The three Sand Village ninja followed Akashō into the cave. One of them took out a fire starter, its faint glow barely illuminating a few meters around them.
The four moved forward in a winding formation for a full minute before the middle-aged ninja finally frowned.
"Kid, are we there yet?"
"Not yet. No need to rush."
Akashō turned back and smiled at him. In such a hurry to die?
If he weren't wary of the three having some kind of life-saving trick, he would've made his move the moment they entered the cave.
Otherwise, if even one of them escaped and spread information about him hiding here, it could draw that Magnet Release duo to hunt him down. Then this place—his only safe haven—would turn into his grave.
"Ah, we're here."
While thinking, they had already reached the end of the cave. The middle-aged ninja looked at the stone wall ahead, puzzled.
"There's nothing here."
"There are obvious damp marks."
The ninja holding the fire starter crouched down, staring at a patch of ground that was completely different in color from the surroundings. He pinched a bit and brought it under his nose.
"It's urine. Someone definitely stayed here."
Watching this, Akashō's mouth twitched. These ninja… are they always this dedicated?
"But there's really nothing here."
The middle-aged ninja thought for a moment. That Kokushibo could return at any time. Since there was nothing important, it would be better to withdraw quickly and avoid getting trapped, then keep watch outside the cave instead.
But if they did that, the fact that the three of them had been here couldn't be allowed to leak…
He turned to look at Akashō, who had remained silent the whole time. At that moment, Akashō was smiling right at him.
"What, finally thinking of making a move?"
The three Sand Village ninja were all stunned.
"To think you'd harbor killing intent toward an innocent child who looks no older than five."
"You ninja really are ruthless."
The middle-aged ninja quickly drew a kunai from his waist, his gaze full of vigilance.
"Who exactly are you!?"
"Heh."
Seeing their expressions shift so rapidly, Akashō found it amusing, his grin stretching almost to his ears.
"Aren't you looking for me? And now that you've found me, you can't even recognize me?"
Akashō took two steps forward. His small figure suddenly grew taller than all three of them, forcing them to look up instead of down.
In the dim firelight, his six eyes rotated in different directions, each locking onto one of the Sand Village ninja.
"K–Kokushibo!?"
The sight shattered their composure. Aside from the middle-aged ninja, the other two collapsed straight onto the ground.
Even the middle-aged ninja went stiff, his eyes wide as his pupils trembled uncontrollably.
So this is what they call pupil quaking?
Akashō watched him with interest.
To be honest, seeing their reactions brought him a strange sense of pleasure. Not just during the year since he transmigrated—even in his previous life, when playing games everyone else enjoyed, he had never felt the same excitement. It all seemed dull to him.
After coming here, he had lazed around for a year, then only mechanically pursued the system's objectives—though part of that was his own desire for power.
But now, this feeling… it made him think he might have finally found something he was truly interested in.
Even if he couldn't quite tell whether it was their sudden fear that fascinated him, at least his future life wouldn't be so boring.
While Akashō was pleased at having found a purpose, the middle-aged ninja's mind was nearly bursting from the chaos of his thoughts.
Everything had flipped too quickly. He couldn't understand how a harmless-looking child had turned into Kokushibo.
If that was the case, why didn't he kill them from the start? Why lead them deeper inside instead?
Just for twisted amusement?
No… impossible!
The middle-aged ninja suddenly recalled Kokushibo's title—Moon Sword Demon.
That's it. Every report of Kokushibo's appearances had been at night… or in places without light!
"You… can't stand sunlight?"
He voiced a guess he could hardly believe.
A monster capable of rivaling a Kage… unable to face the sun!?
Akashō raised an eyebrow in surprise. Well now, they actually figured it out.
But what difference did it make?
"As a reward, I won't keep you around to torture."
Akashō smiled faintly. A Blade of Living Flesh shot out from his palm, and with a casual slash, the middle-aged ninja was instantly decapitated, blood splattering across both sides of the stone wall.
The sight drove the remaining two into even deeper terror.
"As for you two… let's take our time."
Akashō stepped toward the two slumped on the ground.