After coming out of the Fuguki Suikazan's sewer lair under Watermelon Mountain, Kisame Hoshigaki fell into a brief moment of confusion.
He wandered aimlessly along the mist-filled streets.
He couldn't quite understand, why did the village always make comrades slaughter each other?
This kind of tradition had existed since the Ninja Academy. He once thought that after becoming an official shinobi, things would be different. But in the end, nothing had changed.
He unconsciously lifted one of his hands, flipping it back and forth in front of his eyes.
Would this hand inevitably be stained with the blood of his own comrades?
Then what was he, really?
What kind of hypocritical existence was he living as?
At that moment, suddenly, a clear, crisp girl's voice rang beside his ear.
"Kisame-nii, what are you thinking about?"
Kisame turned his head instinctively, and saw a bright-smiling little girl running toward him.
That was… the daughter of Jonin Nishimura, Nishimura Suzuko.
He'd seen her once before, back when he passed the trial and became a Genin.
It had only been one brief encounter, yet she'd left a deep impression on him.
Because unlike other children, she hadn't discriminated against him for looking like a shark.
Instead, there had been a faint, genuine concern in her eyes.
While he was still dazed, Nishimura Suzuko had already reached him, holding a few rice balls in her hands. Slightly out of breath, she said, "Kisame-nii, would you like to eat together?"
Kisame looked at the beads of sweat on her nose and the slightly messy hair on her forehead. His body tensed unconsciously, and he took a small step back.
"No, I've already eaten. You go ahead."
The girl's expression dimmed, her hands lowering with the rice balls as she said, disappointed, "I see… That's a shame. I made these especially for you. Kisame-nii, do you have a mission to carry out right now? If so… maybe after it's done, we can eat together?"
Kisame unconsciously took another step back.
He didn't even know why he was retreating, it was purely instinct, "Please… stay away from me."
For a moment, the girl seemed struck by an invisible blow. She stood there, stunned, her voice trembling, "Kisame-nii… do you hate me?"
Kisame shook his head, lowering it so he wouldn't have to meet her eyes, "No… I just… don't know what I am anymore. Maybe my existence will only bring misfortune to those around me."
Hearing that, Suzuko clenched her tiny fists and shouted, "Kisame-nii, don't think like that! You're a strong ninja, one day you'll definitely become one of the next Seven Ninja Swordsmen! You'll protect the village, and also… protect me!"
That last line came out louder than she intended, and her face turned red.
Kisame suddenly felt a wave of warmth in his chest.
But because of that warmth, he only grew more afraid to accept her kindness.
He forced his tone to sound cold, "Suzuko, forget about me. Don't come to me again. Stay far away from me, alright?"
After saying that, he steeled his heart, turned away, and quickly walked off.
He was about to carry out a mission, to kill his comrades. That sort of thing… couldn't be known by anyone.
Suzuko watched his back fade into the mist. She didn't chase after him.
She only stood there, dazed, surrounded by drifting fog.
She murmured softly, "Kisame-nii… what happened to you? Why do you look so… hurt?"
As she said that, large teardrops fell from her eyes.
There were so many things she had seen, yet could do nothing about.
She could only turn back, holding the rice balls she'd made herself, and head home.
Before long, Nishimura Suzuko returned to her house.
Like always, she opened the door and said, "I'm home."
But strangely, her mother, who was always there to greet her and handle housework, didn't come out.
The house was silent.
Only faint rustling sounds came from the bedroom… and along with them, a faint but sharp metallic smell, of blood.
Suzuko became alert. She carefully called toward the bedroom, "Mom? Are you there?"
Then she took small, cautious steps closer…
No one answered her.
But as she got nearer, the noises grew clearer. Like someone rummaging through things.
Finally, Suzuko gathered her courage and stepped into the bedroom doorway.
And there, she saw her mother lying in the middle of the bed.
A knife was plunged into her chest.
Blood was still flowing out, staining the sheets red.
And beside her… her father stood there, as if completely oblivious to everything, searching through the closet, where her mother usually hid their savings.
Suzuko's mind went blank. She didn't understand what she was seeing. Trembling, she stammered, "Dad… Mom, she… what happened to her?"
The man, Nishimura Tatsuto, seemed to have found what he was looking for. He pulled out a scroll from the closet and tucked it into his robe.
He appeared unnervingly calm as he said flatly, "You can see for yourself. Your mother is dead."
"AHHH!!"
Suzuko screamed, falling to the ground. Her whole body trembled in terror.
"Dad… what happened? Why?"
Tatsuto turned around, looking at his daughter calmly.
"I thought she didn't know anything. But all these years… she's seen everything. She took something I had hidden, and put it where she kept her own savings."
"I'm sorry, Suzuko. Even though I love you and your mother very much, she discovered my identity. That's an enormous risk of exposure. I couldn't take that chance, so I had to kill her."
Suzuko's pupils shrank violently.
Still so young, always protected under her father's care, she couldn't grasp what those words truly meant.
She screamed, "Why? Dad, why did you kill Mom?"
Tatsuto said, "Suzuko, have you forgotten? In Kirigakure, killing among comrades is nothing unusual."
"You care a lot about that boy, Kisame Hoshigaki, don't you? According to the intel I've received, he's been sent to work for that man. Knowing that man's methods, Kisame is probably doing the same thing right now."
Suzuko sensed something terribly wrong. Her body trembled as she backed away inch by inch.
"Dad… are you going to kill me too?"
Tatsuto remained calm.
"Suzuko, I love you. But now that my identity is exposed, as my closest family, I can't leave any weaknesses behind. I can only ask you to join your mother… in reunion."
"I'm sorry. Everything I've done… is for Konoha."
After saying that, Nishimura Tatsuto began stepping toward Suzuko, one step at a time.
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