Chapter 74: Killing Intent!

The sky above Kirigakure was dark and overcast, a fine drizzle falling like countless threads of silk. The moisture soaked into the moss-covered streets, turning the ground slick and glossy.

Kakashi stepped onto the village road, taking in the eerie and mysterious place for the first time up close.

A thick mist hung in the air, blanketing the streets and buildings, lending an ethereal, ghostly feel to everything. Visibility was low—only the nearest structures could be clearly seen. The damp air clung to his skin, heavy with the scent of wet stone and decay.

The homes of Kirigakure stood like silent watchers, their outer walls covered in layers of moss, dark and neglected. Compared to the warmth and vibrancy of Konoha or the sunbaked ruggedness of Sunagakure, the architecture of the Hidden Mist was somber, even sinister.

Kakashi's gaze swept the street.

There were few pedestrians. The few that walked the roads moved briskly, avoiding eye contact, not stopping to talk. A sense of paranoia hung over the village like a thick curtain.

"Shun, follow me," Kakashi muttered without looking back.

He paused briefly to recalibrate his senses, then walked purposefully in the direction he had marked with the Flying Thunder God technique—where Lin was being held.

He wore a solemn expression, mentally bracing himself. He allowed the oppressive air of Kirigakure to wash over him, forcing his mind into focus.

Two hours passed.

Eventually, a structure appeared in the distance, shrouded in mist and built upon a small lake. As Kakashi approached, the eerie silhouette of the building emerged from the fog—like something from a nightmare.

A low, almost imperceptible metallic scent wafted through the mist—blood.

The building was ghostly white and isolated on the water, like a haunted sanatorium. The comparison chilled Kakashi.

And Lin… Lin was imprisoned in such a place?

The image of her suffering here sent a surge of rage through his heart.

If anything happens to Lin… I swear, I'll make every one of Kirigakure's higher-ups pay—with their lives.

"Shun, that's our destination. Be ready for combat at any moment," he said, voice low and sharp.

"I understand, Master Fuguki," Shisui replied softly.

Though he kept his expression calm, Shisui could feel the bloodlust laced through Kakashi's words. He didn't question further. Instead, he heightened his own awareness, fully prepared for what lay ahead.

Their chakra condensed beneath their feet as they walked across the still waters toward the building.

As they reached the entrance, a bald man in a white lab coat approached. His eyes were narrow slits, barely visible under heavy lids.

"Master Pufferfish Ghost! What brings you here?"

Kakashi, still in disguise as Fuguki, replied in a cold tone, "By order of Lord Mizukage. I'm here to inspect the status of the Konoha girl. I was told the procedure was completed."

The bald man bowed deeply, the corners of his mouth stretching into a fawning smile.

"Of course, of course, Master. Please rest assured. That girl—she's a natural water-type. Her body has been enhanced using secret techniques. A perfect match for the Three Tails."

"Our sealing process went smoothly. She's now a Jinchūriki."

"However," he added quickly, "she's still in the adjustment phase. Her body hasn't fully adapted to the tailed beast's chakra. We estimate another week is needed for full stabilization."

The man spoke eagerly, believing that pleasing a high-ranking member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen could earn him favor and maybe a promotion.

Kakashi gave a faint, cold smile.

"Good. If what you say is true, I'll reward you handsomely."

The bald man lit up, his eyes gleaming with greed and anticipation.

"This way, Master Pufferfish Ghost. I'll take you to her now."

Kakashi followed him in silence. He knew that if he said even one more word, he might not be able to hold back the murderous rage building inside him.

Shisui trailed behind, listening intently. He remained silent, but inwardly, his heart raced.

Lin… a Jinchūriki? Of the Three Tails?

He had fought in the war. He understood how crucial the tailed beasts were to each village.

But why would Kirigakure use Lin for this? And how does Kakashi-senpai seem to know everything already?

Was this infiltration… premeditated from the beginning? To destroy this plot before it fully formed?

Shisui's admiration for Kakashi deepened. The figure walking in front of him now seemed impossibly calm and dangerously determined.

Soon, they entered a dim, damp corridor. The flickering lights overhead gave the place a sickly hue. The air smelled of medicine, mildew… and blood.

They reached a ward. Without waiting, Kakashi shoved aside several white-coated researchers who were gathered around a bed.

"Lin!"

Her pale, bloodless face came into view. Her eyes were closed. Her slender arms were strapped down tightly, filled with tubes and wires. Her body looked frail and lifeless.

Kakashi's breath caught.

He stepped forward, his gloved hand trembling as he gently brushed her cold cheek.

If it weren't for the soft beeping from the electrocardiogram and the occasional flicker of pain across her face, he would've thought she was already dead.

One of the researchers he had shoved aside frowned and was about to protest, but the moment he recognized Kakashi's disguise, he bowed deeply and fell silent.

In Kirigakure, power commanded respect—and fear.

"How… how did she end up like this?" Kakashi growled, his voice shaking with fury.

"Master Pufferfish Ghost," the lead experimenter said quickly, misreading the anger as concern for the container's condition, "she is a perfect vessel. Any other subject would've failed by now. But this girl—she's survived the most dangerous stage."

"Assuming no complications, she'll soon be a stable Jinchūriki, just as the village planned."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Oh? And where did the previous vessels come from?"

The researcher laughed as if it were a joke. "They were captured from battlefields, of course—Konoha shinobi, mostly. If they failed the compatibility tests, we just disposed of them."

"Disposed?" Kakashi asked, his voice cold and flat.

"Sunk into the lake. The fish don't mind a snack," the man said, amused.

Another researcher—one Kakashi recognized as the bald man—chuckled lewdly. "Of course, if the failed subjects were women and… attractive, we'd have our fun before sending them off."

He gave a suggestive wink, clearly believing that someone of Kakashi's supposed stature would appreciate the gesture.

Kakashi said nothing. But inside, his killing intent surged like a tidal wave.

The other experimenters, oblivious to the danger, also chuckled darkly.

They had worked in this hellish facility for so long that their humanity had eroded. To them, the girls brought in were just vessels, tools—less than people.

Kakashi's voice came low, trembling with rage.

"So… if Lin hadn't survived the transfer by chance, she would've been thrown into the lake too. Just another failed experiment."

"Of course," the bald man replied cheerfully. "And thanks to heroes like you, Master Pufferfish Ghost, we've got a steady supply of new containers!"

He laughed again, clearly pleased with himself.

"As long as there's war, there's material! And don't worry—we keep the successful ones clean. Only female medical-nin are assigned to them. Wouldn't want to ruin the mission, right?"

He smiled smugly, oblivious to the deadly silence that had overtaken the hallway.

Kakashi's gaze dropped back to Lin.

She was still breathing, still alive—but only barely.

These people… these monsters…

He had heard enough.

Every word these men spoke drove another nail into the coffin he had already started building in his heart.

One for each of them.

And if the Mizukage himself had a hand in this—then he, too, would not escape judgment.

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