(TL: again this chapter is a bit confusing but you will get by it probably and no there's no missing content these are all. Stay Strange)
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"You…"
Hinata's expression shifted from satisfied contentment to a frozen grimace, tinged with fury. Haku's refusal made her realize it was a form of final rebellion.
Even though her body had obediently submitted to everything Hinata demanded, in the end… she still mockingly rejected her.
It was like a cruel joke—mocking everything Hinata had done to her. Their kiss, their embrace, their entanglement… all a lie. All mocking Hinata's foolish assumption that Haku had finally submitted.
Hinata's white eyes flared. She raised her hand and slapped Haku hard across the face. A crisp smack echoed in the chamber. Haku's face jerked to the side, blood trickling from her swollen lip.
Yet her eyes still held that serene, gentle softness. That quiet look made Hinata's gaze tremble.
She leaned down. Her stiff hands instinctively wrapped around Haku's neck.
The air in the underground chamber turned chaotic and dangerous, the surrounding darkness stirring the most obsessive part of her soul.
"…Forget it."
After an unknown amount of time, Hinata let go—though her fingers had never truly clenched. She picked up the scattered clothing, dressed herself in silence, and walked toward the exit.
Without turning back, she spoke calmly.
"Leave your body, and die. I don't want you anymore. But leave your body behind—Ice Release is a rare bloodline."
"Understood. Then I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors."
Still naked, Haku sat up slowly on the tatami mat, propping herself up with both hands. Her voice was soft and respectful. "Farewell, Lady Hinata."
Hinata didn't respond. She opened the trapdoor and stepped out into the darkened world above. Her rage had slowly cooled, leaving behind a cold, steel-like indifference.
Not everything goes according to plan. Even the best beginnings can end in failure. Just as no one can please everyone, setbacks like this wouldn't shake her will.
After all, hard work doesn't always guarantee success—not even if you give everything.
"What a waste… such a beautiful toy. It really could've stayed with me for a long time…"
Crossing her arms, Hinata looked up at the moon above—the soft silver light like flowing water. It reminded her of Haku's smile: seemingly gentle, but perhaps nothing more than human delusion and projection.
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"Then, will you be the same, my lovely little slave, Sai?"
Without even turning her head, Hinata's voice drifted back. Around the corridor corner, Sai dropped to one knee. The black-and-white maid uniform clung tightly to his slender frame, making him seem even more delicate. With his head respectfully lowered, he spoke softly, "If Lady Hinata so wishes, you may treat me as any object you like. Her smile, her gestures—I can imitate them all."
"Heh… Baka. Even if you remake a broken item to look just like the original, it'll never be the same. And me? I don't fall in love with things so easily. Whatever, let's go."
Hinata let out a small scoff and turned. She really did feel like moving forward now. Since the thing she had wanted to cherish was gone, all that remained was to resume the search.
---
The underground base of Root was as deserted as ever. After the Third Hokage forcibly disbanded Root, most of its members were stripped of their identities and reassigned into various ANBU squads. But this wasn't the smart move—those Root shinobi remained loyal to Danzo. Spreading them throughout the ANBU only made it easier for Danzo to monitor every move within the village.
The wiser choice would've been to simply have them all eliminated, not absorbed.
Mass execution would've been too obvious, so the better plan would've been to slowly weed them out one by one, assigning them to missions where death was guaranteed.
But the Third and Danzo had such a convoluted relationship that even when he knew the right thing to do, the Hokage chose the more dangerous path instead.
"The Third is too stubborn, and the Elders and conservatives are the same. That's why Konoha keeps getting weaker."
Back to Hinata, Danzo stirred the flame of a candle in the underground room with his limp left hand, trying to brighten the space. Hinata, meanwhile, stared at the massive wooden mass that had once been the First Hokage's corpse. She didn't bother replying—this power-hungry old man hated being interrupted, and he hated when people kept secrets from him even more.
"Get me a location outside the village, free of Konoha's oversight. I need a base to gather my old followers again. Only with strong roots can a tree withstand the storm."
Danzo spoke plainly, his tone utterly unbothered by obstacles or consequences. And it was exactly this way of speaking that showed how much confidence he had in the white-eyed girl before him.
"A new city will be built outside the village. The next release event will be held there exclusively. It will also serve as the main hub for selling Fox's Whisper merchandise: figurines, audio recordings, special editions, side-story artbooks, apparel—you name it. Whether or not you can get the distribution rights from the Third, that's your problem."
Without hesitation, Hinata pulled out her previously copied Sealing Scroll in front of Danzo and opened to the forbidden technique she had fixated on before: the Gedo Senjutsu—a technique that wasn't conceptually complex. It fused the bodies of living beings into one entity, forcibly merging their chakra, physique, and—most importantly—kekkei genkai.
