In the end, these Hidden Grass Village shinobi could only watch helplessly as their own kunai stabbed into their companions' throats, while at the same time, their companions' kunai pierced into their own necks. The rest of them fared no differently, including the two so-called leaders.
Karin, who had been lying on the ground on the verge of losing consciousness, was jolted awake by this completely unnatural scene. She even managed to lift her head slightly to figure out what was going on.
"Hahahaha!"
Akashō burst into wild laughter.
"Not enough, not enough!"
Then he raised one hand, and countless threads shot out from his palm, soaring into the air before dropping into the surrounding tents. Immediately afterward, a wave of chaotic noise erupted from inside. Over a hundred Hidden Grass Village shinobi, their bodies wrapped in bandages, staggered out uncontrollably, their faces filled with pain, confusion, and terror.
These shinobi were already wounded to begin with. Now, forcibly controlled by Akashō's threads, their partially healed injuries—thanks to Karin—were torn open again, even worse than before. Blood quickly soaked through their bandages.
The compounded agony made them groan and cry out. Amid the cacophony, each of them drew their kunai or weapons and began stabbing the injured companions beside them.
In just a few short minutes, all hundred of them collapsed one after another, having slaughtered each other. Only Akashō remained, standing there under his umbrella without having taken a single step, along with Karin, who stood frozen like a statue.
"There, all dead."
Akashō retracted his threads, turned around, and crouched down again, smiling as he looked at Karin. She instinctively shrank back, fear flashing across her eyes.
This guy really was a super demon. So many powerful shinobi, yet with just a few casual words, he made them die in such a bizarre way.
"I… I understand. You can… take my soul."
Karin closed her eyes, trembling as she stretched out her neck, looking as if she were ready to die.
"What are you even talking about?"
Akashō blinked, clearly confused.
"Did that hit to your head mess you up? How am I supposed to take your soul—do you think I'm a Shinigami?"
"Huh?"
Karin opened her eyes in a daze.
"Isn't that how it works? If someone helps you, you have to give up everything in return. Isn't that the kind of deal those legendary devils, Shinigami, or demons make?"
"You…"
Akashō's mouth twitched. As expected, a kid's imagination really runs wild.
"I'm alive. A shinobi. A powerful shinobi. Got it?"
He stood up and nudged the bite marks on her body with his foot.
"Enough nonsense. Get up already. Your wounds should heal on their own, right? I'm not wasting time learning medical ninjutsu."
"Ah… y-yeah, no problem…"
Snapping out of it, Karin endured the pain and struggled to stand up. So he wasn't actually a demon… that's good, that's good.
"But… since you're not a real demon, then why didn't you help me earlier when I said I'd let you use my ability?"
"Oh, your ability?"
Akashō raised an eyebrow. "Because it's useless to me."
He patted her head twice.
"Think bigger. The shinobi world is huge. Not everyone is interested in your ability."
"My ability… is useless to you…"
Karin tilted her head up, staring blankly at him. She had always felt anger, helplessness, and sadness over possessing this ability—but after hearing him say that, she suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of loss instead.
"But if it's not for my soul, and not for my ability, then why did you…"
She was about to voice her confusion, but halfway through, she suddenly remembered what she had said earlier.
Not soul, not ability… then what's left is—
Her body???
Karin's pale face instantly turned bright red. Forgetting even the wound on her hand, she covered her face.
"Ah—so that's what it is! B-but… but… I'm still really young, you know! It's not time for that yet! Geez, that's so embarrassing…!"
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