Chapter 3 – Voice from Within the Darkness
But it turned out...
The light enveloping Akihiro's body finally faded, yet he did not move to another world.
Instead, his body dropped to his knees, his breath heavy.
Iruka:
"Akihiro?! Are you alright?!"
Sakura: (panicked)
"H-hey, don't tell me he's… badly injured?"
Hinata: (covering her mouth, her face pale)
"Kazuki-kun…"
Ino: (biting her lip, staring tensely)
"Why did his aura change like this?!"
.....
From Akihiro's body, a thick red aura emerged—boiling chakra fluid.
Ears and a fox tail began to faintly form on his back.
Mizuki (on top of a tree): (shocked)
"That… that's the Kyūbi's power! So the legend is true! This boy… that monster is inside his body!!"
.....
But that red aura grew wilder, the ground trembled, trees creaked.
Inside his mind, Akihiro was suddenly thrown into a dark space—a long corridor with a massive iron gate.
....
Kazuki (in his heart):
"This… where am I?!"
A deep, heavy voice echoed from behind the bars.
Kyūbi:
"Fufufu… finally you've arrived, human. My vessel. The little nuisance who dares defy fate."
Akihiro stood rigid. Behind those bars, a pair of glowing red eyes stared sharply. Huge breaths escaped between the iron.
Kazuki: (staring straight, unflinching)
"So you are… Kyūbi no Kitsune."
Kyūbi: (laughing loudly)
"Hahaha! You're not afraid? Children like you usually cry in terror upon seeing me."
Kazuki: (taking a deep breath, then smirking)
"If I were afraid, what's the point of reaching this far? You're strong… but I'm not weak either."
.....
The Kyūbi fell silent for a moment, then let out a low growl.
Kyūbi:
"You are very different… You're not a foolish brat who only knows how to run and shout. The look in your eyes… it's more like a grown man who has lost many things."
Those words pierced Akihiro.
He recalled the face of his wife who had died on their wedding day—the wound he always carried.
Kazuki: (bowing his head, voice low)
"True… I have already lost something that will never return. But because of that… I won't let another loss happen."
.....
The Kyūbi narrowed his eyes.
Kyūbi:
"Hmph… human words are always sweet. But can you withstand my rage? Can you tame the darkness within yourself?"
....
Suddenly, that dark world cracked, and Akihiro awoke back in reality.
His body was still wrapped in the red aura, but his eyes—though glowing like the Kyūbi's—remained conscious.
Iruka: (astonished)
"Impossible… he… is controlling the Kyūbi's chakra?!"
Sakura: (wide-eyed)
"Akihiro… became a monster?!"
Hinata (in her heart): (eyes watery, whispering)
"He's… fighting against himself…"
Ino: (blushing, then quickly looking away)
"Tsk… why do I feel like he looks cool in that form…?"
.....
Akihiro looked at Mizuki, the red aura blazing around him.
Kazuki: (voice deep yet calm)
"Mizuki… I already told you. I may have a monster inside me… but I am not a monster. I am a human who will decide my own fate."
Mizuki trembled, descending from the tree and stepping back.
Mizuki:
"Impossible… you can speak calmly with that power…?!"
Akihiro gave a thin smile.
Kazuki:
"Precisely because I am different. Because I am not the one you think I am… I am Kazuki Akihiro."
.....
Mizuki stepped back further and further, cold sweat dripping down his temples. Akihiro's red aura made the air around feel like it was burning.
Iruka stood before the Academy students who were still frozen in fear. He tried to calm them, though he himself was nearly at a loss for words.
Iruka:
"Akihiro… calm yourself! Don't let that power control you!"
Akihiro looked at Iruka, his glowing red eyes dimming for a moment. His breath was heavy, but he slowly nodded.
Kazuki:
"Sensei… I can still control myself. Don't worry."
The red aura swirled, shaping into tails that lashed wildly. But unlike the tales of the Kyūbi, this time Akihiro restrained the power from exploding.
.....
