It's not sadness I see... it's desperation.

The hopelessness so deep, that it suffocates me.

"It's gotta be a lie..." Yatsu whispers.

"..." Mizuki stares down her feet.

"The Queen states Namikaze Minato is faster than her... stronger... legend says he killed 50 enemies alone, and he single-handedly won the war... those feats... a person like him shouldn't be dead easily..." Yatsu looks at Pervy Sage, a painful hope reflecting in her eyes.

Deep in me, I also wish Pervy Sage is mistaken, but I have been with him long enough to know he's telling the truth.

"No man can kill my student... love killed him," Jiraiya sighed, it was the first time he let out such a heavy tone.

"What do you mean?" Yatsu asks.

"... Minato loves the Village, naturally, he isn't going to let the beast destroy it... so he had to make a sacrifice..."

"A beast...?"

"Some say it comes as a fox with nine tails..."

Nine tails... fox? 17 years ago? A sacrifice? I subconsciously reach to my stomach, is this... why Minato died?

"No way," Yatsu has finally given up, she drops to the ground, sweating and panting.

"Let's go back, Yatsu..." Mizuki finally speaks, however, she doesn't lift up her face.

"Princess..."

"I rather die together with the other, than live alone..."

"Wait," Pervy Sage says, "although Minato has died, there are a lot of people who can still help you, in fact, you can go to Konoha and requests help."

"Only Namikaze Minato can solve our problem, with his death, we all died with him..." Mizuki says.

"... Is it possible... that Minato is your king?"

"... No," it's the first time Mizuki displays her face, I can see a hint of redness on the corner of her eyes.

Pervy Sage looks up, "Minato... was my student, whatever unfinished troubles he has, I'll do it for him."

"..." Mizuki doesn't say anything, but there is a slight hesitation.

"Mizuki-chan..." I decide to come forward, says, "although I don't understand much. But if you are desperate for help, I'll try my hardest to help, I... know what it's like to fail, and what are the costs... I hope, no one will feel like that... anymore."

It's eating you alive... haunting you anywhere... it's like an itch that won't go away...

I failed Sasuke... I failed Sakura... I...

"..." Mizuki stares at me. The beautiful eyes are as if studying. Seeking something.

"Why did you save me?"

"Huh?"

"Back then, you rescued me from Kurai, why?"

"Kurai?"

"That eyeglasses man."

"Oh..." I instinctively rub my cheek, "I don't know, I mean, it's like you need some help, and... my feet kinda move by themselves."

Mizuki doesn't seem to be satisfied with my answer, she glares till her forehead wrinkles, "Then why do you... hug me? Why takes you so long to put me down?"

"Emm..." it's really embarrassing, I want to say because it feels good to hug you.

"I think... you may be scared..."

"Scared?" Mizuki's expression is like she's about to explode with anger! Oh, fuck, did I mess up?

"Yeah... I heard your tone... and I thought you must have been still a kid, I mean, I would have pissed myself too had I fought such a robot when I was a kid..."

"..." Mizuki frowns, I don't know what's the point of our banter, but she did ask me.

"Miss, or should I call you princess?" Pervy Sage says, "Naruto is an idiot, bratty, and annoying little shit."

"Oi!" I feel like kicking his ass!

"But the kid got heart, that's all I can say," Jiraiya smiles and pats hard my back.

"..." Mizuki glances at Pervy Sage, then she stares back at me, eventually, she nods.

(***)

The Taimanin Clan resides on an off-shore island, called Gosha Island, part of Lilith Village.

The Village is controlled by eight clans, and the Taimanin was once among them, but to civil war, the Clan was excluded up to this day.

As for why the Clan occupied an isolated island, it's not mainly because of old customs or monopolizing resources.

A long time ago, before the Warring State Era, there was a creature... of Immorality and Lust, or the Legend called him The Succubus King.

The Succubus King once lorded over the area that was now Lilith Village, his perversion aura spread like a disease, corrupting the inhabitant to live in debauchery and lewdness.

Women were treated for only two purposes; breeding and pleasure... there was no marriage... no family... only sexual slaves...

The warlords of the land had long wanted to kill The Succubus King, but his might was tremendous, the heroes who tried to hunt him down either killed or turned into his slaves.

Finally, because The Succubus King was unkillable, they made a plan; to trap and seal him on an island, using the blood of one of the clans.

That island was Gosha's Island, and that clan was Namikaze's clan. The Taimanin Clan was tasked to protect The Succubus King's seal from outsiders.

