As the silence stretched on, Yukari's voice, still weak but steady, broke through the heavy air. "Why... why are you here? You're Hidden Leaf shinobi..." Her eyes moved from one face to the next, lingering on Kana and her children with a mixture of warmth and confusion.
Kana swallowed hard, her hand still holding Yukari's, and spoke softly. "We're on a mission... to deliver a scroll to the leader of the Grass Village. It's an important task, one we can't neglect."
Yukari nodded slowly, her expression shifting as the weight of their duty became clear. "Then you must finish your mission. You shouldn't linger here on my account."
Kana's brows furrowed with worry, reluctant to leave her friend in such a vulnerable state. "But Yukari—"
Yukari interrupted gently, her tone kind but firm. "Kana-sama, you have a duty to fulfill. I've survived this long; I will be fine for a little longer. Finish your mission... and if possible, meet me again afterward."
Kana's lips trembled, but she nodded slowly, understanding that they had no choice. Duty, after all, was something she could never ignore. "We'll come back. I promise."
Kenshin stood nearby, his expression conflicted. "Aunt Yukari," he said quietly, using the title that felt more intimate and personal, "we'll see you again soon. Please, hang on."
Akane echoed her brother's words, stepping forward to gently touch Yukari's frail hand. "Aunt Yukari... we won't leave you behind. Just wait for us a little longer."
Yukari smiled faintly at them, tears glistening in her weary eyes. "Thank you... all of you," she said, her voice quivering slightly as she tried to hide the sadness in her tone.
"I am... so glad... to have met you. Kana-sama... Kenshin-sama... Akane-sama... Maki-sama... Yuki-sama." Her eyes softened as she addressed each of them, her gaze lingering on Kana and her children with deep affection.
But despite her warm words, there was a heaviness in her voice, a sadness that she couldn't fully conceal. It was the sadness of someone who wasn't certain she would see them again.
The weight of her years, of the isolation and pain, seemed to cling to her fragile frame as she watched them prepare to leave.
Kana hesitated, her heart heavy, but Yukari gave her a reassuring nod. "Go," she whispered. "I'll be here."
With reluctance, they all turned toward the door. As they left, Yukari's voice followed them, soft but filled with quiet resolve. "May your mission be successful."
Outside, as the cold wind hit their faces, Kana cast one last glance back at the house, her heart aching for her friend. She knew they had to press on, but the promise of seeing Yukari again was what kept her moving forward.
As they walked away from Yukari's house, Kenshin lagged behind slightly. The grim expression on his face betrayed his thoughts, and the others noticed but said nothing.
Unseen by the rest, Kenshin created a shadow clone that silently slipped into the earth, using the Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole jutsu to bury itself beneath Yukari's home.
Kenshin's mind was spinning. Yukari's story mirrored the one from his past life—the story of Karin's mother in the anime.
The similarities were too close for him to ignore. He couldn't let the same tragedy unfold again. If anything were to happen to Yukari, he wanted to be ready.
As they neared the village center, where the leader's building loomed in the distance, the shadow clone dissipated suddenly, feeding the horrifying images back to Kenshin. His face went pale, and his fists clenched as his heart raced.
"Yukari's being raped," Kenshin suddenly blurted, his voice ice-cold, his eyes hardening as his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan flared to life. "I'm going to kill them."
Yuki whirled around in shock. "What? Kenshin, wait! We can't just rush in! You'll start a war—"
"Move," Kenshin growled, his fury rising. The thought of anyone laying a hand on Yukari, someone he now considered family, had shattered his usual restraint.
"Kenshin!" Yuki placed herself firmly in his path, her voice firm. "We have to do this by the book. We need to talk to the village leader first. If we don't handle this diplomatically, the Leaf could be dragged into a war."
Kenshin's eyes darkened, and his muscles tensed. "Diplomacy?" he spat, his voice filled with venom. "While she's being assaulted?"
Kana stepped forward, her face pale but resolute. "Ken-chan, we should intervene, but Yuki, we can't waste time on diplomacy right now."
But Kenshin had already reached his breaking point. In an instant, he grabbed Yuki by the throat, slamming her against the nearby wall with such force that the wood splintered.
