The Wolf Inside the Shadow

When I vanished from my spot and arrived in front of Eiji, I then aimed a stab through his heart using my claws cloaked by Chidori.

"CHIDORI: CLAW STAB!"

I said while my hand was stabbed right through Eiji's chest with his eyes wide open from shock.

He wasn't even able to react from what I did to him.

Before he was able to succumb to his final rest, I whispered.

"Be glad that I'm working on a team right now. If I weren't, you would have experienced twice the pain Mouse went through." I said.

'Forgive me Mouse for I wasn't able to kill him the way you were killed. You may rest now in peace, knowing that the man who killed you wouldn't be able to harm other innocent people.' I prayed from my heart to my comrade's soul from the afterlife.

After I killed the leader, I then first went to Ken and Kaori to kill the man named Hachi. I then helped the other guys from their fight but Inoue was injured from her battle with the 2 ninja's named Riku and Miko.

Before I killed the one who was named Riku, I then held him in the neck.

"Where are the 2 Anbu's Corpse that you have killed?!" I asked with my Sulong Eyes.

"We burned their bodies after we looted their corpse. Please don't kill me. I have 3 children who are waiting for me to get back h..." He said, but before he could finish his sentence, I've already slashed him by the throat.

"Why did you…." Shiroe was about to yell at me but I gave him the most powerful killing intent that I could muster with my normal eyes.

His feet crumbled like tofu and he kneeled in front of me with a very scared and pale face. He wasn't able to even breathe from the sheer force of my killing intent.

Before Shiroe could have done something embarrassing like pissing his pants or something dangerous like killing himself to escape the killing intent. Inoue then yelled as loud as he could since even Nemu and Shinji, as well as Ken and Kaori, even though they weren't the target of my killing intent, was experiencing the same effects in a low setting.

"DAISUKE!!!!!" Inoue yelled one last time.

I then canceled the killing intent when I thought that it was enough to silence the guy the rest of the mission. I then went to the corpse of the 6 ninjas and tried to search them of Mouse and the other unidentified Anbu's belongings that I can bring back home.

I picked Mouse's Mask and Boar's Mask that I found from 1 of the fake Anbus. The other mask that was used by the 3rd fake Anbu was just a fake mask since I know that Snake recently went to a different mission. But as a precaution, I still took the mask and sealed it in a storage scroll along with 2 Standard Anbu Katana and Mouse's Pendant of her fiancé.

After sealing all of the things that belonged to the Mouse and Boar, and also looting anything that we can use. We then made our way to the Land of Valley since it was already too late to retreat and we may as well choose to finish the mission.

When we arrived at the Land of Valley and stealthily entered the village. Kaori and Ken then led us to a secret passageway that will lead us to a place where we can rest and get Inoue treated from her wounds that we just did a first aid.

After Inoue was treated by the Doctor that Ken brought, Kaori then spoke to us.

"Everyone, thank you so much for all the help that you have given to us but this will be our farewell. You can leave as soon as Inoue san gets healed from her wounds by following this map. The map will lead you to an underground passage that leads to an exit in the forest near where we entered. You can then make your way back to the Bridge of Ghost and get back home." Kaori said.

"Thank you, everyone." Ken also said while both of them were bowing their heads at us.

After they said what they wanted to say, Kaori then lifted her head and when she did, it met my eyes. She had a pleading look that is asking for help but she can't say it since we have done enough. She then broke the eye contact and walked out of the room while Ken was still talking with Inoue and the others.

I then went out of the room as I thought about everything that happened through our travel to the Land of Valleys.

The whole way that we've been traveling from Konoha to the Land of Valleys, Kaori had been stuck with me since the day I first saved her and the night I gave her a good night hum.

Since then, whenever we had our break for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just the plain water breaks. She will stick with me wherever I go and when I asked her why she said that she feels safe whenever she's around with me and she'll tell me random things here and there to make conversations with me.

At first, I was annoyed by her antics but I immediately knew that with her being a princess and having this kind of mission wherein she bargained her life with death to try and save her family from their uncle, she never got to enjoy much of her time as a child and she doesn't have anyone that she can call a friend since she has only been with Ken and her family throughout her life.

I then just entertained her with her simple conversations until she just opened up and talked with me even during our walk through the jungle on our way to the Bridge of Ghost.

She has already considered me a friend and it also reflects right now that she is not asking for our help because she knows that the mission that she's going to do is really dangerous and might lead to her death.

If we join them, then we might die alongside them when their Uncle retaliates.

"Kaori, here, take this." I said while I gave her an Anklet that has a beautiful Wolf Seal on its pendant.

"What is this Dai Kun?" She asked.

"If you ever got yourself in danger, I'll be there and I'll save you, okay?" I said.

She then looked at me for a second and put the anklet on her right ankle.

"I'll take you up on your word Dai Kun." She said while I nodded at her.

Ken then went out of the room and shook my hands in gratitude. They then made their way out and went to the passage we entered earlier.

They headed to a different passageway that I think leads to Kaori's Father, the Daimyo's House.

I then checked if I can sense the anklet I gave to Kaori and I was able to sense her chakra.

When I was able to confirm that it works, I then entered the room and said to Inoue and the others that I'll try to find someplace where I can rest alone. Then I exit the room and used the anklet as a beacon of Kaori's location. I then sank from my shadow and appeared inside Kaori's own shadow. I then waited for the right moment to appear if ever she's in danger.

'For now, I'll close my eyes and rest.'