A few lanterns flickered along the streets while patrol shinobi moved lazily across rooftops.
Then suddenly—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Uneven.
A shinobi stumbled out of a dark alley, clutching his side as blood soaked through his uniform.
It was the injured guard.
Or at least…
That's what everyone believed.
Akira—still disguised using Kuso Hensei—staggered forward dramatically.
"Help…!" he shouted hoarsely.
Two patrolling shinobi landed beside him instantly.
"What happened?!" one of them demanded.
Akira collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
"T-The elders…!" he gasped. "They're dead!"
Both shinobi froze.
"What?!"
"A man—no… a monster!" Akira said, forcing panic into his voice. "He attacked the council house… killed everyone…!"
The second shinobi grabbed his shoulder.
"Where is he now?!"
Akira shook his head weakly.
"I don't know… he disappeared… but he said…"
He looked up with wide, terrified eyes.
"He said the Hoshikage is next."
Both guards immediately stiffened.
"Damn it," one muttered.
"We have to report this!"
Akira grabbed the man's sleeve suddenly.
"W-Wait… he was strong… incredibly strong…" he whispered. "We need everyone… the Hoshikage-sama must gather the elite…"
The shinobi nodded grimly.
"You're right."
He turned toward the village tower.
"Sound the alert!"
Moments later—
The alarm bells echoed across Hoshigakure, their metallic clangs cutting through the quiet night.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
Within minutes, shinobi began gathering at the central tower of the village.
Torches lit the large chamber as more and more fighters arrived—jonin, elite guards, and veteran shinobi who had served the village for years.
At the center of the room stood the Hoshikage. An older man, but one whose posture still carried the authority of a leader and the experience of countless battles.
Before him knelt a badly injured shinobi.
Akira.Still disguised.
Blood stained the uniform created by Kuso Hensei, and his breathing appeared uneven.
A jonin stepped forward.
"Report," he demanded. "You said the elders were attacked."
Akira coughed weakly, placing a hand over his side.
"Y-Yes… council house…" he gasped. "They're dead… all of them…"
The room instantly filled with shocked murmurs.
"Dead?!" one shinobi shouted.
"That's impossible!"
"Who could do that unnoticed?"
The Hoshikage raised a hand, and the room immediately fell silent again. His sharp gaze settled on the injured shinobi.
"Calm yourself and speak clearly," he said firmly. "Start from the beginning."
Akira lowered his head slightly.
"I was part of the patrol near the council house," he began slowly.
"One moment everything was normal… the next… the doors burst open."
He deliberately paused.
"They were already dead."
A few shinobi cursed under their breath.
"And the attacker?" the Hoshikage asked.
Akira let a tremor enter his voice.
"He… he was insane…"
"Insane?" another jonin frowned.
"Laughing," Akira continued. "Talking to himself like it was all a game."
The shinobi around the room shifted uneasily.
"What did he look like?" someone asked.
Akira lifted his head slightly.
"Dark hair… red eyes… smiling the whole time."
He paused.
"And strong… terrifyingly strong."
The Hoshikage narrowed his eyes.
"You engaged him?"
Akira shook his head.
"No… I barely survived. The others weren't so lucky."
"Coward," one of the shinobi muttered.
The Hoshikage glanced at the man.
"Enough."
He looked back at Akira.
"You said he threatened me directly."
Akira nodded quickly.
"Yes, Hoshikage-sama."
"What exactly did he say?"
Akira lowered his voice.
"He said the elders were only the beginning…"
The room grew tense.
"…and that the Hoshikage would be next."
Several shinobi immediately stepped closer to their leader.
One of them spoke urgently.
"We should move you to a secure location, Hoshikage-sama."
Another nodded.
"And dispatch search squads immediately."
The Hoshikage turned slightly, considering the suggestion.
Behind him—
Akira's eyes quietly scanned the room.
Counting.
One.
Two.
Three.
Seven.
Twelve.
Most of the important shinobi were here.
But not all. Two missing,
Akira noticed immediately.
Probably on patrol.
No matter.
I'll deal with them later.
The Hoshikage turned halfway toward his advisors.
"Seal the village gates and—"
Akira moved.
The kunai hidden in his sleeve flashed into his hand. Chakra surged into the metal through Kuso Hensei.
The blade stretched. Lengthened Reshaped.
In a split second the small kunai expanded into a long katana.
Just like the sudden strike Toji Fushiguro once used against Satoru Gojo in his youth.
SHHK!
The blade plunged straight through the Hoshikage's back.
Gasps filled the chamber.
Blood sprayed across the floor.
The Hoshikage's eyes widened as the sword burst from his chest.
For a moment nobody moved.
Nobody understood.
Then chaos erupted.
"HOSHIKAGE-SAMA!"
"ATTACKER!"
Several shinobi lunged forward instantly.
Akira jumped backward, ripping the blade free as he landed several meters away.
The transformation began dissolving.
His body reshaped.
The fake wounds vanished.
His appearance returned to the red-eyed man with dark hair.
The insane grin stretched across his face again.
He raised the katana casually onto his shoulder.
"Oops," he said cheerfully.
"Guess the disguise part is over."
The shinobi formed a defensive circle around their injured leader.
The Hoshikage dropped to one knee, blood pouring from the wound but still alive.
His breathing was heavy.
"You… traitor…" he growled.
Star laughed loudly.
"Traitor? No no no!"
He spread his arms theatrically.
"You've got the wrong idea!"
He pointed at himself proudly.
"The name is Star."
He tilted his head, staring at the gathered shinobi like a child observing insects.
"And tonight…"
His grin widened.
"…you're all part of my show."
The Hoshikage struggled to stand, gripping his chest wound.
"You dare attack this village…?"
Star shrugged casually.
"Well technically you all invited me."
The shinobi around the room tightened their grips on their weapons.
Star's red eyes scanned the room again.
Still two missing, Akira thought calmly behind the persona.
Fine.
I'll handle them later.
For now—
He slowly raised the katana.
Twenty elite shinobi surrounded him.
Star's smile grew wider.
"Alright everyone," he said happily.
"Let's begin the massacre."
________________________________________
Author here,
FINALLY I HAVE CROSSED CHAPTER 50.
THANK GOD!
Anyway, I think my fanfic has not reached many readers, the reason I think is the book cover and the title.
Should I change them??? Cause I think it would increase my view count.