Greetings, readers:
Thank you for reading this fan-made work...
Year 1046 B.N. – August 24
Forest between the border mountains of the Land of Fire
The trees whispered a grim omen. The leaves trembled, not because of the wind, but because of the tension that slipped like an invisible beast between the roots. The bushes shuddered beneath the firm footsteps of Prince Yaskar's escort, advancing along a narrow red-earth path flanked by cliffs and wild thorns.
A disciplined formation of young warriors, dressed in black and bearing the symbols of the Vongola Clan, crossed one of the most dangerous mountain passes in the Land of Lomo.
At the front marched Ugetsu, a nobleman with a serene voice and a spirit of iron, his robe billowing like a banner of peace amid the war. On his back, Ugetsu's dual swordsmanship was evident, with his long katana (tachi) and three short swords (tanto) at his waist. His posture reflected lightness, but also firmness; the weapons rested as if they were part of his body. To his right walked Haru, with his short hair pulled back, holding a sword as refined as it was deadly between his hands. To his left, Knuckle, with his fists wrapped in bandages, advanced with heavy steps like bronze bells, setting the pace of the escort.
Behind them, a dozen teenagers —former orphans who now served the Vongola— and a group of armed guards belonging to Yaskar's entourage. Everyone was in formation. Alert to the slightest sound.
—Maintain the diamond formation —Ugetsu ordered without raising his voice—. No one stray even a millimeter. The path is treacherous.
Knuckle raised his gaze toward the heavy clouds fading in the distance, but then turned his attention to his surroundings.
—The weather is changing. The air is charged.
Haru tightened his grip on the sword.
—It's not just the weather… something is hiding behind this.
A murmur among the undergrowth.
A crack.
A sudden, wet sound:
Crack!
An arrow embedded itself in a tree —barely a few inches from Knuckle, who had tilted his neck to one side to dodge the arrow.
—Ambush! —Knuckle roared.
From the forest emerged hooded bandits —three at a time, five at a time, eight at a time… More than thirty adult men in total. Each one dressed in tattered clothes, wielding improvised weapons, with faces marked by sin and violence. They were a coalition group of Kaien, led by Saruo.
—Protect the prince! —Ugetsu shouted to Yaskar's guards, spinning his long sword with natural fluidity despite his stature.
Chaos erupted.
Swords clashed with spears and swords that came from an orthodox forge but were equally lethal to human flesh.
Knuckle's fists collided with the bodies of several spears, breaking them in half as a means of defense, and his masterful fighter's attack broke the ribs and teeth of some of the bandits.
The collision of young warriors against adult men.
It was tough, but if you were trained by the Vongola, teamwork became something natural, even against adults, and victory was not impossible.
Knuckle attacked first.
With an explosion of power and experience, he threw a hook that dislocated his attacker's knee. He rolled to one side and drove a sharp elbow into another man's stomach, leaving him breathless. His new style in this world combined boxing with Muay Thai: brutal and precise.
Another bandit appeared from behind with an axe, attempting to split Knuckle in two with a downward strike, but, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, the young fighter dodged with a quick jump and spun, slamming his kick into the attacker's nape with ruthless precision.
The result: a scream of pain and a twisted neck.
—Don't let a single one through! —he bellowed, facing three enemies at once.
Haru, meanwhile, moved as if he were dancing. His sword was light, but his training with Ugetsu had sharpened his reflexes. He blocked two swords with an elegant spin and counterattacked, striking one attacker's temple and another's knee with the blunt side of the sword.
—Squad captain, cover my back! —he ordered.
—Yes! —the teenager in charge of his unit replied.
The battle spread across the hillside. Arrows fell from the tree line. The sounds of combat rose like hot steam.
Ugetsu maintained the central position, near the carriage, without wavering. His attention was focused on Prince Yaskar, who remained inside, protected by four loyal men.
—Don't move —the Rain Guardian ordered the prince's escorts—. They have us surrounded. Don't let the prince become an easy target.
A gust of wind.
A sharp shriek.
A leap between the trees.
Ugetsu raised his gaze just in time to see a figure fall from a low branch. It spun through the air like a whirlwind and landed with its staff raised. It struck the ground in front of him with a crooked smile.
