8 Chapter 8
TN- There's a certain 'game' in this chapter and since I found the scenario interesting I put a little bit of extra effort in in editing it.
Does anyone have any horror novel recommendations?
***
Inside Sarutobi Mansion, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a grim expression as he clenched a dry cigarette between his teeth.
"That fool Mizuki must have a death wish, daring to manipulate Naruto and me," he muttered, regretting his decision to let Mizuki test Naruto.
In hindsight, he realized he should have sent an Anbu operative disguised as an enemy instead.
But it was too late for regrets now; he would have to find a way to mend this relationship later.
Naruto would be mad that he hid the truth.
Fortunately, Naruto was despised by everyone in the village as the only 'light' in Naruto's life full of darkness, Sarutobi believed he could manipulate the situation to his advantage.
"Now, let's witness if Naruto will lose control and, if so, whether he can master that power."
"Don't disappoint me, Naruto..."
...
On the other side.
Narut- no, Kaze silently took control of Naruto's body.
A chilling, murderous intent emanated from his eyes.
Even the ambient temperature plummeted to freezing levels.
Naruto was not the only one affected by Mizuki's recent words.
Despair, fear, unease, confusion, and self-blame all coursed through Kaze.
Memories of a dark and painful past flooded his heart like tidal waves.
It was this very turmoil that caused his blackening value to skyrocket by over 3200 in just a few minutes.
"I never expected you have so much hidden strength !"
Despite his tightly bound right hand, Mizuki showed no signs of panic.
He knew this was just a last struggle from a soon to be dead kid.
As for breaking free from the seal and unleashing the demon fox's power?
Ridiculous! If it were possible to break the seal from within, it would have been shattered long ago.
He had to rupture the external vessel for the demon fox to break free from the seal!
Once the demon fox was unleashed, no one would care if he escaped!
"Ah... Is this the scent of the real world?"
"I truly missed it."
After inhaling deeply, savoring the fragrance of the surrounding trees, Kaze once again focused his gaze upon Mizuki.
A tyrannical, murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
His grip on Mizuki's arm grew tighter, inching toward a crushing grip.
"You were just smiling so contentedly a moment ago."
As the words left his lips, a message from the system also arrived.
[Exchanged Taijutsu (Iruka) -50]
[Exchanged Taijutsu (Mizuki) -60]
[Exchanged Elite Taijutsu (Sarutobi Hiruzen) -800]
(The exchanged Taijutsu includes physical fitness, but as the Third Hokage is old, his physical strength has detoriated to Elite Jonin)
[Current blackening value: 3010]
Initially, Kaze had planned to directly exchange for the chakra mode of the one-tailed beast.
However, he ultimately abandoned that option.
He was uncertain about the intentions of the Third Hokage, and he had no intention of fleeing Konoha only to be pursued by the covetous eyes of Akatsuki and other villages.
Thus, he decided to endure for the time being and follow the timeline of the original plot.
When the time came to reach the Land of Waves, he would use his rampage to acquire the power of the Nine-Tails.
For now, per the original plan, he exchanged for the panacea of physical prowess.
"How is this possible!?"
Feeling a tremendous force and excruciating pain surging through his arm, Mizuki's expression finally lost its complacency.
He cast a distorted gaze upon Naruto, who appeared completely transformed.
"Are you the demon..."
Before he could even utter the word "fox," a resounding crack pierced the air!
"Ah!!"
The cries of agony reverberated through the night sky.
Kaze had forcefully ripped off Mizuki's arm after the body swap.
The limb dangled at an unnatural 90-degree angle.
With one arm crippled, Mizuki swiftly reacted.
His remaining hand, previously gripping Kaze's neck, quickly recoiled, attempting to tighten its grip once again.
"Filthy demon fox, die!"
Crack!
Another bone-shattering sound echoed.
Mizuki's arm, which had been squeezing Kaze's neck, flew into the air.
Meanwhile, Kaze stood there, sporting a bloodthirsty smile.
A kunai dripped with blood clutched tightly in his hand.
[Blackening value +2]
[Blackening value +3...]
