"So...this is where you've been hiding?!"
'Whoosh!'
Just as Hayato was desperately looking for a place for Takeshi to hide, a flash of red light shot past the corner of the wall.
"Not good!"
Recognizing that familiar eerie voice, Hayato turned his head instantly, only to see that the attacker from Kokuyo Junior High Gang had closed in on them and was launching another assault.
The attacker's weapon of choice was a high-speed, spinning yo-yo, equipped with long, thin needles that flew out in a dense barrage, impossible to dodge!
The only way to survive an encounter with it was to constantly find cover.
However...
Seeing the red yo-yo closing in, Hayato—who was dragging the injured Takeshi—realized he was in a tight spot.
Unless he abandoned Takeshi, there was no way to evade this all-encompassing attack.
"Damn it! Do we have no choice but to take the hit?!"
Hayato quickly analyzed the situation, gritting his teeth as he pulled out a handful of explosives from his chest.
"If that's how it's gonna be, let's see who goes down first!"
With that thought, Hayato stepped forward.
He made the decision instantly, the only logical one in this impossible situation: face the attack head-on!
The fuse of the bomb in his hand sizzled, ignited by sheer force of will.
Faced with an attack that couldn't be dodged, Hayato was prepared to charge into the enemy, intent on taking him down in a mutual destruction if it came to that. After all, Ace's training had given him the confidence to believe in his physical abilities.
But just then—
A sudden pull stopped Hayato in his tracks.
"What the—?!"
Something yanked him backward, hard enough to make him stumble.
And the only person who could've been behind him was, of course...
Takeshi—the very person Hayato had been trying to protect!
Ahead, the enemy's yo-yo, bristling with needles, was about to strike.
But just before the needles could reach them, Takeshi leapt in front of Hayato, using his body to shield him.
"You idiot!!!"
Hayato's pupils shrank in shock as Takeshi's smiling face appeared before him, blocking the needles.
'Swish, swish, swish...'
The sickening sound of sharp needles piercing flesh filled Hayato's ears.
A thick, iron-like scent of blood filled the air.
Realizing what had just happened, Hayato's rage boiled over as he grabbed Takeshi by the collar.
"You...you idiot!"
But in return, Takeshi simply gave him a relaxed smile.
"Haha...looks like it's up to you now," Takeshi said, his voice soft as a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Then, Takeshi stumbled and fell against Hayato, his body sagging from the countless needles embedded in his back.
At this point, Takeshi's entire back was covered in hundreds of fine needles, making him look like a human pincushion.
His once pristine Namimori Middle School uniform was now stained with bright red blood.
"You absolute moron!!!"
Blood dripped from Takeshi's back, pooling in Hayato's hand as he supported him.
Hayato hadn't expected Takeshi to step in and shield him from the attack. A flush of anger, shame, and unspoken gratitude flooded his face as he processed the situation.
But just then, the familiar, low voice echoed again:
"Tsk, what a nuisance…"
"That guy was supposed to be dog food."
Chikusa, their attacker, glanced dispassionately at Takeshi's fallen form. His expression was sleepy, as if he couldn't be bothered. He scratched his head under his woolen cap and muttered, "Where's that dog, when you need him?"
"Oh well. Guess I'll finish this up for Mukuro-sama."
As he spoke, Chikusa drew two more yo-yos, gripping them tightly in his hands. A cold light flashed on his square glasses as the air around him thickened with murderous intent, matching the chilly autumn atmosphere.
However, just as Chikusa was about to continue his assault on Hayato, something unexpected happened.
Hayato, still cradling the injured Takeshi, suddenly lifted his head, his eyes burning with resolve.
"Before you make your move, maybe you should worry about saving your own skin first!" Hayato shouted.
"What?"
Chikusa's expression twisted in confusion, but before he could react, he caught the glint of reflected flames in Hayato's eyes.
"Above!"
Chikusa looked up just in time to see several bombs—fuses already burning to the end—raining down from above.
"When the hell...?!"
Panic replaced Chikusa's calm demeanor as he hurriedly flung his yo-yos upward, using their speed and the thin needles to try and deflect the bombs.
But even with his best effort, the resulting explosion was far more than he had anticipated...
Boom! Boom——!!!
A powerful impact surged through Chikusa's body, followed by a searing pain. Black smoke quickly enveloped the entire alley.
Hayato stood facing the thick smoke, his nerves on high alert. He couldn't afford to relax for a second.
