Chapter 105: The beginning of a never ending nightmare (part 4)
In the midst of the obscure forest, a juvenile male lay motionless on the ground.
However, after a brief period of time, the boy began to exhibit signs of vitality as his body commenced to move ever so slightly. Eventually, the owner of the body regained consciousness and struggled to comprehend what had just occurred.
-?!...
The boy in question was unmistakably Homura.
His body felt exceedingly weighty, and he was experiencing difficulty in making sense of his surroundings.
Nevertheless, as he gradually regained full consciousness and opened his eyes, he realized that his vision was somewhat impaired.
He felt an itching sensation in his left eye and the surrounding area of his face.
Upon touching that part of his face and attempting to alleviate the discomfort, he finally managed to open his left eye entirely.
To his dismay, he discovered that his hand was covered in dirt, leaves, and blood.
His own blood.
- What the..!
Overwhelmed by panic, he began to move his body, only to be struck by another jolt of pain.
The boy cried out in agony.
-Argh! M-my leg...
The boy turned around and saw that his right knee was covered in small cuts and bruised skin.
It seemed that a small part of his skin on his knee had been peeled off.
However, that level of injury was nothing more than an inconvenience.
His sore muscles were the source of most of his pain.
He felt an odd strain, more than he had ever felt before..
In fact, he felt more fatigued than injured.
His body was quite strained, to the point where his entire body was experiencing some discomfort.
-*Sigh*...- He could do nothing but sigh and gaze ahead of him, which was the sky above, as he was now lying on his back.
While he was unsure of the exact details, he remembered enough to piece together that he had likely been attacked, and that the injuries he sustained were a result of that event.
Overall, he was grateful to be alive, until he recalled the faces of his surrogate brother and grandmother.
And before long, the young man was using all of his remaining strength to stand up once more. It was a struggle, but Homura utilized all of his strength to lean on a nearby tree as he fought to regain his footing.
-(T-Takao...Gran-!)
He used all of his available strength to get his feet to support his weight as he tried to use his back and legs to help him stand upright.
Despite his best efforts, it simply was not enough.
His back and legs were unable to support his weight
He then utilized his hands and arms to assist him, but this resulted in additional cuts and bruises as he leaned against a withered tree.
Leaving his hands, arms, and shoulders bleeding ever so slightly from pressing against it so tightly; as his hands grasped as hard as he could with all the strength he was able to muster.
Only through his disregard for his physical well-being and the pain he endured was he able to stand on his own two feet once more.
The whole ordeal had left him completely drained of energy.
He feared that if he relaxed his muscles, he would collapse to the ground once more.
Though there was no time to test that theory he had only one goal in mind.
He had only one objective in mind: to rescue his family at any cost. Time was of the essence, and he was determined to succeed.
It did not take long for him to take his first step toward the house of Uchiha Akane.
The house was not located too far away from his current position.
He was able to recognize the portion of the forest he was currently in.
If he was fortunate, he could arrive at his destination in less than five minutes by continuing in his current direction.
However, the current Homura was far too preoccupied to even think about such a thing. He fervently hoped that he would make it in time.
A 5 minutes distance away in his current state, was enough to feel that it was both possible and impossible for him to make it there in his current situation.
- (Please, let me make it in time.)
Nonetheless, Homura had the determination to see it through.
Normally, Homura would have been astonished at how resilient he could be, he never once thought he could persevere under so much pain.
However, the current Homura was far too preoccupied to even think about such a thing. He fervently hoped that he would make it in time.
Every step he took, felt as if his body could crumble under its own weight.
Even walking straight was a feat greater than anything he had ever experienced.
He needed to tread carefully and not push himself too far, so as to not fall to the ground, for he believed he might not be able to wake up next time.
But his efforts, for as painful as they were, soon paid off, and he managed to exit the forest.
He soon found himself near the remote quarter where his grandmother Akane lived, and the only thought in his mind was that he had somehow made it in time.