"Yuki, the only reason I'm not gonna rip your throat out is because I respect you. Don't get in my way." Kenshin growled, his grip tightening but not enough to crush her throat.
His adamantine sealing chains erupted from his body for the first time, writhing like angry tentacles around him, lashing the air with lethal intent.
"Kenshin, stop!" Akane shouted, her eyes wide with panic.
"Ken-chan, don't—" Kana's voice was shaky, but she tried to stay calm.
Yuki struggled, her hands trying to pry Kenshin's grip from her throat. "Kenshin… think… you'll… cause a war… stop... please...," she gasped, her words barely audible. His grip was messing with her chakra flow, preventing her from using her ice release.
Kenshin's fury was beyond reason. He tightened his grip, his eyes burning with rage as his chains flailed uncontrollably. "War? They deserve worse than war. I'll burn this entire village to the ground."
Akane and Maki rushed forward, desperately pleading. "Kenshin, let her go! This isn't you!"
But their words didn't reach him. With a final, violent slam, Kenshin hurled Yuki to the ground, knocking her unconscious.
He wasted no time, using Wind Burst to propel himself high into the air, then another in quick succession to launch himself toward Yukari's house.
Within moments, Kenshin landed at the entrance of Yukari's home. His heart sank when he saw the door slightly ajar.
Through the crack, he could see two men inside, their filthy hands on Yukari's frail body.
"Looks like those Leaf Shinobi did something to you, old hag. But whatever they did, just made you more enjoyable." A voice came from inside, the tone making Kenshin's blood boil.
Outside, a third man stood guard, grinning smugly.
That grin lasted less than a second. Kenshin's adamantine chains shot through the guard like a spear, impaling him instantly. The sickening squelch of flesh echoed in the quiet day as the body crumpled.
Hearing the commotion, the two men inside stumbled out in a panic. One of them met the same fate as the guard—Kenshin's chains ripped through him, killing him before he could even scream.
The last man, now alone, stepped back in terror. "Y-You can't do this! I'm the son of the village leader!"
Kenshin's glare was murderous, his Sharingan glowing with an ominous red hue. "Then he'll lose a son tonight," he snarled, sending his chains toward the man. The attacker barely dodged in time, falling to the ground as he scrambled back in fear.
Realizing his life was in danger, the man turned and ran. Kenshin didn't hesitate—his chains lashed out, pursuing him like vipers as his hair floated unnaturally around his head, his appearance becoming increasingly demonic. His fury was a living, breathing thing, and nothing would stop him now.
As the remaining assailant, the village leader's son, ran desperately toward the village center, his breathing ragged, the rest of the team was gathered around Yuki, trying to wake her.
Maki hovered over her with concern, while Kana stood back, her face pale, lost in her thoughts.
Maki glanced at Kana, her eyes searching. "Kana-san, why didn't you go after Kenshin? I mean, I know he's strong, but... shouldn't you stop him?"
Akane, who had been silent, voiced the same concern, her eyes filled with worry. "Mom... Kenshin might do something he'll regret. We can't just leave him like that."
Kana shook her head slowly, a deep shiver running through her. "I've known Ken-chan all his life. I know his chakra better than my own. But just now... when he attacked Yuki..."
She swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she continued. "His chakra was different. It was dark, cold... terrifying."
She paused, clenching her fists as if trying to steady herself. "I—I couldn't move. I felt... powerless. The moment I sensed that chakra from him, it was like all the strength left my body. I—I can't explain it, but—"
She was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the village leader's son, who stumbled into the clearing, panting and clutching his side.
His face was ashen, his eyes wide with panic. "Help me! Someone help me!" he screamed, his voice hoarse with terror. "The leaf guy—he's gone crazy! He's going to kill everyone! You have to protect me!"
The team turned to face him, confused, when they heard a low, ominous sound—chains slithering through the snow-covered ground.
The air around them seemed to thicken with tension as Kenshin appeared at the edge of the village center, his adamantine sealing chains writhing and flailing around him like deadly snakes.
His Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan glowed with a malevolent light, and his hair floated around his head in a way that made him look almost inhuman, demonic.
