Rashta
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21. You Stab Me, I Stab You—That’s Only Fair
🕑 Added 2025-05-14 10:24:30 +0000 UTC
The moon hung in the sky, casting a cold, silvery glow over the worn dirt path. The sea breeze carried a faint briny scent as it brushed against their faces.
"Hey, bastard Shiki," Hidan called out, trailing behind him with a suspicious look.
"Don’t tell me you’re planning to help them just because you ate their roasted pig?"
Shiki smiled faintly at the question and countered, "Do I seem like that kind of person to you?"
Hidan scoffed. "Yeah, guess not. You don’t exactly strike me as the charitable type."
But he still couldn’t shake his confusion.
"If you weren’t planning to step in, then why’d you leave that cursed necklace behind at the old man’s place on purpose?"
Shiki raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.
"Well, well. I didn’t expect someone of your intellect to actually notice that."
"Damn you, Shiki! My observational skills are top-tier!" Hidan snapped, puffing up with pride before pressing again. "So? What’s the point?"
His tiny brain couldn’t quite grasp Shiki’s reasoning.
Shiki smoothed back his wind-tousled hair and adjusted his glasses with mild amusement.
"I was just curious—whether that kid would have the guts to take the necklace and try his luck with the Sakamoto Trading Company."
"Curious?" Hidan tilted his head, struggling to comprehend.
Then he crossed his arms behind his head and sighed dramatically. "Man, that’s such a boring reason. Might as well just pick a few randoms to sacrifice to Lord Jashin."
Shiki didn’t respond. Whether Shiraishi Mori showed up or not, it was nothing more than a trivial matter to him.
The distance from the Shiraishi household to the docks wasn’t far.
Though the night was dark, Shiki had no trouble navigating—guided by his flock of crows and swarms of black beetles. Soon, they arrived at their destination.
The Sakamoto Trading Company.
A massive, luxurious cruise ship.
In stark contrast, a row of weathered fishing boats lay chained to the docks—clearly the work of the Sakamoto Trading Company.
To ensure their floating casino operated without interference, they hadn’t just arrested the protesting fishermen—they’d seized their boats, too.
The villagers had no recourse.
Unlike the world Shiki came from, this one had no proper legal system, no law enforcement to protect ordinary people.
If they wanted to drive Sakamoto out, they had two options:
Fight back with their own strength.
But with Shiraishi Mori’s father already captured, that plan was dead in the water.
Pool their money and hire ninja from a nearby village.
Unfortunately, the fishing village was too poor to afford it.
So, they could only watch helplessly as the Sakamoto Trading Company cut off their livelihood.
Shiki felt nothing about it.
This was just another ordinary occurrence in the shinobi world—something that happened countless times every day.
In the past, he might’ve felt some anger. But now?
Now, he wasn’t even human anymore.
"Who the hell are you two?"
A group of Sakamoto’s enforcers spotted Shiki and Hidan approaching the docks.
Hidan cracked his neck impatiently. "The name’s Hidan. Now hurry up and call Sakamoto out here."
Shiki sighed internally.
Of course.
This guy never knew how not to provoke people.
True to form, the four enforcers immediately scowled.
"You think our boss has time for the likes of you?"
Weapons were drawn in an instant.
"Well?" Hidan glanced at Shiki.
Shiki shrugged. "Do whatever."
The next second—
Hidan lunged.
In a flash, he was right in front of them.
And then—
A blade speared straight through his stomach.
"Uh…?"
The enforcer stared, baffled.
This guy had moved so fast—he’d only meant to swing defensively, but Hidan had just… let himself get impaled?
But his confusion only grew when the man he’d just stabbed looked up and grinned.
"Ready to face Lord Jashin’s judgment?"
Hidan’s grip tightened around the blade.
"What the—?!"
The enforcer yanked back, but the sword didn’t budge.
Panicking, he let go and stumbled away—
Too late.
Hidan ripped the blade free and stabbed it straight through the man’s chest.
Blood gushed like a fountain.
The other three enforcers froze.
What kind of insane fighting style is this?!
But Hidan wasn’t done.
He lunged again, seizing another enforcer by the throat and hoisting him into the air.
"Pathetic. Not even worth sacrificing."
With a sickening crack, he snapped the man’s neck.
The remaining two hesitated—then struck simultaneously, their blades slashing deep into Hidan’s sides.
Blood sprayed.
Hidan dropped the corpse, clicking his tongue in disappointment.
"Too weak. Way too fucking weak!"
His eyes gleamed crimson in the dark as his black scythe slid from his coat.
One swing.
The last two enforcers fell.
The commotion, of course, drew attention.
Soon, more guards swarmed the deck—and among them, the man himself.
Sakamoto.
Surrounded by bodyguards, he took in the bloodbath and frowned.
"You two… from the Jashin cult?"
Only those fanatics would pull something like this.
Shiki nodded politely. "You must be Mr. Sakamoto. We’re here under our leader’s orders to complete your requested mission."
Sakamoto exhaled sharply, eyeing the four butchered enforcers.
"And you’re sure you’re here to help?"
You kill my men first, then claim you’re here to work for me?
Shiki remained perfectly calm.
"A simple misunderstanding."
"Your men attacked before we could introduce ourselves."
"They stabbed my partner first. He just stabbed back."
Shiki adjusted his glasses with a faint smile.
"That’s only fair, don’t you think?"
