Despair

Kaito stood, his breathing ragged and uneven. The battle had been fierce, and he had managed to gravely wound the masked man. But his body was at its limit. Fatigue had completely overtaken him, and though his mind was filled with determination, his chakra was almost entirely deplete

He had managed to destroy his opponent, but now he found himself completely vulnerable. The fight had left him exhausted, and his anxiety for his family's safety consumed him more than any wound. He thought of his parents, of Konan, and how he had left them unprotected, knowing he had fallen into a trap he had failed to foresee.

When he saw the masked man collapse and lie motionless on the ground, the relief of victory never came. Instead, a wave of despair washed over him. Images of the happy moments he had shared with his parents, with Konan, flashed through his mind. He remembered the laughter, the conversations by the fire, the peace they had found in that corner of the world—and how all of it was now under threat.

The image of Konan smiling as they played together, or the way his parents had looked at him with pride when they saw his progress in the village, felt like distant memories—an illusion fading away. Rage and helplessness began to consume him. He would not allow everything he loved to be destroyed this way. He would not allow his family's suffering to be in vain.

However, when he tried to stand, his legs trembled under the weight of his exhaustion. His chakra was nearly empty, and there was no energy left in his body. He needed to rest, but he couldn't. He couldn't afford to—not now, not when his loved ones were in danger.

At that moment, a sound interrupted his thoughts. Applause, soft at first, but growing louder. Kaito, his mind clouded by fatigue, lifted his gaze, struggling to comprehend what was happening. In the distance, among the trees, more hooded figures emerged. And the worst part was what they had brought with them.

His parents, dragged by the masked men, looked beaten and visibly weakened. Their bodies barely remained upright, their faces swollen from the blows. Konan, too, walked among them, blood trickling from her head, her face etched with pain. The sight was heartbreaking. Kaito could see the despair in Konan's eyes as she struggled to remain standing despite her injuries.

His heart sank at the sight. Everything he had worked to protect was now on the verge of destruction. In that instant, the physical pain he felt paled in comparison to the emotional agony. His parents and Konan were in danger, and he was powerless to save them in his current state.

The masked figures began to surround him, ensuring he had no escape. The tallest among them, their leader, looked at him with a mocking smile.

—Bravo, Kaito —he said sarcastically—. You did well, even managing to kill someone with Jonin-level strength. But now, it all comes to an end.

Kaito could not let that happen. Despite the desperation he felt, fury surged within him. He could not just stand there and let everything fall apart. However, his body refused to respond. Exhaustion had overtaken him.

One of the masked men pulled out a scroll from his robe and dropped it at Kaito's feet. A message directed at him, clear and unmistakable.

—We are giving you a chance —the masked man said—. If you come with us, they all live. If not… you'll regret it.

With the last of his strength, Kaito lifted his gaze to the masked figures. He didn't know if his plan would work, but he knew he had to act. Alone, he could do nothing, but his family was still there. He would not let despair defeat him.

Then, the leading masked man, in a commanding tone, demanded:

—Give me the technology blueprints, Kaito! That's all I want from you! If you cooperate, maybe your loved ones will have a chance.

Kaito clenched his jaw so hard that blood began to seep from his gums. Anger, helplessness, frustration—all threatened to consume him. But he could not afford to let his rage take over. Despite everything, he knew he had to think clearly. His thoughts raced toward what mattered most, what he had to protect at all costs: his family.

With a sigh of fury, Kaito handed over a set of blueprints he had prepared, exchanging them for his family's safety. The masked men quickly took the scroll, sealing it away. But Kaito knew this was only the beginning of his torment.

The leader of the masked figures grinned maliciously as he examined the scroll.

—Thank you, Kaito. Now we have what we wanted. But… don't forget, this isn't over —he said, stepping slightly aside.

Kaito didn't even have the strength to respond. His mind could only focus on the pain of seeing his family under the threat of those men. Just when he thought it was over, the masked men, without warning, began beating his father again. The blows landed with cruel precision, echoing with brutality. Kaito screamed in desperation:

—Stop! Stop it!

But there was no mercy in the masked men's faces. They laughed cruelly as they continued to strike his father, delighting in Kaito's anguish. He could do nothing to stop them—his body refused to move. Every scream, every cry, felt like a dagger piercing his soul.

Suddenly, the leader of the masked men stepped forward, his expression dripping with malice.

—Listen carefully, Kaito —he said coldly—. Now, come with us. Join ROOT. If you don't, your loved ones will suffer even more.

The words cut like knives into his heart. Kaito felt utterly powerless. Konan and his mother screamed in unison, trying to stop him from surrendering.

—Don't do it, Kaito! —Konan shouted, tears streaming down her face. —Don't go with them!

—Don't do it, son! —his mother cried, her voice breaking with fear and pain.

But hearing their desperate pleas only made the masked men increase their brutality. Without mercy, they began savagely beating Konan and Kaito's mother, punishing them relentlessly. Kaito, his soul shattered, felt his world collapse around him, unable to do anything to stop it.

ROOT had one goal—to break him.

But they didn't realize they were about to unleash hell…