—Well, well. What a well-organized group —the newcomer said, sarcasm crackling as he spun the staff between his fingers—. But relax, I only came to talk… strange boy.
Ugetsu studied him carefully.
He was a humanoid creature, barely one meter and fifty centimeters tall, thin and wiry, with a wild energy coursing through every muscle.
His skin was covered in elegant brown fur, and his golden eyes gleamed with cunning. His pupils were round, deep, and perfectly centered within that golden sea, black as freshly spilled ink. He had pointed ears, partially hidden beneath a messy mane of dark brown hair with bright highlights. His teeth were small but sharp, and when he smiled, he revealed a pair of slightly prominent fangs.
A long, flexible tail —covered in the same brown fur— moved in sync with his emotions or battle strategies. He wore simple, worn clothes, adapted for quick movement. His weapon: a black wooden staff, reinforced at both ends with iron rings. It vibrated with the will of the monkey boy, as if it were alive in his hands.
—What are you? Are you with the bandits? Are you their leader? What is your intention?
Saruo raised an eyebrow.
—Seriously? You're not going to scream or call me a monster, or be surprised like the people around you?
—I asked first. And not answering… that is bad manners —Ugetsu said in a firm and serene voice.
Saruo clicked his tongue, half amused.
—Interesting… you've got guts, noble boy. I like that. Answer me, and perhaps I'll give you what you want to hear.
Saruo felt that Ugetsu was a noble because he dressed like one, and his mannerisms also reminded him of all those children from great families he had robbed before. But with one difference: this one did not piss himself at the sight of him.
Ugetsu did not lower his guard around Saruo.
—I have seen men become beasts… and monsters act with more honor than any human. I don't care what you look like. I care about what you do with your strength if you are going to be my enemy. So tell me… what do you choose to be?
For a moment, Saruo remained silent. Then he smiled, this time genuinely, lowering his center of gravity as someone accepting a duel with respect.
—My name is Saruo. I respect you now, noble boy.
Ugetsu frowned slightly and calmly drew his long sword.
—My name is Ugetsu. And it seems… that we will have to fight. Which means I won't be getting my answer the easy way.
—Oh, what bravery, noble boy! —Saruo replied, making small, playful jumps—. You know, once I'm done with you… that prince will be mine. And your people? Well, they're already occupied. Look, I pointed ahead.
Ugetsu did not need to look. The screams spoke for themselves.
As he analyzed his words, he realized that he did not possess Primo's insight when facing unknown enemies. Knuckle was fighting three attackers. Haru was fighting fiercely, holding the flank. Some of the boys had been pushed toward the cliffs.
—If you want to test my patience, go ahead. But I will not move. I am here to protect the prince. I trust my group.
Saruo laughed heartily.
—Oh, what confidence… but you know, I love it when I have the advantage!
He adopted his fighting stance: the staff held forward, his knees bent, his body constantly moving like a dancer in the wind. He possessed a savage grace —a technique shaped by the jungle of experience and cruelty.
Ugetsu adopted his stance —a combination of traditional kendo and the rich and highly valuable experience he had gained from the mafia.
Both inhaled deeply. And then…
Clash!
Saruo attacked first —a sideways leap, spinning through the air as he brought his staff down like a guillotine blade. Ugetsu blocked, firm and without blinking. The impact echoed like wood against bone.
The second strike landed directly on his ribs. Ugetsu deflected it. The third came like a thrust. Ugetsu spun and caught the staff with his free hand, throwing Saruo backward. The monkey stopped in midair, performed a somersault, and landed on his feet like a cat.
—You're good. I thought talking was your talent, boy! Now I understand why you're near the prince. You're the brains of the group now, aren't you?!
Ugetsu did not respond. He took a deep breath and advanced. He swung his sword. And then…
Crash!
They collided again.
A rapid succession of attacks, precise blocks, jumps, and feints. The battle was not strength against strength, but solid technique against natural and prodigious agility.
Behind them, Knuckle roared as he broke a spear with his knee.
—Haru, reinforce the left flank! They're surrounding us!
