-------------------------------- P.O.V Narume --------------------------------
I appeared on the rooftop of the building where Karin lived. I checked the information she had given me.
I hadn't lied: I truly intended to carry out family planning. The people I would target tonight wouldn't, at the very least, be able to have children ever again.
I cast a series of spells: Peaceful Night, Silence Barrier — so my new friend's night would go undisturbed.
Then, I combined Tremor Sense and Aura Perception to locate the major power signatures in the village.
The result didn't surprise me. The strongest aura I sensed was well below that of Kakashi — who, at this point in time, is still just an elite jōnin.
If I went all out, using all of my summons and distributing them efficiently, I could wipe out the village's entire upper echelon.
But that wasn't the goal.
I only wanted to rid this place of pedophiles and opportunists… and retrieve the treasure Karin's mother had brought with her.
Once I felt Karin was asleep and my mana was fully replenished, I teleported to the residential quarter.
I had expected the village leader to be the strongest… but that wasn't the case. Which made things easier for me.
-------------------------------- P.O.V Eris --------------------------------
The night was cool, but not unpleasant. The sky was clear, and the full moon shone brightly.
Another patrol shift. Delta Squad. I don't know why the higher-ups insist on mimicking the structure of the big villages. This place has never faced an assault, and probably never will. Too weak. Stuck between two major nations.
I barely listened to the chatter of my comrades.
We'd worked together for a while.
To my left, Nari. Up ahead, Yuno and Kenta. Behind us, Hiro and Tetsu.
— Seriously, that brat at the infirmary could at least smile once in a while, Hiro muttered behind me.
I stiffened. I knew exactly who he was talking about. Easy for him to say.
I thought about Karin. That girl kind of made me feel sorry for her. Sometimes I imagined being in her shoes. Her future in this village... They would never let a bloodline like hers die out.
Still, I didn't say anything to Hiro. Too volatile. No point in starting a fight over someone unrelated to me.
— You mean Karin? Nari asked from my right.
— Obviously. You see any other girls in this dump? Seriously, she spends her days getting bitten. I bet she enjoys it.
— Right, Hiro? Kenta added with a laugh.
That one's a real piece of work. If Hiro's violent, Kenta's just plain disgusting.
But Hiro didn't answer.
The sound of his footsteps stopped.
— Hiro? Kenta called.
We all turned in unison.
No Hiro. No Tetsu either.
— Hold up! I called after Yuno and Kenta as they rushed toward the last intersection. Of course, they didn't listen.
I followed, dragging Nari with me.
As soon as we turned the corner, what we saw froze us.
Kenta and Yuno stood frozen, staring at a wall.
A crater had formed in it. And in the center, embedded like a grotesque painting… was Hiro.
His body was twisted, shattered. Broken at unnatural angles.
Like he'd been hurled with absurd force. Against solid stone.
Behind me, a soft sound. I turned just in time to see Nari collapse — unconscious.
— Poison? Genjutsu? Yuno asked, tense.
— No, she's just asleep. Her chakra feels normal, I replied after a quick check.
She was fine. Just… sleeping.
Kenta, Yuno, and I stood back-to-back, Nari between us.
— Tetsu? Yuno called out, spotting a figure stumbling toward us.
It was him. He staggered closer… then collapsed.
Same as Nari. Same strange sleep.
I searched his bag, looking for a flare. Nothing.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I turned sharply, startled.
A hand offered me a flare. I took it instinctively.
— Why didn't you launch it already? I asked, raising my eyes.
But it wasn't one of my comrades.
It was a little girl. She looked at me like a cat watches a trapped mouse.
Behind her, I saw Kenta gurgling, choking on his own blood — throat slit — while Yuno lay face down, also asleep.
I realized she was the one behind all this. Probably some ninjutsu or genjutsu. But she looked so young…
While she stood there watching, I heard more footsteps — another patrol squad.
To my shock, they passed right by us, as if they couldn't see a thing.
The girl glanced down at a piece of paper she held. I couldn't read what was on it.
Another jutsu? Doesn't matter.
She was close. Too close. I thrust my kunai toward her throat.
At that distance, she shouldn't have been able to react.
And even if she could, she was young. Physically weak compared to me.
But I watched in disbelief as she grabbed my wrist effortlessly.
She turned her attention fully back to me.
— It's useless, she said.
No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't break free.
— Help— I tried to yell, but I was lifted clean off the ground. The world spun before my back slammed against the dirt.
The grip on my hand vanished.
I jumped to my feet, only to realize I was no longer in the alley.
A giant skeletal hand emerged from the ground, pinning me in place.
I looked back at the girl. She now held my kunai… which instantly rusted and crumbled into dust.
— As expected… the Cursed Knight class won't let me wield such a low-quality weapon, she said.
— What? I managed to whisper.
— Nothing, she replied, stepping closer.
— You and I are going to have a little talk.