In the ruins of the Laybirth Kingdom, the aftermath of the execution of four spies from the Jinkawa Village still lingered in the air. Smoke curled into the sky, the cries of the people echoed off shattered walls, and the golden light of the sun failed to bring comfort.
Jinko shimmered into radiant light particles, reappearing effortlessly atop his tall, jagged throne.
"So now that those spies are dealt with…" Jinko said with a grin, his voice carrying through the broken kingdom, "we've got one more thing for you all."
On the ground, terrified civilians wept and prayed, some curled up and trembling. But Team One stood quietly in the crowd, their minds spinning.
Man… does this ever stop? Kenshiro thought, frustrated.
He's still not done, Rei thought grimly. Just what is he going to do now?
I must calm down, Ryju told himself. I have to stay in control. Not here. Not now.
"I'm really over this, Sensei," Goro muttered, folding his arms, visibly bored. "Can't we just fight them already?"
"Yeah, come on, Sensei," Shun added, tilting his head. "We can do something, right?"
Kaji's expression darkened.
"Let me ask you all something," he said, voice low and serious. "Do you really think… if we were captured… they would've helped us?"
Team One looked confused. Silent.
"They knew we were here. Yet they sent spies. Why? Why take that risk? They knew it could mean death. And that's because even though the Twenty Great Villages are 'allies'… they're all scum."
He moved forward, voice rising with conviction.
"They treat their people like garbage—especially the poor. The nobles? They're respected because they have money. But what about the people in the slums? The children who starve? The mothers who cry themselves to sleep? They don't care. The great villages worship money and power. They think money can buy everything—but it can't. It's trust and loyalty that matter."
He looked at them with fire in his eyes.
"Our village, The Great Village, is the strongest because we trust our people. We treat them with respect. We don't abuse our power. That's what unites us—and that's why I hate the other villages."
Kaji's tone grew even more intense.
"Lloyd tries to make peace with them. He's always hoping for change. But peace won't happen until someone has the guts to destroy the Twenty Great Villages from the inside out. I'll only help them if Lloyd commands me to help them. And if he tells me to destroy them, I'll do it without hesitation. Because sending young ninjas to die for no reason? That's not just wrong. It's idiotic. I hate them for it."
"He's right," Kenshiro said, stepping forward. "I'm with you, Sensei. Those villages are just rich and powerful—they think they rule the world. And don't each of them own five percent of the planet?"
"Correct," Kaji said.
"I understand perfectly," Rei added, clenching his fists.
"Yep," Shun nodded. "Makes sense now."
"You're the leader, Sensei. I was just bored earlier," Goro said, more serious this time.
"You're right," Ryju added. "But… I'll save anyone who needs saving. Doesn't matter if they're from my village or not. Evil or not. I won't let people like that loose to kill again. That's why we have a jail in the Great Village—to keep them locked up where they can't hurt anyone."
He looked ahead with determined eyes.
"When I become Spiritual King, I'm going to unite all Twenty Great Villages… and the five hundred others across the Earth into one massive nation—The Great Village. That's my first dream."
"And I completely understand," Kaji said, nodding.
"We're with you," Kenshiro added.
"And we'll be there to see you complete that dream," Rei said with a proud grin.
"You bet," said Shun.
"Thank you, all of you," Ryju said, a smile breaking through his serious expression. A single tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm proud to have friends like you."
Suddenly, Jinko raised his voice.
"Bring them out."
From the shadows, the Golden Armor Guards dragged out two beaten, bloodied men. Their faces were swollen, tape wrapped around their mouths, and their limbs tied tightly. The guards threw them to the ground a short distance from Jinko.
The two prisoners squirmed, tried to scream, but nothing came out.
"These," Jinko said, appearing behind them in a flash of light, "are spies from the Rendo Village… one of the Twenty Great Villages. They were sent here a week ago."
He grinned.
"And you're all going to watch me kill them."
The crowd gasped. Some turned away. But Jinko only laughed.
He grabbed one of the men by the head as the prisoner desperately tried to scream, muffled by the tape.
"Go ahead and try," Jinko said coldly. "You're going to die regardless."
This is insane, Rei thought, frozen in shock.
Two more about to die… Kenshiro thought, eyes narrowing.
Jinko's hand began to glow as it pressed against the man's skull—until the man's head exploded, blood spraying across Jinko's robes and face.
He didn't flinch.
He smiled.
He laughed.
And then, he reached down and grabbed the second man, who kicked and struggled in pure panic.
Jinko walked toward the crowd—toward Team One.
He raised the prisoner into the air.
"Look at him. He knows it's over. He's ready to die," Jinko said proudly.
Then the prisoner's eyes locked onto Ryju's.
For a split second, time seemed to freeze.
Their gazes connected.
And then… a single tear fell from the man's right eye.
Ryju's eyes widened.
In the next moment, the prisoner's head burst open—his blood splattering directly onto Ryju's face.
Ryju stood motionless… stunned.
Jinko dropped the lifeless body to the ground.
He reached into his red robe, pulled out a lighter, placed a cigar between his lips, and lit it with a small flame. He took a long drag, then removed the cigar and exhaled smoke into the broken sky.
His face—still dripping with blood—twisted into a twisted grin.
And then… his eyes met Ryju's again.
And in that moment, Ryju made a silent vow:
That day… I decided I would never let anyone die in front of me again. Not ever.
To Be Continued…