Kokushibo paid no heed to Akaza's words. He kept one hand on his sword hilt and walked forward, step by step.
"If you're scared, go crawling back now."
"Some people really... will never be anything but groveling underlings."
Kokushibo's voice dripped with contempt.
Had he failed to sense the terrifying traces of aura lingering there?
No... that wasn't it.
In fact, Kokushibo had sensed those auras even before Akaza had...
That feeling, which he had only ever felt from his own brother... no, rather, they were all terrifying auras, but these were far more violent than his brother's peaceful presence...
But Kokushibo's pride would not allow him to feel wary or afraid of such auras...
"You..."
"Don't get angry. We're here on a mission, remember?"
"I'm so happy to be working with you!"
Doma placed his hand on Akaza's shoulder.
He looked like an old friend comforting his companion.
Bang!
Akaza had no liking for such friendly overtures. He punched Doma's jaw clean off.
"I told you not to come near me without permission."
"Are you looking to fight me here?"
The veins on Akaza's forehead bulged again.
Kokushibo, who had been walking ahead, stopped as well, and an unsettling aura began to emanate from him...
"All right, all right. I'll go on ahead."
Doma wasn't angry. He merely smiled as he slipped into the darkness.
Kokushibo continued forward.
Akaza was positively seething with pent-up anger.
But he still hadn't forgotten their mission.
Meanwhile, inside the Swordsmith Village.
"They're in here?"
Butterfly Shinobu looked at the changes around her in confusion.
After all, there had only been pretty little wooden cabins here before.
Now, these houses made of a strange stone material piqued her curiosity.
More importantly, she was very curious about what Mitsuri Kanroji and their target were