The mysterious man said nothing more.
He simply turned his back on Kaito, as if everything that needed to be done was already finished.
"You can go home," the man said calmly. "I have what I wanted."
Kaito froze.
"H-Home…?" His voice trembled. "Just like that?"
The man tossed something toward him.
Keys.
A car key.
"Drive yourself," he added coldly. "You're strong enough to make it."
Kaito's body screamed in pain. Blood soaked through his clothes, his vision blurred, and every breath felt like fire tearing through his chest. But something inside him refused to collapse—not yet.
With the last fragments of strength he had left, Kaito staggered into the car.
The engine roared to life.
His hands shook as he gripped the steering wheel, teeth clenched as he forced his foot down on the pedal. Every second felt like it could be his last.
But he drove.
Because he had to.
Elsewhere, inside another moving vehicle, Nobu's heart refused to calm down.
He stared at the road ahead, fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
"If something happens to Kaito…" His voice cracked. "Beru, call our men. Now."
Beru reached for his phone.
Before he could dial—
Buzz.
The phone rang.
Beru frowned and picked up. "Talk."
"Kaito is safe," the man on the other end said quickly. "He's heading back to his clan."
Beru's eyes widened. "How? Where was he?"
There was a pause.
"We don't know exactly who took him," the man admitted. "But whoever it was… it's someone they know."
Beru ended the call without another word.
He turned toward Nobu and told him everything.
Nobu finally exhaled, relief washing over him like a collapsing wave.
"He's alive…" Nobu whispered.
But the relief didn't last long.
Someone they knew had taken his son.
And worse—
That person knew him.
Beru broke the silence. "Now that Kaito's found… we go to Baku."
Nobu nodded slowly. "Yes."
They were already close.
Far too close.
The clan palace came into view.
And so did the bodies.
Men lay scattered across the entrance grounds—some torn apart, others sliced so cleanly it was terrifying. Blood painted the stone like a warning written in red.
Beru stepped forward. "This isn't normal."
Nobu's expression darkened. "Something already started."
Inside the Misaki Clan territory, Kaito's car rolled through the gates.
It stopped abruptly.
The door opened.
Kaito fell forward.
Before he hit the ground, arms caught him.
His mother screamed his name and pulled him into her embrace, tears soaking his bloodstained clothes as her body shook uncontrollably.
"Kaito... what did they do to you?"
He tried to answer.
But darkness swallowed him whole.
Later that night, Kaito regained consciousness.
His uncle stood by his bed, eyes sharp with worry.
"Kaito," he said carefully, "do you remember where you met the man who kidnapped you?"
Kaito swallowed.
"A bunker… near the transport site."
The room went silent.
Then Kaito hesitated, eyes narrowing as he recalled something that didn't make sense.
"He said something strange," Kaito continued. "He knew Father. He said… Father betrayed him."
The words fell like thunder.
His uncle's expression hardened—but he said nothing.
Neither Nobu's past nor his shadowed life was known here. Not to Kaito. Not to his wife.
"For now," his uncle said firmly, "you stay home. No training. .One month."
Kaito nodded weakly.
But the words haunted him.
Betrayed him.
Back at the clan palace gates—
Nobu and Beru stepped forward.
Clan members blocked their path.
"You're not allowed inside."
Nobu didn't respond.
He moved.
The first man flew back with shattered ribs. The second collapsed before he could scream. Beru followed, ruthless and efficient.
The gates opened.
And what waited inside froze their blood.
The palace hall was a massacre.
Bodies lay everywhere—torn apart, crushed, decapitated.
At the center stood Baku.
Covered in blood.
His eyes were no longer human.
They were black.
Completely black.
At his feet lay his wife's severed head.
Baku's body trembled—not with fear, but with rage so intense it bent the air around him.
He had already torn apart one clan leader.
The others stood frozen.
All except one.
The Supreme Leader stepped forward.
"Attack him," he ordered calmly. "End it."
They obeyed.
From every direction.
Blades. Spears. Fists.
It didn't matter.
Baku moved.
Faster than sound.
Stronger than anything alive.
One strike.
And then—
Silence.
Every attacker fell.
The Supreme Leader stared, breath heavy.
"I've seen eyes like yours before," he said quietly. "Someone else… just like you."
Baku didn't listen.
He attacked.
The Supreme Leader barely dodged—his clothes torn, blood spraying as he leapt back.
Even dodging had nearly killed him.
Before Baku could strike again—
Shadows twisted.
The Supreme Leader vanished.
Baku roared.
And slaughtered everyone left behind.
Nobu's voice echoed through the hall.
"BAKU!"
Baku turned.
Their eyes met.
And then—
He collapsed.
Nobu and Beru ran.
They caught him before he hit the floor.
"He's breathing," Beru said. "But…"
He didn't finish.
They carried Baku away.
Leaving behind a palace of death.
Somewhere else in the city—
Two figures sat in silence.
The Supreme Leader knelt slightly, still injured.
"I saw him today," he said. "Someone with the same eyes as yours."
Across from him, a man smiled.
A smile filled with amusement.
"I've met many like that," the man said softly. "And I killed every single one of them."
He leaned forward.
"One more will be added soon."