"So that's what you're after, huh… True, if you get a reliable source of income and territory, rebuilding Root will go much smoother. I see now… you plan to use this technique."
Danzo walked to her side and cast a sidelong glance at the scroll. He commented flatly, "I wouldn't recommend trying this on yourself. We've tested it. Fusions often result in cellular degeneration and fatal mutation. The stronger the individuals, the likelier their body will break down. You're a Hyūga—your body will shown even more rejection."
"The city will be named Akihabara. I'll send you a detailed development plan later. Try to secure distribution rights with Akatsuki for their figures too. And as for taxes—set the division percentages with Konoha right from the start. Otherwise, they'll never stop arguing once the money starts flowing."
Hinata read over the scroll in her hand, and though their exchange sounded detached and unrelated, the sharp listener would recognize how dense the web of power, favor, and deals was behind those few words.
"Very well. If you need anything else, have Sai deliver the message."
Danzo tapped his cane once, then vanished again into the darkness of the base. He had gotten everything he wanted. Now it was up to him to sway the Third and the Elders.
Hinata turned back to the First Hokage's tree-like remains, her lips curling into a faint smile. She drew a kunai and began slicing downward from his left ear. The blade bit into what felt more like rubber than flesh, and it took her a full five minutes to sever it.
But as soon as she removed the blade, the ear's wound began squirming, and moments later, a new ear began to regenerate.
"Heh. As expected of the First Hokage—even in death, he's still bringing profit to the village."
Hinata placed the removed ear into her pouch, then calmly left the shadows of the base. It was time to begin her experiment.
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It only took her about half an hour to return to her personal underground lab. As she lifted the trapdoor, she immediately sensed it—the snow girl had died.
The room had been tidied up. There was a serene air to the place, an aura of quiet peace that could only come from death. Dressed in her usual clothes, Haku lay in the center of the tatami mat, smiling softly. Her hands were folded neatly over her chest. No wounds. Her hair and appearance looked as if they had been groomed with care.
Her chest still rose and fell slightly, faintly, but that was only her body's muscles responding on instinct. Her soul, Hinata could tell, was already gone.
It was as if Haku had cast her body aside and let her soul slip gently into death. A death like that could only come to someone who truly wished for it, from the bottom of their heart.
Just as Hinata had ordered: leave your body, and die.
Silently kneeling beside her, Hinata cradled Haku's body and pressed one last gentle kiss to her forehead.
"As expected... what a waste..."
"So... perfectly fitting."
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Fox's Whisper — Act Eight: Overlooking a Former Life
Pitiful lives, spending their entire existence chasing after something destined to be lost. What greater sorrow, what deeper pain, could there be?
If happiness is a blessing from the gods, is suffering their curse?
Then… if rebirth is such a painful thing—why not just stop?
[Come rest... in my arms.]
Lady Higan stood in the middle of a sea of black blossoms. The dark petals rippled in the wind, and among them floated the faint outlines of souls—those who had forsaken reincarnation, choosing instead to stay with her in this abyssal garden. That was her role.
Sasarin's body lay atop a massive black blossom, as if the flowerbed had entombed him. His body was translucent, barely tethered to this world.
[Cease this, flower spirit. You must stop imprisoning these souls.]
Mikage's voice came from behind her. The elegant exorcist stood at the garden's edge, speaking calmly.
[It's not too late to let them go now]
Lady Higan turned with a soft laugh. Her long black hair fluttered like the petals themselves.
[Let me go? What a compassionate onmyoji. But tell me this: why do humans sacrifice themselves for others?]
It wasn't a threat, nor mockery—just a gentle, elusive question.
[Because humans have hearts. For what they hold dear, they will risk everything.]
Mikage adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses. His white sleeve fell slightly. He knew the flower spirit before him was no harmless bloom.
[Exactly. Fragile as they are, fleeting as they are, humans will lay down their lives for love. I've seen it countless times. And for what I hold dear... I too would give everything.]
She smiled serenely, her voice filled with certainty. Her hand raised—and the earth swelled beneath her, giving form to a monstrous beast. Countless spirits burrowed into it, and black miasma began pouring from its limbs.
[So I've made all the preparations—if it means protecting that I love, I'll gladly become a cursed demon.]
Standing atop the monster's head, her tone now unwavering, she declared, as the beast below her let out a furious roar and lunged at Jingya with its gleaming claws.
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"Still not quite there."
Hinata's cold voice struck dread in the heart of the entire production team.
Even Asuma, still pulling off the monster costume to the side, was visibly breaking into a cold sweat.
"Uhh... Hinata, everyone's really trying their best, so maybe—let's take a break?"