As he passed by a few remote houses, which seemed almost completely disconnected from one another, he felt relieved.
It was due to his recognition of those houses, and since nothing unusual seemed to have happened to them, he could not help but believe his efforts had paid off.
However, that would soon be called into question.
As he heard a noise coming from the house he was about to cross, he quickly hid behind a dumpster. He waited to see what would happen and soon enough he got his answer.
-!...(It's them again...)
Two individuals wearing long cloaks were seen exiting the house from which Homura was currently hiding behind the dumpster.
Fortunately for Homura, he didn't seem to have been detected by them as they went to the house next door.
Next to the one they had entered previously, and then to the next.
Thankfully, they seemed to be moving away from Homura's destination.
As this process of hopping from house to house repeated itself several times until they were too far away for Homura to be confident that they wouldn't notice him.
-...D*rn it...- Cursed Homura.
In his heart, he felt relieved, but he also felt frustrated that he experienced this emotion.
Those men were pillaging the corpses of people he knew, and he was unable to do anything about it.
Instead of taking action, he was hiding like a coward.
If only he were stronger.
Faster.
If only he was stronger.
Faster.
Then perhaps he could have achieved something.
However, these thoughts were interrupted by a sound emanating from the house behind the dumpster where he was currently hiding.
NOISE
- I...Impossible.- said Homura almost afraid to speak.
For the first time in a while, he felt true hope.
Hope that someone might be alive.
He carried his body inside the house he heard the noise coming from.
The structure in question was a conventional Japanese-style house, which appeared excessively spacious for a solitary occupant.
Additionally, the premises boasted a backyard adorned with bonsai plants, ascertained by Homura's traversal through the garden, rather than the front entrance.
Why did he go through the garden?
The reason for this alternative route was due to the front door being partially demolished, with visible traces of blood and ash present, both visually and olfactory. Furthermore, the interior was exceedingly dim.
If he were to proceed through the door, he would be courting death far more than he already had.
Therefore, the safest option was to traverse through the backyard.
This decision proved to be wise, as he was not subjected to any further ordeals.
However, as he approached a partially closed door, he detected the unmistakable scent of blood.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he peered inside and observed an elderly gentleman seated against the wall in the corner of the living room.
The room was in a state of disarray, with broken appliances and other memorabilia strewn about, all stained with blood.
The older gentleman was not in a peaceful state, as evidenced by the blue kimono he was wearing, which was drenched in blood.
It was clear that he had suffered a severe injury, having been sliced across the chest.
-How...Tch!- Homura was overcome with sadness and could not help but avert his gaze from the gruesome scene before him.
Although the gentleman appeared to be deceased, he was still clutching a framed picture tightly in his right hand.
Upon opening the man's hand, Homura was presented with a photograph of a family consisting of a man, a woman, and a young child, approximately four or five years of age.
Despite careful consideration, Homura was unable to discern the significance of the image.
It is possible that the man, in his final moments, sought solace in the image of his loved ones.
The deceased was found in the living room of a spacious residence, alone.
Regardless of the circumstances leading up to his death, it is an undeniable fact that he passed away without the comfort of companionship.
The man died alone.
It was clear that the man was beyond any assistance that Homura could provide, and the latter was left to ponder the tragic nature of the man's demise.
- (What am I doing?...I need to leave as fast as I can...)
Homura, recognizing the futility of remaining in the presence of the deceased, resolved to depart from the premises with all due haste.
Even though his thoughts told him to move on fast.
The man in front of him couldn't help him any more than he could help himself.
His last hope of finding someone who could help him was crushed almost as soon as he thought he had a chance to fight back.
In an effort to preserve the man's dignity, Homura carefully laid him on the ground while he tended to his appearance.
At least he could do this much.
However, to Homura's surprise, the man whom he believed to be deceased suddenly grasped his arm as he attempted to rise.
-! W-what the!
