Chapter 151:- Kaito part 2

The moment Kenshin saw him, his blood turned to fire.

Kaito.

His former Jonin team leader. A rogue ninja of the Hidden Rain—though the village didn't know that. The man who had killed Kenshin's teammate, Shiro, faked his own death, and framed both Kenshin and their other teammate, Aika.

Kenshin didn't much care for how the village viewed him, but Aika... Aika had taken it hard. The accusations, the whispers, the shame. It had worn her down until, one day, she had taken her own life.

And now, this bastard was standing here, kissing some random girl, living his life like he hadn't destroyed theirs.

Kenshin clenched his fists, his mind a storm of rage, barely able to think straight. His presence must have been loud enough to sense because Kaito suddenly turned, his eyes locking onto Kenshin's.

And before Kaito could even react, Kenshin lunged.

His fist connected with Kaito's face, the impact detonating the air between them. The former Jonin was sent hurtling through the suite wall, then another, and another—until he crashed through the living room of the adjacent suite.

The young woman screamed, scrambling into a corner. Hotel staff rushed forward, but Kenshin didn't care. He stepped over the rubble, walking toward Kaito's battered form, his grip tightening around the kunai in his hand.

This time, Kaito wasn't getting away.

But before he could drive the blade into Kaito's throat—

"Kenshin?!"

The sound of rushing footsteps. Familiar voices.

Then—

A gasp.

Kenshin didn't have to turn to know who it was.

Kana.

She had just arrived with the others, eyes wide in shock as she took in the scene—before her gaze froze on Kaito.

"Kaito-kun...?" she breathed.

Kaito, who had been groaning on the floor, snapped his head toward her. His eyes widened in disbelief before twisting into something ugly. "You." His voice was venomous, laced with rage. "Why the fuck are you alive?" His face contorted further. "And why do you not look like the old hag you were turning into?"

The room froze.

Then—

CRACK.

Kenshin's fist slammed into Kaito's face, rattling his skull against the floor.

"I did it," Kenshin spat, his voice a growl. "But that's not the point. Because you—" His eyes gleamed red, his kunai lowering toward Kaito's throat. "—need to die."

But Kaito wasn't a former Jonin for nothing.

In that split second, he saw an opening. His hand darted to his shoulder pouch, fingers wrapping around a kunai.

And then—

Pain exploded in Kenshin's groin.

His body jerked, a sharp gasp escaping him as agony ripped through his nerves.

Kaito had stabbed him in the groin.

Kenshin staggered back, clutching his groin in pain. Kaito, wasting no time, flickered out of sight with the Body Flicker Jutsu.

The others rushed to Kenshin's side.

"Shit—!" Akane's arm was around him immediately, Maki supporting him from the other side. "Kenshin, use your right eye!"

But Kenshin couldn't think—his mind was too clouded by pain.

Akane realized it instantly. "Ino!" she snapped. "Ease the pain!"

Ino was already moving. She pressed her glowing hands against Kenshin, channeling medical chakra. The moment the pain dulled enough, Kenshin's mind snapped back into clarity. His EMS activated—his right eye glowing ominously as its power surged forth.

In an instant, the wound sealed.

The room was left in silence. Concerned faces surrounded him, their eyes flickering between him and the broken wall Kaito had escaped through.

Kana took a deep breath. Her eyes were still locked on the shattered window.

Then, she finally spoke.

"That man was Kaito," she said. "A Jonin from the Hidden Rain. Ken-chan's old squad leader."

The others tensed.

Kana continued, her voice distant. "He was... my old friend. We worked together during the war. But Kaito faked his death for some reason. He framed Kenshin and Aika for his crime, after killing their teammate, Shiro."

She exhaled. "Although it was later proven that Kenshin and Aika weren't at fault, the public never truly believed it. The Hidden Rain couldn't locate Kaito, and..." Her voice wavered. "...Aika took her own life."

The moment her name was spoken, Kenshin's fists clenched.

And then—he stood up. Abruptly.

"I need to find that bastard," he said, his voice laced with sheer rage.

Akane immediately blocked him. "Kenshin—don't be reckless!"

But Kenshin wasn't listening.

Until—

A gentle hand touched his arm.

"Kenshin-sama."

Yukari.

Her voice was soft but firm.

"You've lost a lot of blood," she said. "Even with your ability, your body still needs to recover. You should at least eat, regain some strength. If you push yourself like this, despite your power..." Her eyes were gentle, but unwavering. "...you'll be in trouble."

Kenshin's teeth ground together. His entire body was vibrating with anger.

