The temple was silent, save for the soft creak of old wood and the low whisper of wind brushing past the eaves. The fire in the center of the hall burned low, casting shadows that danced along the stone walls. A faint light bled through the shoji doors as the first hints of dawn crept into the sky.
Chiriku stood tall at the center of the room, his robes still and his posture calm. His eyes scanned the gathered faces of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. Some wore their old armor. Others were in monk robes or traveling cloaks. All wore the weight of the moment on their shoulders.
"You know why I called this gathering," Chiriku said, voice steady. "Asuma has brought word from Konoha. The Daimyo is dead. The power structure has shifted. Konoha governs the Land of Fire directly now."
Murmurs passed through the group.
Chiriku continued. "I won't defend the killing. But I understand why it happened. The Daimyo was forming his own shinobi force. A breach of the founding pact made between the First Hokage and the Fire Daimyo: one nation, one shinobi village, with military power entrusted to the Hidden Village."
He paused. "Hiruzen allowed our formation as Guardians. But we existed by the grace of Konoha. Now, they ask us to disband."
Some nodded in grim understanding. Others remained unmoved. Then Kazuma stepped forward.
He laughed once, a dry, sharp sound. "Correction? You call the assassination of the Daimyo a correction? You've become soft, Chiriku. You think by rolling over, they won't crush you anyway?"
He turned to the younger Guardians.
"They fear us. That's the truth. They know we still hold influence outside the village. We protect people. We bring justice where Konoha turns a blind eye. And now they want us gone."
Behind him, a boy stepped forward, barely in his teens, with wild hair and cold eyes. Sora.
"This is Sora. My son. He carries the cursed chakra they left inside him. Konoha made him into this. And now? He will be our answer."
Even though, He Kazume, was the one who did it to Sora.
During the Nine-Tails' attack on Konohagakure, some of its chakra was scattered throughout the village. Sora's father, Kazuma, collected the chakra. Without anyone's knowledge, not even Sora himself, Kazuma sealed it into Sora's body, five years after the attack, to produce a partial copy of the Nine-Tails, turning Sora into a pseudo-jinchūriki.
Gasps moved through the room.
Chiriku's voice stayed calm. "You would bring a child into war, Kazuma?"
Kazuma's eyes narrowed. "They made him into a weapon. I'm just pointing him in the right direction."
Silence fell.
Then one by one, the older members placed their sashes on the floor and stepped back toward Chiriku. A gesture of resignation. Of neutrality.
Kazuma sneered. "Then stay here and rot. The rest of you, with me."
No words were exchanged. Just nods, and silent movement. Packs were lifted. Cloaks were fastened. Before the sun crested the horizon, Kazuma and the majority of the Guardians had vanished into the woods.
High in the trees above, two masked ANBU crouched in silence. They had been watching since the night before, assigned to observe the Fire Temple.
"Kazuma's taken at least seven of them," one whispered.
"Chiriku and three stayed behind."
"They're heading southwest. Fast. Likely aiming to enter the outer forests near Konoha."
The second ANBU formed a quick set of hand signs. A glowing scroll unfurled from his belt. He whispered coordinates and coded seals into it.
Moments later, they released a summoning scroll.
From a flash of smoke, a massive eagle-like beast burst forth, its feathers metallic and its eyes sharp. A message cylinder locked to its leg.
It took off into the sky, vanishing toward Konoha as the ANBU sank back into the treetops.
The sun had barely crested the walls of the Hidden Leaf Village. Inside the Hokage Tower, a warm breakfast steamed on the low table.
Tsunade sat comfortably, sipping from a sake cup. Shizune quietly flipped through mission reports. Hajime, in simple dark training clothes, chewed through a large roast of seasoned boar.
The room's peace was broken by the knock of a shinobi. Two ANBU entered silently, kneeling.
One extended a sealed scroll.
Tsunade took it and opened it with a practiced flick.
Her face darkened as she read.
"the majority of the Twelve Guardians, have rejected the Offer. They're on the move. Estimated heading: direct approach to Konoha."
Shizune looked up sharply. "That fast? They didn't even reply to reject or accept."
"No," Tsunade muttered. "They made their reply with their feet."
Hajime cracked a bone in his mouth, swallowing the marrow with a sip of water. Then he stood, brushing his fingers across the table.
"It was expected," he said. "They've grown comfortable. Wealth, status, untouchable in their minds."
He looked toward Tsunade. His expression was calm but resolute.
"I'll clean this up."
Tsunade didn't answer right away. But she nodded.
"Do it Quickly." As she was not worried about Hajime, being in danger.
Hajime Nodded, and Vanish.
Hajime Appeared in his Lab, And walk to his Armors Stand on the side.
Walked to His Armor, The Grey Knight Mark X Tacticus Version, with the Golden Iron Halo behind it.
Towering, reinforced.
He raised his hand.
Armor pieces stirred, then flew to him, boots clicked on, greaves locked, chestplate sealed with a hiss. Gauntlets clamped over his arms, pauldrons aligned.
The helmet hovered, then snapped into place, its red lenses flickered, then glowed blue.
Warp-light surged. The system linked.
Last came the Golden Iron Halo, rising behind him, runes lighting in sequence until it locked into place with a soft chime, making the glowed blue, more stronger.
When he stood fully encased, he was a different being. Bulkier. Taller.
(Ps. Girthier = More strength in warhammer)
From the far rack, a large Nemesis Force Halberd detached and hovered behind him. The weapon was longer than a man and crackled faintly with warp energy. It latched onto the magnetic struts across his back.
The final seal flickered to life along his helmet's brow.
Hajime exhaled once.
Then, with a low hum, he vanished.
End of Chapter 142