Linto's anger wasn't just because of Momo-chan's mother's death.
After all, they only met once, spending three days together on a ship, not enough for deep feelings.
Linto chose to act for two reasons:
From a logical point of view, after killing the six ninja, Linto found recent "shipping lists" in the office, showing that two strong members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were delivering and picking up goods.
That means only one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen is guarding Mirage City.
In a one-on-one situation, Linto has a chance to kill the enemy and earn a lot of soul fragments.
He doesn't want to miss this chance.
And from a sense of feeling...
This is just not something a human being should do!
Locking people in cages so small they can't stand up straight, using fear and hunger to destroy people's dignity, treating them like toys to violate and abuse...
Even the Nazis weren't this bad!
If Linto just brushed it off, pretended not to see it, and walked away,
Then he wouldn't be Linto.
Thump—thump—thump!
Linto's heart is beating steadily and powerfully, as if sensing his determination. Star Platinum, standing behind him, becomes more solid and alive, like a god descended to earth.
Linto raises a hand and points.
"Smash it."
Ora!
Star Platinum tears the cages apart like noodles with both hands.
Ora! Ora! Ora!
In less than ten seconds, all the cages are opened.
"You are free," Linto says.
The four hundred or so people who were kidnapped and captured look at each other, the desire for freedom and the fear of the Hidden Mist ninja fighting in their hearts.
Finally, someone takes the first step, trembling—
"Let's see who dares to come out today!"
A loud shout comes from above.
Bang!
The skylight breaks, and a large figure falls from the sky.
The newcomer has orange, messy hair, green markings on his face, bandages around his neck, shark-like sharp teeth, and behind his large body is an even larger sword wrapped in bandages.
Suikazan Fuguki.
He is the Seven Ninja Swordsmen member left to guard Mirage City, wielding the sword Samehada, a truly powerful figure who made a name for himself on the battlefield.
Suikazan Fuguki raises a hand and throws a kunai, shooting at the prisoner who mustered the courage to take the first step.
Don't let Suikazan Fuguki's rough appearance fool you; anyone who can get this far is no fool. He's trying to kill one to scare the others, using one life to intimidate the other prisoners.
Otherwise, with four hundred people rushing out like mad dogs, even if Suikazan Fuguki is strong, he can't catch them all.
A hand appears and steadily catches the thrown kunai.
Linto saves the person.
However, in the eyes of the four hundred or so prisoners, the desire for freedom gradually fades.
They recognize the "lord" in front of them.
They are silent, despair quietly growing in their hearts.
The prisoners shrink back into their cages, kneeling on the ground, lowering their heads, afraid to meet Suikazan Fuguki's eyes, as if that would keep them safe, and they won't suffer inhuman torture again.
But at that moment—
"Stand up, don't kneel."
A voice containing Ripple power touches the hearts of the four hundred or so prisoners.
They all look up, watching Linto face Suikazan Fuguki alone with his slender back.
Momo-chan murmurs blankly, "Is there really... hope?"
...
Besides Suikazan Fuguki, four more ninja jump in through the cracks in the skylight.
They were drinking and having fun with Suikazan Fuguki nearby, sensing that someone had died in the factory, and rushed over. Seeing the destroyed cages, the four Hidden Mist ninja felt a chill down their spines.
If they really let the "goods" escape, Suikazan Fuguki might survive, but they would definitely face the Fourth Mizukage's punishment.
Certain death.
Thinking of this, the four ninja look at Linto with killing intent in their eyes.
"I didn't expect anyone to dare to break in, let alone foolishly try to free the people."
Suikazan Fuguki is tall and strong. He stands on a high platform, looking down at Linto with emotionless eyes, his deep voice containing power.
"Which village are you from? So ignorant?"
"You think you're the only smart one? There's a reason why others haven't acted."
Politics.
Bargaining.
Balancing.
And... pros and cons.
"Tell me who the master behind you is, and if you obey, I can have your master send someone to collect your body, at least... you can have your name engraved on the village's stone monument."
Utter arrogance.
But whether it's the four Hidden Mist ninja or the prisoners in the "cages," no one thinks there's anything wrong with Suikazan Fuguki's words.
In their eyes, he is a symbol of invincibility.
All eyes are on Linto, waiting for his answer.
Language is an advantage that humans have over animals.
Linto likes to use language to negotiate and reach cooperation.
But today, he doesn't want to talk.
Linto's eyes are calm, like a dark river, reflecting Suikazan Fuguki and the four Hidden Mist ninja.
Because they don't deserve to be called "human."
Linto takes a step.
His footsteps are light and steady, and a subtle, lightning-like golden light flashes at his feet.
Whoosh—
A gust of wind blows, and Linto suddenly appears in front of a Hidden Mist ninja.
