Chapter 59 - A Desperate Plan
I gently released Sēramu from our embrace, a plan already forming in my mind. "We need to act quickly," I began, my voice steady despite the urgency. "Our first priority is to protect the citizens. If we can't save everyone, we'll save as many as we can."
Sēramu nodded, her resolve strengthening as she pushed through the lingering fear. "What do you need me to do?" she asked, her voice firmer now.
"I'm going to find a secure place for you to hide," I explained. "It has to be somewhere they won't suspect. Once you're safe, I'll start gathering the people, especially those most at risk."
She hesitated for a moment, then agreed. "And what about Akazura?"
"I'll observe him first," I said. "We need to know his movements, figure out what he's planning next. If we can anticipate his actions, we might be able to counter them before he even realizes we're onto him."
After we agreed on the plan, I quickly scouted the palace grounds, eventually finding a hidden chamber far beneath the main floors—a perfect spot for Sēramu to remain undetected. Once she was secure, I slipped back into the shadows, moving with the silent precision of a trained ninja as I began to track Akazura.
The enforcer moved through the palace with an air of confidence, unaware that he was being watched. I studied him closely, noting every detail, every subtle shift in his demeanor. It became clear that he was preparing for something big, and I knew we had little time to act.
With that knowledge in hand, I turned my attention to Sēramu's daughter, Sara. My heart ached at the thought of what she had witnessed. When I finally reached the room where she was, I found her huddled beside the lifeless form of her mother's clone, her small body trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably.
The sight was almost too much to bear.
Slowly, I approached her, my steps careful and soft. "Sara…" I called out gently.
She looked up, her tear-streaked face filled with confusion and fear. "Who's there? Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I knelt beside her, trying to offer some comfort. "It's alright, Sara. I'm here to help you," I said softly. "I know this is frightening, but we need to stay calm. I promise I'll protect you."
Sara's eyes were wide with confusion and fear. "What happened? Why is she…?"
"It wasn't your real mother," I explained gently. "But we're going to make sure she's safe, and we'll keep you protected. I need you to trust me."
She clung to me, her tiny fists gripping my clothes as if I were her last tether to safety. "Promise?"
"I promise," I said firmly. "I'll keep you both safe. No matter what."
With Sara still in my arms, I began to formulate the next steps of our plan. The night was dark and full of danger, but I was ready to face it head-on.
Sara was still a child, a very innocent one at that and she was not exposed to the extreme things and methods of a ninja.
Because in orignal she trusts the one who killed her mother, so it was relatively easy made her trust me in just a promise.
After calming Sara, I realized she needed someone to stay with her—someone who could protect her if anything went wrong. I summoned one of my clones, its presence a comforting echo of my own. I knelt down, looking into Sara's wide, tear-filled eyes. "This is my friend," I said softly. "He'll stay with you and keep you safe. I need to go check on the others, but I'll be back soon."
Sara hesitated, glancing between me and the clone. Eventually, she nodded, her small hands still gripping the fabric of my clothes as she slowly released me. The clone took her hand gently, offering a reassuring smile.
Leaving Sara with the clone, I swiftly made my way through the palace and out into the city, my heart heavy with dread. The streets were eerily silent, a stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of Rōran. As I moved through the city, the full horror of Anrokuzan's plan became evident.
I opened my eagle eyes and used observation haki to see the situation around the city.
More than half the citizens had been turned into puppets—lifeless shells controlled by dark forces. Their vacant eyes and stiff movements were a grotesque mockery of life. Only the women and children seemed to be spared, the children too young to have the chakra necessary for the transformation.
The city that had once thrived with life was now a twisted reflection of its former self, the very people I had vowed to protect reduced to mindless puppets.