Haru, breathing heavily, nodded. He jumped toward an enemy who was attempting to reach the prince and brought him down, putting all his weight into a spinning kick to his knee. His eyes turned cold. He pulled a knife from beneath his clothes, hungry for blood, and with a swift thrust, he slit the fallen enemy's throat. Haru kills with cold precision. "That was the old Haru before he met the Rain…"
When the enemy was finished, calm returned. Fresh. Silent.
Amid the chaos…
The trees leaned as if they wanted to witness the fight. Saruo and Ugetsu continued measuring each other, blow after blow, breath after breath. Saruo's staff seemed to be wrapped in the very wind with every movement; with every sound of his staff, it struck Ugetsu's sword, which, despite being made of wood… did not give way.
—You don't break that easily, huh?! —Saruo taunted, spinning on one arm as he attempted a downward strike.
Ugetsu dodged by leaning his torso backward and, with a quick sideways movement, took advantage of the opening to slash at Saruo's leg. Saruo spun through the air, dodging with animal-like agility. He landed with a growl. His feet sank into the ground. His tail rose. His voice became deeper.
—Do you want me to get serious, protector?
—That is no longer my concern, Saruo —Ugetsu said, as one of his sleeves fell, torn by the friction of the staff.
The duel was not merely physical. Both read the other's will in every movement. Both knew that the first to hesitate… would be defeated.
Ugetsu took a step back. Then he revealed his first ace up his sleeve.
From his belt, concealed, he drew one of the three tanto —small black blades that were part of his fighting style.
—Knives? —Saruo said, tilting his head.
Ugetsu did not respond. He made a movement with his wrist, and the Rain Flame enveloped the knives. With refined, swift movements, Ugetsu sent the blade flying, leaving a trail of blue light from the Rain Flame.
Saruo sensed the danger, his fur standing on end. He dodged the first.
The second barely grazed his shoulder.
But the third… struck the ground directly in front of his feet.
—You missed —the monkey boy mocked.
Ugetsu smiled.
—I wasn't trying to hit you. I was marking the territory.
Then the ground exploded into a containment seal. Saruo barely had time to react before a spiraling network of flames rose, with blue lines attempting to slow his movements.
—WHAT…?! —he shouted.
He felt his movements becoming heavy, affected by the Rain Flame as if he were inside a prison of water.
Ugetsu did not waste any time. He ran toward him. He leaped with precision. His sword held high.
Crack!
Saruo's tail —which was unaffected by the flames— caught the staff and instinctively blocked the attack. Even so, the impact sent him flying two meters backward.
At the same time, he used the staff to strike the knife embedded in the ground.
He was not defeated yet.
—AAAAHHHH! —Saruo roared, shaking off most of the effects of the Rain Flame.
Ugetsu stepped back upon seeing the enemy recover somewhat from the effect of his flames, realizing that this time Saruo would be more.
More savage.
And more dangerous.
Meanwhile, on the right flank, defended by Haru and a squad of young warriors, things began to falter.
—They outnumber us! —one of the young fighters shouted, barely blocking an attack with his spear.
Haru did not shout.
His eyes were sharp.
Cold.
Too cold.
—Retreat. Something is happening.
—What?!
—Retreat to the edge of the cliff!
The squad reluctantly obeyed. One considered calling Prince Yaskar's personal guard, who were under less pressure, but dismissed the idea. Something told him they would not obey.
Haru lined them up in a straight formation, with the precipice behind them.
—Now. Frontal attack.
—They'll push us into the abyss?! —a boy asked.
—They will… but they won't know that I have something special prepared for them.
Then, with a whistle, Haru lit a round gunpowder bomb —given to him by Giotto for critical moments like this.
An explosion sent the enemies flying.
—NOW! —Haru shouted.
Taking advantage of the chaos around them, the squad charged with the unrestrained violence of a stampede. Trapped between the advancing flames and the cliff's abyss, the enemies succumbed to panic; several lost their balance and plunged into the void, while the advance collapsed, leaving multiple men unconscious after the initial clash. The rest, overwhelmed by terror, simply chose to flee. Three fell into the abyss.
