Special thanks to KAOS and Victor De Paula for joining the Art of Imagination Society through the Direwolf Membership! šŗ
This chapter is dedicated to both of you as a small thank-you for your support. I truly appreciate it! ā¤ļø
Enjoy the chapter!
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Ashura quietly stayed with Taizou, helping him to his feet while the evening breeze rustled through the trees. The tension lingered.
Indra's followers didn't wait for any more argumentsāthey grabbed Taizou firmly and dragged him away. Ashura could only watch, his hands twitching slightly as if he wanted to intervene but knowing he couldn't.
I sighed and started walking down the road, Hagoromo silently observing everything from a distance. His three sonsā¦ breaking apart like thisāit was hard to watch.
"Dammitā¦ Indra has changed so much." I muttered, eyes half-lidded, my voice lazy. "He's not like the Indra I knew as a child. He'sā¦ so coldā¦ soā¦ like an Uchiha." It's wild saying that about the ancestor of the Uchihas.
As I trudged along, I spotted Shiraku lying on the grass, one eye lazily open, staring at the clouds.
"Yo, Danavaā¦ What happened?" he asked, sitting up slightly.
Shiraku. Manā¦ he was the only one I really considered my closest besides Ashura and, perhaps, even Indra. My best friend.
"Taizou got arrested," I replied, letting out a tired sigh.
Shiraku's eyes widened. "Huh? Why? What happened?"
I explained everything that had happened with Indra, Taizou, and Ashura. He let out a long, exasperated sigh. "What a dragā¦"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "You knowā¦ I was thinking of freeing him tonight," I proposed, glancing at him with a faint smirk.
Shiraku blinked, shocked. "Waitā¦ you're serious? That'sā¦ dangerous, Danava. Indra won't just let it slide."
I shrugged, a determined glint in my eyes. "I know. But sometimesā¦ doing the right thing doesn't follow the rules. We can't just let him rot for trying to help his mother."
Shiraku ran a hand through his hair, groaning. "Manā¦ only you would think like that. I guessā¦ alright. I'm in. Let's see if your plan actually works."
I nodded, feeling a surge of resolve. Tonight, we'd do what had to be doneāeven if it meant facing Indra himself.
"And besides, I have you beside me. Shiraku, out of all the people I knowā¦ you're the smartest guy I know," I said with a grin, raising a thumbs up.
He looked at me for a moment, eyes half-lidded as usual, then shut them and smiled faintly. "What a dragā¦"
"So, what's the plan?" he asked.
"With my ability to blend in shadows and the night, I was thinking of sneaking into the cave where Elder Brother Indra has kept Taizou. Any suggestions?" I asked, watching him carefully. Deep down, I already knew. This guyā¦ Shiraku was bound to be the ancestor of the Nara Clan. Those people were geniuses with strategy.
Shiraku tilted his head back, staring at the darkening sky. "If we rush in without thinking, Indra's traps will catch us before we even reach the boy. He's cautious. Calculated. He wouldn't just throw Taizou in a hole and forget about him."
I frowned. "ā¦So, what do you suggest?"
He sat up fully now, his voice turning serious. "First, we'll need a distraction to pull Indra's eyes away from the cave. He probably has watchersāeither men or seals. Second, we can't both go in. If we both vanish, suspicion doubles. One of us needs to make noise elsewhere while the other sneaks in."
I raised an eyebrow. "And you're suggestingā¦?"
He smirked lazily. "That you're the shadow guy. Obviously, you slip into the cave. I'll handle the distraction. But don't get cockyāif Indra catches you, it won't just be Taizou in a cell."
I chuckled, my grin widening. "Hehā¦ fair enough. That's why I've got you. Guess we're doing this together."
Shiraku let out another sigh, rubbing his temple. "What a dragā¦ I knew you'd say that."
I smiled but then grew serious, my voice steady. "Shirakuā¦ I promise you. I'd put my life on the line if I had toābut I won't let Elder Brother Indra harm you. You have my word." I looked him straight in the eyes, every ounce of my resolve burning through.
For a moment, Shiraku didn't reply. He just stared back at me, eyes sharp even under his usual lazy facade. Then he chuckled softly and shook his head. "ā¦You're really troublesome, you know that?"
I blinked. "Huh?"
He smirked, though his voice carried a rare warmth. "Most people don't even think twice about leaving me behindā¦ But here you are, swearing to protect me from Indra of all people. What a dragā¦ guess I can't say no to that kind of loyalty."