But... she wasn't wrong.

After a long, tense moment—

"...Fine." His voice was tight, reluctant.

The group exhaled in relief.

Akane and Maki helped Kenshin upstairs, supporting him as he walked unsteadily. His body was still weak from the excessive blood loss, and every step felt heavier than it should have. Even though his right eye's ability had repaired the damage, his body hadn't yet recovered from the strain.

The suite was massive—easily the size of their previous rooms combined. The group entered one of the larger rooms designated for the boys. It had four spacious beds, and Kenshin was guided to one of them.

He groaned as he lay down, his breathing slightly uneven. Suu had already arranged for the hotel staff to bring food, knowing Kenshin needed to replenish his strength.

As the food arrived, Kenshin ate in silence. His mind drifted, unbidden, to the past—his Genin team, the people he had called friends. Shiro, Aika, and himself. The top three of the academy.

Despite graduating earlier, Kenshin had been placed on their team, and over time, they'd formed a bond. He had clashed with Shiro often, but their rivalry had only pushed them to grow stronger.

Aika had always been a little awkward around him, but he had never minded. They had been his first real companions in the Hidden Rain.

And Kaito.

Kenshin clenched his fists, his blood boiling at the thought of that man. Kaito had destroyed everything. He had murdered Shiro, framed Kenshin and Aika, and then disappeared, leaving him and Aika to suffer under the weight of the blame.

Kenshin's grip tightened around his chopsticks as his right eye continued its silent work, restoring the blood he had lost.

It was taking a toll on his chakra, but he didn't care. He needed to be at full strength. When he finished eating, he could feel the blood fully replenished, though his chakra had taken a hit. It didn't matter.

He stood up.

Immediately, voices rose in protest.

"Kenshin, wait!" Akane called.

"You should rest a little longer," Maki added.

But Kenshin ignored them.

That was when Akane noticed it. His hair.

Even just yesterday, his hair had been a vibrant, bright red, ever since his sudden change in demeanor a few days ago. But now, it had darkened significantly. It wasn't as dark as it originally was, but it was noticeably darker than yesterday.

Akane narrowed her eyes. She didn't know what it meant, but she understood one thing—something had changed within Kenshin. And she knew better than to try and stop him.

Instead, she pulled out a storage scroll and handed it to him. "Take this," she said. "My gear is inside. Borrow whatever you need."

Kenshin accepted the scroll with a nod. "Thanks," he murmured.

His eyes turned to his mother. Kana stood there hesitantly, her expression conflicted. Then, she finally spoke.

"Let me come with you, Ken-chan."

Kenshin shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "You wouldn't be able to take Kaito down if it comes to that. He's unmatched when it comes to playing dirty."

Kana didn't back down. "I can at least help you find him."

Kenshin sighed. That was true. Her sensory abilities, when focused, could likely cover the entire capital city.

Shikamaru, who had been watching in silence, finally spoke. "I don't agree with you going alone," he said, his tone thoughtful. "But if Akane trusts you, I won't argue. Still, you should take your mom's help. She's a sensor, and it's better to have a way to locate him quickly."

Kenshin exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. "Fine," he relented. "Make a shadow clone and send it with me. Once I find him, I'll dispel it."

Kana hesitated before finally nodding. She formed a hand seal, and a shadow clone of herself materialized beside her. The clone turned to Kenshin, ready to accompany him.

Kenshin adjusted his gear. He tied his Hidden Rain headband around his arm and secured his Hidden Leaf headband to his forehead. Then, without another word, he and Kana's clone left the suite, stepping into the city.

Kenshin and Kana's shadow clone stepped out into the bustling streets of the capital. The sun hung high, casting long shadows across the stone roads as people moved about, unaware of the silent hunt taking place in their midst.

Kana closed her eyes, focusing. Her sensory abilities spread through the city, combing through the countless chakra signatures. Even though Kaito had suppressed his chakra, Kana knew him too well.

They had fought together during the Third War—she had memorized the feel of his chakra long ago.

A few minutes passed before Kana's brows furrowed. "I found him," she said, her voice tense. "But he's not alone. He's with a large number of shinobi. Judging by their chakra signatures, they're all at least chunin-level, maybe higher."

Kenshin barely reacted. "Doesn't matter," he said flatly. He had faced worse odds before. And if things got complicated, he had Kira and Kaede.

Kana hesitated but nodded. She led him through the streets, taking the least conspicuous paths until they reached the slums. The atmosphere changed—the once grand architecture of the capital gave way to cracked roads and buildings in disrepair.