Homura was taken aback and found himself in a state of confusion and panic. The elderly man, who had previously appeared lifeless, had awoken and clung to Homura's arm as if his life depended on it.
It was evident that the man had suffered greatly, as he was missing an eye and bore a vertical scar above the other.
It was clear that he had been blinded by someone before receiving the scar on his chest. Homura found the man's current appearance to be quite horrifying, given the extent of his injuries.
- k-Kuh! I-I Beurgh!....(???)
- ?!
The old man attempted to convey a message to Homura or anyone who would listen, but the blood that had accumulated in his throat caused him to vomit instead. He passed away shortly thereafter, releasing his grip on Homura's arm.
The recent occurrence that has just taken place seemed to Homura like a dreadful nightmare.
He couldn't help but wonder if he had imagined the entire ordeal. However, the crimson markings on his arm, left by the old man's grip, served as a reminder that the events that had transpired were indeed factual.
It was as if this forsaken night was toying with his very being; however, all thoughts soon became non-existent as Homura stared at the damaged crimson eye of the deceased.
-...
More than that, Homura was fascinated by the man's eye.
The old man had only one eye remaining
Despite being severely damaged, it was still a sharingan, and a fully evolved one at that.
The tree tomoe were split right in the middle by a sharp blade, in a swift strike. As fascinating as it was, it was also quite repulsive.
-(...Should I take it?)
In light of the situation, Homura contemplated whether or not he should take the old man's eye.
Although it was a gruesome thought, he didn't see any other viable option at the moment.
He didn't really bring anything with him that could help him fight the masked men, if needed
It is worth noting that the eye in front of him, while potentially unable to recover or perform any functions, was in better hands under his care than in the possession of others who may have mishandled it.
It is important to mention that he had never attempted to inject himself with the DNA of an adult possessing a fully evolved Sharingan.
However, he did utilize the DNA of Shisui, who was not yet an adult but still had a fully evolved sharingan he guessed.
As well as that of children who were of similar age to himself.
This method was deemed a viable option for studying the secrets of a fully evolved Sharingan, despite the fact that it may take several years to achieve any significant results. Nonetheless, it is better than having no option at all.
However, if he were to do such a thing as to experiment and steal body parts from a corpse, from a former human being.
Using their death to achieve his goals, one must ponder what this would make of him?
Would he be utilizing the death of another to achieve his own goals?
The answer to this question is unknown.
He didn't know.
However, it is clear that he has finally come close to obtaining an immense amount of power, power that surpasses the limits of hard work.
He now stands at a crossroad, a pivotal moment that will define the type of person he truly is.
It is at this juncture that he must make a decision, one that will either be out of desperation or true to his nature. After much contemplation, Homura has made his choice.
-*gulp*...-
He swallows the saliva that has accumulated in his throat, as if he is preparing himself to do something that he does not want to do, but feels he has no other option.
He is acutely aware that he cannot afford to fail, for the consequences would be dire.
With his left hand, Homura attempted to reach for the eye within the ocular cavity of the now deceased elderly gentleman.
As he close to gauge out the eye from the corpse his hand began to shake.
As he drew near to the task of extracting the eye from the corpse, his hand began to tremble.
- Kuh!...(If I do that... T-than how am I any different from them! )
It took an immense amount of mental and moral fortitude to prevent the individual from committing such a heinous act as to desecrate the sanctity of a corpse.
This now-corpse, at one point in time, had a family, a life, hopes, and dreams.
To simply pilfer from the remains of someone who was once a living, breathing human being was a step too far.
However, despite this realization, the individual in question did not feel any better.
In an attempt to release his frustrations, Homura began to pound the floor with both arms in utter despair at his inability to take action.
- Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t! (Why am I always such a coward when it matters!)
Homura continued to pound the floor until something rolled over his left hand. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a green-looking scroll.
- Huh?
On closer inspection, it didn't seem to be your average green-colored scroll.
