Chapter 44: The Bait is Taken

Ren had lost all patience. He fully unleashed the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan, the colossal, grey-white form of his Susano’o towering over the crumbling village. He intended to use its devastating power to crush Hoshigakure into submission, forcing his target into the open. At the same time, it was the perfect opportunity to test his new ability’s limits against live opponents.

His Susano’o ran rampant through the streets. Each swing of its massive, skeletal fists left craters in the ground and reduced buildings to rubble. The scene in the village was one of pure terror. The Hoshigakure ninja had split into two groups: one desperately, futilely attacking the invulnerable giant, while the other tried to evacuate the screaming, panicked civilians.

“Monster…! Devil! You’re a demon!” Ang screamed, his voice raw with heartbreak and horror as he watched his home being destroyed. “Stop it! Please, stop it!”

“I told you,” Ren’s voice echoed coldly from within the Susano’o. “Those who avoid me live. Those who stand in my way, die. I won’t stop until Summer Star shows herself.”

“Damn you! If you’re looking for someone, why attack our village?! She’s not even here!”

Ren ignored him, continuing his methodical destruction. He didn’t specifically target civilians, but many were inevitably caught in the collateral damage of the giant’s movements. He felt a flicker of something—not guilt, but a cold acknowledgment of the inevitable cost of his actions.

Innocent people suffer. But that is the nature of this world. Their only crime is weakness.

Not far from the village, Summer Star, the Star now secured, had been making her way to a secret hideout. She had been the village’s hidden guardian for years, honoring the Third Leader’s final wish to prevent the dangerous practice of training with the Star. When Hoshino had assassinated the Third and reinstated the practice, she had vowed to steal the Star back, waiting years for the right opportunity.

Ren’s sudden appearance and confrontation with Hoshino had provided the perfect diversion. She had infiltrated the training chamber, subdued the guards, and taken the meteorite fragment.

But as she put distance between herself and the village, the sounds of distant commotion grew louder. She turned to see plumes of smoke rising from Hoshigakure’s direction.

Huh? What’s going on? That’s… the village! A cold dread seized her. Something’s happened! I have to go back!

Her hands flew through seals. “Peacock Method: Soaring Wings!”

Chakra fanned out from her back, forming into large, vibrant wings. She leaped into the air, flying with desperate speed toward the village. As she drew closer, the horrific scale of the destruction became clear. Much of Hoshigakure was in ruins, shrouded in smoke and dust, the sounds of collapse and screams filling the air. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel-fire.net

“This… how is this possible?!” she gasped, her blood running cold. “It was fine when I left! What happened in such a short time?!”

She flew faster, soon reaching the village’s airspace. The cause of the destruction was impossible to miss: a gigantic, spectral demon made of grey-white chakra was rampaging through the streets.

No time to think!

She dove toward a high point behind the monstrous construct, her wings dissolving. As she landed, her hands formed new seals.

“Damn you! This is unforgivable! Peacock Method: Bear Demon!“

A massive spectral bear, far larger and more defined than Hoshino’s had been, materialized beside her. With a furious mental command, she sent it charging at the giant’s back.

Ren, focused on the ninja before him and confident in Susano’o’s absolute defense, didn’t notice the attack from behind. The bear demon slammed into the Susano’o with tremendous force. It didn’t breach the defense or harm Ren, but the impact was enough to jolt the entire construct forward, causing it to stagger.

The effect on the watching Hoshigakure ninja was instantaneous.

“That’s… the Peacock Method! The Bear Demon! Is that Lord Hoshino?”

“Haha! Lord Hoshino is back! That brat Ang lied about him being dead! Unforgivable! After Lord Hoshino defeats this monster, I’ll teach him a lesson!”

Hope surged through them. They believed their strongest warrior had returned.

But others were more observant.

“Wait… that’s not right. Why is he wearing a gas mask? And look… that Bear Demon is bigger than Lord Hoshino’s. The chakra feels… different.”

“You’re right… it does.”

“If it’s not Lord Hoshino, then who is it? Whoever it is, their Peacock Method is even stronger!”

“Does it matter? They just attacked the monster! They’re on our side! The stronger they are, the better for us!”

Ren, finally noticing the new threat, halted his destruction. He turned the Susano’o’s skull-like head to look at the newcomer.

So she finally shows herself, he thought. Summer Star.

The Hoshigakure ninja, seeing the giant pause, made to attack again, but the masked figure raised a hand.

“Don’t approach!” Summer Star commanded, her voice firm. “You are no match for him. Do not attack!”

Though frustrated, the ninja knew she was right. They held their positions, weapons ready but making no move to charge.

“Hmph. Took you long enough,” Ren’s voice boomed from within the Susano’o. “But you’re finally here… Summer Star.“

A ripple of confusion went through the defenders at the name.

“Summer Star? He knows her?”

“Summer Star? Is there a ninja that powerful in our village? I’ve never heard of her.”

“I think I remember that name… didn’t she die ten years ago? How can she be here…?”

Summer Star ignored the murmurs. She didn’t have time for explanations. Her surprise was evident in her posture.

“You… you know who I am? You came for me? No… you came for the Star!“

“Of course I came for the so-called Star,” Ren stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. “There’s nothing else in this wretched place worth my time. I know you have it. Hand it over.”

“You attacked the village… just to draw me out?” Her voice was laced with disbelief and fury.

“Yes. A simple and effective strategy. I knew you, the secret guardian, would appear if the village was threatened. Now, stop wasting my time. Hand over the Star.”

“You monster! You did all this… for that?!” Rage overwhelmed her. “Unforgivable! I will make you pay for the lives lost today!”

She formed her seals again, her chakra flaring violently. “Peacock Method: Bear Demon!”

The massive chakra bear reformed and charged once more, a roar of pure fury echoing from its spectral maw.

Ren simply watched, the eyes of his Susano’o glowing with cold, crimson light. The real battle was about to begin.

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