SHUKUMEI'S DECISION
Shukumei's eyes widen as panic sets in.
"You can't be serious… you've lost your mind, my lord."
The Monkey King smirks.
"Alternatively… you could offer one of your companions as a sacrifice."
Shukumei glances back at his allies before turning toward Hikari, his voice firm.
"You must truly be insane if you think I would trade one of my comrades… for the life of your child."
THE INTERROGATION
The Monkey King steps forward, dismounting from his staff as he circles Shukumei slowly.
"There's something else that concerns me…"
His gaze sharpens.
"You claim Haru Yaskue is dead. Is that true?"
Shukumei answers without hesitation.
"Yes. He sacrificed himself to end the conflict."
The Monkey King taps his staff against his palm, intrigued.
"So… he gave his life to stop a war. How… noble."
He suddenly slams the staff into the ground.
A shinobi from the Land of Fire approaches.
"I sent this man to capture one of your ninja," the Monkey King continues.
"He reported encountering someone… with eyes like flames… and a sinister afro emerging from the shadows."
The shinobi nods nervously.
"Yes, my lord… it was the Afro Samurai."
Shukumei's thoughts flash back to the moment Inochi saved Kurai.
He exhales.
"You've been misinformed. That was Haru mistaken for someone else.
My shinobi acted only to protect a captive. No lives were taken."
The Monkey King's expression darkens.
"Then I demand their deaths.
Everyone involved… must die."
His voice turns cold.
"Refuse… and I will declare war."
THE BREAKING POINT
Shukumei turns to Hikari.
"This is spiraling out of control. Reasoning with him is pointless."
Hikari's response is immediate.
"Then we defeat him."
Shukumei's expression tightens.
"No he is to strong. Stay out of this. Hide."
Hikari's eyes sharpen.
"I won't stand by and do nothing."
"I can't risk losing you," Shukumei replies firmly.
"You're too important. I promised your father I would protect you."
HIKARI'S RESOLVE
Hikari lowers her head.
"I understand… Lord Shukumei."
Her voice softens but carries weight.
"I was once weak… unable to protect myself… or anyone else."
Her fists tighten.
"I watched my closest friend die for me. I watched my father be used as nothing more than a tool. I was torn away from my sister."
A pause.
"I walked through a world filled with pain… and meaninglessness."
She lifts her head, her eyes unwavering.
"But I'm grateful for it. Because it made me stronger."
"I trained relentlessly… and now I have something worth protecting."
Her voice rises with conviction.
"I've chosen the Land of Light. I will become a Grandmaster."
She bows slightly.
"Just this once… please allow me to protect what matters to me."
Her eyes close then open with intensity.
"I am Hikari Hinotori… wielder of the Kokkorogan."
TRUST FORGED IN BATTLE
Shukumei locks eyes with her.
After a moment…
"…Alright. I trust you. Just… be careful."
Hikari nods.
Shukumei turns back to the Monkey King.
"I will never sacrifice my allies. I would sooner die."
The Monkey King grins darkly.
"Then die."
"You know you cannot defeat me… just like your father."
THE PLAN IN MOTION
"Hikari signal the others," Shukumei commands.
She leaps into the trees, transmitting the signal.
Moments later…
Smoke hurls a bomb into the battlefield.
A dense fog engulfs the area.
The Monkey King coughs, scoffing.
"Pathetic… you think this will blind me?"
He grips his staff tightly.
Suddenly… Shukumei vanishes.
Clones begin to materialize.
A shinobi shouts:
"It's a trap!"
ANAGAMI — DIMENSIONAL PHASE
Shukumei activates his Butsugan ability: Anagami.
His body becomes an untouchable illusion an empty shell left behind.
Meanwhile, his true essence slips into the spirit realm, unseen and undetectable.
Though his physical form appears unchanged, it is no longer real.
He is no longer bound to the battlefield.
THE ASSAULT
As the smoke clears, the Monkey King scans the area.
He leaps into the air and crushes every clone in an instant.
"Clones… how predictable."
He lands, eyes sharp.
"Stay alert," he commands his forces.
A voice echoes from above.
"I'm right here."
The Monkey King looks up.
Shukumei forms a hand seal.
"Nature Art: Flashing Buddha Technique!"
A blinding burst of light erupts The battlefield is engulfed in brilliance.
From the earth below serpents erupt, coiling tightly around the Monkey King.
Yamata emerges from within them, grinning.
"Hey… Monkey."
The Monkey King chuckles.
"Yamata Orochi… the Snake Sage. What a pleasure."
Yamata tightens his grip.
"This is where you die."
HIKARI STRIKES
"Now, Hikari!" Shukumei roars.
From the trees Hikari descends.
She flips through the air, landing directly onto the Monkey King.
Grabbing his face their eyes meet.
Her Basic Kokkorogan activates.
A flicker.
A shift.
The Monkey King's body goes still.
Yamata releases him.
The body collapses.
Silence.
Fugami drops beside them.
"No way… did she actually do it?"
A shinobi flips the body over.
They look at Hikari and begin to smirk.
DECEPTION REVEALED
Shukumei's eyes narrow.
"Wait… that's not him."
The body vanishes.
So do the shinobi.
Smoke and Yamata regroup.
Yamata exhales.
"He used decoys… just like us. But his goal was different he was countering your Butsugan."
Suddenly a Shinobi drop from the trees, surrounding them with drawn blades.
Then the real Monkey King appears.
A grin spreads across his face.
"I expected more from you… my lord."