Knuckle remained at the center of the chaos, covered in a thick mixture of sweat and other people's blood.
—One more! —he roared, delivering a precise elbow strike to the face of a bearded bandit who collapsed instantly.
However, the momentum of the battle suddenly froze. A seismic tremor traveled through the ground. It was not an ordinary sound; it was the dull vibration of colossal footsteps reverberating through the earth. Three colossal silhouettes emerged from the dense darkness of the forest. Although their actual height was close to two meters, from Knuckle's physical perspective —still possessing a child's build— those human masses towered like genuine giants of war, carrying heavy iron mauls.
—…What the hell is that?
Three enormous figures emerged from the forest. As tall as small houses, forged from muscle and scars.
Each wielded a weapon of war that matched their physical constitution: hammers, a mace, and a thick tree trunk used as a club.
—The Three Ogres of the North… —one of the boys whispered—. They're living legends!
Knuckle smiled.
His bodyguard became serious.
He removed his bandages.
The star-shaped Sun Flame ignited in his hands.
—Good. It's time to dance with giants.
And so began a battle where fists and fury composed a beautiful symphony, but hid brutal destruction.
Knuckle charged at them.
The first giant brought his hammer down in a descending arc designed to crush him. Knuckle did not retreat. Using the evasive footwork of an experienced boxer, he pivoted inward on his heel toward the enemy's guard, dodging the impact of the iron mass by mere millimeters. In that microsecond of an opening, he channeled the golden energy of the Sun Flame of Activation into his fists and unleashed a mini Maximum Cannon. The direct impact against the hammer's steel resonated with a metallic shriek, bending the weapon's head and sending the giant staggering backward from the sheer shockwave.
Only he remained standing against the energy that had been unleashed.
However, his childlike body had endurance limits when using the flames. The second giant took advantage of his imbalance and swung his club sideways, striking Knuckle squarely in the side. The force of the blow made his ribs crack and sent him violently crashing into the ground, but the Sun Flame and his immediate quick reaction minimized the enemy's blow.
An amber flash enveloped his torso, accelerating cellular regeneration to the point of welding the tissues together and sealing the bone fractures before the pain could shatter his concentration.
With a jump propelled by a high Muay Thai guard, Knuckle got back up. He knew he could not win a prolonged battle of brute strength, so he redirected his strategy toward his opponents' anatomy. He advanced with fluid, rhythmic movements, interspersing millimeter-perfect dodges with devastating counterattacks aimed exclusively at the joints.
With a hammer blow deflected by the redirection of his forearm, Knuckle connected a low circular kick (low kick) with his shin behind the second giant's knee, breaking the tension of the ligament. As the colossus fell to his knees, the small warrior caught the third giant's extended arm, rotated his body around the enemy's axis, and unleashed a focused impact of pure Flame directly into the elbow. The bone gave way with a dry crack. Knuckle seized the colossus's disabled arm as a lever, using him as a human shield to deflect the final attack and finish off the exposed joint with an upward knee strike to the chin.
The final impact reverberated across the clearing. The three giants lay fallen, incapacitated upon the fractured earth.
At the center of the devastated terrain, surrounded by the warm halo of his pacified Flame, only Knuckle remained standing. Breathing to the steady rhythm of victory as if he were in a boxing ring.
…
Inside the carriage, the prince trembled with fear. The explosion of Haru's bomb and the feeling of the ground vibrating beneath the ogres' footsteps had terrified him.
—…This shouldn't be happening. I am a prince of the Land of Fire. Who dares go against us? —he whispered.
Out of fear, the prince left the carriage.
Bang!
When the dense cloud of smoke exploded.
Ugetsu ran toward the fog, leaping through it.
Only the echo of Saruo's distant laughter answered, as he enjoyed the chaos while the bandits fled, killing comrades who could not escape so as not to leave witnesses. The Vongola could not pursue them due to their small numbers and their injuries.
—Prince! —he shouted.
The smoke dispersed.
Above them, a figure disappeared, leaping between branches, rooftops, and cables. It was Saruo, carrying the prince, wrapped in a gray cloth, riding a horse so fast that it became almost invisible among the shadows.
