Chapter 6
Sasuke cleaned his daggers methodically, wiping the blades before tucking them carefully into the back of his backpack—positioned just right for a swift draw should he encounter any vampires on the road.
A thin sheen of sweat clung to his brow. He wiped it away, sighing as he stared ahead at the empty stretch of road , nothing but the relentless sun and blistering heat pressing down on him.
Damn. If only a carriage would just roll by.
He dragged his feet—not out of hesitation, but sheer exhaustion. Every step felt heavier , his legs barely lifting beyond a centimetre.
A shade . A breeze . Anything would be nice right about now.
It was hard to imagine how anyone truly survived in Fire City for long. Four years , and he still hadn't adjusted. His mother had settled Into life here, but for him, the heat remained a suffocating burden .
Worse than the heat, however, were the endless miles of bare, scorched land —no trees, no structures, nothing that could grant even the smallest respite.
It felt less like a city and more like a merciless desert.
A fresh wave of regret churned in his stomach. Trading the donkey.
Food had seemed more valuable at the time—perhaps if the money had stretched further than three meals, it wouldn't feel like such a poor decision now.
But right now , it would have been a blessing just to reach Mizu—the capital of Fire City—quickly.
Sasuke had plenty of expectations for when he arrived—though, at the painfully slow pace he was trudging, it wouldn't be for at least another three days .
Ame, the village he had called home alongside his mother since their own was pillaged and burned by the blue-eyed vampires, was far behind him now. He had left over a week ago , convinced he could reach Mizu in three days.
Even after burying his mother , after mourning her in silence, he had never stopped thinking about reaching Mizu. He had promised her he would go.
Her illness had taken a turn for the worse after his father and older brother had been slaughtered in the attack. By the time they had made it to Ame, she collapsed—and never got back up.
Mourning. Helpless. Sasuke had been forced to pick up the shattered pieces —because if he didn't, they simply wouldn't survive.
For four years , he had looked after her , had worked himself to exhaustion, had scraped together every coin for medicine— yet she died anyway.
And he hadn't been there .
He had spent the night working on a farm, and when he finally returned home, he knew she had been gone for some time.
The smell— the bitter scent of death —still haunted him.
Yet, even then, he hadn't cried .
Perhaps because he had been expecting it —the weight of her impending death had lingered over his head for four years, looming like a storm cloud he could do nothing to disperse.
When it finally happened, it came not as a tragedy, but as a relief —followed swiftly by a crushing wave of guilt .
But a relief all the same.
He had buried her at the back of their house, then sat in the empty room she had occupied day after day, intending to mourn properly.
At least, that had been the plan.
Yet, when sorrow didn't come , when his chest remained hollow and his eyes stayed dry , impatience crept in.
And then, suddenly, he had known.
He needed to leave . Immediately.
Mizu first—then, beyond that, Light City .
The plan he had been saving for all these years , the only thing keeping him moving.
That very day , he had gathered his belongings— clothes, food wrapped tightly in a sack shoved into his backpack—then pulled the old donkey from the barn and set off.
Away from Ame. Away from everything that had died there.
No one would ask after him when he was gone.
They had lived in a run-down house , tucked away in the quietest corner of Ame, never forming real friendships, never gathering neighbours who would remember them .
No one knew them.
And so, when Sasuke disappeared , it would be as if he had never been there at all.
That thought had lifted his spirits when he first set out—yet the sheer agony of travel had chipped away at them, wearing him down mile by mile.
Once again, he wiped sweat from his face , the relentless heat pressing down on him like a second skin.
If only there weren't so many damned hills to climb.
He missed the flat lands of Light City—not that they were the reason for his journey. His real reasons , his mission—as he liked to think of it—were things most would call ridiculous , childish .
But they were his.
And he had held onto them, steadfast , ever since the day he returned to Uchiha village and found the headstones marking his father and brother's graves.
The reality of their deaths had been slow to sink in . But when it did—when the weight of it finally settled —his heart froze , hardened.
A deep, buried hatred —carried for four years, yet never buried well enough.
His mother had told him once to let go of his anger.
It had been the one time she was truly herself — strident, concerned , unguarded in her advice.
Even now, Sasuke treasured that moment.