The bombs he had intended for a direct confrontation had gone off, but Takeshi's sudden intervention had disrupted his original plan. With no other option, Hayato had quickly adapted, using the moment when Chikusa's attention was focused on Takeshi to discreetly toss several bombs onto a rain gutter on the second floor of the alley. The gentle slope delayed the fall of the bombs, giving him the chance to launch a surprise attack.
Even though Takeshi had interfered, Hayato's sharp instincts allowed him to make the right decision under pressure.
As the smoke continued to linger, Hayato glanced down at the unconscious Takeshi, who was severely injured.
"Damn it!"
"We need to get rid of this pain in the neck first!"
With that, Hayato quickly hoisted Takeshi onto his back and hurried out of the alley.
By this time, the chaos from the fight had cleared the nearby streets, leaving the once-bustling commercial district completely deserted. Not a soul could be seen; the area felt eerily quiet.
"Which way should I go…?"
Standing at the entrance of the alley, Hayato scanned his surroundings, trying to figure out the best direction. He knew that the recent explosion wouldn't be enough to kill a skilled assassin like Chikusa. He needed to find a place to hide Takeshi before he could focus on the fight ahead.
Fortunately, with Takeshi unconscious, he wouldn't be causing any more trouble like before.
A thousand thoughts raced through Hayato's mind. Just as he decided on his next move, a voice called out from across the street, causing his face to twist in surprise.
"Hey!!! Gokudera-kun! Yamamoto-kun! Are you guys alright?!"
Hayato looked up and saw Tsuna hurrying toward them from another alley, waving anxiously.
"Jūdaime!!!"
Hayato's tense expression immediately brightened at the sight of Tsuna, but his relief quickly faded as he remembered Takeshi's critical condition and the dangers still looming. He called out urgently, "Don't come any closer, Jūdaime! It's dangerous here!"
But Tsuna, having already noticed the blood covering Takeshi, wasn't about to stop just because of Hayato's warning.
Within moments, Tsuna was by Hayato's side. His eyes fell on the unconscious Takeshi, his face growing pale as he took in the sight of his friend's severe injuries.
Tsuna's voice trembled as he asked, "W-What happened, Gokudera-kun?! How did Yamamoto-kun end up like this?!"
"I'm so sorry, Jūdaime!" Hayato immediately bowed his head in shame, his voice filled with regret. "It's my fault! I couldn't protect him!"
"Huh?"
Tsuna stood stunned for a moment before quickly shaking his head.
"No...no..." he stammered. "This isn't your fault, Gokudera-kun..."
His eyes trembled as he looked down at Takeshi, bloodied and unconscious. Memories of what Reborn and Ace had told him resurfaced, and a heavy wave of guilt washed over him.
But this wasn't the time for self-blame. Right now, they needed to tend to Takeshi's injuries.
"Jūdaime!" Hayato suddenly spoke up.
He gently adjusted Takeshi on his shoulders, then turned to Tsuna with a determined look.
"Jūdaime, can you take care of him for me?! I need to deal with the enemy behind us."
Just as Hayato finished speaking, an all-too-familiar figure stumbled out of the alley behind him.
Chikusa appeared, battered and bruised. His dark green school uniform was in tatters, his skin burned, and his glasses cracked. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, but despite the injuries, he still moved with purpose.
"I found you!" Chikusa yelled, his voice rough as he staggered forward, clearly in pain from Hayato's bomb trap, but not weakened enough to stop fighting.
Chikusa's eyes flicked to the new figure standing with Hayato—Tsuna.
"Huh?"
For a brief moment, Chikusa looked surprised, then realization dawned on him. His gaze hardened as he took another step forward, now targeting both of them.
As he walked forward, his voice darkened:
"Vongola's Jūdaime!"
"I never imagined you'd show up here…"
"Who… who are you!?" Tsuna, though trembling at the sight of the bloodied Chikusa, felt as though he was being watched by a cold, venomous snake. Fear gripped him.
"Me?"
At Tsuna's question, Chikusa's lips twisted into a smile, though his eyes burned with boundless rage.
He stopped just a short distance from Tsuna and the others, slowly lifted his head, and answered:
"I'm just someone who wants to get rid of you mafia scum!"
In an instant, Chikusa hurled his weapon — a yo-yo bristling with needles — directly at Tsuna.
"Jūdaime, watch out!"
'Bang!'
A deafening explosion rang out in the alley. The blast wave diverted the incoming needles, forcing them to scatter and lodge into the alley's walls.
Hayato, clutching several sticks of dynamite in his hands, had handed Takeshi over to Tsuna. He then stepped forward, his eyes aflame with anger.
"There's no way I'm letting you hurt Jūdaime!" Hayato shouted fiercely.
