章節 125: Deep Pain
Tch. Asuma bit down, tasting the metallic tang of blood as it trickled from his lips, joining the dried stains that marred his mouth. His eyes burned with intensity, his body breaking free from the constraints of the surrounding trees as they faded away, his steps resolute as he surged forward.
A chakra-infused blade of shimmering blue extended from the trench knife clenched tightly in his hand. With precision, he drove it into the heart of the pollen-formed Kurenai standing before him. Asuma's figure froze in place as he locked eyes with her familiar face, watching as the illusion dissipated and the pollen drifted away.
His gaze shifted towards another swiftly materializing pollen figure of Kurenai beside the masked ninja. A low growl escaped his lips. "No matter how many replicas you create, a counterfeit remains just that – fake is fake. Even if it were real, I've long learned how to counter her genjutsu."
As the pollen-formed Kurenai used hand seals, Asuma furrowed his brow, observing a multitude of pink petals materializing in his line of sight, hurtling towards him like a relentless wave, intent on blanketing him.
With a deft twirl of his trench knife, Asuma decisively drove it into his own flesh, using the searing pain to shatter the genjutsu before it ensnared him completely. As the petals dissolved into nothingness, Asuma's figure flickered and reappeared before the masked female ninja, launching a swift attack.
The masked ninja retreated, and once again, the pollen-formed Kurenai impeded Asuma's path, blocking his advance with a kunai formed of pollen. Undeterred, Asuma's other trench knife thrust forward from an unexpected angle, bypassing her feeble defense and piercing her heart once more.
As he witnessed the familiar figure dissipating once again, a twinge of anguish tugged at Asuma's heart. Yet, he had grown accustomed to this pain after facing the same illusion countless times. After all, it possessed the same appearance, but it was not truly her.
However, when he saw the figure coalescing once more, Asuma couldn't suppress the surge of fury coursing through his veins. It wasn't anger directed at Shino for deceiving him; that was but a slender hope he clung to.
What truly enraged him was the relentless manipulation of his emotions by his adversary, exploiting the image of the one he loved to torment him in battle.
"That's enough. Let's end this," Asuma declared, his voice resolute as he propelled himself backward, leaping into the air. Puffing up his mouth, he expelled a storm of ash in a dramatic display. "Fire Release: Ash Burning Pile!"
Clink. The sound of a match being ignited resonated through the forest as a figure emerged from the hazy veil of ash. It was the masked female ninja, but a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes when she realized that the ash had not erupted into flames as she anticipated!
"As expected, you're familiar with my techniques. But this can also be utilized..." Asuma's voice echoed from behind her, his form looming ominously as his trench knife sliced toward her neck.
With a nimble twist, the female ninja narrowly evaded the fatal strike, yet the knife managed to snag her mask, dislodging it and revealing an unfamiliar, plain countenance to Asuma.
However, he paid little heed to the face, deeming it a mere disguise, as his second chakra-infused knife followed up with unrelenting ferocity.
Clang! The clash of metal reverberated through the forest as the female ninja was forcefully propelled backward into the dissipating ash.
Clink. A spark ignited the air - Boom! This time, the ash exploded, engulfing the surrounding area in a fiery blast!
From the aftermath of the explosion, a battered figure tumbled out, her once pristine Akatsuki garb now in tatters, and her trembling hands marred by faint burns.
Yet, before she could catch her breath, a trench knife pierced through her heart from behind, causing her eyes to widen ever so slightly as she expelled a mouthful of blood.
"This is the end," Asuma declared with a grim countenance, withdrawing his chakra knife and watching as the female ninja dropped to her knees before collapsing limply to the ground, akin to a ragdoll.
Taking labored gasps of air to regain his composure, Asuma cast his gaze upon the fading breath of the fallen ninja, her body gradually transforming into a lifeless shell. Confirming her demise, he fell silent, retrieving a cigarette and lighting it, drawing in a long drag to ease the weight of the encounter.
With a heavy heart, Asuma turned around, preparing to depart and rejoin his comrades.
However, the distinctive sound of a transformation being dispelled resonated from behind him, and the swirling tendrils of smoke caused his body to tense instinctively. His trench knife slipped back into his grasp, ready for an ambush… but it never arrived.
A relieved sigh escaped Asuma's lips as he slowly turned, his eyes sweeping backward, curiosity piqued by the true appearance of his adversary. "Transformation technique huh…?"
But as his gaze settled upon the familiar figure adorned in red mesh armor, with white bandages delicately wrapped around her body - now marred by a gaping, bloody hole in her heart - Asuma's pupils constricted, and his heart plummeted with searing pain.
The cigarette slipped from his lips, forgotten, as his mind seemed to go blank. His trembling hands reached out as he fell to his knees, the trench knives slipping from his grasp and embedding themselves into the ground.
His voice trembled with desperation, a plea escaping his lips. "No... No, please, no... Kurenai. KURENAI!"
In another corner of the forest, Kakashi knelt on the ground, cradling the female ninja with hauntingly familiar features in his arms.
