"What… did you just say?"
Benimaru was human—he always had been. So being told he was descended from some powerful Demon King… he simply couldn't wrap his head around it.
"You are the grandson of the Demon King, Zeldris," Chandler reiterated, his head still lowered.
"You are the son of the Demon Princess, Sylvia."
Benimaru's eyes blackened completely, and the entire room filled with a dark, chilling aura.
Chandler felt sweat trickle down his forehead. His mind screamed at him to run, to do something—anything. But he stayed still, his head bowed, gaze locked on the ground beneath him. He didn't dare look up.
When he finally mustered the courage, what he saw frightened him more than anything he had ever witnessed.
There sat Benimaru, his eyes fully blackened, a spiral demon mark glowing above his left eye.
Chandler's gaze lingered on that mark for a moment longer—it was perfected. Not the incomplete spiral pattern most demons bore, but the full demon mark, stretching to cover half his face.
"Chandler."
Benimaru's voice was ice cold, his tone deadly dangerous.
"My mother's name is Ryota Hana. Remember that."
The effect was immediate.
Chandler was blasted backward by an unseen force. His limbs tore apart in a gruesome manner, blood splattering across the walls and floor. His eyes glazed over, the life escaping them as his broken body collapsed to the ground.
Seconds later, Benimaru's eyes returned to their vibrant golden color. They widened in realization at what he had just done.
"Chandler-sensei…" he muttered under his breath.
The silence was deafening. He wanted to scream, to shout for someone to help—but he knew there was nothing he could do. He could feel tears prickling at the corners of his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
He had killed his own sensei. How could he cry over him?
Or at least… that's what he thought.
Chandler's head twisted unnaturally. Limbs that had been brutally destroyed repaired themselves, pulled back toward his body, rejoined by a thick, slimy dark substance.
Chandler's eyes reopened as he stared at Benimaru.
"Young master… even in your confusion, you wield the Demon King's Rule flawlessly. Your bloodline leaves no doubt. You are Zeldris' heir, and nothing—not even my life—can change that."
Benimaru stared back with wide eyes. He was sure his sensei had died. Unless…
"Chandler… you are a demon too, aren't you?"
Chandler's response was swift.
"Yes, my lord. I am a demon. I am the right hand man of the Demon King—the Shadow Butler, Chandler."
Chandler bowed low before Benimaru.
"I was sent here by your grandfather to watch over your development and ensure you grew as strong as possible before meeting him."
Benimaru raised an eyebrow, still struggling to take it all in.
"You said my grandfather is Zeldris, the Demon King?"
Chandler nodded.
"You mentioned something before—the Demon King's Rule. What is that?"
"The Demon King's Rule is an intrinsic ability granted to all those descended from his bloodline," Chandler explained. "It grants the power to control and command all demonic kind, regardless of power or status. If you give a command, they must follow it."
Chandler took a deep breath before continuing.
"Had you ordered me to die, I would not be standing here before you now."
Benimaru's eyes widened—they looked like they would burst out of their sockets any second.
"This ability… is very dangerous," he muttered softly.
Chandler nodded.
"Yes, it is, my lord. Which is why I will train you to control your demonic powers."
Benimaru's eyes lit like a fire catching flame. He was ready—he would become strong, no matter the cost.
"Then let's begin immediately."
Benimaru gripped the sheets of his bedside tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.
"With pleasure, my lord."
Chandler led Benimaru to an isolated forest far outside the village borders.
The Chūnin Exams were in three weeks, and Chandler intended to make Benimaru as prepared as possible.
Day One to five — Chandler constructed a grueling training regimen which Benimaru was to perform four times a day for the rest of the three weeks, aimed at improving his physical conditioning.
Day Five to ten — They began sparring lessons, designed to sharpen Benimaru's reflexes, instincts, and battle tactics.
Day Ten — Chandler tested Benimaru's chakra control by teaching him leaf concentration, which he mastered in under a day.
Day Eleven — Benimaru was handed a balloon and instructed to pop it using nothing but chakra to further refine his control. It took him only a day, which greatly surprised Chandler, but he eventually succeeded.
Day Twelve to nineteen — Benimaru was given chakra paper to test his affinities and, unsurprisingly, he had an affinity for every element. He was then taught the basics of chakra nature shaping.
Lightning: Level 3 — able to shock large trees into dust.
Fire: Level 2 — able to burn boulders with just a touch.
Water: Level 3 — able to absorb the water from grass and leaves without effort.
Wind: Level 4 — able to cut waterfalls, having basically mastered the element.
Earth: Level 2 — barely able to fuse dust into stone.
Day twenty — Benimaru began meditation, instructed by Chandler to relax himself and seek his inner spirit.
Day twenty-one — Chandler called for him to sit once more beneath the cedar tree in the forest clearing.
"You have built your body and sharpened your instincts," Chandler said, tone heavy. "But today we awaken what lies within."
Benimaru crossed his legs and sat in a meditative position—he knew what Chandler meant.
"The demon mark," Benimaru muttered softly.
Chandler nodded, folding his arms behind him.
"Yes. But you must remember, recklessness will tear you apart," he warned. "The demon mark isn't just a power to be drawn—in your case, it is an agreement."
Benimaru nodded slowly, then closed his eyes, breathing deep and steady.
And then it happened.
He was in his mindscape, staring at a version of himself who sat upon a throne, his eyes completely blackened and his yellow hair tipped red.
His other self hummed upon seeing him.
"You seek me again, do you?"
His voice was cold and calculating.
Benimaru grit his teeth.
"I don't need you."
His other self tilted his head slightly.
"We both know that's not true. And if it were… you wouldn't be here now, would you?"
Benimaru glared, but his other self chuckled.
"All I need is for you to say it." He smirked. "You need my power. You're just too cocky to admit it."
Benimaru sighed.
"As much as I hate to admit it… I need your power."
His other self's lips curved into a sly smile.
"That's all I needed to hear."
Faster than Benimaru could process, his other self appeared before him and tapped him on the forehead.
"That should be enough power for you," he said, reappearing on his throne. "If you need more, just ask… though that doesn't mean I'll give it."
Benimaru collapsed on the floor of the mindscape in pain, his body burning like fire.
When he reopened his eyes, he was back in the real world—changed.
His yellow hair had turned pure black, his golden eyes dilated completely into pitch darkness.
A spiral demon mark appeared above his left eye, extending down half his face, radiating dark, ominous energy. But within that abyss, a singular golden pupil glowed—a subtle signal of who remained in control.
Chandler saw the change and smiled.
This boy had come a long way under his tutelage, and he was proud to call him his student.
Benimaru stared at Chandler—his master, the one who had taught him everything he knew.
Their eyes locked. No words were needed.
Chandler chuckled inwardly. His student wanted a fight, to test his newfound power—and he would be damned if he didn't help.
Benimaru smirked and vanished from his spot in a flash of black.
….