The mysterious masked men formed a silent circle around Baku and Beru.
Their footsteps were light, their presence heavy—like shadows that had learned how to breathe.
One of them stepped forward.
"Beru," the man said coldly, his voice muffled behind the mask. "Run. This has nothing to do with you."
Beru clenched his fists. His chest rose slowly as he took a deep breath.
"And what if I don't?" he asked.
The masked man didn't answer.
He attacked.
In a flash, steel cut through the air, aimed straight for Beru's chest.
But before the strike could land, Baku moved.
He grabbed the attacker by the arm, twisted, and slammed him into the ground with brutal force. The earth cracked beneath the impact, dust rising like smoke.
That was the signal.
All the masked men rushed in at once.
The fight exploded.
Fists clashed. Blades screamed. Bodies flew.
They weren't weak—far from it.
But they weren't strong enough either.
Baku and Beru fought back-to-back, instinct guiding them, trust binding them. Still, numbers mattered. One of the attackers slipped through and struck Beru hard.
A sharp crack echoed.
Beru screamed as pain shot through his arm. His bones twisted at an impossible angle.
His arm was broken.
"Beru!" Baku shouted.
Blood dripped from Beru's lips, but he forced himself to stand.
Baku turned to him, anger burning in his eyes—not at the enemy, but at fate.
"You should go home," Baku said firmly. "This fight… this path… it's mine."
Beru laughed weakly.
"You don't get to decide that," he replied. "I chose this path. I chose to walk it with you."
Baku froze for a second.
Then… he smiled.
A real smile.
One filled with pain, pride, and brotherhood.
Together, they finished the fight.
When the dust settled, the masked men lay unconscious—or worse—around them.
The news reached him soon after.
The mysterious man sat alone in the darkness, fingers tapping slowly against a wooden table as he listened.
"So," he said calmly, "Baku and his partner defeated all of them?"
"Yes," a voice replied. "Every last one."
Silence followed.
Then the man stood.
"Find their exact location," he ordered. "Their house."
A cold smile formed beneath his mask.
"I'll go alone."
Meanwhile, in Misaki Clan territory, Nobu finally reached the gates of his home.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
The gate opened.
Every member of the family stood there.
Nobu's breath caught.
His son Kudo was the first to move.
Nobu smiled, his eyes burning with unshed tears.
Then he saw her.
His wife.
Their eyes met after so long.
Before he could take a single step—
A blade pierced through his back.
Blood sprayed forward as the sword drove into his body, aiming to cut him in two.
Nobu gasped.
Pain swallowed the world.
But death didn't claim him.
A powerful strike came from the side—the attacker was thrown back. Nobu's brother had arrived just in time.
The assassin fled into the darkness.
Nobu turned his head slightly, his vision fading. He looked into his brother's eyes.
He smiled.
Then he collapsed.
"NO!" his wife screamed.
Everyone rushed toward him.
"Wake up! Please, wake up!" his wife cried, shaking him.
No response.
His son Kaito clenched his teeth, fear and determination mixing in his eyes.
"Uncle," he said sharply, grabbing the car keys. "Help me. We're taking him to the hospital. Now."
At the same time, in a quiet park, Beru and Baku sat in silence.
The night felt wrong.
"Who do you think attacked us?" Baku asked quietly.
Beru stared at the ground. "Whoever it is… we'll find out soon."
His phone rang.
Beru frowned.
It was Nobu's phone.
He answered.
What he heard shattered him.
Crying. Panic. Fear.
"Nobu was attacked," his wife sobbed. "We're going to the hospital. Please—please—"
Beru didn't wait for the rest.
He stood up instantly.
Baku saw his face and knew.
They ran.
At the hospital, Beru paid everything—no hesitation, no questions.
The best doctors were called.
The operation began immediately.
Nobu's condition was critical.
Beru stood with Nobu's wife and children.
"I never wanted this," Beru said softly. "I just wanted to see him again."
Tears fell freely now.
Kudo and Kaito couldn't hold it anymore.
Beru pulled them both into his arms.
"Everything will be fine," he whispered. "I promise."
Hours passed like years.
Finally, the doors opened.
The doctor stepped out.
Everyone froze.
"He's alive," the doctor said. "But his condition is still extremely critical. No one can see him right now."
Beru's knees nearly gave out.
"The blade stopped just short of his heart," the doctor continued. "If it had gone even a little deeper… he wouldn't have survived."
The doctor looked at them seriously.
"Someone—or something—was watching over him tonight."
Beru closed his eyes.
Relief… mixed with rage.
Outside, somewhere in the darkness—
Someone smiled.