Published at 17th of September 2024 5:11 pm

Chapter 80 The Last Shadow: 3 The Awakening

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The sun hung low in the sky as Kojiro locked the door to his shop, casting the village in the deep golden hues of dusk. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his time in Konoha was running out. Every shadow seemed to hold eyes, every sound a possible threat. His tea shop, once a sanctuary, now felt like a cage. Katsuro’s warning echoed in his mind, and the encounter with the mysterious man in the alley had only confirmed his fears. His enemies had found him. And they wouldn’t stop until he was dead.

Kojiro slipped into the quiet streets of the village, his thoughts heavy with the weight of his next move. He had been avoiding Katsuro, trying to distance himself from the young shinobi’s warnings. But now, he knew he couldn’t ignore it any longer. If Katsuro had information, he needed it.

As he moved through the village, Kojiro considered his options. He could try to leave, to slip away into the night and disappear again like he had after the war. But something told him it wouldn’t be that simple. If they had found him in Konoha, they would find him wherever he went. No—running wasn’t an option.

His only chance was to confront this head-on, to find out who was after him and why, and deal with them before they could finish what they started all those years ago.

The question was: where to start?

Katsuro had mentioned the ones who destroyed his clan. The ones responsible for the massacre of the Shizuka Clan had been powerful—an underground group of rogue shinobi with no allegiances, moving between nations and wars, thriving on chaos. They weren’t well-known, even in the shinobi world, but their methods were brutal, and they operated in the shadows. Kojiro had never learned who they were working for, or why his clan had been targeted. The only thing he knew was that they had wanted the Shizuka Clan wiped from the face of the earth.

And for the most part, they had succeeded.

Kojiro's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp tug of chakra at the edge of his senses. He stopped mid-stride, scanning the streets around him. The village was quiet, most people having retreated indoors for the evening. The feeling was faint but unmistakable—someone was close.

Without hesitation, Kojiro moved into the nearest alley, blending into the shadows with practiced ease. He crouched low, his senses alert as he waited for any sign of movement. The chakra signature grew stronger, approaching fast.

A figure appeared at the entrance to the alley, moving with a deliberate, controlled pace. Kojiro’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the silhouette—it was Katsuro.

Kojiro stood from his crouch, his hand resting on the hilt of a kunai but not drawing it. "Following me again?" he asked, his voice calm but with an edge of warning.

Katsuro stopped a few paces away, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "I told you, Kojiro. You can’t hide from them. And now, it seems they’ve found you.”

Kojiro’s grip tightened on the kunai. "Who are they? Why do they want me dead?"

Katsuro hesitated, then sighed. “It’s not just you they want. It’s your bloodline. The Shizuka Clan’s techniques, their mastery of shadow and stealth—it’s more valuable than you realize.”

“I’ve heard enough vague warnings. I want answers,” Kojiro snapped, taking a step forward. “Who sent you? What do you know about the ones who killed my clan?”

Katsuro’s gaze hardened, his tone turning serious. “I told you, Kojiro. I want the same thing as you. Revenge. They destroyed your clan… and mine."

Kojiro froze. His eyes searched Katsuro’s face for any sign of deceit. "Your clan?" he asked, his voice softer now, less certain.

Katsuro nodded. "My clan was targeted by the same group, though for different reasons. They move in the shadows, just like the Shizuka did, and they’ve been collecting techniques—dangerous techniques—from the most powerful clans in the shinobi world. Anyone who stands in their way… is wiped out."

Kojiro’s mind raced. His instincts told him that Katsuro was telling the truth, or at least part of it. If Katsuro had lost his clan to the same enemies, then perhaps they did share a common goal. But something still didn’t add up.

“Why come to me now? After all these years?” Kojiro asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.

Katsuro’s gaze didn’t waver. “Because they’ve resurfaced. They’ve been lying low for years, but now they’re making moves again. And if they’re after you, it means they’re preparing for something big.”

Kojiro felt a chill run down his spine. The idea that the same group that had destroyed his clan was planning something even worse was almost too much to comprehend. But deep down, he knew it was possible. They had operated in the shadows for decades, manipulating wars, killing off entire bloodlines to steal their secrets. It made sense that they wouldn’t stop with just his clan.

“And what do you want from me?” Kojiro asked cautiously.

“I need your help,” Katsuro said, his voice firm. “I’ve been hunting them for years, but I can’t take them down alone. You have the skills I need—skills that can give us a fighting chance.”

Kojiro was silent for a long moment, his mind torn between two conflicting desires. He had spent years trying to leave his past behind, trying to live a life of peace. But now, it seemed that peace was no longer an option. His enemies had found him, and they wouldn’t stop until they had what they wanted.

But was he ready to become a shinobi again? To fight for revenge, for survival? Or was he still that same broken man, haunted by the ghosts of his past?

“I’m not the man I used to be,” Kojiro finally said, his voice low. “I’ve spent too long hiding. I don’t know if I can fight like I did before.”

Katsuro took a step closer, his eyes blazing with determination. “You don’t have a choice, Kojiro. They’re coming for you, whether you’re ready or not. The only question is, will you stand and fight… or will you die running?”

The words hit Kojiro like a punch to the gut. For years, he had been running—running from his past, from his enemies, from himself. But Katsuro was right. He couldn’t run any longer.

Slowly, Kojiro let out a breath and nodded. “Alright. I’m in.”

Katsuro’s expression softened, though his eyes still held that same intensity. “Good. We’ll need to move quickly. There’s not much time.”

Kojiro frowned. “Why? What’s happening?”

Katsuro hesitated for just a moment, then said, “They’re after something. Something that could change the balance of power in the entire shinobi world. And they’re getting closer to finding it.”

Kojiro’s heart pounded in his chest. He didn’t know what they were after, but whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.

“We’ll find them,” Katsuro said, turning to leave. “And when we do, we’ll make sure they never hurt anyone else again.”

Kojiro watched him go, his mind spinning with the weight of what was to come. He had made his choice, but the road ahead was still uncertain. The shadows of his past were closing in, and this time, there would be no running.

As the last light of day faded from the sky, Kojiro stood alone in the alley, his hand resting on the hilt of his kunai. The storm was coming, and he would face it head-on.

Share