—Don't let them take him away! —Ugetsu shouted.
But Saruo only responded by showing his rear to Ugetsu as he struck himself with mocking laughter.
—I'll find you! —Ugetsu shouted, clenching his fists—. Even if I have to make it rain in hell.
Ugetsu clenched his jaw. He felt as though he were a wall that had just been cracked in his manners and tranquility, not because of a lack of strength, but because he had placed too much faith… and underestimated his enemy.
…
The gallop was steady, dry, like a roll of war drums that no one had ordered.
Saruo felt the vibrations travel up his spine, settle in his teeth, and resonate through every thought. Behind him, Prince Yaskar was tied up, his body rigid, his muscles still defying the ropes. But he no longer spoke. Not for the past two hours.
A good sign. Silence, Saruo thought, always announced an important conversation.
The landscape dissolved around him: trees as thin as forgotten spears, wind heavy with ancient ash, and paths branching as if the land itself were unsure where to go. In that ownerless land, Saruo planned to twist the fate of a kingdom.
—You know what's funny about all this, Prince? —he said without turning his head.
Yaskar did not answer. He only wanted to know what the monkey boy's plans were.
—If you screamed right now, no one would come. Not your brothers, nor your generals. In situations like this, the title of prince does not have much power to protect you from losing your life.
The horse descended a rocky slope. Saruo took advantage of the rhythm to straighten himself, and then, in a calm, almost theatrical voice:
—Let's pretend I haven't kidnapped you. I'm inviting you to act with me. We're going to fake your disappearance. We'll make it look as though the Land of Lomo was negligent. They'll believe that the king's brother fell into the wrong hands. Do you know what that causes? Panic and war. In the small and annoying Land of Lomo. The great powers fear losing their advantage. And in that fear… doors open.
Silence. But not for long.
—You're crazy —Yaskar said dryly—. Why would I help you?
Saruo smiled, that half-smile that never reached his eyes.
—Not me. Someone you already know. The Fang.
He turned his head just enough to let the nickname hang between them like a blade.
—He is my boss.
Yaskar tensed. Not because of the ropes. But because he had heard the nickname of one of his allies who had helped him conspire in many of his atrocities in the past.
He closed his eyes. A futile attempt to isolate himself from the world. But inside, everything began to burn. The minutes of silence had not been empty; they had been restraint. Every word from Saruo had emptied him from within, like drops of a carefully planned intention.
The Fang. That name had always been a shadow over his sins. A myth of manipulation to Yaskar, present in the background of many nobles in his country. And now he was standing before the subordinate of that beast. Tied up. Without a sword. Without knowing whether to ignore him or listen to him.
But there was something worse. Something he did not want to admit: Saruo was not what he had imagined.
He was not tall. He was not imposing. He wore no armor, nor did he display his wounds through his fur. And yet, every gesture carried weight. Every word fell like a stone into a pond. Yaskar knew that Saruo was young, perhaps even a child. He had seen others of his kind before:
strange beings who had appeared ten years ago during a popular slave auction, forging a great name: Kaien the Fang. Most of those strange monkeys had committed suicide or died, unable to endure slavery.
But he did not know that one of them was still alive. Much less one so strong. The one who had kidnapped him.
Yaskar had observed him silently throughout the journey. At first, with disdain. Then, with curiosity. And now, with a growing unease he could no longer contain.
Damn you, he thought. You look like a child playing at being a monster… but perhaps you already are one.
He thought of his brother. The endless meetings. The speeches. The cowardly decisions. The slow and sordid surrender to diplomacy. He thought of what he would have said if he were here:
"Compromise, but stay out of it. I owe that old man a favor. Hold your position. Observe."
Saruo.
Who the hell was this boy really? Could he be dangerous to the future, like the Vongola children? And what role did he play alongside Kaien? Did this boy know anything about his own origins?
Saruo spoke.
—You came to the Land of Lomo to investigate whether the rumors about the Vongola were true. And they are. They are a threat. They are patiently influencing this continent. If we don't make a move now, in a few years we won't have any good moves left. And you know it.
Yaskar looked at him with that restrained understanding Saruo knew all too well. It was fear searching for a way out.