"So, you need Minato's blood to maintain the seal?" Pervy Sage knits his eyes.

"It's more than that..." Mizuki's face becomes gloomy, "actually, Namikaze Minato had done it in the past."

"Is the seal needs to be maintained regularly?"

"Yes, but it only happens every 100 years," Yatsu says.

"Wait, then how do you still need Minato if he had ever done it before?"

"That's the problem..." Yatsu becomes pale, "the seal is... weakening. The Succubus King took advantage of it to spread his influence, although it didn't have a big impact, since his influence was so great, it corrupts anyone with a weak mind, turning them into his slaves."

"How do you know?"

"Because that's exactly what happens to Gosha's Island now! We were attacked by our own sisters!"

Jiraiya's expression turns grim, "This is not good, why Minato's blood doesn't work? He's definitely a Namikaze..."

I see Mizuki's smile, but it's not a joyous one, it's more like a satire.

"Some sisters suspect Namikaze Minato wasn't reinforcing the seal, he tricked us to think he did, but in reality, he wasn't doing anything."

"That means he's lying?" I don't know why, but I felt upset, it's like... I don't like them doubting this Minato guy.

"Then what other reason for the seal's weakening? But it doesn't matter, Minato is dead, the truth dies with him, and as soon as the Succubus King walks free..." Mizuki's small shoulder trembles, "I rather die than become his slave, we all hope to die."

"Don't give up too easily, if he busts out, we just kick his ass back to his seal!" I shout.

"Idiot, you think the warlords in the past tricked the monster to the seal so easily?!" Mizuki laughs.

"They had done it before, we can do it again!"

"What? Just you?" Mizuki sneers, "a weak person like you can't save us."

Weak?! Okay, that's it!

"Maybe I should convince you with my fists," I punch my palm.

"Fine!" Mizuki glares, electricity bursts out from her delicate body.

"..." I don't know why... for a moment, I saw Sasuke standing there... surrounded by the fierce lightning.

"Don't talk like you know him! His... disgusting and rotten influence..." Mizuki grit her teeth, "it's over, we are done for! The sinful age will start again!"

"Not under my watch! Shadow Clone!" I create two clones, then the three of us dash ahead.

"Cheap Trick! Lightning Release: Hiraiten!" Mizuki - while covered in lightning - charges toward us.

I summon a clone, it kicks me out of the way before it got slammed by her, disappearing the clone in the puff of smoke.

The clone on her right steps on me and launch himself, her body becomes blurred as she dodges his attack.

"Lightning Release: Spark!" she takes out a gun and shot homing lightning above the clone, it comes down striking him!

*Puff!*

The last clone behind her has summoned other clones, they are close to hitting her...

Meanwhile, I throw several shurikens at her.

Mizuki jumps to the air, she dodges all the shuriken, then she rotates in the air, shooting homing lightning.

"Lightning Release: Raiun!"

All the clones are demolished.

"I got you!"

"Huh?"

Before Mizuki realizes, I have created a long whip consisting of my clones, the last one manages to kick her!

"Gah!" Mizuki crashes to the ground, but she rolls and then aims at the clones.

"Lightning Release: Shinden!" she shoots all the clones with homing lightning. Destroying all of them.

"All clones?!" Yatsu startles. Even Mizuki slightly frowns.

Then...

"Don't move."

I have appeared behind Mizuki, a kunai ready behind her neck.

"You..." Mizuki's eyes widens, I see a glimpse of proud smile on Pervy Sage's face, but I don't care.

"Let's go to your village and kick that SOB's ass..." I say.

"You won't be able to defeat him with fancy tricks like this..." Mizuki, although her words are still hard, there is a hint of softness.

"I still have many tricks up my sleeve," I grin.

"He won't stop simply under the threat of a kunai."

"He'll change his mind when I shove it into his ass."

"Pfft..." Mizuki chuckles.

"Alright, listen up!" Pervy Sage suddenly says, earning all of our attention.

"I don't know what the hell Minato doing back then, but if the seal requires Namikaze's blood, we can still acquire it..."

"Do you know his relative?" Yatsu's eyes lit up.

"Of course, more than knowing actually..."

"Where is he? We should go to him as soon as possible!"

"He's close... in fact, he's right here..." Pervy Sage shifts his gaze to... me?

"Eh?" What is this? Why did he look at me like that?

I don't know why... my hearts beat like crazy...

"Namikaze Minato has a son... that son name... is Uzumaki Naruto."