Thinking of the "killing the chicken to warn the monkey" display Hayate had just performed by carving up Alexandra, Murakami didn't hesitate long. He looked up, his voice trembling. "If I tell you the exact location of the Dragon Bone, will you spare my life?"
"I will lead the Hand in swearing eternal fealty to you."
Looking at the desperate Murakami, Hayate let out a cold laugh. "I don't need your fealty, I only need the location. I'm not running a recycling center for trash; not just any piece of garbage is worthy of entering my service."
To Hayate, the Hand's influence was negligible. If not for the system's Mission Hub requirements, he wouldn't have even bothered with a high-ranking position in the High Table, let alone this dying cult.
"Besides, I'm confident that if you don't speak, the other two will. If you talk now, I can make your departure quick. If you don't... well, I think you understand that there are things far more painful than death."
As he spoke, Hayate glanced at Shizune.
Shizune, a high-level medical ninja, understood the silent command perfectly. To someone of her skill, the art of torture was merely the inverse of the art of healing—she knew exactly how to keep a body alive while maximizing its agony.
She began to walk toward Murakami, her footsteps rhythmic and steady in the silent street. To Murakami, each thud sounded like the ticking of a death clock.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!" Murakami yelled before she could reach him. He knew the Hand was finished. There was no point in holding out only to be broken later.
Shizune stopped. Hayate nodded. "Good. Where is it?"
"The Dragon Bone is on the buses," Murakami gasped. "There is a black briefcase on the passenger seat of my bus. My portion is inside. Alexandra's portion is in the bus you destroyed—the one hit by the armored truck. All four of us brought our personal reserves tonight."
Hayate's eyes lit up with hidden joy. Four portions? He had expected only a single shared reserve. This was a massive windfall.
Fwoosh!
In a blur, Shizune vanished. A heartbeat later, she reappeared at Hayate's side, holding two black briefcases. She set them at his feet and stepped back.
Murakami nodded weakly. "Yes... those are the ones. The one on the left is mine."
Hayate gave a subtle nod. Just then, Iruka emerged from the smoking ruins of the building. "Lord Hayate, the first and second floors are total losses. Only the basement and its contents remain intact."
After hearing the damage report, Hayate looked at Murakami one last time. "Iruka, finish it."
Without a moment's hesitation, Iruka drew a kunai and drove it straight into Murakami's heart. The old man slumped over, his breath hitching once before he went still forever.
Hayate picked up one of the cases. Before he even opened it, a familiar chime echoed in his mind:
[Ding! Chargeable item detected. Would you like to recharge?]
No, Hayate thought, deferring the recharge for now.
The street fell into a heavy silence. Shizune looked at the two cases and hesitated. "Lord Hayate... can the Dragon Bone truly extend one's life?"
Iruka also looked over, curious. No one is indifferent to their own mortality—not even ninjas. Coming from a world where most died young on the battlefield, the concept of a natural, long life was a luxury. In this relatively peaceful world, the value of longevity was even more apparent.
"It can," Hayate replied. "These men, including Gao, were all over 400 years old."
The two ninjas sucked in a breath. The Hidden Leaf Village itself had only existed for a few decades and had already seen four Hokages. The idea that these weak old men had lived for four centuries was staggering.
"Then, Lord Hayate, you must guard these well. If there are no side effects, then they are..."
Seeing the look in Shizune's eyes, Hayate smiled. "The Dragon Bone can grant long life, but I won't be using it for that. To me, it is pure energy—a catalyst that allows me to bring more of our people into this world."
"Our people?" Shizune and Iruka whispered.
"Yes," Hayate said firmly. "Companions. You are all my companions."
Iruka's eyes grew misty. He had been the first to arrive, watching Hayate grow from a student to a master. He had always seen himself as a subordinate, but hearing Hayate call him a companion moved him deeply. Shizune, though new, felt the weight of the word take root in her heart.
"Lord Hayate," Iruka said with renewed fervor. "Where else can we find this? I will scour the earth to bring it to you!"
Hayate started to answer when his Sharingan suddenly flared.
Flicker!
He vanished, reappearing instantly on a nearby rooftop. His hand shot out, catching a figure in red who had been crouching in the shadows, preparing to strike.
It was Elektra. She had seen the agency in ruins and let out a soft gasp of shock—a mistake that had alerted Hayate.
Hayate didn't say a word. He struck a precise pressure point on her neck, knocking her unconscious instantly. He leaped back down to the street, carrying the limp woman.
Iruka's eyes widened as he recognized the red outfit. "Elektra?"
Hayate raised an eyebrow. "You know her?"