From a distance, Kana pointed to a large, worn-down warehouse. "They're in there."

Kenshin nodded, unsealing the storage scroll Akane had given him. A swirl of chakra released Akane's neatly arranged equipment, including her katana. He took what he needed, securing the weapons to his person.

He turned to Kana's clone. "You can dispel now."

Kana's clone gave him a look but nodded. "Be careful, Ken-chan." Then, she vanished in a small burst of smoke.

Kenshin, now alone, out of habit, formed the hand seals for a summoning jutsu. In a puff of smoke, Kira and Kaede appeared before him.

Kaede stretched lazily, her red eyes gleaming with interest. "Tch. What now?"

Kira, more composed, observed their surroundings before looking at Kenshin expectantly.

"We have a group of enemies inside," Kenshin said. "I can take them, but you two are here for backup. Also—" he smirked slightly, "if you flex your chakra a little, it'll make for good intimidation."

Kaede grinned. "Ah, I see. That's why we're here." She took a step closer, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, of course. You are one of the strongest humans, after all."

Then, without warning, Kaede leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Kenshin was taken off guard by the kiss, but his body instinctively leaned into it. As their lips met, he felt a wave of warmth spread through him, his lingering chakra fatigue melting away.

Kaede pulled back, licking her lips with a teasing smirk before resting her forehead against his. Her ears twitched slightly as she spoke, her voice low and smooth.

"You looked a bit exhausted. Not a good look before a battle." She tilted her head slightly, her warm breath brushing against his skin. "So I figured I'd help."

Kenshin chuckled softly, pressing a light peck against her cheek. "Thanks," he murmured, appreciating the gesture.

Before the moment could linger, Kira suddenly yanked them apart, her face scrunched in irritation. "Hey, hey! Not the time to get all lovey!" she huffed.

Kenshin let out a laugh, feeling his heart lighter despite the storm of rage simmering beneath his skin. He turned to the warehouse, his focus hardening.

The amusement faded from his face as he activated his Wind Chakra Mode. The air around him twisted, the dense wind chakra forming a visible layer around his body.

He raised his forearm, channeling chakra into his hand. The gauntlet of wind chakra formed around his arm, compact and ready to shoot.

With a powerful step forward, he led the way, Kira and Kaede following closely behind. As they approached the warehouse doors, Kenshin raised his leg and kicked—

BOOM!

The heavy metal doors crashed inward, slamming against the floor with a deafening clang. The sudden entrance sent a shockwave through the gathered rogues inside.

Kenshin's sharingan eyes scanned the room, quickly counting the enemies—at least a hundred shinobi, all with slashed headbands marking them as rogues. At the center of the group stood a middle-aged man, clearly the leader, his posture relaxed but commanding.

And standing among them, with that same cocky smirk, was Kaito.

Kaito scoffed as he spotted Kenshin. "For someone who just got stabbed in the balls, you're pretty damn energetic."

The room erupted into laughter, the rogue shinobi mocking him. But the leader simply raised his hand.

Silence.

The laughter cut off immediately. The leader eyed Kenshin with mild interest before turning to Kaito. "He has the Sharingan," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Bring me his eyes, and I'll make it worth your while."

Kaito cracked his knuckles, stepping forward with a smirk. "Sorry, kid. Looks like I gotta finish the job." His voice took on a mocking rhythm. "Shiro went first, Aika second… So, Mr. Genius, Mr. Number One, it's your turn."

Kaito reached for his pouch—

FWOOOSH!

Before he could react, a powerful Gust Bullet shot toward him. His instincts took over as he flicked a knife up to intercept—

CRACK!

The force of the bullet shattered the knife, sending sharp metal fragments flying. A rogue shinobi standing behind Kaito didn't even have time to react before the deflected bullet blew his head clean off.

The room fell silent.

Kaito stood frozen, his mind racing. He slowly turned to Kenshin, his eyes wide with disbelief.

'That was… Gust Bullet?'

Then his gaze flickered downward—

The gauntlet of wind chakra wrapped around Kenshin's forearm. Kaito's breath hitched as recognition struck.

'That form… that's a full clip.'

He knew Kenshin's jutsu better than anyone. He had taught Kenshin the basics of Wind Release. He had watched him struggle with compression techniques.

'But he shouldn't be able to shoot that fast. And that was a compressed shot—no way he should be this refined.'

Before Kaito could process it, the surrounding rogue shinobi roared in anger at their fallen comrade and charged.

Kenshin didn't hesitate.

He gripped Akane's katana, still sheathed, and poured wind chakra into the blade. Then, in a single fluid motion, he unsheathed it—

SHING!

