The night was as dark as ink, saturating the mountains on the border of the Land of Grass.
Inside a secluded cave, a campfire danced, casting flickering light upon Zilin's pale and terrified face.
She carefully handed the heated dry rations and boiled water Saiki had given her to the youth, who was resting with his eyes closed.
"L... Lord, please have some."
Her voice trembled slightly, her delicate features marred by an inescapable dread.
Saiki opened his eyes and glanced at her.
Seeing her pitiful state, he said nothing, took the food, and began to eat in silence.
Zilin looked to be about the same age as Kushina, possessing both beauty and a fine figure.
However, her long, straight black hair and gentle demeanor were the polar opposite of Kushina's fiery red temperament.
She wasn't suited to be a ninja.
Many became shinobi not out of choice, but because a spark of medical talent and the pressure of the era forced them to find a way to eat.
Saiki had no intention of killing her, but this "mercy" only fueled Zilin's anxiety.
In the world of shinobi, there was no rule against killing women; in fact, the fate of captured female ninjas was usually horrific.
Saiki hadn't beaten her, cursed her, or used torture to break her.
Instead, he let her eat and drink well, which led her thoughts down a predictable path.
She didn't dare run, nor did she have the strength to resist.
She only wanted to serve the boy who held her life in his hands to the best of her ability, praying he wouldn't kill or torment her.
After Saiki finished eating, she proactively laid out his bedding.
She then sat obediently by the fire, hugging her knees and keeping a wary eye on the darkness outside.
With his godly perception, Saiki never needed a sentry.
Noticing the heavy rain and the chill outside, he said kindly, "You should sleep too."
Just as he was about to pull out another set of blankets, Zilin acted as if she had been prepared for hours.
She stood up abruptly. Though her body was shivering, she stripped off her clothes without a moment's hesitation.
Soon, a voluptuous and moving body, pale and trembling with a fragile beauty that set a man's blood on fire, stood exposed before Saiki.
Having slaughtered so many people over the last few days, Saiki's emotions were volatile, and he had been suppressed for several days.
As Zilin lay obediently on his mattress, Saiki faced the choice between being a beast or being less than a beast.
He chose the former.
A wolf that has tasted blood cannot remain indifferent when a succulent piece of meat presents itself.
Inside the cave, amidst the crackling of the fire and heavy breathing, a low groan sounded.
Silence followed for a brief moment, but was soon replaced by the sounds of wet whimpers and the rhythmic slapping of flesh on flesh.
No more words were spoken.
Outside, the storm raged; inside, the floodgates opened, and the frost of the world was forgotten.
The next morning, the first light of dawn broke.
Saiki opened his eyes, his state returned to its peak.
Seeing Zilin in his arms, her cheeks still flushed, he couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. I was too impulsive.
Zilin woke shortly after.
After a quick meal, he looked at the bashful girl and asked, "How much do you know about the Stone's rear bases and supply lines?"
Perhaps because she had been thoroughly broken and conquered the night before, Zilin was still terrified of him.
Jolted into alertness, she answered quickly: "I... I know some things. I was in the reconnaissance unit. I was responsible for mapping certain sectors and relaying intel."
"Good," Saiki said mildly. "Lead the way. Let's take a tour of their backyard."
His goal was clear.
The Konoha front was under immense pressure.
If he could use Zilin's knowledge to strike the Stone's rear, destroy key nodes, and sow chaos, he could buy the Leaf much-needed breathing room.
This was for Tsunade and the village, even if his own sense of belonging was thin.
Zilin didn't dare disobey. She nodded, her heart full of bitterness.
What am I doing? Leading the enemy to attack my own village?
But if she didn't lead the way, she would die instantly. Besides, they had already reached the point of no return.
They left the cave, and under Zilin's guidance, they moved stealthily toward the heart of the Iwagakure-controlled territory.
Saiki was incredibly fast, but he deliberately slowed down for Zilin.
