Squelch—
The sound of a blade piercing cloth and flesh rang especially clear in the deathly silent chamber.
But that was all.
The kunai's advance was instantly halted by an irresistible force. Its edge had barely broken the skin before it could go no farther.
A hand covered in a black tactical glove, like a pair of red-hot steel pincers, tightly gripped Karatachi Yagura's trembling wrist.
Naruto Uzumaki looked down at the man at his feet, whose mind had completely collapsed. There was no pity or sympathy in his scarlet eyes—only an almost cruel coldness and the scrutiny of a dissection.
"You're using suicide to escape responsibility."
His voice carried not the slightest trace of emotion.
"You want to use a seemingly tragic death to clear yourself of crimes you never committed, while conveniently earning yourself a pitiful hero's reputation."
"I understand how you feel, but you were never guilty. You were merely a puppet toyed with by a more cunning hunter, a pathetic tool."
Naruto paused.
"Besides, even if you succeed in dying here now, you won't become some tragic hero. In the records of history, you'll only be remembered as an innocent fool, a coward manipulated by the enemy who ultimately took his own life in remorse."
Before his words had even faded, Naruto suddenly exerted force and pulled the bloodstained kunai from Yagura's chest.
Blood spattered.
Without even looking at it, he shoved the slick, sticky handle back into Yagura's violently trembling hand.
Naruto bent down. Those scarlet eyes, as though they could devour all light, locked onto Yagura's unfocused pupils from inches away.
"Your life is my trophy now, so I'm giving you one chance to choose again."
"Will you choose to end your pathetic life with this blade like trash, then be forgotten by everyone?"