A sharp, crescent arc of wind chakra slashed through the incoming attackers.

The first wave of shinobi barely had time to register what happened before their bodies split cleanly in half.

Blood splattered against the floor.

Kaito's breath caught in his throat.

"Sweeping Edge?!"

His eyes darted to Kenshin's katana. A regular sword should've shattered from using that jutsu. But there it was, completely intact, glowing faintly with wind chakra.

Kaito clenched his jaw, his heart pounding.

"When… when did he get this good?"

It had been barely a year since he left the Rain. Barely a year since he had last measured Kenshin's strength.

He had been confident—confident that he knew every technique Kenshin had, every strength, every weakness.

But now—

Now, as he stepped forward, he felt a strange sensation creeping up his spine.

Something he refused to acknowledge.

Kaito lunged forward, his body flickering out of sight in an instant. His speed was blinding, honed during the Third War specifically to counter Sharingan users. Kenshin barely managed to track him—just barely.

A shift in the air—behind him.

Too late.

Kaito stabbed forward, aiming for Kenshin's spine. But the kunai never sank in.

Kenshin's Wind Chakra Mode reacted automatically, a burst of wind repelling the blade before it could pierce his flesh.

Kenshin smirked. "You really thought that'd work?" He glanced over his shoulder. "I've grown in the past year, Kaito."

Kaito ignored the taunt. He had to—he was the one who taught Kenshin that trick, after all. Taunting was a tool to throw your opponent off. He wouldn't fall for it.

Instead, he moved again, this time faster.

Kunai and shuriken rained toward Kenshin from all directions. Kaito's form vanished and reappeared in a blur, his relentless assault forcing Kenshin to dodge, parry, counterattack— again and again.

Kenshin was fast. His reflexes had improved immensely. But Kaito—

Kaito was better.

Kaede shifted, her muscles tensing. Kira, claws extended, looked ready to pounce.

But Kenshin snapped. "Stay out of my way!"

Kaede hesitated before nodding. Kira, however, growled, her sharp eyes darting between Kenshin and Kaito. The other rogue shinobi were murmuring now, eyeing the two non-humans.

Meanwhile, Kenshin and Kaito continued.

Kaito flicked his arm, activating a special sealing formula. A technique he'd spent years perfecting.

Fwoosh!

More weapons poured from the storage seal on his forearm, a near infinite supply of kunai, shuriken, and blades.

Kenshin kept dodging.

Every strike from Kaito was aimed at a vital spot. Every attack forced Kenshin into a disadvantageous position. And even though Kenshin was keeping up—

Kaito had the edge.

Finally—

Kaito summoned a blade gauntlet from his right arm's seal.

The blade pierced straight through Kenshin's chest.

Blood splattered onto the warehouse floor.

Kaito held firm, keeping the blade buried deep as Kenshin coughed up blood, his body trembling.

"You're too naive, Kenshin," Kaito murmured, his voice almost disappointed. "You shouldn't have come here like this. A Gust Bullet from half a kilometer away would've been smarter. I taught you better."

Kenshin's head tilted upward, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes locked onto Kaito's.

Kaito froze.

"Wait—"

Kenshin's Sharingan wasn't even active.

Click.

His right eye flared to life.

And then—

Kaito felt it.

The blade, and his arm still lodged in Kenshin's chest…

Kenshin's wound was closing.

His flesh knitted back together while Kaito's arm was still inside him.

"Wha—"

Kenshin's voice was weak, breathless from the hole in his lung. "Kaito… you're too weak."

A shudder crawled down Kaito's spine.

Kenshin's gaze was cold. Detached.

"I thought I'd be excited." His voice trembled—not from pain, but from something else. "Maybe… this is how Kaede felt all these years. Maybe this is what it's like to be so ridiculously stronger than someone that you don't even want to try."

Kaito's survival instincts screamed. He tried to pull away.

But he couldn't.

Kenshin's ribs suddenly grew—impaling Kaito's arm, locking it inside his chest.

Kaito's breath hitched. "What the hell?!"

He yanked hard, but his arm wouldn't budge.

'No time.' Kaito gritted his teeth, and with zero hesitation, he summoned a sword into his left hand and sliced his own arm clean off.

Blood gushed as he stumbled back, cradling the stump of his severed limb.

He landed a safe distance away, immediately forming a single-hand sign—

"Fire Release."

A small burst of flame scorched the open wound, cauterizing it instantly.

The pain was excruciating, but Kaito didn't even flinch.

