Advanced Mission: [The True Shinigami]
Soul Harvest Progress: 468/3000
After briefly reporting the situation to Hizashi Hyūga and Fugaku Uchiha back at the main camp, Hakken lay down in the rest area and glanced at his current advanced mission.
He hadn't been on the battlefield for too long or too short a time, but killing three thousand people so quickly was still no easy feat.
After all, within the Land of Lightning's territory, with teammates nearby and the ever-watchful A–B Combo ready to move at any time, there were plenty of limitations.
Still, Hakken was quite satisfied with his progress.
This mission had no time limit, so there was no need to rush.
His battle with Killer Bee had given him a clear understanding of his own strength.
In this world of ninja, no one could yet defend against his ability to attack the soul itself.
Having already awakened two major traits, his surprise slashes were proving devastatingly effective.
But he was still far from true freedom of action.
Defeating Killer Bee didn't make him arrogant enough to think he was invincible.
Sitting up on the bed, Hakken tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the girl kneeling quietly beside him.
Her name was Yugito Nii—though now, he called her "Kitten."
She was by far the greatest prize Hakken had gained from his campaign in the Land of Lightning.
Compared to constantly sabotaging supply lines and diverting enemy attention, the value of capturing a Two-Tails Jinchūriki was immeasurably higher.
Maybe... keeping a cat wouldn't be such a bad idea.
That thought amused him.
"Watch your eyes, Kitten."
Jumping down from the hard bed, Hakken walked over and lifted Yugito's chin between his fingers.
Delicate features, a perfectly shaped face.
And that faint, natural fragrance unique to young women.
But the look in her eyes was filled with hatred—pure, unyielding hatred—mixed with despair and fear she dared not act upon.
This was a world grounded in harsh reality.
Beneath its surface of valor and ideals often hid cruelty too bitter to bear.
For a female ninja, once captured by the enemy, the fate awaiting her was rarely merciful.
Yugito trembled, glaring at Hakken's face in fury. She didn't dare resist.
Nor could she end her own life.
Because the demon before her had made himself clear.
If she ever did anything that displeased Hakken, he would one day march straight into Kumogakure, personally sever the heads of everyone there, and make her watch every moment of it.
Whether it was suicide or defiance, both would count as disobedience.
The Two-Tails had already been beaten into submission. It had warned Yugito that she must obey him—otherwise, both she and it would die.
A true death.
The Two-Tails was utterly terrified. The tailed beasts shared a telepathic bond, and before the Eight-Tails fled, the Two-Tails had clearly sensed its weakness.
A weakness that came from the very core of its being—one that would take at least three to five years to recover from.
And so, even the Jinchūriki herself dared not defy the young man before her.
He was a demon who could cleave through a Tailed Beast Ball with a single strike.
When he said he would cut off the heads of everyone in Kumogakure, she believed he would do it.
As a kunoichi of Kumogakure, she had faith in the Raikage's might and refused to believe this boy could defeat him.
Yet the strength he had shown at such a young age made that possibility hard to dismiss.
Given time, he would surely achieve it.
And so, all she could do was kneel obediently before him—like a true little kitten—her chin still caught between his fingers.
"I'm sleepy."
Releasing Yugito's chin, the boy lay back as if he were at home in Konoha, resting his head on her slender legs. The comfort he found there reminded him of the ease he'd felt in Anko's arms.
Before long, soft, steady breathing filled the quiet room.
Was he really asleep?
A flicker of killing intent flashed in Yugito's eyes. Pale-blue chakra claws slowly extended, inching toward his face.
But when it came time to strike, her courage failed her.
She stared helplessly at the bedside.
The boy's blade lay close by, faintly glinting with a cold, silvery light. Yet Yugito could clearly tell—the sword had been farther away before.
Was he truly asleep?
Her hand trembled and fell. Tears welled in her eyes, slipping silently down her cheeks.
...
Kumogakure. The village was veiled in clouds and mist, thunder rumbling faintly overhead.
The villagers had long grown used to this.
On any other day, they might have paused to listen to the thunder's power shaking the skies.
But not today.
Killer Bee had returned, gravely wounded.
And Yugito Nii's fate—unknown.
The news hung heavy over the entire village.
Even the negotiations between Kumogakure and Iwagakure had ended abruptly.
Upon hearing the report, Ōnoki had left without a word, taking his men with him.
His attitude needed no explanation.
...
At Kumogakure's hospital, faint arcs of lightning flickered across the Raikage's broad frame.
On the bed lay a weakened Killer Bee, still unconscious.
Two Jinchūriki had been deployed, yet the mission had nearly ended in total disaster.
The news sent shockwaves through Kumogakure.
The Raikage had never imagined it would come to this.
Before him lay his sworn brother—the other half of the legendary A–B Combo.
And then there was Yugito, her fate still uncertain.
The blow was almost unbearable.
His fists clenched tightly; he wanted nothing more than to storm the front lines and bring the fight to Konoha himself.
But he couldn't.
Not now.
The latest reports from the border confirmed that Konoha had sent additional reinforcements. And judging by Ōnoki's attitude upon leaving, if Kumogakure launched a full-scale assault, Iwagakure would never sit idly by.
One reckless move could ignite the entire war again—prolonging the Third Shinobi World War indefinitely.
"Ugh..."
A weak groan broke his thoughts, and the Raikage immediately rushed to the bedside.
"Bee, how are you feeling?"
His expression hardened with concern. He wanted to know what had happened to Yugito, but his brother's condition came first.
The doctors had said Bee's wounds weren't serious. Yet the source of his severe weakness remained a mystery—no visible injuries, no trace of hidden damage.
And still, his chakra felt dangerously faint.
"Brother... I feel so weak," Killer Bee whispered hoarsely.
"Weak?"
The Raikage's gaze drifted toward Bee's waist. "Your kidneys?"
"Not that kind of weak."
Killer Bee removed his sunglasses, revealing deep, dark circles beneath his eyes that spoke louder than words.
"What happened out there?"
The Raikage grabbed Bee's hand, his voice tight.
"His sword... there's something wrong with it," Bee rasped, too drained even for his usual rhymes.
"Who? Shisui Uchiha? He's known for genjutsu and the Body Flicker Technique, isn't he?"
Raikage's brow furrowed.
"No, Brother. From start to finish, Shisui Uchiha wasn't the real threat."
"It was that kid..."
Bee exhaled heavily.
"What kind of kid? What kind of sword? What was his fighting style? Tell me everything."
The Raikage's eyes widened—could their strongest opponent really have been just a child?
"That kid... he only used one move the entire time."
"What move?"
"A straight slash."
...
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