This time, it seemed that the joy of revenge had returned, hadn't it?
With these thoughts in mind, Kaze advanced toward Mizuki, his smile gleaming brightly.
"Mr. Mizuki, you truly are feeble. You fail to arouse anyone's interest."
An elite Jonin-level taijutsu master pitted against an educated Chunin, truly an overwhelming difference of strength.
Mizuki, who had fallen to the ground, could feel the stark contrast in power before. He also sensed the transformation in Naruto's demeanor.
Though Naruto had been detestable at first, his eyes still held traces of childlike innocence and kindness.
Yet, Kaze, radiating violent murderous intent and deep resentment, was as terrifying as a malevolent spirit from the depths of hell.
Mizuki's realization triggered an overwhelming sense of fear, despair, and regret. His face contorted with these emotions.
"You're not Naruto... You... You're the fox!"
"You've broken through the seal!"
"Hahaha... The Nine-Tails?"
Kaze erupted into laughter, his face conveying an unadulterated sense of amusement.
"The Nine-Tails wouldn't waste time chatting with you or playing games."
"Playing games!?"
Mizuki's eyes, initially filled with gloom, now revealed a glimmer of hope.
So, it wasn't a fox demon after all, just a love-deprived child!
"I'll play with you. We can play whatever game you want!"
"Just let me go!"
Kaze didn't respond directly to Mizuki.
Ignoring the plea, he approached a gnarled, ominous tree and tapped its trunk with his kunai, sending shivers down Mizuki's spine.
An eerie smile stretched across Kaze's face, distorting his features into something otherworldly.
"Let's indulge in a little game of ghost hunting, Mizuki," he whispered, his voice dripping with wickedness. "If I count to 100 and fail to capture you, you'll win."
Mizuki's heart pounded in his chest as the sinister nature of the wager became clear.
"But remember, the price you pay for victory is your very life," Kaze added, his childlike words now laced with venomous malice that made Mizuki's blood run cold.
Driven by a desperate yearning to survive, Mizuki pushed aside his fear and mustered the strength to rise, despite the searing pain of his severed hand.
"100... 99... 98..." Kaze's counting voice echoed through the darkness, intensifying Mizuki's dread.
But in the next instant, a bone-chilling gust of wind cut through the air behind him.
Swish!
Mizuki could feel the sharp edge of the kunai graze his back, leaving behind a searing, burning sensation that seeped into every fiber of his being.
"Aaah!"
"75... 74... 73..." The relentless counting drowned out Mizuki's agonized cries, leaving him paralyzed with terror.
With gritted teeth, he forced his trembling legs to move, desperately trying to escape the clutches of this sadistic game.
Swish!
Another icy gust tore through the air, like a harbinger of doom.
"Aaah!"
Mizuki's right leg shattered at its root, causing him to crumple onto the ground, writhing in unbearable agony.
"40... 39... 38..." Kaze's counting became a macabre dirge, pushing Mizuki to his limits.
With tears streaming down his face, Mizuki summoned every ounce of his strength, dragging himself forward using only his chin, a grisly testament to his determination to survive.
"Just a little further... Only until 20... I'm still alive... I will not succumb..."
His ears strained to catch the dwindling counts, while his eyes remained fixed on the path ahead, a flicker of hope fueling his fervent desire for life.
"3... 2..."
The voice that reached Mizuki's ears triggered a glimmer of relief, the prospect of escaping becoming tangible.
Yet, the final count never came. Instead, a deafening silence engulfed the scene, broken only by the sickening sound of a kunai plunging through Mizuki's chest from behind.
"Hehe, Mr. Mizuki, you have lost," Kaze taunted, his voice dripping with sadistic triumph.
Pain radiated through Mizuki's body, his gasps for air growing shallow and ragged.
"I haven't... lost..." he whispered through clenched teeth, his determination refusing to waver.
His gaze shifted to the distant horizon, a flicker of defiance still burning within him, even as life slipped away.
[Blackening value +100]
[Current blackening value: 3300]
Kaze's revenge against Mizuki had earned him an additional 290 blackening points.
But there were consequences, both positive and negative.
*********
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