Chapter 35: Withered Flowers and Broken Wings

With a splash, Kaoru Asano's foot stepped into a puddle, soaking the hem of her pants. What bad luck, she thought, frowning slightly. She hurriedly entered the house, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

The moment she entered, her body went rigid with terror. A tall man stood silently in the center of the room. His muscular form was concealed beneath a black robe, and a bird-like mask gave him a menacing appearance.

—It was Owl!

"You've become too careless, Yami," Owl said slowly. "Normally, you would have noticed the bent grass in the yard and had more time to escape. Maybe you could have survived a bit longer."

"Owl-sama..." Kaoru swallowed hard, not daring to kneel as she usually would. She couldn't afford to slow herself down. But how had he seen through her?

Owl shook his head, staring at his subordinate. "After all this time, you've finally slipped up. When you hurriedly tried to get me to leave Amegakure, it raised my suspicion. Why did you want me gone? I guessed you were hiding something."

"Just because of that?" Kaoru asked bitterly.

"Anyone with a single suspicious trait is likely guilty of much more. You know how I earned the name 'Owl.'"

Owl, a member of Root, was infamous for his ruthless and bloody reputation. In his eyes, there was no room for punishment—only execution.

Kaoru gritted her teeth, knowing the man before her had made up his mind. She coldly retorted, "Owl, haven't you thought that one day Danzo-sama might kill you? Even within Root, many want you dead for your excessive killing."

"You're wrong, Yami. I won't die," Owl replied. "To Danzo-sama, I am a tool. As long as I get the job done, it doesn't matter how many I kill. You, on the other hand, are a disposable asset. Easily replaceable."

"A tool... Hmph, Owl, have you forgotten? The First Hokage created the village to prevent shinobi from becoming mere tools of war."

"The First Hokage was a great shinobi, but he couldn't change the world's true nature," Owl said, pointing at himself and then at Kaoru. "I am Danzo-sama's tool. You are my tool. And Yuto Hyuga is a tool for both the Third Hokage and the Hyuga Clan."

"You deceived me to leave Amegakure. Yuto Hyuga has been hiding here for a month. Tools rebelling against their masters is a grave crime."

"A tool must fulfill its duties and stay on its path. Any deviation means it is no longer a proper tool."

"Luckily, I'm here. I'll dispose of you and report everything Yuto Hyuga has done to Danzo-sama. Suspected of amassing wealth, being deeply involved with the Akatsuki, developing powerful new jutsu..."

"The information you provided this month has been very detailed, Yami."

Bang!

Before Owl could finish, Kaoru smashed through the window, her feet barely touching the ground before her chakra exploded, leaving a shallow crater as she sped away.

Run! Run! She had to escape! Her inner voice screamed. She covered ten meters in a blink, but her vision blurred, and her throat burned. Strength drained from her limbs like a broken dam.

Owl appeared before her. Blood dripped from his hand, which held a chunk of her throat. "I told you, tonight you're too careless and hasty. You didn't even notice my feigned lapse. As a tool, you only amounted to this."

With a crash, Kaoru's body hit the wall, her bones snapping. "Tool... disposed of," Owl muttered, crouching beside her as she took her last breaths.

Huh?

Owl pried open Kaoru's hand, finding a seashell. "A seashell... clutching it even in death..."

---

Takeda couldn't remember how many times he'd checked the time. It was now past midnight.

At first, he thought, "Women, always late," and patiently waited. But as time slipped by, anxiety gnawed at him. Did Kaoru return to Konoha? The thought tormented him as he stood under the red signpost.

Fear wrapped around him. Had something happened to Kaoru? He could no longer stay put. He left the signpost, desperately searching the streets for her.

He knew where Kaoru's house outside the base was. With little hope, he decided to check there, praying for a clue.

Amegakure was deserted after midnight. Though not under curfew, the constant rain made it an uninviting place for nightlife. The streets were almost empty, save for a few open bars. These places were popular, offering warmth and a chance to escape the cold rain.

Takeda ran through the chilly streets, his experience allowing him to quickly assess people. He soon stopped, frozen in place.

In one of the bars, a tall man sat with his back to him. The man wore a black robe and lazily toyed with a white seashell, stained with blood.

In an instant, Takeda understood. Rage erupted, obliterating his reason. Was it a trap? Should he seek help or plan an ambush? None of these thoughts registered.

Before he knew it, he was charging at Owl with his "Wing Blades" drawn.

Boom—

The sharp chakra weapons struck the table.

"A shinobi losing his mind falls for such simple tricks. How amusing."

In the rainy night, Owl laughed maniacally.

(End of Chapter)