His gaze was fixed on Kenshin.

Kenshin, who was now ripping Kaito's still-attached arm out of his chest, breaking off pieces of his own regrown ribs in the process.

The wound sealed itself before Kaito's eyes.

The severed arm dropped to the floor.

And Kenshin just stood there, completely unfazed.

Blood still dripped from his lips. But his gaze never left Kaito.

Kaito swallowed, staring at the boy he thought he knew.

This wasn't the same Kenshin.

He was looking at a monster.

Kaito staggered back, his vision blurring from blood loss and exhaustion. Kenshin's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan glowed ominously in the dim light, its pattern shifting with a cold, unreadable intensity.

Kaito's breath was ragged, his severed arm still smoldering from the cauterization. He should have felt nothing but fear. And yet—

There was something else.

A strange sense of pride.

And regret.

If he hadn't killed Shiro that day…

If Aika hadn't taken her own life afterward…

Would things have been different?

Maybe he could have watched Kenshin grow. Despite his hatred for Kenshin's father, Kaito admired natural talent and skill.

But that didn't matter now.

Kaito wasn't going to survive this.

Kenshin moved.

Faster than Kaito could react—

"Ghh—!"

A fist slammed into his gut, Kenshin's left hand burying itself deep into his stomach with bone-crushing force. Air left Kaito's lungs instantly. His vision flickered, nearly knocking him unconscious then and there.

His knees buckled. He collapsed forward, coughing violently.

Kenshin didn't stop.

A kick to the face snapped Kaito's head back, sending him crashing onto his back. Before he could even breathe, Kenshin stepped on his chest, pinning him down.

Kaito coughed, choking on the blood pooling in his throat.

Kenshin stood over him, his foot pressing just hard enough to keep him in place—but not enough to crush him completely.

He should kill Kaito right now.

But something inside him hesitated.

Kaito was one of the Rain's most loyal shinobi. He had fought for the village, bled for the village.

So why would he defect?

And not only defect—but fake his own death? Kill his favorite subordinate?

Kenshin's voice was low, almost... pained.

"Why?"

Kaito swallowed. The pain in Kenshin's tone cut deeper than any blade ever could.

His voice was shaky, barely above a whisper. "Do you… remember Team Eight's captain?"

Kenshin's expression remained unreadable. But after a moment, he nodded.

"Kaido-sensei." His voice was firm. "He died three weeks before you… betrayed the Rain."

Kaito let out a bitter laugh. "Exactly." His one remaining hand clenched into a fist. "A couple days before Kaido's death, I was sent on an S-rank mission. I completed it ahead of schedule and went to give my report. That was, as you know, a day after Kaido's funeral."

He paused, his gaze darkening. "But Konan wasn't there."

Kenshin frowned slightly.

"Instead," Kaito continued, "one of her subordinates was in her place."

That… was odd.

An S-rank mission report was never handled by a subordinate. A leader should always be ready to receive such reports.

"But I didn't think much of it at first," Kaito admitted. "I gave my report and left. But… something felt off."

Kaito took a shaky breath. "So I used that cloaking tool we got during that mission in the Land of Earth. The one that hides chakra signatures completely."

Kenshin's eyes narrowed. "I thought you handed that over to Konan."

Kaito shook his head, continuing. "And I snuck into the tallest tower. The one that's off limits for the entire village."

Kaito swallowed hard, his body trembling slightly.

"And there… I saw it."

His voice was barely above a whisper now.

"Konan was cutting Kaido's corpse open."

Kenshin's entire body froze.

"There were… other bodies too. I didn't understand what she was doing, but it was clear—" Kaito's breath hitched, "—she was experimenting on Rain shinobi."

Kenshin's grip on his kunai tightened.

Kaito let out a broken chuckle. "That's why I ran. I didn't want to become some experiment for that bitch. Shiro figured it out, so I had to..."

Silence.

Then—

Kenshin knelt down, gripping a kunai in his hand.

Kira's voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Master… he regrets everything."

Kenshin's grip tightened.

"There's a deep sadness inside him… but also fear. And… pride. For you."

Kenshin ignored her.

His blade sank into Kaito's throat.

Kaito let out a final, wet gasp as his body jerked, blood spilling from the fresh wound.

His head fell back, his vision blurring as his body went numb.

He had expected this.

He had accepted this.

His left hand trembled. Slowly, with the last of his strength, he reached into his pocket.

Kenshin watched, his expression unreadable, as Kaito weakly pulled something out.

A headband.

The cloth was black.

Kenshin's eyes widened slightly.

It was Shiro's.

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