—You really work with Kaien… —Yaskar murmured—. The Fang.
Saruo nodded with a pride that burned in his eyes.
Yaskar clenched his jaw. He knew it perfectly well, thanks to his brother. And he owed that man many favors.
Saruo leaned forward slightly, not arrogantly, but with the calm of someone who knew the board had already changed.
—Let's make a pact. A false disappearance. You return to your country in secret. The Vongola believe they have caused a diplomatic crisis. They expose themselves. And when they lower their guard… we finish the job.
The horse stopped at the top of a hill. The valley opened beneath them, serene, as if unaware of the invisible war that had already been woven across its surface.
—And what if I refuse? —Yaskar asked.
Saruo dismounted. He walked toward him. He looked him in the eyes and lowered his voice. It was not harsh. Only honest. So honest that it hurt.
—Then I will complete the mission. They will say that a prince died at the hands of bandits. And the plan will continue… only with more blood.
The breeze carried the smell of smoke. Real or imagined. It did not matter.
Saruo walked a few steps away, his silhouette outlined against the last light of day. And, almost to himself, he murmured:
—The first move has already been made.
—Tell me something —Yaskar finally said—. If this is a play and my country, your boss, and the Vongola have the leading roles… what role is yours?
Saruo did not turn around. He continued looking at the horizon.
—The one no one sees coming.
Yaskar let out a dry laugh. It was not mockery. It was resignation. He knew things about the boy that he would use as a trump card against Kaien if he ever found himself cornered.
—Fine. We'll fake the disappearance. But one more thing. If at any point I discover that you're lying…
Saruo turned around. For the first time, he looked directly into his eyes without holding back.
—Then kill me. But make sure it's quick. Because if I fail, my father will fall as well. And if Kaien falls… so will you in your country.
Yaskar swallowed.
…
Yaskar. He was no longer bound by ropes.
He was bound by decisions and a commitment that he found interesting. One in which Kaien's group and Giotto's were going to fight each other.
And what he found most amusing was that Kaien had no idea that Saruo had left the prince of the Land of Fire alive, knowing that he knew some of his secrets.
...
What had once been a battlefield was now a resting place for the wounded... at least in appearance. The metallic smell of blood and earth —mixed with odors similar to those of gunpowder— still lingered in the air, like an echo of the recent violence.
Ugetsu changed his clothes, as his previous ones were stained with mud and sweat. Both he and Knuckle looked toward the horizon. A familiar sensation stirred.
A burst of energy ignited at the edge of the horizon, and a figure tore through the trees like lightning. Power surrounded him like a comet. His forehead burned with the Sky Flame in its wildest and most explosive form: Last Will Mode.
—PRIMOOOOOOOOOO! —a shrill voice squealed from the sky.
—I did it… and that was my Last Will! —the young man roared, carrying a small spirit on his back.
Giotto, wrapped in incandescent power, advanced at superhuman speed. Although he wore nothing more than a loincloth and his body was covered in mud and leaves, his eyes burned with unwavering determination.
—Forward, sky pony! The Vongola Express never stops! —Lampow shouted, waving his arms like the ridiculous drummer of some imaginary army. His hair was also full of mud and leaves.
Giotto came to an abrupt stop in front of the group, so fast that Lampow was sent flying through the air due to the sudden halt.
Then… the flame disappeared.
Without warning, the energy surrounding Giotto vanished with a sigh. His legs gave way. The boy fell to his knees and then face-first onto the ground, sliding as he struck the earth. His body no longer responded. Only the rough sound of his breathing kept him clinging to this world.
—BOSS! —Knuckle and Ugetsu shouted in unison.
Both ran without thinking. Knuckle reached him first, lifting Giotto into his strong arms like a fallen younger brother. Ugetsu spread his cloak over the ground to improvise a stretcher.
—Hey! Lesuya! Talk to me, please! —Knuckle pleaded, gently slapping his cheeks.
Giotto opened his eyes halfway, panting. A weak smile appeared on his dirt-covered lips.
