As the Shinobi spoke, original Eichi moved closer and closer behind the Shinobi, taking great care not to cause any shifts in the ground that might be noticed.
Just as he was about to resurface to kill him, he heard him speak, "So, I have a proposition for you, a deal of some sort. But as you know, a deal must be dealt with with authenticity in mind, like you might know in the elemental nations, after all, I am a sensor."
As he said that, Eichi resurfaced abruptly, causing the ground to crack and produce a hole from which he emerged.
Slashing at the Kiri-nin's neck, he jumped back and made his clone explode, filling the area with fire and smoke as it made contact with the water clone.
But just as he thought it to be over, he felt a blade at his neck and heard a whisper, "I could kill you right here, right now. But unfortunately, I can't."
The Kiri-nin came closer to Eichi's ear, still whispering, "Do you know why? Because my mission changed, and my leader wanted to make an agreement with you."
Eichi froze, not because of the proposition but because of how weak he felt. He thought he could take the Kiri-nin once he recovered, but he had overlooked an important detail: his opponent had been more weakened than him during their previous encounter. The only thing that saved him was the Uzumaki chakra pool and his enemy's depleted chakra, not his skill or tactics-just pure luck.
The Kiri-nin, seeing his hostage silent, chuckled and noted, "You must be surprised how I got you. But it isn't important now, is it? Now that the real you is here," he suddenly vanished, reappearing in front of Eichi, weapons sheathed.
Feeling shame and disrespect by the display of carelessness by the shinobi, Eichi's anger flared. "The fuck do you want?" he asked harshly. But instead of anger like he hoped, he only received a smirk.
"Finally into business, eh? The deal is, we work together and return home."
"Yeah, shit, might as well give you my head right here right now."
The Shinobi sighed and shrugged. "That's a deal that could benefit both parties. We get to return home," he looked back at Eichi, his smile stretching from ear to ear, "and you could stay here, as I know you would wish to live peacefully, like all Uzumakis love to proclaim."
Eichi snapped, attacking recklessly. "Don't you dare say that name again with your cum-filled mouth of yours!" He swung, kicked, punched, and headbutted, but his attacks only made the enemy laugh maniacally. The Kiri-nin kicked him square in the stomach, sending him crashing into the wall.
Approaching Eichi, the Kiri-nin stopped and looked toward the door before returning his gaze to the kid. "Unfortunately, we don't have much time for fun, so I need to hear your response now. With or without you, we can manage." He grabbed a handful of Eichi's hair, making him look up into his eyes, hatred filling him.
Eichi spat on his face, laughing. "With all the monkeys in one army, you'd think that one evolve to understand we don't make deals with wet panties, fast busters, and the dried pussies."
The Shinobi wiped the spit off his face, his expression blank. "When we figure out how to return home, I will personally pay a visit," he said as the tall, skinny blond man barged in, trying to find them in the smoke. "But unfortunately, as crazy as I might be, I still have a mission to accomplish."
Standing up, he looked back and said, "Until next time."
And with that, he vanished. Eichi's senses confirmed he left the room, making his way toward the facility's exit.
That moment strengthened Eichi's resolve, anger bubbling in his heart, swearing justice for his clan.
The autopsy room was a scene of devastation. Smoke hung thick in the air, carrying the acrid stench of burnt flesh and scorched metal.
The Kiri-nin was gone, leaving behind only a faint puddle of water—a mocking reminder of his escape. Eichi stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving as he struggled to steady his breathing.
His body ached, his chakra reserves were nearly depleted, and his mind was a storm of anger, frustration, and guilt.
The cremated body on the table was a grim testament to the Kiri-nin's mission.
It wasn't just any corpse—it was one of his own, a member of the team Tajima had fought and killed during the battle in District 69. Eichi's fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms.
He had failed to protect his brother, failed to protect the heir, and now he was failing to even protect the remains of his enemies. The Kiri-nin had come to erase all traces of his fallen comrade, ensuring no secrets would be extracted from the body.
It was a brutal reminder of the shinobi world's ruthlessness, a world Eichi had been thrust back into despite his best efforts to escape it.
But there was no time to dwell on his failures. The sound of approaching footsteps snapped him back to reality.
He turned just as the door burst open, revealing the towering figure of All Might, his blond hair disheveled and his sharp eyes scanning the room with a mix of concern and urgency.
The destruction was evident: scorch marks marred the walls, the floor was littered with debris, and the air was thick with the aftermath of battle.
"Where is he?" All Might demanded, his voice sharp and urgent, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Eichi didn't answer immediately. His gaze flickered to the unconscious staff member slumped on the floor, then to the ashes on the autopsy table.
After all, it was standard practice among shinobi to cremate their fallen. A corpse was a treasure trove of information: mission details, bloodline secrets, even memories that could be extracted by a skilled enough ninja.
The Kiri-nin had come to ensure that no such secrets would fall into enemy hands. Eichi understood the necessity, but it didn't make the sight any easier to bear.