It was a silent night in Ohu, and a young akita pup was resting within Gajou, along with his father, Gin, the former Leader of Ohu. No one in Gajou had been awake tonight, until Weed slowly opened his eyes. He quietly stood up so that he wouldn't awaken his father before he walked out of the room they shared, then he walked towards the entrance of Gajou before he finally exited the massive fortress that he and the Ohu soldiers called home.

The night seemed rather peaceful as the moon and the stars shined brightly, and no one else had been awake. But why did Weed feel as so something was off? The feeling he felt was very unusual, a feeling unlike anything he had felt before. It was something that he just couldn't completely identify, but it seemed like he had sensed something... dark. Something that was wrong.

Although, he couldn't exactly tell what it was, just that it seemed dark in some aspect. There was just this aura that made the young Akita feel almost uncomfortable, and strangely, the aura felt somewhat familiar to him, yet it was something he had never felt before. And that was enough for him to realize that something most certainly wasn't right.

However, he didn't want to disturb his friends, since it had merely been a day since Hougen was defeated, and everyone was still tired from the battle. Besides, for all Weed knew, it was all in his head. A manifestation of his stress, so why bother the others when there was the chance that there wasn't anything wrong? And so, he decided to just investigate on his own, cause perhaps it was just nothing.

Weed began to search for the source of whatever this feeling was, but this aura had a wide range, so going to the source was actually leading the Akita away from Gajou. But this didn't convince him to turn back, because he felt that as the Ohu Leader, it was his responsibility to make sure that his pack was safe. So he pushed on, going further and further away from the others, even after Gajou was no longer within his sight.

Unfortunately, as he felt himself approaching the source of the strange aura, it began to become more clear as to what it was. It was dark in a rather evil aspect, and it was very unnatural, because despite the evil of his former enemies, Weed never felt an aura of evil from them, much less one this dark and powerful. So what exactly was it that he was nearing? What could possibly have such an aura?

For the first time in quite a while, Weed could feel it; fear. He may have felt fear before, such as fear of losing to Hougen and whatnot, but that had been under different circumstances. Right now, the young pup was alone, away from his friends, and slowly approaching the source of this evil feeling he felt.

As he got closer, he felt the urge to turn back, to run and get help, because he knew for sure that something was definitely wrong. This couldn't have been all in his head. Could it? And why, why did it feel so familiar? Why did it feel like he knows this aura, when he has never felt anything close to it before?

"I can't turn back." He whispered to himself. "You have to figure out what it is, find out what you're dealing with. For the sake of Ohu."

Then he could feel it, not just an aura, but also a presence. An evil one, filled with much more darkness than Weed had ever thought possible. And once again, he was questioning his decisions, wondering if he had to go back and alert the others. But he soon realized that if he turned back now, he might not find out what is wrong, and should anything happen, he would be responsible because he did not figure out what it was that might pose a threat to Ohu in the future. With that, he gathered his will, along with his remaining courage and kept going, but that courage was rapidly decreasing as he neared the source.

What was it? It could not possibly be anything normal. None of his enemies had such an aura or presence, regardless of how evil they were. Was it possible that he was approaching a demon of some sort? Considering the possibility, it actually made sense to the Akita, because how could anything less of such a being possess such evil? Not even Hougen possessed this much evil.

The urge to turn back had become stronger than before as he courage had almost completely faded away. But Weed knew that he was so close to the source, so close to finding out what it was. And at that moment, he realized that it was already too late for him to change his mind.

"I've come too far." He said to himself. "I've come too far to turn back, so I must keep going."

So one last time, he gathered his will as he felt that there was nothing left of his courage, and he forced himself to keep walking, even as his fear was telling him that he should do the opposite. It was too late to listen to his fear, now. And besides, he was about to find the source, so why not go a few steps further?

Finally, he felt that it was within his line of sight, so after some rather intense hesitation, Weed managed to entered the area where the source was. But his eyes widened when he saw that he was at the field, hardly twenty feet from the sakura tree, which actually more beautiful than before, as well as larger. Almost too large for a sakura tree.

However, even as he gazed at its beauty, Weed felt that the aura was still there. Then he noticed something, and he looked down to see a figure he had not seen there before. The figure was definitely canine, but it was facing the sakura tree, with its back towards Weed. The canine was within the shadow of the sakura tree, yet Weed noticed that the shadows seemed unusually dark, especially when there was moonlight.

"W-Who are you?" Weed asked, unable to keep his fear out of his tone.

The figure, whoever it was, did not turn to look at the Akita as it seemed to stare at the tree. However, it did speak.

"Who am I?" The voice caused Weed to gasped as he flinched. It was unlike anything he had heard, and it sounded completely demonic. Although, it only took a moment for Weed to realize that the dog's tone didn't suggest any hostility. "I have been wondering what my name should be for some time, you know. There are many names I would like to take, but it's not easy to pick. Some of the names I like the sound of lack the meaning that I feel represents me."

Weed could hardly feel his own confusion as his feeing of fear was much stronger. "What are you doing here?"

The dog in the shadows cracked his neck. "I merely came here to visit this beautiful tree, as well as help it grow larger and more beautiful. Such a thing is rather singular; truly one of a kind."

Weed nodded hesitantly. "That sounds beautiful."

The dog nodded slowly. "Indeed."

"W-What -" Weed could not find the words as he felt nothing more than hesitation and fear.

