When they first heard this ANBU report, Shinju and Shikamaru were both a bit stunned.
Half a second later, Shikamaru came back to his senses and asked in shock, "They were shackled in prison, hands and feet locked up—how could they commit suicide?"
The ANBU shook his head. "It's said they used some kind of forbidden jutsu scroll."
Shikamaru continued, "But they were searched before going in… how were they still carrying a scroll…?"
Shinju placed a hand on Shikamaru's shoulder.
"Don't rush it. Let's go have a look ourselves."
In the Konoha Ninja Prison, Shinju stared speechlessly at the two headless corpses on the ground.
Their heads had exploded. Did members of Kara really have to die in such bizarre ways? Couldn't they at least change their method of dying?
Then Shinju looked at the prison staff member beside him and asked,
"Didn't they say they used some kind of forbidden jutsu scroll to kill themselves? Where are the scrolls?"
Hearing this, the staff member respectfully handed over two half-burned scrolls.
"These are what the guards found beside the bodies after discovering their deaths… Whoever made these scrolls probably didn't want you, sir, to discover the secret, so they embedded Fire Release into them. Once used, they ignite and destroy themselves. Luckily, we put the fire out in time."
Shikamaru: "So have you figured out who provided them with the scrolls?"
The staff member said with embarrassment,
"We detected stomach acid on the surface of these scrolls, so we assume they hid them in their stomachs and smuggled them into the prison… This is our failure in inspection. (≖╻≖;) "
Shinju waved a hand. "Alright, they're gone. Just be more careful next time…"
After speaking, Shinju carefully examined the scroll in his hand.
Fire Release had destroyed most of the contents on the scroll, but as a sealing master, Shinju still roughly guessed its function.
"This is a jutsu that sacrifices the soul to some kind of spirit, different from the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. This one is purely for suicide, with no offensive effect on others…"
Shikamaru frowned. "What a pointless death. I really don't get what the people of Kara are thinking. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Shinju grinned. "Not entirely pointless. At least they protected the secrets of the rest of the organization… And in the ninja world, dying cleanly is extremely difficult."
"I'll go back and see if I can restore the spell text on this scroll, then reverse-trace the spirit that devoured these souls… When that happens, Kara will be easy to track down. ( ˃▿˂ )"
...
In the blink of an eye, several days passed again.
Perhaps sensing the kindness of Nono and Kabuto, Ichiyo's life in Konoha was becoming more relaxed and more comfortable.
Sometimes, he was even willing to answer one or two of their questions.
At this moment, the two directors were sitting with a group of children on little stools at the kindergarten entrance, basking in the warm sun.
One innocent face after another faced the sunlight, brimming with youthful energy.
Immersed in this environment, Ichiyo felt relaxed like never before—something he had never experienced back in Kara!
Right now, a thought even crossed his mind: even if all of this were just Konoha's façade, even if Konoha actually wanted to use him for human experiments, he'd accept it! At least he had once felt such a peaceful and beautiful life!
"If you have any questions, just ask." Bathed in sunlight, the boy suddenly said.
"What was your original name?" Kabuto, sitting next to Ichiyo, asked curiously.
Ichiyo: "Ask anything but that."
"Then what do you think of this orphanage? Anything that needs improving?" Nono asked.
Ichiyo smiled. "This place… is great! ❛‿˂̵✧"
Nono let out a sigh of relief. "That's best. I thought you didn't like it here."
Now it was Ichiyo's turn to be stunned.
"You don't have any other more important questions? Or aren't you going to brainwash me into being loyal to Konoha?"
Hearing this, Nono and Kabuto only felt this kid's head must be broken.
"You're doing fine—why think about things like that? →_→"
"Yeah, it's time for you to study properly. In a few days we'll send you to the Ninja Academy!"
"Young man, you can become an outstanding medical worker like the Sixth Hokage in the future…"
Listening to Nono and Kabuto chatting like ordinary caretakers, the boy lowered his head, looking at the Kāma mark in his palm.
Jigen had said he was useless, that only Kāma could fill his life.
But today, it seemed Jigen was completely wrong.
...
The next morning.
Shinju got up early, casually bought some soy milk and buns on the way, and headed to his early shift.
Munching on a bun, Shinju muttered to himself.
Suddenly, inspiration flashed through his mind!
Maybe he could bring the street food from his previous life's world into this one!
Thinking of this, Shinju was already drooling!
"When I have time, I'll buy a food factory! Then I can make snacks however I like! ୧⍢⃝୨"
Just as Shinju was happily imagining his future life, a black-clad boy blocked his way!
"Aren't you that boy from Kara? What are you doing here?" Shinju looked down at the serious youth and asked curiously.
"I want to remove the Kāma from my arm." The boy spoke with firm resolve, and after speaking, he deliberately showed the Kāma mark in the center of his left palm.
"To others, Kāma is a treasure, but to me, it's a curse."
Shinju nodded. What the boy said wasn't wrong—Shinju had seen all his memories, and he even knew exactly how this kid planned to erase Kāma.
"So you want to gradually unseal Kāma's power first, then study how to get rid of it?" Sāiku asked.
The boy nodded. "Exactly—know yourself and know your enemy… But I still need your help. You have a Kāma too. When two Kāma meet, they resonate, and that will help me unlock it faster."
Shinju: "There's such a thing?"
The boy nodded. "I noticed it the first time we met, but you've sealed your Kāma so heavily that even if it reacts, you can't feel it."
Shinju suddenly had an idea. "Then I could just place full seals on you too, and you wouldn't need to slowly unlock Kāma."
Ichiyo: "But seals are only temporary. What I want is for Kāma to disappear from my world forever."
Shinju nodded. "Alright. Since you're determined, I'll send a shadow clone to train with you."
...
Outskirts.
Ichiyo had been beaten black and blue by Shinju's clone with a flurry of combo strikes, lying on the ground and crying loudly.
"This is too brutal! Even when Jigen trained me he wasn't this violent! (*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)"
...
On the mountain outside Konoha.
Kashin Koji and Delta stood side by side.
Delta curled her lip. "I really don't know what Jigen is thinking—sending a useless wimp like you out with me."
Kashin Koji: "If I hadn't saved you last time, you'd already have been smashed into paste by Shinju…"
Delta was full of confidence in her strength.
"Nonsense! If you hadn't pulled me away last time, I definitely would've brought the 'vessel' back to the organization already!"
Kashin Koji felt this woman was unbelievably dense and couldn't be bothered to keep talking!