Chapter 1: The Night He Lost Everything
Blood.
Warm.
Fresh.
It splashed across Kairo's face before he even understood what was happening.
His mother stood in front of him… then suddenly—
Her body froze.
A blade pierced through her chest.
"Kai…ro…" she whispered weakly.
Then she fell.
Kairo's mind went blank.
"No…"
His voice didn't sound like his own.
His small hands trembled as he stared at her lifeless body on the floor.
Just moments ago, she was smiling.
Now—
She was gone.
"Pathetic."
A cold voice echoed in the room.
Kairo slowly looked up.
Five figures stood inside the house, dressed in black from head to toe. Their faces were hidden, their presence suffocating.
Assassins.
One of them kicked his father's body aside like trash.
Thud.
Kairo's heart stopped.
"No…" he whispered again, shaking his head. "No… no… no…"
He crawled toward them.
Toward his parents.
But a foot slammed down in front of him—blocking his path.
"Stay where you are," one of the assassins said.
Kairo looked up at him.
Eyes filled with fear.
With confusion.
With something deeper.
"…Why?" he asked.
The assassin tilted his head slightly.
"Why?"
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"Because we can."
Something inside Kairo cracked.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
Just… quietly.
"Kill the child," another assassin said. "We're done here."
A blade was raised.
Kairo froze.
His breathing stopped.
This is it…
But then—
"Wait."
The blade stopped mid-air.
The leader stepped forward.
Slow.
Calm.
Dangerous.
He crouched in front of Kairo and grabbed his chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
"Look at me," he said.
Kairo didn't resist.
He couldn't.
Their eyes locked.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
"…Interesting."
The leader's grip tightened slightly.
"No tears."
"He's just in shock," another assassin said.
The leader shook his head.
"No."
His voice dropped.
"This one… is different."
Kairo's lips moved again.
"…Why didn't you save them?"
Silence.
Even the assassins seemed surprised.
The leader stared at him… then smiled faintly.
"A weak person cannot save anyone."
Those words hit harder than the blade.
"Kill him," someone repeated impatiently.
But the leader stood up.
"We're not killing him."
"What?"
"He'll come with us."
Kairo's eyes widened.
"No…" he whispered.
"No… I don't want to go…"
No one listened.
He struggled.
Kicked.
Screamed.
"LET ME GO!"
A sharp strike hit his neck.
Pain exploded.
Darkness followed.
When Kairo woke up… his world was gone.
Cold stone floor.
Flickering torches.
Dozens of children.
Some crying.
Some bleeding.
Some completely silent.
Kairo slowly sat up.
His head throbbed.
His chest felt heavy.
But the worst part—
The silence.
"Stand up."
The voice came from above.
Cold.
Absolute.
Kairo looked up.
A tall man stood in front of them, his presence overwhelming.
No emotion.
No mercy.
Just power.
"From this moment," the man said, "you are no longer who you were."
Kairo's fists tightened.
"Your past is dead."
His heart skipped.
"You belong to the Kage Order now."
A murmur spread among the children.
Fear.
Confusion.
Despair.
Kairo lowered his head.
His hair covered his eyes.
His body trembled slightly.
"…No," he whispered.
The man ignored him.
"You will train."
"You will obey."
"You will kill."
Then—
His gaze locked onto Kairo.
"And if you fail…"
A faint smile appeared.
"You will die just like your parents."
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Kairo's head slowly lifted.
His eyes—
Had changed.
The fear was still there.
The pain was still there.
But beneath it…
Something darker was rising.
If being weak means losing everything…
His fingers curled into fists.
Then I will never be weak again.
🔥 End of Chapter 1
Cliffhanger:
Kairo has made a silent vow… but he has no idea the nightmare training waiting for him—and not all the children will survive it.