Splash
Asano Kaoru stepped into a puddle, the rainwater splashing up and soaking the hem of her pants.
"Damn it," she muttered, her delicate brows furrowing.
Just grab the bottle and go… she thought, pushing open the door and entering the house.
The moment she stepped inside, Kaoru froze. An overwhelming sense of dread and panic, like a demon, seized her heart.
In the middle of the room stood a tall man, his black cloak concealing a muscular frame. A grotesque bird mask covered his face.
—It was Owl!
"You were too careless… Darkness," Owl's voice echoed through the room.
"If it were the usual you, you would have noticed the bent grass in the yard. Then, you would have had more time to escape, maybe even lived a little longer."
"Lord Owl…" Kaoru swallowed hard, resisting the urge to kneel as she usually would.
She couldn't afford to kneel. That posture would only hinder her speed, reducing her chances of escape or resistance. But… how did Owl see through her?
Owl, his bird mask unmoving, stared at his subordinate.
"Indeed, a kite flown for too long will eventually break its string. A few hours ago, when you subtly urged me to leave the Land of Rain, you were too eager. Why did you want me to leave Amegakure? I suspect you wanted to do something behind my back."
"Just because of… that one thing?" Kaoru's voice was strained.
"Anyone under suspicion must be eliminated." The tall man's body began to exude a terrifying aura, like a raptor baring its claws before a hunt.
"Even a single point of suspicion means there are more hidden in the shadows. You should know how the codename 'Owl' came to be."
Root's… Owl, the man infamous within the Anbu for his ruthlessness and brutality.
Better to kill by mistake than to let one go. In Owl's eyes, there was no "punishment," only the "death sentence"!
Kaoru gritted her teeth. Knowing the man before her had made up his mind, she dropped all pretense and said coldly,
"Owl, have you ever considered that Lord Danzo might kill you one day? You've killed so many people. Even within Root, there are many who wish you dead."
"You're wrong, Darkness. I won't die," Owl paused, then continued,
"To Lord Danzo, I am a tool. As long as the task is accomplished, it doesn't matter how many people are killed. Expendables like you can be easily replaced, one batch after another."
"A tool… Humph, Owl, have you forgotten? The First Hokage established the village to prevent ninjas from becoming tools of slaughter!"
"The First Hokage was a great ninja, but unfortunately, the nature of this world hasn't changed because of him." The tall man pointed to himself, then to Kaoru.
"I am Lord Danzo's tool, you are my tool, and Hyuga Yuto is the tool of the Third Hokage and the Hyuga Clan."
"You tricked me into leaving Amegakure, and Hyuga Yuto has been hiding here for a month… These are acts of rebellion against your masters, unforgivable crimes."
"A tool is a tool. It must fulfill its duties and follow its designated path. The moment it deviates, it is no longer a qualified tool."
"Fortunately, I am here. I will eliminate you, this faulty tool, and report everything Hyuga Yuto has done this past month to Lord Danzo… Suspected accumulation of vast wealth, suspected involvement with the Akatsuki organization in Amegakure, suspected development of a powerful new jutsu…"
"You've provided very detailed intelligence this month, Darkness."
Bang!
Before Owl could finish his last sentence, Kaoru slammed her back against the window, shattering it. The moment her feet touched the mud in the yard, her chakra erupted, creating a small crater in the ground.
Escape! Escape! He let his guard down for a moment… The kunoichi's mind roared. Seizing the opportunity, she fled, covering more than ten meters in the blink of an eye.
However, in the next instant, Kaoru's vision blurred, her throat felt scorching hot, and the strength in her limbs drained away like a collapsing dam.
Owl appeared before her. The Root member who reveled in killing held a bloody hand, clutching half a throat.
"I told you, you were too careless and impatient tonight… You couldn't even see through the opening I deliberately left. As expected, as a tool, this is all you're worth."
With a loud thud, Kaoru crashed into the wall, her bones breaking.
"Tool… disposed of." Owl flexed his hands, squatting down and watching Kaoru as she breathed her last.
Huh?
Owl let out a soft sound of surprise. He pried open Kaoru's hand and took out the object inside.
"A seashell… Really, clinging to it even in death…"
…
Takeda Shigen had lost count of how many times he had checked the time.
It was past midnight.
At first, he thought, Typical woman, always late, and waited patiently.
However, as time slipped away, his heart grew increasingly anxious.
Did Kaoru… return to Konoha on her own? Shigen thought, his spirit crushed as he stood under the red street sign.
A new fear consumed him. He considered a more terrifying possibility – Kaoru had encountered an accident and wouldn't be coming back.
Soon, Shigen could no longer control himself. He left the street sign and rushed into the streets, desperately searching for the woman's figure.
He knew where Kaoru's safe house outside the base was. Although he didn't hold much hope, Shigen decided to check there first. Perhaps there would be some clues.
Past midnight, Amegakure was naturally deserted. While there was no official curfew, the perpetually gloomy and oppressive Land of Rain wasn't exactly a place for nightlife. The streets were practically empty.
However, even in this quietness, a few scattered shops remained open, mostly taverns. The Land of Rain's constant rainfall made warm sake a welcome comfort, and these small establishments were popular and never lacked business.
Shigen ran through the cold streets, his experience allowing him to quickly assess people at a glance.
His search didn't last long. He soon stopped, frozen in place.
In a tavern, a tall man sat with his back to him, his face hidden.
The man wore a black cloak and sat lazily, his hand toying with a pearly white seashell.
The seashell was stained with blood.
In that instant, Shigen understood what had happened. Rage, like an erupting volcano, consumed his reason.
Is it a trap? Go back and beg the leader for support? Plan carefully and ambush him somewhere… These thoughts never crossed his mind.
By the time Shigen regained his senses, his body was already moving on its own, charging towards the man with his two "wings" in hand.
Boom!
The sharp chakra weapons slammed into the table.
"A ninja who loses their composure falls for such a simple trick… Hah."
In the rainy night, Root's Owl laughed heartily.