Kana gasped, her legs giving out beneath her as she collapsed into the snow, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is that... really my son?"
The village leader's son shrieked again, pointing at Kenshin. "That's him! He's going to kill me! Protect me!"
The Grass shinobi nearby, sensing the danger, immediately moved to defend the village leader's son. They rushed at Kenshin, drawing their weapons, forming hand seals—anything to stop him. But it was useless.
Kenshin didn't hesitate. His chains struck first, lashing out at the closest shinobi, sending them flying as though they weighed nothing.
One after another, they fell before him, his movements swift and unrelenting. With a flick of his wrist, he formed the seals for his Gust Bullet jutsu, and the snow around him swirled in the air as the wind chakra condensed around his arms.
Without breaking stride, Kenshin raised his arm and unleashed a barrage of wind bullets that shot through the air like a machine gun, each one cutting through the air with deadly precision. The Grass shinobi fell like leaves in a storm, their bodies thrown aside like broken dolls.
The snow, once pristine, was now stained with the aftermath of his assault. Kenshin stood in the middle of it all, his chains still flailing, his eyes blazing with rage and madness, his chest heaving with every breath.
As more shinobi rushed to subdue Kenshin, the situation spiraled out of control.
His chains, now thrashing with a malevolent will of their own, flailed wildly, striking not only the shinobi but also nearby civilians who had wandered too close.
Cries of panic filled the air as villagers tried to flee, but the chaos was too great. One of the chains lashed out, crashing into a vendor's stall and sending a mother and her child sprawling to the ground, the sharp edge of the chain barely missing them.
Akane, witnessing the devastation, turned to her mother. "Mom! Take sensei and get out of here!" she shouted, urgency heavy in her voice. "We'll handle Kenshin!"
Kana hesitated, her gaze fixed on her son, now a violent, uncontrollable force. But Yuki still lay unconscious, vulnerable amidst the chaos.
Kana nodded weakly, dragging herself to her feet and pulling Yuki up onto her shoulders. She began to retreat, her mind a whirl of fear and disbelief.
Akane turned to Maki. "We have to stop him," she said, her eyes flashing with determination. "He's going to hurt innocent people if we don't."
Maki, despite her fear, stood tall. "I'm with you," she replied. "But he's not going down easy. I'll have to use the gates."
"Be careful. Don't go past the fifth gate, we don't want to kill him." Akane said, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Together, they charged at Kenshin. Maki, a taijutsu specialist, darted in close, throwing rapid, powerful strikes. Her fists connected with Kenshin's body, but it was like hitting a stone wall. Kenshin effortlessly deflected her attacks, each counterattack from his chains landing with brutal precision.
One of the chains coiled around Maki's leg, yanking her off her feet and slamming her into the snow covered ground. She lay there for a moment, unable to rise, her body wracked with pain but still conscious.
Akane stepped in to cover Maki, her katana flashing as she deflected Kenshin's chains with swift, precise strikes. Her Sharingan spun wildly as she tried to read the chaotic movements of his chains, dodging and weaving through the onslaught.
But even with her skills, she was quickly overwhelmed. One of the chains caught her off-guard, wrapping around her arm with a bone-crushing grip, and another quickly snaked around her leg.
Before Akane could react, she found herself bound by Kenshin's chains, unable to move. Her eyes widened as she saw Kenshin preparing to fire a gust bullet, the wind chakra gathering dangerously in his hand, aimed directly at her.
At that moment, Kenshin's gaze was blank, his body moving on instinct, not even realizing who his target was.
"Kenshin, stop! It's me, Akane!" Akane shouted, her voice desperate, but there was no recognition in his eyes.
Just as Kenshin was about to release the attack, Maki, with a burst of effort, threw herself into him, tackling him from the side. The force loosened the grip of the chains enough for Akane to break free, rolling away from the danger.
Maki stood up, panting heavily, her body trembling from the exertion. She whispered, her voice barely audible, "Sorry, kid. You leave me no choice. I'm going straight to the fifth gate."
With a deep breath, Maki activated 5 of the 8 Inner Gates, her muscles bulging as her body became enveloped in a fierce green aura. The ground beneath her feet cracked as she launched herself at Kenshin with incredible speed.