"Gokudera-kun…"
A look of concern flashed across Tsuna's face. But when he looked at the menacing figure in front of them, he was paralyzed by his own fear. His timid nature made it impossible for him to even consider fighting.
Fortunately, Hayato spoke again:
"Jūdaime, take Takeshi and get out of here! Leave this guy to me!"
Tsuna hesitated briefly, realizing that staying would only make him a liability. With a firm nod, he agreed.
"Gokudera-kun, I'm counting on you!!!"
Without wasting another second, Tsuna hoisted the injured Takeshi onto his back and began making his way toward the exit of the commercial district.
Though Tsuna was deeply worried about leaving Hayato to face the battle alone, he knew there was little he could do right now. At the very least, he had to get Takeshi to safety first, and then find help.
Luckily, Tsuna had been diligently following the training regimen set by Ace over the past few weeks. Carrying Takeshi, who was taller and heavier, wasn't as difficult as it once might have been.
---
Once Tsuna and Takeshi had made it to a safe distance, Hayato let out a small sigh of relief. His gaze sharpened as he turned his full attention to Chikusa.
"Now… it's just the two of us," he said, his voice low and deadly.
"..."
Chikusa sighed softly.
"It seems I'll have to deal with you first if I want to take down Vongola's Jūdaime."
He raised his head, his expression serious. Having already experienced Hayato's fighting abilities, he knew better than to underestimate him this time.
"Do it if you can…"
Hayato responded grimly.
Suddenly, a violent, almost overwhelming aura erupted from Hayato. The air around them grew icy cold, and Chikusa's previously calm demeanor was replaced by a flicker of panic.
"What the…!?"
Chikusa's face twisted in confusion as the chilling atmosphere tightened around him. The next moment, Hayato's deep voice echoed through the alley, carrying with it a deadly intensity.
Hayato raised his head slowly, his expression twisted with frustration, his red-rimmed eyes as if on the verge of tears. He snarled at Chikusa:
"You bastard!"
"You made me look like a fool in front of Jūdaime!!!"
"I… I'll never forgive you!!!!!!"
'Whoosh!'
Without another word, Hayato unleashed a barrage of bombs, scattering them like flower petals above Chikusa's head.
Chikusa, still rattled, forced himself to regain composure.
"I don't know what you're planning, but the same trick won't work on me twice!"
He flung his yo-yos again, aiming to intercept the bombs.
But then Hayato smirked.
"Hah! Who said these were the same moves!?"
'Thud!'
In a flash, Hayato dashed forward, closing the distance between him and Chikusa with terrifying speed.
"What!?"
Chikusa's eyes widened in shock. His yo-yos were already in the air, aimed at the bombs above, leaving him defenseless. In that moment, he had no means to stop Hayato's advance.
He could only watch, helpless, as Hayato surged toward him at breakneck speed.
"Die, you bastard!!!"
With a swift motion, Hayato shoved a lit bomb into Chikusa's collar before retreating just as quickly.
"Damn it!"
Feeling the heat of the bomb against his skin, Chikusa's face went pale. He frantically reached for the explosive, abandoning control of his yo-yos.
But it was too late.
"It's useless. This is a special quick-detonation bomb…"
"You're already finished!" Hayato sneered, his voice dripping with murderous intent.
'Boom!'
The explosion roared through the alley once again, filling the air with thick black smoke.
"Now… it should be over," Hayato muttered.
His legs, weakened from the exertion, gave out, and he sank to the ground. The swirling smoke enveloped him, but his gaze remained fixed in the direction Tsuna had gone, carrying Takeshi to safety.
Hayato let out a sigh.
"Thank goodness…"
"I really wish it had been me Jūdaime carried on his back…"
---
The chaotic battle came to an end with Hayato's explosive counterattack. When the police and local residents returned to the commercial street to investigate the scene, all they found were ruined buildings and debris.
The alley was empty, and curiosity grew among the gathering crowd.
However, unnoticed by everyone, high above on the rooftop of a nearby building, a figure stood. Ace, holding the unconscious and battered Chikusa, watched the scene unfold below with amusement.
"It looks like it's finally over."
Ace glanced at the police, who were investigating the area, and gave a slight nod. But his attention soon returned to the unconscious Chikusa at his side.
"I never imagined this guy could have such an impact on the progress of the exploration mission...
It even activated the Transdimensional System, assigning me a personal mission to save his life."
Ace's grin widened.
"Seems like Tsuna and his friends' destinies are far from over."
His aura radiated an overwhelming intensity, and his eyes shifted toward the direction of Kokuyo Junior High Gang.
"Well then…"
"Let's see just how far Tsuna can go!"