But he could never do as she wished.
Not even now.
Not even the clammy heat of Fire City, nor the endless distance ahead to Mizu, nor the cursed lack of luck that had followed him from Ame through Kiri could shake his resolve .
Sasuke paused, squinting against the shimmering waves of heat that distorted the horizon. A carriage?
His heart leapt , relief crashing through him so suddenly he almost sank to his knees .
Finally.
He stood still, waiting for it to approach. But as the minutes dragged on, he began to wonder if the heat was playing tricks on him.
It looked like it was getting closer— or was that just an illusion?
Five minutes passed.
Then ten.
He had long since dropped to the ground, idly doodling in the dust, when the carriage finally rolled up.
A slow-moving, oxen-drawn wagon, driven by an old man —probably in his seventies , his posture slightly hunched, his movements deliberate.
Sasuke stood, dusting his palms on his black trousers .
" Hey, old man! "
The man turned slightly, his weathered face calm beneath the rim of his hat.
" Could you give me a lift? I'm heading for Mizu. "
The man's voice wavered , aged but steady. " Oh, I'm not heading for Mizu, lad—but I can drop you along the way, if you'd like. "
Sasuke exhaled. Good enough.
" Yeah, thanks, old man. "
He hopped onto the back , settling himself on a pile of coarse straw. The cart lurched forward once more, the slow creak of wood and the rhythmic clomp of oxen hooves filling the air.
After a few minutes, the old man glanced back.
" What's a young lad like yourself heading to Mizu for? "
Sasuke grinned .
" Oh, just for sightseeing. "
The man chuckled knowingly. " Mizu has plenty of sights to see, eh? They say the women there are quite beautiful. "
Sasuke had no opinion on Mizu's women, but he had heard the stories .
The hunter masters , rank Black XX Hunters , the ones who came and went from Mizu like clockwork— the strongest of their kind .
That was what he was after.
The chance to find a master , to train , to become strong enough.
Because if he wanted to reach Light City —if he wanted to get to Elfim —he would need to be stronger than the monsters who had destroyed everything .
Stronger than any Rank Black XX Hunter .
In the beginning, when Sasuke was still piecing together his plan , he had considered attending the Hunters Academy —but quickly dismissed the thought.
What could they teach him that he didn't already know ?
The academy was staffed only by Rank Red Hunters —guardians, instructors, people who had stopped seeking improvement , as far as Sasuke was concerned.
A waste of time.
His father had once explained the ranking system within the Hunters Association:
- Rank White —newbies, fresh Academy graduates, barely worth mentioning.
- Rank Red —teachers, guardians, those content to maintain , rather than elevate .
- Rank Black —first-phase masters, capable but still climbing.
- And finally, Rank Black XX —the strongest of the master hunters.
Of course, they weren't the final rank. His father—a Rank Black Hunter himself —had told him that the Black XX Hunters didn't belong to a rank at all.
They were in a league of their own .
Then, beyond them, only seven hunters existed —the true monsters . The Rank Black Hunters , the masters of masters , the ones who stood at the helm of the Hunters Association .
At this point, Sasuke's sole purpose in reaching Mizu was to find a Rank Black XX Hunter —to secure a master .
Still, he nodded along with the old man.
" Yeah, I heard too. They've got a circus and a trade fair. "
And from there, the conversation spiralled —turning into pointless chatter that dragged on for hours.
By the time the carriage reached the junction between Kiri and Ogun, the sky had darkened, sinking into the depths of nightfall .
Sasuke hopped off, thanked the old man, and watched as the carriage slowly rolled away , disappearing down the road toward the village.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Warm food. A place to sleep.
The village would have both .
But a quick pat against his pocket reminded him of reality— six coins and a single bill .
That wouldn't last the night.
He exhaled, pushing the thought aside.
And then, he kept walking .
Shrugging, Sasuke turned his gaze toward the dense forest , Ogun's greatest feature— stretching endlessly , shadows shifting beneath towering trees.
It was time to set up camp .
Good thing he had the thick blanket from the market—not much use beyond keeping the cold at bay , but one less thing to worry about.
He ventured only a short distance into the woods before spotting the perfect tree — strong, sturdy , its roots gripping the earth like iron.