-... A scroll? ! That's right!
Upon examining a scroll, he had hoped to find a sealing scroll with a weapon he could use. Alas, this was not the case. However, he did not let this setback deter him. He searched the house for any item that could be used as a weapon.
In his search, he came across three different scrolls, two boxes containing explosive tags, several boxes with shuriken, and a scythe linked to a chain and some sort of weight.
This weapon, known as a Kusarigama, was unfamiliar to him, but he knew that desperate times called for desperate measures.
Furthermore, it was better than most short-range weapons.
It is worth noting that Homura, found most of these items in a gap beneath the floor of the weapon room.
One cannot help but wonder how they came to be there.
It is possible that the Uchiha clan's planned coup d'etat had something to do with it. Perhaps the old man who owned the house was among those who chose to participate in the rebellion.
That was just a baseless speculation.
The house's previous owner was now dead.
Regardless of the circumstances, the protagonist had a pressing need to protect himself.
Unfortunately, he found nothing of use in the armory. Thus, he had no choice but to resort to the Kusarigama, which he deemed to be a better option than a short-range weapon.
He then proceeded to search the whole house.
Upon surveying the kitchen, Homura proceeded to select an iron board he found; as a means of protection.
This decision was made due to the limited amount of time available to gather necessary items. As Homura hastily gathered all available resources, he made his way toward the residence of Uchiha Akane.
Her residence was situated in a more remote location than most, thus providing a greater opportunity for the individual to arrive in a timely manner.
If one wasn't aware of their house prior to the entire ordeal, and Takao not being a danger to anyone, it was possible that they were saved for last.
The forest surrounding the residence could serve as a suitable hiding place or even as a means of leaving the clan altogether.
So, he ran.
Despite his physical discomfort and inability to run at maximum speed, they persevered and ran as fast as possible while carrying the necessary items to ensure survival.
Although the odds were slim, now he had a fighting chance.
Homura was in possession of sets of explosive tags and a weapon that he had chained to his waist.
Even though he was not familiar with the use of these items, he believed that they could be used as a bluff to buy himself some time.
Despite his lack of expertise, he deemed it worthwhile to carry them with him, even if he was not proficient in their use.
Every step he took felt as if his body could crumble under its own weight, and even walking straight was a feat greater than anything he had ever experienced.
He now added more weight to a body on the brink of collapse.
He needed to tread carefully and not push himself too hard, lest he falls to the ground, for he believed he might not be able to wake up again.
As he passed each house, he saw or heard no signs of life.
Though he wished that he could verify if the people living in those residences had been harmed or if there were some that had managed to survive, unfortunately, he could not waste any more time than he already had.
He had to avoid any prying eyes, so he trod cautiously.
Fortunately, he soon arrived at the desired destination.
Or perhaps instead of calling it fortunate, rather it was more appropriate to call it unfortunate.
There were no clear signs of fighting, but the lights were on.
At least when it came to a room on the second floor.
This was a rather ominous sign.
It meant that anyone from a high point of view could have glanced into this location, due to the shining light coming from the second floor.
-…
Homura's heart became heavy.
Rather than relief, he felt horrified.
He entered the premises cautiously.
The main door remained intact…unfortunately it was wide open.
This fact did not bode well.
Especially since the hallway was dark, and two sets of footing, one belonging to a child and the other to an adult, were right next to each other.
This meant that all parties in the house were home.
Then there was even less reason for the front door to be left open.
Bang
Homura dropped the tools and weapons he was carrying in his hands.
His state of mind went completely blank at the sight of that foreshadowing clue.
So much so that he didn't remove his footwear and proceeded to head to the living room.
Rather than the hope he felt before arriving at his current location, it was being slowly eroded with an unsettling sense of despair.
A sense of despair, which intensified as he was about to open further the sliding door that lead to the living room.
Although the lights were out, there seemed to be a pale light that entered the room from the backyard.