I grinned. "So you're in?"
Shiraku sighed, running a hand through his hair. "...Yeah. But remember this, Danavaābrains and shadows will only get us so far. If Indra catches us, we don't just risk Taizou's lifeā¦ we risk becoming enemies of our own family."
My grin didn't falter. "Then let's make sure he doesn't catch us."
The two of us stood there, side by side, as the last rays of sun sank below the horizon. The night was comingāand with it, our plan to defy Indra.
I was in my room, staring at the fading sunlight bleeding across the walls. The sky burned orange and purpleāa warning, maybe, or a promise. My chest tightened. It's time.
I quickly rose from the floor, brushed the dust from my clothes, and slipped out of the house. The village was quiet, most people retreating indoors for supper or rest. The air was cooler now, shadows stretching long across the ground, perfect for what I had in mind.
Just as planned, Shiraku was already waiting at the spot we agreed on, leaning lazily against a tree with his arms crossed. His usual expression of boredom painted his face, but I knew betterābeneath that calm exterior, he was sharp and ready.
"You're late," he muttered without opening his eyes.
I smirked. "I'm right on time. You're just too early."
He cracked one eye open, studying me. "Tch. What a drag." But then he pushed himself off the tree and stood upright. "Soā¦ ready to go save your friend?"
I nodded firmly. "Yeah. Tonight, we free Taizou."
Shiraku exhaled slowly, like he was about to walk into a chore. "ā¦Then let's move before the guards switch shifts. Less trouble that way."
Side by side, we melted into the dusk, two shadows vanishing into the night
We walked toward the cave stealthily, every footstep measured, every breath restrained. The silence between Shiraku and me wasn't awkwardāit was necessary. The closer we got, the heavier the air felt, as if the shadows themselves were holding their breath with us.
Finally, the dark mouth of the cave loomed ahead, two silhouettes standing guard at the entrance. Or at leastā¦ they should have been.
Shiraku held up a hand, halting me. We squinted through the gloom, and my eyes widened.
The two guards were sprawled out on the ground, completely unconsciousāor worse. Their weapons lay scattered beside them, and not a sound came from their bodies.
"Huhā¦?" My throat tightened. What the hell? This wasn't part of the plan.
Shiraku crouched low, scanning the scene with narrowed eyes. "What a drag. Looks like someone beat us to it." His tone was flat, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him.
A chill ran down my spine. If it wasn't usā¦ then who?
Shiraku glanced at me. "Do weā¦ still go in?" he whispered.
I gave him a sidelong look. Then sighed. "ā¦We came this far, didn't we? Whoever's inside, they might already be with Taizou. If we back off now, we'll lose our chance."
He sighed. "What a drag."
Together, we crept forward, slipping past the unconscious guards and into the cave's dark, yawning entrance. The air inside was damp and heavy.
We both rushed inside the cave at full speed, our footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The torchlight flickered faintly ahead, casting long shadows across the damp cavern floor.
And thenā
"Ashura?!" I blurted out, stunned.
There he was, standing near the crude iron bars of a prison cell, his hands pressed against them. His wide eyes turned toward us, startled.
"E-Elder Brother? Shiraku?" His voice trembled with surprise.
"Ashura, what are you doing here?" I demanded.
Ashura's expression softened with guilt. He lowered his head, his voice earnest and pleading."Please, Elder Brotherā¦ Taizou made a mistake, but he didn't do it out of malice of heart. He regrets everything. Pleaseā¦ let me free him."
I exhaled slowly, a long sigh escaping me as I walked closer. The desperation in his eyes reminded me of the bond he always tried to build with others.
"There's no need to plead with me, Ashura." My lips curled into a small smile. "I and Shiraku are here for the same purposeāto free your friend Taizou."
For a moment, silence hung in the cave. Then Ashura's eyes widened with joy.
"R-Really? You mean it, Elder Brother?" His voice cracked, and his entire face lit up with relief.
Shiraku simply gave a firm nod, his usual aloofness softened for once.
Ashura's delight overflowed as he clenched his fists in front of his chest. "Thank youā¦ truly! Elder Brother, Shiraku."
The tension that had been weighing on the cave seemed to ease for a moment, replaced by the warmth of resolve. But even then, a small unease lingered in the air, as though unseen eyes were watching us from deeper within the darkness.
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