" You look strong, " he muttered, circling it carefully, scanning for anything that might make it unfit .
Satisfied, he nodded and began to climb — hands gripping bark , feet finding purchase against the rough trunk.
Two branches above the ground, he settled in.
Within minutes, he had his blanket wrapped around him , the fabric heavy against his shoulders. Now—just sleep.
But the moon was hidden, swallowed up by the dense shade of leaves .
Funny, really—he had been desperate for shade all day, only for there to be too much of it now .
He managed a small smile , but his stomach growled loudly , stealing the moment from him.
Still, he shut his eyes, counting sheep , forcing himself to drift off .
Then— a twig snapped.
Sasuke's eyes snapped open , his body motionless , every muscle tensed .
His gaze darted downward , scanning the forest floor.
Something shifted — leaves rustling , movement barely visible.
His heartbeat spiked , pulse racing in anticipation.
He was not alone.
He hadn't known what to expect.
But when a man stepped into the clearing , his stomach dropped , the sudden rush of adrenaline leaving him lightheaded .
For a moment, he felt like he might be sick .
The man halted , turning his head slightly—his gaze settling on something behind him .
Sasuke remained motionless , his breath silent , every muscle locked in place .
Then the man spoke.
" How long do you plan on following me? "
Sasuke's heart jumped , pulse hammering against his ribs.
At first, panic seized him—until logic cut through the chaos.
No. He wasn't the one being addressed.
He was too high up , too deeply concealed within the tree's thick canopy. Even if the man looked up now , he wouldn't see him.
But someone— something —was clearly there.
A hush fell over the forest.
Then— the leaves shifted.
Sasuke's breath hitched as figures leapt from the shadows , emerging swiftly, unnaturally , like a nightmare coming to life.
Normals.
He nearly gasped , instinct forcing his palm against his mouth to keep silent.
They looked like starved creatures , thin but wiry, their limbs long and spider-like —a grotesque perversion of human form.
Their eyes glowed , an eerie red against their darkened skin .
And their fangs , glistening with drool , were long—too long .
Sasuke had seen Normals before.
But never this close .
His gaze flicked back to the man , still standing firm—but now his hand had shifted, gripping the bandaged object strapped to his back.
A weapon.
A fight was coming.
" What a pain. "
Sasuke thought he heard the man mutter.
The words barely registered before the wind shifted violently , scattering dried leaves across the clearing. A sudden updraft pushed upward, sweeping Sasuke's hair from his face.
Yet— he hadn't seen the man move .
And in that same breath, the vampires— every single one of them —froze mid-air .
Then— turned to dust.
It wasn't just a single strike. It couldn't have been.
They had all been hit at the exact same moment.
Sasuke stood there, stunned , his body frozen as his mind scrambled to make sense of it.
The man hadn't shifted, hadn't so much as twitched, standing exactly as he had before .
And suddenly— Sasuke doubted whether he had killed them at all.
But as the man turned to leave , instinct took over.
Sasuke sprang from the tree , caring little for the noise he made.
He needed to see the man —to confirm what he suspected.
A Black XX Hunter.
The man stopped , turning slightly, his gaze meeting Sasuke's own.
Sasuke held his ground, watching him in silence, uncertain of what to say.
He hadn't thought this far ahead— hadn't planned how to convince him to take him as his disciple.
The man blinked, then spoke.
" Is there something you want? "
Sasuke hesitated for only a second before asking instead,
" How did you kill those Normals? I didn't see you move. "
It was the only proof—the only thing that could confirm he was what Sasuke believed him to be.
The man exhaled, amusement flickering across his expression.
" And I should tell you because…? "
He drew out the word , expectant.
Sasuke held his gaze, unwavering.
" Because I want to know. "
" It's not anything complicated. Why don't you figure it out? You look smart. "
The man's words were dismissive, his tone cool.
Then, without another thought, he turned and walked away .
Sasuke followed , his mind working through the details.
He hadn't seen the man move —not even a fraction. But he had noticed the way his hand had tightened around that bandaged object strapped to his back.
Now, as he walked ahead, almost silent , Sasuke studied it.
From the shape alone, he guessed it was a weapon .
A sword?
No— too large . Too wide. Almost like a paddle .
