Yūgao tried to wrench her blade free—
but Evan's fingers didn't budge.
"Let me die!"
Her voice cracked into a thin, trembling wail.
A sound of hopeless, bone-deep despair.
"Heh."
Evan's cold chuckle slid through the dark chamber.
He tightened his grip.
CRACK—!
The long blade shattered in his bare hand.
Fragments of steel scattered like cold rain,
falling across Yūgao's pale skin—
leaving thin red trails, shallow but enough to sting sharply.
The pain hit like a jolt of lightning.
Against her will, she shivered.
Evan's expression twitched.
Others drip wax…
I use knife shards?
He suppressed the thought and leaned closer, eyes icy.
"If you dare die," he murmured, "I'll kill Moonlight Hayate first."
Yūgao's entire body convulsed.
Her breath hitched, her eyes widening in raw terror.
"Don't—!"
Evan almost laughed.
Such a little girl… playing devotion as if it means something.
Question: How do you unlock Hayate's storyline?
Answer: You delete Hayate.
Evan crouched down, voice brushing her ear.
"If you want Hayate to live, then you live.
And you listen."
[Yūgao Uzuki — Hatred Value +100,000]
Evan's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
This woman… he was growing fond of her hatred.
"I love it," he said, "when you hate me but can't do a thing about it."
"You monster!"
The light in her eyes trembled, broke—
and scattered to nothing.
Konoha — Sunset
A warm orange glow wrapped the village.
Hayate stood in front of Yūgao's house, clutching a bouquet of roses—
bright red, carefully chosen.
He had wandered through the market for hours,
trying to memorize the words he wanted to say.
Something in his heart felt urgent today.
Like a hand pushing him forward.
But Yūgao still hadn't returned.
His worry grew with every passing minute.
"Where is she…?" he muttered, pacing.
"Hayate?"
A voice from the shadows behind him.
Hayate spun around—
relief flooding his face.
"Yūgao! You're finally—"
He took two steps forward, lifting the flowers.
The confession he rehearsed all afternoon nearly spilled out.
"Don't come closer!"
Her voice snapped like a whip.
Hayate froze.
"Y-Yūgao? What's wrong?"
She lingered in the shadows.
Her posture unsteady.
Her breathing uneven.
"Yūgao… are you hurt? Did something happen with Evan-dono?"
At the name, Yūgao flinched violently.
His threat echoed through her skull:
"Be good, or I'll kill Moonlight Hayate."
"N-Nothing," she forced out, burying the tremor in her voice.
"Hayate… why are you here?"
Hayate brightened, lifting the bouquet again.
"Yūgao, I… I like you.
Please—go out with me!"
He bowed deeply, earnest to the point of pain.
Pure.
Honest.
Completely unaware.
Yūgao stared at him.
Her vision blurred.
Tears rolled silently down her cheeks.
She had imagined this moment countless times.
But now—
Too late.
Hayate… I just want you to live.
"…Hayate, we…"
Her voice cracked.
"…aren't suitable."
The roses slipped from Hayate's fingers, scattering across the ground.
He stared, stunned—
unable to understand.
And somewhere else in the village…
Evan smirked.
"The taste of Yūgao… really not bad."
Root Headquarters — Danzō's Breaking Point
"Evan !!"
Danzō slammed a stack of reports onto the table—
the paper bursting like an explosion.
"You killed my men AGAIN?!"
He trembled with rage, pale lips quivering.
How many now?
How many Root operatives had that brat cut down?
What did he think Root was?
A fruit orchard?
Something to slice apart whenever he felt like it?
Danzō clenched his jaw.
Forced himself to breathe.
To calm down.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's influence had at least taught him one thing:
When possible… try not to explode.
Unless you can't help it.
And in this case…
He could not help it.
Because he knew perfectly well—
Evan wasn't an ordinary shinobi.
He was Konoha's hidden trump card.
A walking strategic weapon.
His kekkei genkai had immeasurable value.
His battle instincts and cruelty were unmatched.
His command ability terrifying.
He is Root material, Danzō thought bitterly.
Born for Root.
He knew so well because
he had once personally approached Evan to invite him into Root—
—and been brutally, decisively rejected.
"I," Evan had said, "am a bright, cheerful young man who walks in the sunlight.
Your Root doesn't deserve me."
Danzō still wasn't sure which part enraged him more.
But the final straw?
Danzō had only spread a tiny smear on Evan's reputation—
nothing serious—
—yet Evan had been killing Root members ever since.
Was reputation really that important?!
Danzō pressed a hand to his forehead.
No matter how furious he was,
Konoha would never oppose Evan over a few dead Root operatives.
But—
THUD!!
With a roar, Danzō flipped the entire table.
"Evan…
just you wait until I become Hokage!"
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