His Sharingan scanned relentlessly, desperately searching for any sign of deception, but with each passing moment, his heart sank deeper. The figure before him seemed to inch closer and closer to the one etched in his memories. Unable to contain himself, a hesitant call escaped his lips, "Rin?"
Rin's eyes fluttered weakly, struggling to open. Gradually, her eyes opened and her gaze found Kakashi. A gentle smile graced her lips. "It's good to see you again... Kakashi."
Kakashi's hand trembled, his eyes widening in disbelief. "This is... impossible."
Rin's smile grew brighter as she spoke cheerfully, "Kakashi, I never thought I would have the chance to see you like this again... You know, I've always admired your calm and cool demeanor. But it was when I saw tears streaming down your face that I realized... Sorry, Kakashi, for selfishly forcing such a heavy burden on you."
Clutching Rin tightly, Kakashi appeared to be in a state of shock, before shaking his head. "No, Rin, it's not your fault. It's my-"
"No, Kakashi, don't blame yourself. No one blames you. Not me, not Minato-sensei, and not even..." Rin let out a faint giggle before suddenly coughing up a mouthful of blood, causing Kakashi to cry out in shock, "RIN!"
Despite the trails of blood staining her chin, Rin maintained her smile. "I'm fine, Kakashi. There's no need to worry. I'm just returning to where I belong... though it does feel a bit lonely there..."
Kakashi's grip tightened, his hand discreetly reaching for a kunai, his voice calm as he whispered, "Is it truly lonely? Do you need a companion?"
Rin gazed at Kakashi in silence for a moment, then shook her head, her weakened voice replying, "Kakashi, don't misunderstand... Though I do have some... admiration for you, you know me... There's no need for too many explanations, considering all we've been through."
His hand paused, the kunai held in his grasp as Kakashi stared at Rin in silence, a flicker of doubt in his eyes.
Rin met his gaze, her eyes locked onto his Sharingan. "Obito, that guy... His parting gift to you carries a heavy weight..."
Kakashi raised his hand, touching his Sharingan, his voice cold. "What do you mean?"
Rin closed her eyes slowly, her voice soft yet laden with revelation. "You know, Obito… with his personality, I thought he would be waiting for me on the other side, but..."
Opening her eyes once more, Rin spoke with unwavering conviction. "Kakashi, maybe Obito, he..."
"Impossible," Kakashi interjected firmly, his fist clenching. "We saw him... with our own eyes!"
"We saw him being buried... alive... but what if... what if he was saved?" Rin's eyes dilated, her gaze drifting into the distance, enveloping them both in an uneasy silence.
After a moment, Rin weakly closed her eyes again, her frail voice barely escaping her lips. "Kakashi... Time is running out for me... Listen... My body is rigged with explosives, triggering upon my death. Leave while I can still hold on."
Kakashi's body trembled, his eyes fixated on Rin's face, as if etching her features into his memory. Slowly, he slid down his forehead guard, obscuring his Sharingan, and closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, determination filled his gaze. Gently placing Rin on the ground, he turned away, walking with resolute steps.
"Kakashi." Suddenly, Rin's faint voice called out from behind, causing him to pause in his stride. "If Obito... please take care of him... and also... take care... of... your-"
BOOM! The explosive eruption tore through the air, ruffling Kakashi's attire as he closed his eyes, shielding them from the swirling dust. As he opened them once more, a solitary tear streaked down his covered eye, stinging from the gritty intrusion.
Bowing his head, Kakashi's eyes grew profound as he muttered, "No matter where you run, Shino Aburame, I will hunt you down."
Kakashi's footsteps weighed heavily upon him as he pressed onward. Yet, before long, his stride came to an abrupt halt. His fists clenched tightly, and his trembling eyes fixated on the incongruous sight before him - the familiar house standing amidst the surrounding forest.
Logic dictated that this is definitely an illusion, and he should steer clear of the house, but the tempestuous turmoil brewing within him propelled him forward. He approached the house with a determined resolve, stepping over the threshold.
Inside, Kakashi crossed the familiar yard, his steps leading him to a standstill in front of the traditional Japanese hall. His gaze pierced through the open doorway, fixating on the all-too-familiar figure - someone he hadn't seen in far too long but could never forget.
It was a man with spiky silver hair, tied in a ponytail, wearing the standard Konoha ninja attire. Bandages adorned his right arm, with the addition of a short white sleeve, embellished with red edges and the emblem of the Hidden Whirlpool village - a sight that tugged at Kakashi's memories.
This man was Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's White Fang, and… his father!
Swish! A kunai slipped silently into Kakashi's hand, and with a swift flicker of movement, he materialized behind the man, his hand expertly wielding his kunai, his hand poised to deliver the fatal blow to the man's neck...
However, the kunai halted abruptly, mere centimeters from its intended target. The dojo fell into a hushed stillness as one figure stood and the other remained seated, both frozen in time.
Moments drifted by, and the motionless figure gradually came alive, fine details discreetly morphing into the embodiment of the father etched in Kakashi's recollections. The voice that resonated from the man matched the memory Kakashi held dear, shattering the silence, "Why the hesitation, Kakashi?"
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票