Chapter 19: The Final Hunt
Kai sat in the dimly lit war room of the fort, his sharp eyes scanning the map spread out on the table. The room was quiet, save for the occasional crackle of the fire in the hearth.
Takeshi stood nearby, a stack of scrolls and ledgers in his hands, his expression focused as he prepared to brief Kai on his next target.
"This one's a bit different," Takeshi said, unrolling a scroll and placing it on the table. "The client is a noble from the Land of Water. The target is an elite jonin from the Hidden Mist Village—a man named Juzo Biwa."
Kai's eyes narrowed at the name. Juzo Biwa. The memory hit him like a thunderclap.
The man who had led the massacre of the village. The man who had killed Rumiko.
Kai's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. "Juzo," he muttered, his voice low and filled with venom.
Takeshi glanced at Kai, sensing the shift in his demeanor. "You know him?"
Kai didn't respond immediately, his mind racing. The memory of Juzo's calm, amused smile as he let Kai escape all those years ago flashed through his mind.
The man had seen him as nothing more than a curiosity, a potential tool for the Bloody Mist Academy.
"I know him," Kai said finally, his voice cold and steady. "He's the reason I'm here."
Takeshi nodded, though his nervousness was evident. "The client wants him eliminated, and they're willing to pay handsomely for it. But… he's an elite jonin. He is one of the 7 swordsman of the mist, and he's known for his mastery of water-style jutsu. This won't be an easy fight."
Kai's lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. I've been waiting for this."
Takeshi hesitated, then spoke again. "This will be your last job for a while, right? You said you wanted to focus on the Land of Fire."
Kai nodded. "After this, I'm shifting my focus to the Land of Fire. The nobles there are ripe for the taking, and I'll need time to prepare. But first… Juzo dies."
—
The next morning, Kai set out for the Land of Water, his mind focused on the task at hand.
The journey was long, but Kai moved with purpose, his enhanced speed and stamina allowing him to cover vast distances with ease.
As he traveled, the memory of Juzo's face haunted him. The man's calm demeanor, his amused smile, the way he had let Kai escape as if he were nothing more than a curious insect.
Kai's anger simmered beneath the surface, fueling his determination.
Finally, after several days of travel, Kai arrived at the outskirts of the Hidden Mist Village. He crouched on a rocky outcrop, his sharp eyes scanning the mist-shrouded landscape below.
The village was a labyrinth of canals and bridges, its streets bustling with activity.
Kai's target was somewhere in that village, and he intended to find him.
—
Kai moved through the village like a shadow, his presence unnoticed as he gathered information. He posed as a wandering mercenary, his hood pulled low to conceal his face.
The villagers were wary of outsiders, but a few well-placed coins loosened their tongues.
"Juzo Biwa?" one of the villagers said, his voice hushed. "Yeah, I've seen him. He's been staying at the inn near the central canal. But you'd best be careful—he's not the kind of man you want to cross."
Kai nodded, his expression unreadable. "Thanks for the warning."
He made his way to the inn, his senses on high alert. The building was modest, its walls weathered by the constant mist.
Kai slipped inside, his movements silent and deliberate.
The innkeeper, a thin man with a nervous demeanor, eyed Kai warily. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Juzo Biwa," Kai said, his voice low and steady.
The innkeeper hesitated, then nodded toward a door at the end of the hall. "He's in room seven. But I'd be careful if I were you. He's not the friendly type."
Kai didn't respond, his eyes already fixed on the door. He moved down the hall, his kunai gripped tightly in his hand.
—
Kai kicked open the door to room seven, his body crackling with lightning chakra. The man inside—Juzo—spun around, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Who the hell are you?" Juzo demanded, his voice tense.
Kai didn't respond, his cold gaze locking onto the man. And then it hit him—the memory he had been struggling to recall.
Juzo. The man who had led the massacre of the village. The man who had killed Rumiko.
Kai's lips curled into a faint smile. "You don't remember me, do you?"
Juzo's eyes narrowed as he studied Kai's face. And then, realization dawned. "You… you're that kid. The one from the village."
Kai's smile widened. "That's right. And now, it's time for you to pay for what you did."
Juzo's expression hardened, and he formed a series of hand seals. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive dragon made of water erupted from the nearby basin, its roar echoing through the room as it surged toward Kai.
Kai activated the Lightning Style: Thunderclap Arrow, firing a concentrated bolt of lightning at the water dragon.
The two techniques collided, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the room.
Juzo didn't waste any time. He formed another set of hand seals, his movements precise and calculated. "Water Style: Water Whip Jutsu!"
A whip of water lashed out, striking Kai across the chest and sending him stumbling back.
But Kai's enhanced constitution dulled the worst of the blow, and he retaliated with a swift kick that sent Juzo crashing into the wall.
Juzo groaned, his body aching from the impact. He struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with fear and desperation.
"You think you can kill me?" Juzo spat, his voice trembling. "I'm an elite jonin of the Hidden Mist. You're just a kid."
Kai's eyes gleamed with a dangerous light. "I'm not just a kid. I'm the Red Demon."
He activated the Yin Style: Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes, trapping Juzo in an illusion where invisible stakes pinned him to the ground.
Juzo screamed, thrashing against the imaginary bonds, but he was completely immobilized.
Kai stepped forward, his kunai gleaming in the dim light. "This is for Rumiko."
With a swift motion, he plunged the kunai into Juzo's chest, ending the man's life.
—
Kai stood over Juzo's body, his breathing steady but his mind racing.
The man who had haunted his memories for so long was finally dead. But the victory felt hollow.
Rumiko was still gone. The village was still destroyed. And no amount of revenge could bring them back.
Kai turned and left the room, his mind already focused on the future.
The Land of Fire awaited, and with it, new opportunities, new challenges, and new prey.