Her strikes came fast and hard, landing blow after blow on Kenshin's body, each one sending him staggering back. For a moment, it seemed like Maki had the upper hand.
She drove her fist into Kenshin's stomach, sending him flying into the air. She followed, leaping after him with her fists raised, ready to deliver the final blow.
But just as she reached him, Kenshin's eyes narrowed, and with lightning speed, he lashed out with a punch of his own, catching Maki square in the face. The force of the hit was devastating, and Maki's body was sent crashing to the ground, leaving a deep crater in the snow.
She lay there, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her body barely moving.
Akane, her heart pounding, rushed to her side. "Maki!" she shouted, kneeling beside her.
Maki coughed, struggling to speak, her voice weak but determined. "Don't... don't let him... hurt anyone else... I'll live..., stop... him."
Akane, determined to stop her brother, activated her left eye's Mangekyo Sharingan ability. An invisible force, like an ethereal hand, reached out and gripped Kenshin's body, binding him in place.
The strain was immediate—Kenshin in his berserker state was far stronger than before. His chakra roared, dark and vicious, as he struggled against the telekinetic force holding him.
Akane clenched her teeth, focusing harder, trying to keep him restrained. "Kenshin, please... snap out of it," she whispered, her voice trembling as she poured more of her energy into maintaining the hold. But Kenshin's strength in this state was monstrous.
With each second, he pushed harder against her invisible grip, the strain on her Mangekyo Sharingan becoming unbearable. Her left eye burned, the pain excruciating, but she didn't let go.
"Come on... please, Kenshin!" Akane's voice cracked as blood began to seep from the corners of her eye. The strain was too much, and with one final, tremendous surge of power, Kenshin broke free.
Akane gasped, clutching her face as her left eye bled, both internally and externally. The pain was blinding. She collapsed to her knees, her hands covering her injured eye, struggling to stay conscious.
Kenshin, with his eternal Mangekyo Sharingan glowing ominously, walked towards Akane, his katana now unsheathed and gleaming in his hand. His steps were slow, deliberate.
The chains around him flailed like living creatures, hungry for violence. His mind was lost to the curse of hatred, and only darkness remained.
Inside his mind, the other Kenshin frantically tried to reach the surface, his inner consciousness. "No! I can't let this happen!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the depths of their shared mindscape.
The curse of hatred, which he had held back all of Kenshin's life, had begun to seep through, and now it had taken hold completely. The other Kenshin fought desperately, forcing his way into the conscious part of their mind.
When he finally reached the core, he found the soul of the reincarnated Kenshin sitting, unaware, in a chair, his eyes glazed over as if he were trapped in a dream. The other Kenshin ran to him, shaking him violently.
"Wake up! You need to wake up! You're gonna kill her!" he yelled, panic in his voice.
Outside, Kenshin stood over the injured Akane, his katana raised above her. His eyes, still blank and filled with rage, prepared to bring the blade down on the one person he loved most.
But something shifted. His gaze fell upon Akane's blood, dripping from her face onto the cold, snow-covered ground.
For a brief moment, the berserker state faltered. His grip on the katana loosened as his mind was flooded with images of Akane—his sister, his love, lying there, broken and bleeding.
"What… what have I done?" Kenshin whispered, his voice hoarse, filled with horror and disbelief. His knees buckled, and he collapsed, dropping his sword beside him.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind. "That's it, you idiot! I'm pulling your plug."
In an instant, Kenshin's consciousness was ripped away. He found himself falling into a dark void, surrounded by nothingness.
As he descended, he saw another version of himself—another Kenshin—walking toward a distant light. Unlike the red-haired Kenshin, this one had jet-black hair, and his presence felt different, colder, but with a strange sense of control.
"Who… who are you?" Kenshin asked, his voice trembling as he fell deeper into the darkness.
The other Kenshin didn't answer immediately. He only turned slightly, his black hair swaying as he walked into the light.
The reincarnated Kenshin's world grew darker, the last echoes of his guilt and pain vanishing as the other Kenshin took control.
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.