Ripple breathing is fully unleashed, and Linto's heartbeat sounds like rumbling war drums in the ninja's ears. A hand chops across, cutting the ninja's throat.
It's not until blood sprays out that the ninja and prisoners react, staring at Linto in disbelief.
He moved!
He really did it!
Without a moment's hesitation.
"Bastard!"
The Hidden Mist ninja roar.
Suikazan Fuguki glares, shouldering the large sword behind him: "Kid! I gave you a chance!"
He jumps high, the bandages wrapped around the sword scattering, revealing the hideous Great Sword Samehada, slashing down at Linto's head.
This slash carries a whistling wind. If it really hits Linto, he'll be injured.
Linto is frozen in place.
The Hidden Mist ninja grin, expecting Linto to be chopped into mincemeat by Samehada.
The prisoners close their eyes, unable to bear to see this scene, and in despair, their hearts sink to the bottom.
Suikazan Fuguki cracks a smile.
"Die!"
Just as he is about to cut Linto to death, he makes eye contact with Linto for a split second.
Suikazan Fuguki can't find any fear in Linto's eyes, nor is it acceptance of death, but...
Anger and calmness.
He can't imagine how these two different emotions can mix together.
Suikazan Fuguki isn't unfamiliar with this look; he's seen it before.
Where was it?
Suikazan Fuguki doesn't have time to think, and the power of the sword in his hand increases again.
Bang!
Samehada hits a wall.
No, with Suikazan Fuguki's strength, he could break through a wall.
He feels like he's hitting a mountain. The blade stops in front of Linto, and no matter how Suikazan Fuguki tries, Samehada can't move forward at all.
With great force, Samehada, which has life, makes a sad sound.
Crack—crack—
Cracks appear on Samehada's blade, as if an invisible hand is squeezing it, about to crush it.
"What... what is this ability? Is it a trick?"
Suikazan Fuguki stirs the Chakra in his body, trying to break the trick. When some Chakra gathers in his eyes, he sees...
A huge evil spirit.
"You said you gave me a chance?"
Linto stares at the close-up Suikazan Fuguki.
"Too bad, I don't plan to return the favor—"
He raises his right hand, pointing at the other person, a gleam of golden light in his eyes becomes even brighter.
"I won't give you the chance."
Star Platinum grabs Samehada, pulls Suikazan Fuguki in front of him, grabs his neck with one hand, and raises the other hand high, the five fingers clenching into a fist one by one.
Ora!
With just one punch, Suikazan Fuguki's face is twisted.
The three Hidden Mist ninja stare blankly at this scene, their minds blank.
The prisoners who had closed their eyes, afraid to see Linto die, open their eyes one by one, their mouths half-open.
The god-like Suikazan Fuguki is actually at a disadvantage!
They never would have dared to think of this in the past.
Now Linto is telling them with action.
No one is unbeatable, and...
The real show hasn't started yet.
"I won't take advantage of you.
There are four hundred people here, who have been tortured by you.
I'll punch you once for each person. If you're still alive after I'm done,
I'll leave."
Linto's tone is calm, but this calmness is like salt rubbed into Suikazan Fuguki's wounds. His eyes are filled with blood:
"Don't underestimate me! I'm Suikazan Fuguki!"
His orange hair suddenly grows, like the sharp needles of a porcupine, stabbing at Linto.
Suikazan Fuguki plans to force Linto back first, and then he can choose whether to fight or retreat.
But.
Ora! Ora! Ora!
Star Platinum punches dozens of times in a row, blasting away the incoming hair.
Then, both hands wrap around, and with a forceful tear, accompanied by a chilling sound, Suikazan Fuguki's hair is torn off.
The red scalp is exposed, and you can faintly see the skull underneath.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
Suikazan Fuguki screams miserably.
"Can't stand it when it happens to you?" Linto asks.
"I'll kill you!"
Suikazan Fuguki makes hand signs, about to spew water from his mouth
Star Platinum grabs his mouth, forcing him to swallow the breath.
It takes a deep breath, strength building up in that breath, and then—
Ora! Ora! Ora!
Ora! Ora! Ora!
Ora! Ora! Ora!
A full four hundred punches, in just a few seconds, bombard Suikazan Fuguki.
At this moment, he remembers.
He remembers when he saw the same angry and rational eyes as Linto.
During the Third Ninja World War, that madman named Might Duy, burning with scarlet aura, when he was waving his fists at them, he had this look.
At that time, he dodged it, and survived to this day with the fear hidden in his heart.
Now, the fist from ten years ago...
Falls.
Ora!
Star Platinum throws out the final punch, smashing into Suikazan Fuguki's face, which is no longer recognizable, sending him flying against the wall. The wall shatters into an indentation in the shape of a human who is deeply embedded in it.
Like a mural.
"Killed Samehada, got 450 Soul points."