Battle with Mizuki
Mizuki, though terrified, tried to gather courage. He knew if news spread that Akihiro was the Kyūbi's vessel, the village would be in chaos. And he… could become a hero, if he succeeded in eliminating him now.
Mizuki (shouting, convincing himself):
"Monster! You don't deserve to live in this village! I will end you, Akihiro!"
He hurled dozens of shuriken at once, gleaming under the moonlight.
Akihiro only let out a small sigh, then raised his hand. The red aura shaped like claws swept through the air, knocking all the shuriken down.
Kazuki (flat tone, slightly mocking):
"If you want to kill me, at least do it in a cooler way. That was too boring."
Sakura unconsciously gaped.
Sakura:
"T-that just now… not only strong, but also… kinda cool, actually…"
Hinata covered her mouth, her face reddening further.
Hinata (in her heart, flustered):
"Akihiro-kun… even when that aura is terrifying… why does he look… so strong?"
Ino gritted her teeth, then turned away.
Ino:
"Tsk… acting like a hero. But… ugh, why is my heart racing seeing that?!"
Akihiro slowly advanced toward Mizuki, each step making the ground tremble.
Kazuki:
"Mizuki… everyone can choose their own path. You chose the path of a traitor. And I… chose the path of truth, even with a monster inside me."
Suddenly Akihiro dashed forward, his speed leaving Mizuki no time to react. In an instant, he grabbed Mizuki's collar, lifting him high.
Mizuki (panicked, struggling):
"L-let go! I—"
Akihiro stared straight at him, not just with anger, but with a sense of… exhaustion.
Kazuki (soft, but firm):
"Do you know what it feels like to live hated by everyone, Mizuki? They don't even know who I am, yet they still look at me like trash. But the difference is, I didn't choose the path of destroying this village. I chose to endure. And that's what makes me more human than you think."
Akihiro threw Mizuki to the ground, but did not kill him. His red aura slowly faded, though his body still shook violently and nearly collapsed.
....
Iruka quickly rushed over, holding Akihiro so he wouldn't fall.
Iruka:
"Akihiro! You did it… you held it back! You—you're incredible!"
Akihiro gave a faint smile, though his body felt as heavy as stone.
Kazuki (low voice):
"Hah… incredible? I almost lost control just now, sensei…"
Sakura stepped forward, hesitating.
Sakura:
"Akihiro… if you had truly been angry, maybe all of us would've been destroyed, right?"
Akihiro glanced briefly, then smirked mischievously.
Kazuki:
"Heh, don't worry. If I were truly angry… Mizuki might've already turned into a rolled cake."
Sakura froze for a moment, then snorted.
Sakura:
"Hah?! Idiot… why do you still have time to joke at a time like this?!"
Yet a faint blush appeared on her face.
Ino crossed her arms.
Ino:
"Well… at least you're not as stupid as usual."
Hinata just lowered her head, her face burning red, nearly fainting.
.....
Akihiro's Reflection
After Mizuki was taken by Iruka to the village prison, the night grew calm once more. Akihiro walked alone along Konoha's path, under the moonlight.
He looked up at the sky, his eyes somber.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"Kyūbi… your words still echo in my head. Can I really control you? Or one day, will I become the monster they fear?"
He let out a long sigh, then suddenly smiled faintly.
Kazuki (softly):
"But at least… I've already decided. As long as I can laugh, protect others, and… meet friends I cherish… I will remain myself. I… am Kazuki Akihiro."
.....
However, from the rooftops of Konoha, a pair of mysterious eyes watched him.
??? (whispering):
"That child… is far more dangerous than we thought. If left unchecked, he could change the fate of this village… even the shinobi world."
The voice vanished along with the shadow leaping into the darkness.
Akihiro had no idea he had just become the focus of great powers.
His steps halted in front of Ichiraku ramen. He looked at the shop's signboard and gave a small smile.
Kazuki:
"Hah… maybe hot noodles can make all these problems feel lighter."
And with that, Konoha's night fell silent once more… while Akihiro's destiny had just begun to turn.
TO BE CONTINUED…