"...Am I?" The dog asked knowingly. "It is very simple, Weed. I am a demon."

The Akita's eyes widened in shock and horror. "W-What?"

Slowly, the dog in the shadows turned around, and that's when Weed saw the dog's eyes. Or what he could see of them, anyway. There was nothing but blackness in the dog's eyes, and while Weed knew little about demonic beings, he knew for sure that black eyes were not natural.

"Please, we don't want any trouble." Weed pleaded fearfully. "You don't have to hurt us."

"I don't have to?" The demonic dog asked, slowly becoming angry. "Of course I have to! I want to!"

"Why? Why would you want to hurt any of us?"

"Because, it'll satisfy me when I make some of the Ohu soldiers suffer! I'll take everything from them, until they have nothing left. Then I'll debate whether or not I'll kill them. But then again, it is likely that many Ohu soldiers will die by my hand."

"You don't have to do this!" Weed yelled. "Killing us isn't necessary! Please, can't there be peace between us?"

The demon snorted. "There was a time where I believed it peace. But that's just not how this world, or any world works, Weed! All there is, is greed, pride, sin, all of that is why there is no peace! You may have brought peace to Ohu, but peace never lasts."

"It can last!" Weed argued. "We can try to make it last."

"Not everything lasts forever." The demon stated. "Peace isn't something that lasts forever. If it did, there wouldn't be war!"

Weed, despite his fear, got into a fighting stance. "Then you are leaving me with no choice."

The demon dog's eyes narrowed as he glared down at the Akita. "You cannot, and will not defeat me."

"You underestimate the spirit of an Ohu soldier." Weed said, losing some of his fear as it was slowly being replaced by rage. He lunged at the demon, but the demonic canine merely smacked the pup across the face with the back of his paw. However, after Weed hit the ground hard, he realized he was bleeding. That's when he noticed the deep slashes on his cheek.

"No." The demon said. "YOU underestimate the power of a demon. You have lost your courage as soon as he felt my evil aura. You may have a strong fighting spirit, but I am the one with supernatural power. My demonic soul is much stronger than your mortal soul."

Weed snarled as he stood back up. "Regardless of whatever power you may possess, I will fight you, and I will not give up!"

"Oh, but I already know that you won't. But that doesn't mean that you'll win this fight."

The words sounded too true, so Weed decided that his only option was to put everything he had into this fight. The Akita pup charged at the demon before leaping into the air, then he spun forward.

"Zetsu Tenrou Battouga!"

However, the demon had an almost bored expression before he leapt towards Weed and spun forward, performing the battouga flawlessly. As he was spinning, Weed's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing as he remembered Tesshin saying that not everyone could do a real battouga. And right now, Weed did not know what to do in this situation, but he had to fight, so he did not stop, even as they quickly span towards each other.

But once they were about to clash, the demon did not bite Weed. Instead, he headbutted the pup, sending him back over twenty meters. Weed rolled around as he struggled to regain his footing, but he failed to do so and kept rolling until his back hit a tree. Grunting in pain, the Akita finally managed to stand back up, only for his eyes to widen the moment he saw the demon dog standing in front of him with that same glare.

"You should not underestimate your enemies. And you call yourself a good leader? You're rather pitiful."

As a last ditch effort, Weed leapt at the demon, only for the demonic canine to grabbed his front leg with his jaws before swinging the pup towards the sakura tree. Weed slammed into the tree with enough force to make it shake before falling to the ground.

"You waste your time with peace. But peace does not, and will not last. There's no such thing as peace!" The demon shouted furiously.

"That's what you believe." Weed said as he stood back up once again; although, he struggled due to the pain he was feeling.

"Oh, if only that were true. If only my words were part of a mere belief. But one day, Weed, you are going to learn that I'm right, and it'll be the hard way."

Before the demon could do anything else, the sound of heavy footsteps were heard as dogs could be seen charging at them. They were the Ohu soldiers, and it seemed that they had heard the commotion.

"Who the hell are you?" Kyoushiro demanded as he lunged at the demon. But the demon just stood there and waited until he was in range before punching the Kishu in the chest, sending Kyoushiro flying back several hundred yards.

"I'm a demon, you fools! I'M A DEMON!" The demon screamed.

"Demon or not, we will defeat you." Akame said.

The demon glared at him, and the Iga Lord couldn't help but shudder when he felt the evil aura. "Weed thought the same thing. Ask him how that worked out."

"Bastard!" Kyoushiro yelled as he returned, charging at the demon before lunging out him once again. This time, though, the demon didn't look at the Kishu as he grabbed him by the throat, chocking him as he held him in the air. Then, he looked at him with that same glare, and even Kyoushiro felt fear as he looked into the demon's eyes.

"I feel so sorry... for your father." He whispered furiously. "No one should ever have a pup as horrible as you! Always breaking everything you touch!" And with that, he threw Kyoushiro into Hiro, who was knocked back by the strong and sudden force of the impact.

"Who are you?!" Weed demanded. "What is it that you want?"

"I already told you want it is that I wanted." The demon replied. "But I shall tell you my name before I go. I am Malum."

And with that, the demon was gone. Just disappeared.

Weed panted before looking back at his friends with an uncertain look. In some of their eyes, he could see fear. All of them were now afraid of what the demon could do. He had shown them all what he could do. And it was at that moment that Weed's own fears were confirmed.

... They were at war.