't you? What are you scheming?" Shigeo demanded loudly.
Her laughter echoed like a curse. Her nails elongated into sharp talons, and though her face was beautiful, her bulging eyes turned her visage monstrous.
"Since you're going to die anyway, I'll tell you. These shinobi are my bargaining chips against the Five Great Villages. They'll become my weapons. I won't just drain their blood and strip their flesh—I'll turn them into my most powerful ghost warriors! Last night, my creations smelled your strong chakra, which is why they stopped before you. But today, you won't escape. Your kekkei genkai will be mine!"
With a burst of speed, Wu Youhua lunged. Her claws gleamed in the dim light, her fangs bared with deadly hunger.
Shigeo's body swayed. He grabbed a fistful of her long hair and yanked. She clawed back at him, but he formed a single hand seal—Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique). The flames roared, igniting her hair instantly.
Her shrieks pierced the hall like the cries of the damned.
A moment later, her body crumpled, collapsing like an empty skin, a husk without flesh or bone.
Now Shigeo understood why she drained chakra and peeled off skins—she was building weapons.
On the dais, another Wu Youhua appeared, glaring down with venomous fury.
"Guards! Kill him!"
At her command, a dozen skinless husks, draped in violet hair, surged into the hall. Their eyes were lifeless, but their bodies lunged with terrifying speed.
The stench of her perfume filled the air again, thick and suffocating. Shigeo unleashed Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique), his clones charging into battle against the grotesque horde.
Ice spikes erupted from the ground, skewering husks from all directions. Flames engulfed the room, burning the monstrosities as their high-pitched screams tore through the night.
Wu Youhua stiffened on her throne. This child… how does he have such immense chakra? That fire release… I've never seen anything like it! Even my ghost warriors, who no jonin could defeat so quickly, are being annihilated. Who is he really?
Shigeo retreated toward the entrance, casting another volley of ice spears toward Wu Youhua. But just as the spikes were about to impale her, a small figure darted forward—
The little girl!
Shigeo froze, yanking back his jutsu at the last instant. The ice shattered against the ground.
The child stood in front of Wu Youhua, shaking her head desperately.
Shigeo's chest tightened. How could I forget? No matter how kind or innocent she looks, she's still the daughter of this monster.
Behind her, the ghostly husks burned to ash. Shigeo dispersed his shadow clones and faced the mother and daughter alone.
Wu Youhua suddenly grabbed the girl by the throat.
"You two know each other?" she hissed.
The girl's eyes widened in terror, but Shigeo only frowned, unfazed.
"If you truly care for her, then kill yourself now," Wu Youhua sneered. "Otherwise, I'll snap her neck!"
The girl's eyes pleaded with him. Her fingers twitched subtly, signaling him not to worry about her—begging him to go.
Shigeo's gaze hardened. How could I care? We only met twice. And if Wu Youhua really intended to kill her, she would've done it long ago instead of keeping her alive, pampered and guarded. She's a hostage, not a daughter.
He stepped forward without fear.
Wu Youhua's face twisted with unease. She whispered something in the girl's ear, and suddenly the child clung to her, waving frantically at Shigeo, trying to shield her captor.
Shigeo's suspicions deepened. He glared at Wu Youhua. "As a mother, you use your own daughter as a shield? You truly make me doubt your humanity. But… since she begs for your life, I'll let you go—for now."
With that, he turned and left the hall.
The guards gave chase as he fled the cliffside castle.
Soon, proclamations spread across the city:
"The murderer of the five shinobi is none other than the Leaf's medical-nin—Shigeo!"
When word reached Kakashi, Might Guy, and Anko, they immediately convened an emergency meeting. Their decision was unanimous: withdraw from the mission and return to Konoha at once to report to the Third Hokage.
(End of Chapter)
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