Jaku POV

The coordinates lead us to a secluded mountain range in the Land of Lightning. It took us about a day and a half of traveling to reach due to severe thunderstorms slowing us down. I feel bad about just leaving B and Tsubaki behind, and about drugging the guards, but this was a personal mission. It had to be us to bring down Hidari and her group.

We had settled down for a break and then to find the base. I was sitting on a log, nibbling on a piece of bread.

"Jaku," Seibyo asked. "Are you okay?" He sat down next to me on the log.

"Yeah. Perfectly fine." I said.

"Are you sure? You seem shaken up."

I was. I kept thinking about Hidari leaning over me, her dead eyes, her lack of empathy, and the murderous aura radiating from her. It had only been for a second, but the encounter still terrified me.

"I'm sure." I replied. "What about you?"

Seibyo fell quiet.

"Seibyo?"

"Do you know what the goal of the Kanpeki clan is?"

I shook my head.

"They believe that the idea of a god is a human with unlimited power. The clan started of as people gathering and declaring their strength. However, once science evolved, so did their beliefs. Now they believe that they can create their God through perfecting genetics and Chakra levels. However, members of the group had different ideas of 'perfect' genetics. Some believe it was physical strength, others Chakra stores and control, mutations, and countless others. So the group split into different branches focusing on their own ideals to find their 'God'."

I was processing all this as best as I could. "So basically they want to create a God."

Seibyo nodded. "The twins were from a branch known as Omega: a group that focuses on Kekkai Genkai. They kidnap young children or collect DNA that are known to have traces of a Kekkai Genkai. Once they found the children and they matured, they pair them with a partner to have an offspring with superior traits. Most members would have many children with multiple different partners."

A shudder ran down my spine. "That's disgusting and just plain creepy."

"Don't you see the problem?"

I tilted my head. "You mean besides the lack of morals?"

Seibyo sighed slowly. "Members have multiple children. My father was part of the Omega group."

"Oh…" Realization struck me.

"I could end up facing a my cousin or aunt, or even a brother or sister." He shook his head. "This is so messed up."

"Seibyo…" I don't know what to say.

Minutes passed by in silence. Seibyo stared off into the distance, or he may be thinking of how he could end up killing a sibling he never knew he had.

He spoke first. "You don't have to say anything. Just… stay safe, okay?"

"…Okay."

Later that day…

Mushi found the entrance hidden behind a pile of boulders. Rolled away, they revealed a dim passage leading into the heart of a mountain.

We all stood side-by-side, making sure not to lose each other. Then the passage split. Promising to keep each other safe, we headed in two different directions: Mushi, Ogoi and Ayato to the left, Shai, Joki, Seibyo and myself to the right.

We all know that this is a trap, but this is something we have to do. Hidari attacked us all and implanted herself with Ayato's blood. She has injured us physically and mentally and brought hundreds of innocent people, including Tsubaki, into this battle. This is personnel. If we don't have the guts to face our own enemies, then we are unworthy of being jinchuriki.

"Jaku," Seibyo whispered.

"Yes?"

"Don't forget your promise."

I smiled. "You do the same."

Then it happened. The tunnel shook and dust spilled from the ceiling. I reached out for Seibyo, but the ceiling and floor collapsed. I fell through darkness until landing with an audible "Oomph".

I was staring down a new tunnel. Candles lined the walls, illuminating every nook and cranny. The air was thick with dust and the path behind me was blocked by a pile of rumble. The ceiling was smooth, not a scratch could be seen.

I pushed against the rubble. Nothing budged. I'm starting regret not being an user of Earth jutsu.

Only one way. I took a deep breath and marched down the tunnel.

I walked for about ten minutes before the tunnel opened into a large cavern. Lit candles filled notches in the entirety of the walls, but the floor was flat and empty, except for a boy standing in the middle. He was around twenty, tall, and wore a tan, loose fitting shirt with blacks pants. He looked me in the eye and my breathing hitched. It wasn't only the angle of his face or dirty blonde hair, but his eyes were red with three tomes around the pupil.

I was facing down Seibyo's brother.

Ayato POV

After the cave collapsed, I was separated from Ogoi and Mushi. I started down the tunnel, hoping to get back to Mushi. Don't get me wrong, I was worried about Ogoi too, but I couldn't stand the thought of Mushi alone and in danger.

I took off running, Swift Release running. Even with my speed, it took several minutes to traverse the turns and blockage. Suddenly, the tunnel opened into a cavern. The next thing I know, my world is swallowed by fire and smoke.