No Remorse

After the Third Hokage left, Akuma resumed his usual training routine. Several hours passed before he noticed the two ANBU who had stayed behind earlier had returned, once again watching him. He pretended not to notice and continued his training, keeping his focus sharp, despite the creeping sense of unease. 

His interaction with the Third Hokage and the ANBU's behavior had confirmed his suspicions—Hiruzen hadn't been informed that three ANBU were spying on him. When the Hokage had been present, only one ANBU had remained, while the others had hidden themselves, as if trying to avoid detection. That subtle shift in behavior was enough to paint a clear picture. 

It could only mean one thing: Danzo was acting against the Third Hokage's orders. If that were the case, the reason was obvious—Danzo either saw Akuma as a threat or a pawn. Neither option boded well for him. 

With this realization, Akuma resolved to leave the best possible impression on the Hokage, hoping it might discourage Danzo from making any immediate moves against him. But a part of him knew it would make little difference. 

Even if Danzo had him killed, the Third Hokage would likely do nothing. Hiruzen had always seen Danzo as a necessary evil—someone who, despite his disregard for orders, was still loyal to Konoha. As long as Danzo acted in what he believed were the village's best interests, Hiruzen would turn a blind eye. 

Through their brief conversation, Akuma had subtly warned Hiruzen about men like Danzo—those who would commit unspeakable acts in the name of protection. Left unchecked, these people would corrupt the very essence of the village, turning it into a place where only the preservation of Konoha mattered, even if it meant sacrificing its own people or innocent life. 

The village's downfall was inevitable because Hiruzen allowed Danzo to operate unchecked. Under the guise of protecting Konoha, Danzo committed heinous acts that only weakened it. But the real problem wasn't Danzo—it was Hiruzen himself. His unwavering belief in protecting the village at all costs blinded him to the internal decay rotting it from within. 

Akuma could only hope that Hiruzen would see this before it was too late. But even if he didn't, it didn't matter. In the end, Akuma would be the one to bring the village to ruin—and he would be the one to end Hiruzen's life. 

For now, though, he needed the Hokage to keep Danzo at bay, at least until his plan was fully in motion. 

As the sky darkened, Akuma swiftly removed the weights he had been carrying—except for the ankle weights, which he always wore. After placing the rest of the weights in their usual spot, he made his way toward the orphanage, following his routine. 

However, as he walked, his Absolute Domain lock ring alerted him to something unusual. The ANBU watching him were acting strangely. Their movements were more deliberate, more synchronized. Something was off. Sensing danger, Akuma subtly prepared himself for any sudden attacks. 

Without warning, the ANBU wearing the pig-shaped mask formed a hand seal. Shadows erupted from the ground, locking onto Akuma's own shadow. His body stiffened, paralyzed by the jutsu. His movements were no longer his own, but his mind remained sharp—calm. 

The pig-masked ANBU, clearly the leader, signaled to the other two—one wearing a chicken mask and the other a bird-shaped mask. The bird-masked ANBU moved forward, his intentions clear, while the chicken-masked ANBU positioned himself behind Akuma. Akuma stood still, his body frozen, but his mind raced through the possibilities. 

The bird-masked ANBU raised his hand, preparing to strike, aiming to knock Akuma unconscious. But as his fist descended, something felt horribly wrong. An unnatural, sharp sensation spread through his chest. He looked down in confusion. 

Blood. 

His eyes widened in shock as Akuma's hand, now buried deep in his chest, twisted. The pain came too fast for the bird-masked ANBU to react. Before he could even register what had happened, Akuma pulled his hand out. Blood poured from the wound, and the ANBU coughed violently, his body trembling before collapsing to the ground, lifeless. 

For a moment, the remaining ANBU stood frozen in disbelief. Their teammate had fallen without a sound, and they couldn't even comprehend how it had happened so quickly. 

The pig-masked ANBU snapped out of his stupor, his expression hardening. Realizing the danger, he formed another hand seal. Shadows surged from the ground like high-speed tendrils, racing toward Akuma. At the same time, the chicken-masked ANBU rushed forward, his hand coated in chakra, his arm swelling with force. 

With the help of his Absolute Dimension Ring, Akuma could see everything around him without needing to glance back. Reacting instantly, he moved with a fluid motion, effortlessly grabbing the chicken-masked ANBU's arm. Without breaking a sweat, Akuma hurled the chicken-masked ninja straight into the oncoming shadow tentacles. 

To his surprise, the pig-masked ANBU did not hesitate. Rather than avoiding the impact, he let the tendrils pierce through his own comrade's body, unwilling to break his attack. His resolve was unshaken, and he pressed forward, the shadows still lashing toward Akuma. 

Akuma stood still, allowing the tendrils to pierce him. Most of them barely even grazed his skin. A smirk spread across his face as he reveled in the futility of their attempts. He was untouched, invincible. 

In a flash, Akuma teleported, reappearing in front of the pig-masked ANBU. The ninja barely had time to react before Akuma raised both hands and slammed them into his head with deadly force. 

The sickening crack of bone echoed in the air. Blood and brain matter splattered across the ground as the pig-masked ANBU crumpled to the earth, his life extinguished in a single blow. 

Akuma stood over the fallen ANBU, his expression cold and unchanging. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. His eyes scanned the carnage—the bodies, the blood—yet he felt no remorse. 

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the nearby river, the blood on his hands doing little to stir his emotions. He washed it off with a casual motion, his calm demeanor betraying the brutal efficiency with which he had dispatched his enemies. 

Akuma waited to see what actions Danzo and Hiruzen would take. Based on that, he would adjust his plan. For now, he chose not to worry about anything else and continued toward the orphanage. 

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If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!