—Thanks, guys… I think I overdid it a little…
—Idiot… —Ugetsu murmured in relief, kneeling beside him—. You always make a dramatic entrance. One day you'll give us a heart attack instead of the enemy.
Knuckle let out a bitter laugh and began tending to his boss's exhausted legs.
—Easy, Boss. Your legs will heal. It seems your muscles have been torn from too much strain. But after this… no running for a while.
—Again? —Giotto groaned weakly.
—Yes, again. Running halfway across the region like a lunatic on fire… what were you thinking? —Knuckle added.
Meanwhile, Lampow —who had been thrown from Giotto's back— shook himself like a wet cat and growled:
—What a humiliating landing! You made me fly like an idiot, Primo!
Ugetsu gave Lampow a knowing smile. The little spirit crossed his arms and snorted.
—Welcome back, Lampow. I see that not even the underworld managed to change you.
Knuckle, who had just noticed Lampow, said:
—Aaaah! Lampow, you're here… When were you summoned? Now I understand why Primo abandoned the escort.
No one knew why Giotto had left on his own… except Ugetsu.
Lampow crossed his arms and turned his back to Knuckle's comments.
—Well… at least we did it. And I still have a little energy left in my horn… ready to electrocute someone if they want a second round.
Giotto raised an eyebrow, exhausted, but managed to form a soft and affectionate smile.
—Enough, you two —Giotto interrupted gently—. This is not the time for jokes.
The camp was surrounded by the aftermath of the battle. Several injured Vongola teenagers lay on improvised blankets while Knuckle tended to them. Haru continued patrolling near the northern sector, still affected by the failure of the mission.
Ugetsu stood up. His normally calm face tensed.
—Yaskar was kidnapped, Primo. By a strange being… something resembling a monkey. We did everything we could, but the enemy was intelligent and creative. He couldn't defeat me one-on-one… perhaps we were evenly matched. But he wasn't fighting to win, he was fighting for the prince, and I lost.
—A monkey? That sounds interesting to me —Giotto asked, slowly getting up with Knuckle's help.
Ugetsu stared into the dark forest.
—He's a boy, judging by his behavior, more or less our age, and he is fighting for the prince. I saw him. I saw tremendous potential… someone who could one day rival even you or this organization. And he escaped; we couldn't do anything.
—So… is the fun over? —Lampow asked, unusually serious this time.
Ugetsu closed his eyes for a moment. Then he opened them again, focused and firm.
—No. He'll come back. And next time… he'll be better prepared.
Giotto remained silent. He looked at his own hands, still trembling from the discharge of Last Will Mode. Then he looked at his injured friends, at his battered team…
His heartbeat had slowed.
Heavy.
Determined.
—Then… we have to prepare ourselves. Investigate this new and dangerous enemy who actually managed to hurt us —he finally said, his voice grave—. This time I wasn't here. But next time… I will be. And I won't take a single step back.
Knuckle looked at him, then looked at Ugetsu. Both nodded.
—For the Vongola Family —they said in unison.
—And for those who must be prepared for what comes behind us —Giotto added.
...
Year 1046 B.N. – August 30
Gray clouds hung over the capital of the Land of Lomo. The rain barely touched the rooftops, as if the sky hesitated to pour completely. Inside the royal chamber, Lesuya Luciano Sawada Gravina —still covered with a cloak stained with mud— was escorted before the throne by Reijiro.
In the council chamber, silent as a marble tomb, King Kiku waited. His face still retained a trace of youthful virtue, while his trembling hands remained hidden beneath his purple royal robes because he was still very afraid of Giotto.
Giotto stopped a few meters from the throne. He did not bow to his puppet, even though the puppet was the leader of his country by title, because in truth Giotto was the head of the Land of Lomo.
—Kiku, I have returned —Giotto began, his voice firm and without embellishment—. I regret to inform you that we failed to protect Prince Yaskar.
Kiku swallowed with difficulty. The echo of those words struck him like a war trumpet announcing the inevitable.
—Is the… prince dead? —he asked, his voice breaking.
—We do not know for certain —Giotto replied—. He was captured in a carefully planned ambush; too carefully planned, I would say. Although we managed to repel most of their attacks and defeat their forces, they took Prince Yaskar.
