In the Land of Waves, inside an extrely well-hidden small estate.
More than a dozen maids carried in platter after platter of lavish food, set everything in place, then stood respectfully along both sides.
At the enormous dining table sat only a single person—Gatō, the man Shinji and Hidan were searching for.
At this mont, Gatō wore tea-colored round glasses, a white napkin tucked into his collar. Holding a knife and fork, he was working on a steak that was still oozing blood, then rudely stuffed it into his mouth, tearing and chewing at it in a way that made one deeply uncomfortable just to watch.
Yet no one present dared to show even the slightest hint of disgust. Everyone lowered their heads.
After a while, once the food on his plate had been devoured like a whirlwind, Gatō wiped his hands, picked up the glass beside him, and downed the red wine inside in one go.
"Today's at was bland," Gatō said. "Tell the chef his entire family's lives have been spared. But as punishnt, sell them all into slavery. Oh right—I'll allow him one day each month to visit his family."
"Yes, Lord Gatō. Your rcy truly illuminates the entire sky!"
The butler's praise ca right on cue, appropriately tid and just a bit over the top.
Gatō was clearly very pleased. In fact, he sincerely believed himself to be extraordinarily rciful. After all, he had already been prepared to send that entire family down below to reunite in death, yet in the end he rely condemned them to a lifeti of slavery under him. Wasn't that more than enough to demonstrate his "rcy"?
Convinced he had just perford a trendous act of kindness, Gatō's gaze slowly swept over the maids nearby. Finally, he lifted his chin and pointed at the pair of sisters who had been delivered most recently.
The two maids trembled, their eyes dull and empty, then imdiately dropped to their knees and crawled over…
Before long, a look of pleasure spread across Gatō's repulsive face.
Perhaps noticing that Gatō was in a particularly good mood today, the butler—still staring straight ahead—took the opportunity to speak.
"Captain Okamoto sent word earlier. He says he has captured two ninja hired by the Oshima family and wishes to ask for your instructions."
Gatō, in the middle of enjoying himself, replied without a second thought, "Why ask ? Kill them directly. Then return them to sender—hang their heads on that old bastard's front gate."
"I will relay the order at once. However…" the butler hesitated slightly. "Captain Okamoto also wishes to take this opportunity to et you in person, to demonstrate his loyalty."
"Demonstrate loyalty? Sounds more like he wants to claim credit… hm!"
As Gatō's body shuddered, his thoughts abruptly changed.
"Fine, let him co. Bring those two along as well. I'm a bit bored anyway—finding so entertainnt wouldn't hurt."
...
"Not bad, Okamoto. Since Lord Gatō has agreed to see you this ti, as long as you perform well, you're sure to be valued in the future. Then I can finally rest easy handing my daughter over to you."
When the butler saw Okamoto, approval was evident in his eyes.
Okamoto imdiately seized the opportunity. "Thank you, Father-in-law. Without you speaking on my behalf, there would be no Okamoto today."
Seeing how tactful he was, the butler grew even more satisfied.
"So these are the two blind fools who attacked the estate in the northern woods?" the butler asked, shifting his gaze to Shinji and Hidan, who were tightly bound.
"Yes. To take them alive, quite a few of our n were injured." As he spoke, Okamoto lifted his clothes, revealing bloodstained bandages wrapped around his waist.
Seeing this, the butler was fully convinced and lowered his voice.
"When you et Lord Gatō, you can embellish the events a little—make them more dramatic, more thrilling. Lord Gatō is feeling sowhat tired and bored today. Perhaps you can use these two to provide him with so entertainnt."
"Understood," Okamoto replied. "I'll still need Father-in-law's guidance in the future."
"That's easy enough. But you must rember this—Lord Gatō hates being contradicted. No matter how outrageous his demands may be later, you must find a way to fulfill them. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I will rember."
After a round of conversation and reminders, the butler finally led everyone through several concealed "transfer points" and successfully arrived at Gatō's location.
Throughout the entire process, Shinji and Hidan said nothing at all, remaining extrely "compliant," allowing Okamoto to put on his performance.
And with his life firmly in others' hands, Okamoto didn't dare try any tricks and cooperated fully.
At last, Gatō—dressed like a mafia godfather—appeared before them.
Just as the butler was about to speak, Gatō, a cigar clenched between his teeth, raised a hand to stop him.
"I know you're rely hired by that old bastard, so I can give you a chance to live."
"But this opportunity is precious. Only one of you can have it."
"All right—thank my rcy."
"Will you choose to live alone, or choose to let the other live?"
As smoke billowed around him, Gatō couldn't help but reveal a sinister grin. He loved watching scenes of mutual slaughter like this.
For the sake of survival, family, companions—everything could be abandoned.
Afterward, they would kneel down in disgust, clutching the corpse they had personally killed, wailing in grief—while deep down reveling in the joy of having survived.
Gatō never hesitated to use the most vicious assumptions imaginable when judging human nature.
Oh, and once the two of them finished killing each other, he would have Okamoto kill the one still alive.
Turning that fleeting joy of survival into instant despair!
At that mont, the hollow guilt and remorse of having "killed" a companion would gnaw at their heart like ants—pain that could surpass even death itself.
Just imagining such a scene was enough to make one feel refreshed and delighted.
"Hm? Why haven't you started yet?" Gatō frowned in displeasure.
No one stopped Okamoto as he stepped forward to untie Shinji and Hidan, because everyone knew what Gatō was expecting.
And they certainly weren't worried about these two causing any trouble.
After all, counting Okamoto, there were five chūnin among the guards present. Beyond that, hidden within the estate were no fewer than a hundred rogue ninja.
Before such overwhelming power, who would care about two prisoners?
What displeased Gatō, however, was that these two didn't follow the script he had prepared. Not only did they show no fear, but the way they looked at him was filled with undisguised malice and eager anticipation.
At that mont, Shinji took a photograph out of his chest pocket and compared it.
"So you're Gatō? Looks like there's no mistake. Target confird…"
For reasons unknown, Gatō's heart suddenly began to race. He instinctively sensed an imnse danger closing in around him.
No longer caring about any little diversion, he imdiately shouted, "Kill them!"
At the sa ti, Shinji spoke calmly, "You can start now, Hidan."
"Hahahaha! Hidan will offer all of you up as sacrifices to the Evil God!"
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