Boom!
Natsume Yō was blown back hard, slamming into a thick tree trunk.
"Ha—ha ha!"
The Rain-nin burst into laughter at the sight, but the sound died in his throat almost immediately.
The body that had crashed into the tree split apart with a crack—nothing but a shattered wooden log. Substitution. His pupils shrank. Instinct took over—he spun, sword flashing behind him.
But there was no one there.
"No need to look. I'm right here."
A cold edge pressed against his neck. Yō stood at his back, one hand casually holding an apple, the other pressing a kunai to his throat.
"Now, tell me, Mister Rain-nin," Yō said in an icy tone, feigning ruthlessness. "Should I kill you… or should I kill you?"
"Damn it!" The Rain-nin cursed under his breath, trembling with rage—but powerless. His life was balanced on the boy's whim.
Then Yō sighed. "Forget it. Killing someone for no reason isn't good practice."
He drew the kunai away. But in the very same instant, his expression shifted. His foot snapped out, booting the Rain-nin through the air.
Shk! Shk!
Two kunai flew from the shadows, spearing clean through the Rain-nin's chest before he even hit the ground.
"So even your own village comrades are expendable? Typical Amegakure… ruthless to the core."
Two more Rain-nin emerged, indifferent to the corpse of their ally. Their eyes held no regret—only the same detached coldness…and a killing intent just as sharp as Yō's.
"If you're here for my scroll too, I'll give you some advice—don't bother. Because—"
His words cut off mid-sentence. His figure vanished.
An instant later, he was behind them. Two kunai pierced through two hearts.
"With strength like yours, reaching for my scroll is just overreaching."
He brushed his hands off with a clap, tossing aside the apple core. It landed neatly atop one of the corpses. Yō muttered to himself, "Tch… why can't I hold back this killing urge?"
His gaze darkened. "If I don't rein this in, sooner or later… I really won't recognize myself anymore."
Even he couldn't explain why he had toyed with that Rain-nin earlier. It was like a cat toying with a mouse. Wrong, dangerous—but the thrill of it had been intoxicating.
"U-um… excuse me. Could I… team up with you?"
A timid girl's voice came from behind.
Yō turned. A girl about his age stood there, gaze uncertain but steady. She was disheveled, clearly worn from the exam, but her eyes—clear as spring water—seemed to wash something dark out of him.
Even the restless killing intent inside him seemed to fade, quieted by her look.
"Why me? Aren't you afraid I'll just knock you out and steal your scroll?" Yō asked with a curious smile.
"I believe you won't."
Her answer left him stunned. Believe? Just like that?
Yō almost laughed. "That's… your reason? That's way too naïve."