"Damn, how can you two live in a place like this?"
Hyūga Hiyasu walked into a remote little cabin in the Hidden Leaf Village. The place was covered in dust.
"Cough, cough… Shiken, at least try to keep things clean."
Creak—
A hidden door in the floor opened, and dazzling light spilled out.
"Damn, I forgot—this guy Shiken just loves this kind of style. The outside's a wreck, but inside it's pure luxury."
After grumbling, Hyūga Hiyasu stepped into the passageway, and the hidden door above automatically closed.
He sighed in amazement. "Automation, huh? So smart. Doesn't feel like the ninja world at all."
The insects responsible for opening and closing the door: You people who exploit insects will get your karma someday.
Inside the underground luxury room, Inuzuka Ryoha was already waiting, holding a wine glass filled with something that definitely wasn't vintage wine.
He raised it slightly. "Yo, you're late."
"Please, I'm not as free as you guys. I'm a hero of the Hidden Leaf Village—I'm busy, alright?"
"Hero or not, who cares? Beat me first, then we'll talk."
"Fine, bring it on. Like I'm scared of you."
The atmosphere between the two instantly turned serious.
Hyūga Hiyasu downed his drink in one gulp.
"Again."
"Done playing, you two?"
A swarm of insects crawled out of the walls, gathering into the form of Aburame Shiken.
"Seriously? You're using an insect clone just to meet us?"
"Shiken, it was just one battle—don't tell me it scared you that badly."
Inuzuka Ryoha and Hyūga Hiyasu each took a jab at him, clearly displeased.
"Hey, hey, hey. I got stabbed through the heart. The fact that I can come out to see you and even handle things for you is already generous. Don't push your luck."
Aburame Shiken complained helplessly. What kind of person gets stabbed in the heart and still has to go to work?
"Alright, tell us what happened. How did you get ambushed? That Stone ninja with the Sharingan didn't seem special."
Hyūga Hiyasu asked.
"Nothing much. I ran into a big boss. I didn't expect Uchiha Madara to show up on the Grass Country battlefield. He even left a trap in that Stone ninja's Sharingan—a powerful genjutsu. You know me, I haven't made any breakthroughs in mental resistance, so it's normal I couldn't withstand it."
"Fair enough. So what's your condition now?"
"What else? Hanging on by a thread. I'm using special insects to keep my body functioning."
"Insects? What about your heart?"
Hyūga Hiyasu frowned. A heart and insects were worlds apart.
"That troublesome thing? I threw it away long ago. Saves me from getting stabbed again in the future."
Aburame Shiken said it as if it were nothing.
Hyūga Hiyasu shuddered. As expected, Shiken was starting to lose his humanity.
Then he glanced at Inuzuka Ryoha. Well… this guy had abandoned humanity even earlier.
Hideki—no, that guy's a stone man now.
Kamito, come back already. Only the two of us are still normal.
"That doesn't make any sense."
"What's so strange? Sasori can live like that, and Orochimaru has died in all sorts of ways yet is still fine. Compared to that, what am I?"
Aburame Shiken said calmly. When it came to survival, he was determined to be number one. His main competitors were Sasori and Orochimaru—formidable rivals indeed.
"And you? Don't tell me you also got ambushed by a big boss."
Hyūga Hiyasu turned to Inuzuka Ryoha.
"What happened to you?"
"I don't know yet. That's why I asked Shiken to investigate. But something strange happened—my ninja hounds suddenly stopped obeying me."
Inuzuka Ryoha looked puzzled. At the time, it felt like…
"Rabies."
"Exactly—rabies. So, Shiken, you found something?"
"Yeah. A virus from a small country in the ninja world that specifically targets ninja hounds. Ryoha probably fell victim to someone's trick."
"Who?"
"Yeah, who?"
Both Hyūga Hiyasu and Inuzuka Ryoha looked equally confused.
Aburame Shiken slapped his forehead. With brains like yours, I'd never play riddles with you—you'd drive the question setter insane.
"Black Zetsu. Isn't he unfilial to his mother? Always trying to revive her. Isn't he disloyal to friends? He betrays every single one equally."
"Then why target me?"
Inuzuka Ryoha frowned. He had no conflict with Black Zetsu. If that guy wanted to revive his mother, he should go mess with the Senju, Uzumaki, or Uchiha—what did it have to do with the Inuzuka clan?
"Go ask him. How would I know? He didn't target me."
Aburame Shiken shrugged. Maybe you're just annoying and he didn't like your face.
"Oh right, Shiken—we should go find Kamito. He must be in serious danger right now."
Hyūga Hiyasu suddenly remembered.
Uchiha Kamito: Wow, thanks. You finally thought of me—where were you earlier?
At the mention of Uchiha Kamito, Aburame Shiken's expression turned strange.
"He's probably very happy right now."
"???"
"What do you mean?"
...
Grass Country
"Achoo—who's cursing me?"
"Kamito-kun, here, have some."
Uzumaki Kana fed a piece of grilled meat to Uchiha Kamito.
"Oh, Kana-san, how can I accept this? Ah—"
He spoke with his mouth full. "The taste… is really good."
"Waaah waaah!"
Not even a year old, Uzumaki Karin wriggled around in Uchiha Kamito's arms.
"Hey, hey, that tickles—little Karin, don't move around."
"Hehehe."
Karin's laughter rang like silver bells.
A beauty by his side, a baby in his arms—this escalated a bit too quickly.
"Kana-san, come back to the Hidden Leaf Village with me. There are still members of your clan there."
At these words, Uzumaki Kana hesitated. Of course she wanted to escape this place, but…
"Uzumaki Kana, get out here! I got injured while training jutsu—hurry up and heal me!"
A fat, greasy man barged in.
Kana's face filled with fear, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"Single Slash."
A flash of silver—
The blade returned to its sheath.
"Today's a good day—perfect for a funeral."
The fat man collapsed, blood pouring everywhere.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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