" I'm guessing it had something to do with your weapon. " Sasuke mused aloud. " What is it? "
" None of your business. "
The man didn't look back, his tone flat. " How long are you planning on following me? "
Sasuke didn't answer.
It would have been easier if the man at least had his hunter badge visible.
Carefully, he observed him , scanning for any signs of rank or affiliation.
The man wore a black leather overall , though in daylight it might reveal a brown tint . His inner clothing was harder to distinguish—mostly a shirt and ankle-length trousers .
Then there was the jewellery .
Sasuke frowned.
A long chain necklace , a silver locket , and some sort of strapped leather piece wrapped tightly around his neck.
It had to be uncomfortable .
His ears were pierced, a stud glinting faintly beneath the night sky.
The more Sasuke studied him, the more doubt crept in .
Was he really a Rank Black XX Hunter?
" Your weapon is some kind of sword. And you moved pretty fast. "
Even as he said it , he knew it wasn't true .
If he had used the weapon , the bandages should have unravelled .
He should have needed time to re-wrap it , to adjust .
But Sasuke had seen none of that.
Something wasn't adding up.
" Sure. Congratulations. Now, will you stop following me and run along? "
The voice was bored , indifferent, barely acknowledging Sasuke's presence.
" No, it's not. " Sasuke countered, stubbornly. " Perhaps it had nothing to do with your sword. Maybe a hunter's instrument—exploding tags, perhaps! "
There were binding tags , restraining tags , even trapping tags —but none of them could have done what this man had just done .
And the vampires hadn't exploded . They had been cut clean .
" What? "
The man halted so abruptly that Sasuke almost ran into him , stopping just a breath away before hastily stepping back.
He lifted his gaze—and met red eyes .
Even though the man appeared around his age , he was undeniably taller , and now that Sasuke really looked at him , he realised—he probably should stop referring to him as "the man."
Because he didn't look like a man .
He looked like a delinquent —one with an obsession for piercings.
His nose was pierced. So was his brow.
This person couldn't possibly be a Rank Black XX Hunter.
" Those are hunter weapons. You think I would use them? "
The delinquent's voice held a note of disdain.
Sasuke kept his tone neutral. " Well, yes. Are you not a hunter? "
The red eyes glinted , something akin to amusement flickering behind them.
" Me? A hunter? "
The delinquent laughed , a short chuckle, as though the very idea was ridiculous.
" Whatever. What's it to you, anyway? "
Sasuke squared his shoulders slightly.
" I'm looking for a Rank Black XX Hunter. You must be one—or so I thought. "
Even if he wasn't , Sasuke knew strength when he saw it.
And this guy was strong.
He wouldn't mind training under him—even if he wasn't what Sasuke had set out to find .
The delinquent smirked.
" I'm not a Black Whatever Hunter. I'm just Kuro— "
Then, suddenly—his expression shifted.
" Oops. I shouldn't have said that. "
Sasuke wanted to smirk .
Kuro, huh?
Good. Now that he had a name, he would make sure not to forget it .
" Just Kuro, then. You seem strong, so I want you to be my master. "
Kuro scoffed, nose tipping upward with mock arrogance .
" Arrogant, aren't you? I refuse, of course. I don't want a brat like you for a disciple. "
Sasuke's eyebrow twitched at the insult.
" I'm not a brat, you delinquent. I'm the same age as you. "
Kuro snorted. " Sure you are. What are you, thirteen? "
Sasuke almost exploded , but instead exhaled slowly, forcing a smile .
" You're not going to distract me. I want you to be my master—not for long, just until you teach me what I need to know. "
Kuro didn't even hesitate .
" And I said no. "
Without another word, he turned and walked away .
Sasuke followed immediately .
" Why not? "
" Did I not already give you my reason? "
" Such a stupid reason. " Sasuke huffed , irritation creeping into his voice. " I'm a prodigy, okay? I only need to see a technique once to learn it. "
Kuro snickered , his voice dripping with amusement.
" Then how come you still can't figure out how I killed those Normals? Boo hoo. "
Damn brat .
Sasuke clenched his teeth, irritation spiking .
" Give me a little time, and I will figure it out. "
The words came out breathless , sweat slicking against his forehead as he realised— he was running.