His Divine Sense acted like an invisible radar, allowing them to bypass Stone patrols with ease.
However, as they crossed a damp woodland perpetually shrouded in mist, Saiki stopped dead.
His gaze turned as sharp as a blade.
He changed direction instantly.
Soon, through the curtain of rain, a tall figure appeared in a clearing.
He wore a breathing mask and the distinctive garb of the Hidden Rain.
A massive chain-sickle was coiled at his waist.
The man radiated the heavy, suffocating pressure of a veteran ruler who had survived a thousand slaughters.
He carried the scent of deadly toxins and impending death.
Hanzo of the Salamander!
Saiki was delighted. He hadn't expected to run into the leader of the Rain Village here and now.
The reason the Rain joined the Stone against the Leaf was a mystery, but Hanzo and his shinobi were a massive, lethal threat to Konoha's survival.
"Lord Hanzo?" Zilin gasped, her cowardice getting the better of her.
Hanzo's legend was known across the globe; to her, he was far more terrifying than Saiki.
Saiki's mind raced.
Is Hanzo here by coincidence, or is there deep military coordination with the Stone?
Regardless, this was a golden opportunity.
He would not allow this "Demigod" to continue threatening the Leaf.
Almost instantly, Saiki made his decision.
He would execute Hanzo of the Salamander right here.
Hanzo had stood at the peak of the Shinobi world for decades.
His mastery of poisons and Water Style was legendary.
But Saiki had absolute confidence in his own strength and his Auspicious Cloud's defense.
Most importantly, he couldn't let this threat walk away.
The moment Saiki's killing intent flickered, Hanzo sensed it.
Through his mask, his razor-sharp eyes pierced the rain, locking onto Saiki and the shivering Zilin.
"A brat from the Leaf... and a traitor from the Stone?" Hanzo's voice was low and oppressive, cold like the rain. "It seems I didn't wait in vain."
He had been invited by Onoki to discuss the next phase of the joint offensive.
He hadn't expected to sense a powerful, unfamiliar chakra signature charging straight for him.
The air solidified under the weight of their combined presence.
The sound of raindrops hitting the ground became deafeningly clear.
Zilin felt like she was suffocating.
Saiki took a step forward, shielding Zilin.
He met Hanzo's gaze with calm indifference.
"Hanzo of the Salamander..." Saiki's voice cut through the rain. "Since I met you here, you might as well stay forever. You're far too much of a nuisance for the Leaf."
A flash of surprise crossed Hanzo's eyes, replaced immediately by freezing killing intent.
"Arrogant brat! Do you think you can challenge the name of a 'Demigod'?"
Though he had heard rumors from Onoki, seeing such a young opponent show such blatant defiance filled him with rage.
"We'll see who's arrogant soon enough."
Saiki didn't waste another breath. His right hand settled on the hilt of his sword.
Sage Chakra began to cycle through his meridians.
Above his head, the white Auspicious Cloud manifested, casting a shimmering curtain of light around him.
Hanzo didn't hesitate. A veteran of a hundred wars, he knew to never underestimate a predator.
Faced with the boy Onoki had warned him about, he went straight for a killing blow.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A massive volume of water condensed instantly into a dragon more solid and terrifying than any standard jutsu.
It roared toward Saiki, plowing a deep trench into the earth.
Saiki didn't move. He didn't even draw his blade.
The dragon slammed into the shimmering curtain of the Auspicious Cloud with a deafening boom.
Water sprayed everywhere, and mist filled the clearing.
But the thin veil of light remained immovable. It was an absolute wall. Not a single drop of water touched Saiki.
"What?!" Hanzo's pupils contracted.
He knew the power of his own technique. To have it neutralized so effortlessly...
"Is that all?" Saiki's voice drifted through the mist. "Then it's my turn."
Before the sentence finished, Saiki vanished.
An ice-cold blade of light tore through the rain, aiming straight for Hanzo's throat.