The light from the full moon was able to penetrate through the darkness that enveloped the room, just enough for Homura to be able to tell that several pieces of memorabilia had been scattered on the floor as he peeked inside.
Though he dreaded to let his eyesight wander any further or even enter, Homura's body was unable to stop himself.
A powerful force that seemed to entice him to move closer to the room, had taken a hold of him.
His mind kept screaming at his body to stop.
Stop trying to pry further.
Whatever may lay beyond himself and that door was nothing more than pain and suffering.
But a part of himself needed proof.
Proof to deny the harsh reality he had found himself unwillingly a part of.
Was true.
That fate could not possibly be such a cruel mistress.
…That all of his efforts were not in vain.
However as he entered the moonlit dark room, fate seemed to deny his pleas…as two unresponsive bodies lay on the floor.
With blood-drenched clothes, traces of sword strikes, and semi-dried-up pools of blood underneath their bodies, Homura could not help himself but shed tears as he saw the scene in front of him unfold.
He reluctantly stepped inside as the wooden floor creaked with every step he took.
Not surprisingly, Homura stepped over everything within his path, as he proceeded forward.
Remains of scattered food lay on the wooden floor, several traces of dried liquids as well as broken dishes and what was left of three distinct plastic bowls.
As his line of sight remained locked on the lifeless bodies of the people he considered the closest thing to family.
He could not look away from the scenery in front of him.
Especially since the gruesome state of the smaller of the 2 bodies lying down seemed to have suffered the most.
The boy firmly held a weapon with his left hand as he died from a single sword strike to his abdomen.
The large wound on his long-sleeved dark-colored shirt was so deep that it had almost bisected the child's small frame.
However, this was far from the worst thing that had happened to him as traces of bloodstains were visible around his closed eyelids.
Seeing the gruesome sight up close, Homura leaned over the body of the deceased child and held it as his tears started shedding with far more intensity than before.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Those few words were all he could utter repeatedly as he held the boy's body in his arms.
He inwardly blamed himself for not being present when he was needed the most.
If only he had been faster.
If only he had been more intelligent.
If only he had been braver.
…perhaps all of this could be avoided instead of him making apologies and uttering excuses.
However he was tired of "ifs", "whatnots", "should have", or "could have".
Excuses. Excuses. Excuses.
He always came up with new excuses!
At what point does reason becomes cowardice?
He had no knowledge.
However, he knew the individuals responsible for this sin!
He knew who he must blame!
Who was obliged to pay for this calamity!
The responsibility for this tragedy didn't lie in his hands, but he felt almost just as guilty for thinking he only needed to save those he shared a bond.
That selfishness of his… the selfishness and the indignity that he felt for not even attempting to stop this event from occuring, not attempting to save everyone; soon turned into pure hatred as his emotions of grief and loss slowly faded away.
He now desired retribution.
No, demanded it.
Within the midst of this tragic scenery.
-........ku!
A single sound was heard.
it was no longer the sound of the cries of a powerless child unable to change destiny.
But the cackling of someone about to lose his sanity in front of the portrayal of madness that is all around him.
- kukuku…hahaha…HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!- A Homura completely submerged by madness, hatred, despair, and sadness burst out laughing.
If the world was not willing to grant his desire for revenge.
Revenge against those responsible for this tragedy then he would see it through himself.
- Everyone!…. I will kill… every single last one of them!!! - He shouted as his face contorted to reflect the hatred and anguish he felt within his heart.
His eyes, no longer in the shade of a pure obsidian abyss but ones that reflect the burning crimson wrath awaken within his soul; as he uttered the promise that he would seek his revenge!
No, it was not a promise but a curse.
A curse that he desired to cast upon himself.
A curse that he wished would linger and fester inside his very being.
Never allowing him to forget the pain, the people he held dearest in his entire life had to suffer.
So that one day, he would drag all of those responsible for this tragedy down to hell alongside himself.
chapter end