King Kiku collapsed onto his throne as if his bones had broken. Sweat beaded across his forehead. He looked at Giotto like a prodigy who had failed a fundamental lesson for the first time.
—What… what consequences could this bring?
Giotto remained silent for a few seconds. Then he spoke frankly:
—A war, Kiku.
The word sank into the room like a knife.
—With the Land of Fire —Giotto continued—, it is the most expansionist empire on the continent. It has not declared war on Lomo solely because it is currently fighting in the east, but that war will not last forever, and for another reason, it would be troublesome to move an army into this country surrounded by mountains.
Kiku trembled.
Literally.
His entire body seemed to shrink inside the throne. He was a young and inexperienced king, more accustomed to banquets than campaign maps. He had inherited a kingdom at peace… and now he felt that peace slipping through his fingers.
—Then… will there be war? —he murmured—. Will we be prepared?
Giotto nodded, his golden eyes fixed on the king's.
—Yes, there will be war, Kiku, but we are not prepared. Or rather, this country is not prepared.
Kiku lowered his gaze. He looked older than he was, as if the years had suddenly fallen upon him.
—Then… are we doomed?
Giotto stepped forward. This time his voice was calmer. More human.
—No… not if we act wisely. I have come to warn you, not to surrender.
The king raised his head, confused.
Giotto continued:
—The war is still far away from happening. I estimate it will take about three years to occur, according to our calculations. The conflict in the east has not ended, and, in the meantime, the Land of Fire will not move its troops here. That gives us plenty of time.
—Time for what?
—To prepare.
Giotto spread a map across the floor, marking several strategic points with a dagger: mountain passes, rivers, ancient fortresses.
—We will passively propose a defensive line along the southwestern border. We will fortify the villages near the border, build watchtowers, train the next generation of guardians and soldiers. We will turn the Land of Lomo into terrain impossible to conquer. If they see us as weak today… let them find a wall three years from now.
Kiku looked at him. Something different now shone in his eyes. Fear, yes… but also a spark.
—And you… will you help me with that?
Giotto inclined his head respectfully, but his tone was clear.
—I will. After all, I am the leader of this country. I will not merely help… I will lead the preparations. I am doing this so that you can remain calm if the news reaches you.
The king, who only a few weeks ago had been considered a weak puppet in the hands of his advisers, took a deep breath. Then he straightened slightly and solemnly nodded.
—Then… we will prepare for war. Even if I tremble… even if it hurts.
Giotto smiled gravely.
—That is governing, Kiku…
But the approaching battle would not only be fought in fields or valleys. Giotto knew that the survival of his people depended on a delicate balance: the light of the kingdom and the shadows hidden beneath its feet.
—Well, I will leave. I want to train the young people and create plans. See you later, Kiku. Haru will no longer look after you, but Reijiro will… Goodbye.
Without waiting for orders, without wasting time on gestures or formalities, he focused his efforts on himself and on the organization he had been quietly building for years.
While the armies prepared for the approaching war, Giotto sowed the seeds of the underworld, that invisible network that would spread through the streets, markets, and dark alleys.
He knew that, in the long term, this underground world would be impossible to eradicate. Regardless of who ruled, which king ascended the throne, or what alliances were forged, society would have to coexist alongside that shadow.
It was a vital structure for withstanding the approaching storm, an invisible and unstoppable fortress.
Giotto understood that he not only had to protect his kingdom from the light, but also master the shadows to ensure a future in which his people could survive.
...
Author's Note:
"Well, in this chapter, Asari Ugetsu lost. As we all know, the creator of Katekyō Hitman Reborn! loves giving Rain Guardians these kinds of moments and duties, so I decided to do them that favor as well. Besides, losing can be quite elegant when done right, don't you think?
I hope you all enjoyed the update! In fact, this encounter opens up the possibility for a spin-off fanfiction centered entirely around him in the Naruto universe. It's an intriguing idea, and I'm leaving this little teaser here in case anyone shares the same vision and wants to explore that concept in the future.
Well, saying goodbye, Happy reading! Bye-bye!
— Wissumi Wizaki
Until the next chapter!