He hadn't meant to, but his pace had increased , legs pushing harder just to keep up.
And Kuro?
Still walking , effortlessly ahead of him— like he hadn't changed pace at all.
Sasuke could feel the sweat soaking his clothes, dripping from his temples and running along his back.
The gap between them wasn't shrinking.
And somehow— that irritated him even more.
" Don't care either. "
" Why are you running? " Sasuke called.
" You're the one running—I'm just walking. "
Kuro's voice was completely steady , unfazed.
Sasuke glanced to the side , noticing how quickly the trees and bushes blurred past him.
His legs tightened with each lunge—he could feel the strain—but Kuro was still ahead , his red hair standing out like a beacon in the dense forest.
Even if Sasuke fell back , he wouldn't lose him.
" Given up already? " Kuro taunted.
" Never! I'm going to make you… accept to be… my master. "
Sasuke panted , dragging a hand across his sweat-slicked face.
" Stubborn brat! Leave me alone! "
Then— Kuro vanished.
Sasuke skidded to a stop , eyes scanning the thickening forest.
The trees had grown tighter , bushes closing in —barely any visible path.
But Kuro had to have left a trail, no matter how fast he walked.
Sasuke spotted the subtle track , legs shifting into a run, following blindly .
Time stretched , dragging into an exhausting chase—until, finally, a stream appeared before him.
Relief hit him like a wave , so strong he could have collapsed in joy .
He hurried toward the water, gulping down mouthfuls of crisp, cool relief before filling his bottle and shoving it into his pack.
At least he had the sense to bring it.
But Kuro? He was gone completely .
Despite following the trail , Sasuke was now stranded —lost in a place he didn't recognise .
Was this still Ogun?
It was his first time in the village , and he hadn't realised it stretched this wide .
His stomach growled painfully.
Weary, feet dragging, Sasuke followed the stream —walking for what felt like hours before reaching a village .
He didn't know Its name — didn't care .
The moment he saw it, his legs nearly launched him forward .
Food. Shelter.
He'd stuff himself first —then worry about money later .
Perhaps a few odd jobs would do.
Sasuke paused at the village gates , eyes scanning the surroundings .
Something felt wrong .
The unease crawled beneath his skin , an instinct screaming at him to turn back .
But he ignored it— stepping forward , walking deeper into the village.
The wooden houses stood scattered , varied in size and shape, but eerily empty —not a single resident in sight.
A horse struggled against its reins, strapped to a fallen carriage , thrashing in a desperate attempt to break free .
" What happened here? "
The thought escaped him aloud as he moved toward the animal—only to freeze .
A voice.
Croaky, low, yet cutting through the silence.
" Kuro, the vampire hunter. "
Sasuke stiffened , quickly ducking behind the fallen carriage.
" You've really stepped in it, haven't you? Coming here—you must be the dumbest human alive. "
Carefully, Sasuke peered out , his breath shallow.
Kuro stood in the middle of the clearing — surrounded .
A circle of Normals , their figures twisting , dark shapes pressed close.
Sasuke's eyes widened at their numbers .
Too many.
He quickly pulled back , ashamed of the way his gasp had almost slipped out .
What if they had heard him?
He checked again.
But no —they were too focused on Kuro.
Indifferent. Casual as ever.
But Sasuke's mind whirled .
They had called him Kuro, the vampire hunter —which meant, he was a hunter after all.
And then—the order rang out.
" Rip him to pieces! "
Sasuke's pulse spiked .
This was it.
This was his chance to see if Kuro was really a Rank Black XX Hunter .
A real one wouldn't flinch at thirty Normals.
Wouldn't hesitate.
Yet—their numbers were overwhelming .
And the croaky-voiced Normal who had spoken?
An Alpha.
A true threat .
Sasuke's brother had warned him before—Normals didn't speak , even if they could understand language .
But an Alpha ?
They could.
And they were dangerous.
Sasuke swallowed hard, fingers tightening over the hilts of his daggers.
Dark metal gleamed beneath the faint moonlight.
A last resort .
A gift from his brother , meant for emergencies.
Only if he had to , Sasuke clenched his grip.
For now— he would watch.
He peeked out again.
And waited.