*Chapter 44: Heaven, Protect Him*

*[Yoru's Side]*

"Hey now, no need to be so tense. I'm not a monster, you know."

Yoru landed lightly on one of the pirate ships, waving casually at the panicked crewmen who stared at him like he was the devil himself.

"G-Gulp!"

How could they not be terrified?

The man before them had slaughtered over a dozen elite fighters in minutes.

"S-Shut up! Just die already!"

Strike first, or be struck down—that was the pirates' motto.

With a collective roar, they charged at Yoru in a frenzied mob.

"Tch. What a shame."

Yoru sighed, then—snapped his fingers.

*CRACK-BOOM!*

A storm of lightning erupted, engulfing every pirate ship on the water.

"AAAAAGH—!"

Screams of agony tore through the air as pirates convulsed in the electrified onslaught. Some tried diving into the sea to escape—

Only to find the water even more lethal than the ships.

No escape. No mercy.

"Lightning Style: Thunderfall Array," Yoru announced calmly.

"Well then... time to enjoy the show."

Sheathing his sword, he lounged back against the ship's railing, propping his head up with his hands as if watching a play.

The pirate captain—barely at low-jōnin level—stood no chance against Tenjin without his Umibōzu. Within a dozen exchanges, he was on the ropes.

And when Ōrui brutally crushed Yota shortly after... the battle was over.

"DAMN IT! I... I WON'T ACCEPT THIS!!"

Yota's final scream was cut short as a dozen Cloud ANBU blades pierced his heart.

But the real regret belonged to the captain.

Eyes wide, blood bubbling from his lips, he gasped his last words:

"If only... I'd just... handed over Yota... from the start..."

"That kid... was right... I really was... a frog in a well..."

Then—silence.

"Captain! That was amazing!"

When Tenjin and the others finally boarded Yoru's ship, he greeted them with enthusiastic applause.

Tenjin shook his head. "No one outshone you today."

"You've got real talent. With the Raikage's approval, you could go far."

"Losing you... was the Mist's greatest mistake."

His gaze was unreadable as he studied Yoru.

('Heaven... please let him be genuine.')

If Yoru truly joined the Cloud...

Within years, he could become one of their strongest.

('He might even be the key to our village's revival.')

Right now, the Cloud's only promising talent was Darui.

But this "Kira"? Seventeen years old. His potential was limitless.

"You flatter me, Captain."

Yoru chuckled, though internally, he winced.

('Maybe I should tone down the overachiever act. Standing out too much in the Cloud might backfire.')

Looking back, he had been too dominant in this battle—outshining even Tenjin himself.

Of course, the others couldn't read his thoughts.

Ōrui and the ANBU now regarded him with something resembling respect.

In the Cloud, strength was honor.

Prove your power, and you'd earn your place.

---

*Several Hours Later*

After resting, the group began their return journey.

But hours after their departure—

A squad of Leaf ninja arrived at the ravaged pirate cove.

"The Cloud did this? Why were they here? What's their game?"

Instantly, their guard shot up.

Cloud ninja crossing borders into Fire Country territory?

At a time like this?

('This can't be a coincidence.')

With the Uchiha clan growing restless internally...

And now the Cloud making moves externally...

"Search the area thoroughly. Report everything to the Hokage."

"We cannot afford to underestimate the Cloud's intentions."

A messenger bird soon streaked toward Konoha.

Unbeknownst to them, Mist operatives hidden in Fire Country also caught wind of the incident.

In an instant—

Three Great Nations were on high alert.

If Yoru knew his "routine mission" had sparked international tension...

He'd probably laugh.

"Relax, everyone. You're way overthinking this."

But he remained blissfully unaware.

---

*Back in the Cloud Village*

Yoru was granted two days' leave.

Naturally, he spent it grinding for enhancement points.

Meanwhile—Raikage's Office.

"These battle reports... are you serious?"

The Fourth Raikage leaned back, stunned by Tenjin's debrief—especially the details of Yoru's performance.

Slaughtering special jōnin and chūnin like fodder?

Single-handedly turning the tide?

And the Mist labeled him just a B-rank missing-nin?

('This kid's S-rank material. Did we just hit the jackpot?')

"Lord Raikage, if he's genuine, he could become one of our greatest assets."

"But we must verify his loyalty. The Mist is cunning—this could be a long-game infiltration."

Darui, ever the strategist, voiced the cautious perspective.

He understood Yoru's potential value—

But also the risks.

"Worried he'll steal your spotlight, Darui?" The Raikage smirked.

"In the Cloud, strength decides rank. If he surpasses me, so be it."

"But I won't go down without a fight."

At seventeen, Darui's competitive fire burned bright.

The Raikage laughed heartily. "Then fight him. Test his limits—and yours."

"Facing strong opponents is how true warriors grow."

His grip tightened on Darui's shoulder—

Pride and expectation clear in his eyes.

---