What is the meaning of being alive? What are my dreams? What do I want to do in the future?
David had never thought about such things.
His mother pushed him to study desperately so he could become one of the elite, so he studied.
Schwarzer told him to train as a mercenary in Karate, so he did the same...
Part of the reason was that he had never considered these things or his own future. Another part was,
"Night City is truly awful."
Everyone subconsciously knew one thing: the 'poor' have no future.
Corporate exploitation, gang conflicts, accidents that could happen at any time—they would just become another number on the death lottery.
"Power..." David murmured the word. The power of the Sandevistan, the power of ninjas. He recalled that hellish five kilometers where tens of thousands of people couldn't stop him. That was power.
Yet even such a him was just a pawn in Saburo Arasaka's plan, arranged for the sake of the so-called Death Ninja's power.
"The power of ninjas, besides Karate, also includes 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain.'"
Seeing David begin to think, Schwarzer spoke up to guide him.
"Wind Forest Fire Mountain?" David had no idea what that meant and could only feel impressed.
"All environments and external forces are 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain.'"
"Surrounding attacks with superior numbers, verbal provocations to make enemies lose their reason, attacks from high ground against those below..."
"Wind Forest Fire Mountain is also a very important power for ninjas."
David understood. The so-called 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain' was simply 'momentum'—influence, all the power one could mobilize.
So the answer was simple—
"Please! I need even greater power!"
David pleaded with Schwarzer. This was his 'Wind Forest Fire Mountain.'
No grand principles, no dreams or future. What echoed in David's heart was the image of Lucy pierced by a bullet, giving rise to intense killing intent and hatred.
Saburo Arasaka's arrangement had been extremely effective. He understood love and bonds, and now he understood hatred. Using this hatred, he obtained the power of Death Ninja.
But he hadn't realized one thing: it wasn't just Lucy. David himself was filled with hatred toward him.
Severely injured and on the brink of death, with strong willpower and hatred, plus help from Schwarzer, the Kinkaku opened. A Ninja Soul appeared, seeking a suitable host.
"The best way to gain great power is to obtain a powerful Ninja Soul, but that would mean losing the chance to become a True Ninja, losing 'eternity.'"
Schwarzer sensed the gaze from the Ninja Soul and took out a seed of Cursed Energy, handing it to David—it was behind-the-scenes manipulation!
"Compared to 'eternity,' I'm more concerned with 'now.'"
David's eyes were resolute as he reached out and took the seed. His body, nearly shattered with compound fractures, somehow still had the ability to move—truly superhuman!
The hatred transformed into pitch-black Cursed Energy, reinforcing his body. Like Naraku, the conceptual ability brought by Cursed Energy became a ninja's passive skill, perfecting his embryonic Ninjutsu.
David instantly comprehended Shuriken-jutsu, able to endlessly throw various shuriken with immense power.
And the near-instantaneous movement, Sandevistan Technique, boosting his speed several times in a short burst, as if slowing the world itself.
These two abilities attracted the gaze from the Kinkaku. A Ninja Soul instantly appeared in David's consciousness—the Idaten Ninja, who also possessed invincible speed and mastered the Rapid Technique!
Not Naraku? Schwarzer wasn't very satisfied, so she continued speaking.
"Night City's suffering is partly because of corporations, and partly because of ninjas."
"Don't forget, Saburo Arasaka is also a ninja. His reason for wanting to kill you and Lucy is for the power of ninjas."
The seductive voice was actually behind-the-scenes manipulation, stirring David's hatred toward ninjas.
She didn't know why David harbored little hatred toward ninjas, which prevented him from attracting Naraku even with Cursed Energy—a power tailor-made for Naraku.
She didn't know her identity had long been mistaken for that of a powerful ninja, leading David to like ninjas by extension, believing 'good ninjas' existed.
"Saburo Arasaka is a ninja..." His hatred for Saburo Arasaka clearly surpassed that for ninjas, but it didn't matter! It was the same hatred!
A portion of his infinite hatred for Saburo Arasaka spilled over to ninjas—that was powerful hatred.
A Ninja Soul wrapped in black flames appeared, slapping away the Idaten Ninja's soul with one strike.
It was Naraku Ninja!
The existence of Cursed Energy plus hatred for ninjas—such a perfect match allowed Naraku to possess David.
His originally shattered fractures instantly healed, as if his status had been refreshed upon upgrade. After possession, David felt power surging from within his body.
The iconic Ninja Slayer outfit emerged on David. Blood and black flames enveloped him completely, finally transforming into blood-red ninja garb and an anti-gravity scarf.
Crimson eyes glowed—that was hatred for ninjas spilling out. The metal faceplate was engraved with 'Ninja Killer.' The true Ninja Slayer was born.
'It's been a while since a possession. This body is perfect—it even has Cursed Energy? Looks like I can kill to my heart's content this time.'
Naraku's Ninja Soul sensed David's body and was extremely satisfied. Young, powerful, and with Cursed Energy—it could inherit ninety percent of his power.
'Kid, lend me your body. I'll kill all the ninjas for you.'
He was already impatient to start slaughtering, especially since he sensed ninja presence right above!
In the past, possessors' hatred for ninjas was so strong that he could seize control directly, but this time was different.
Naraku found David hadn't lost his reason to hatred for ninjas, making it hard to take control. He could only try verbal inducement.
As Naraku began 'talk therapy' with David, he saw a figure he would never forget in his life, causing his soul to freeze for a moment.
'Long time no see, Naraku-san.'
'Lo-long time no see...'
They had only met once, in the Heian era, when Schwarzer taught him Cursed Technique: Karate.
'Your presence here—is it to stop me?'
Only ninjas could live this long! But then again, once a teacher, forever a father. Naraku respected her greatly, so he directly erased the memory of Schwarzer=ninja, not acknowledging her as one.
But not attacking Schwarzer didn't mean he would abandon slaughtering, so all ninjas must die!
Schwarzer also knew his existence's purpose was to kill ninjas, so she wouldn't persuade him otherwise. What she was best at was proposing an offer he couldn't refuse.
The contingency plan for Naraku had long been prepared. Schwarzer knew he couldn't refuse her, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.
"I have a new plan. Instead of killing ninjas, how about we take down the 'Kinkaku'?"
"?!"
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