Prologue
The corners of my mouth twitched and I grinned, baring my teeth.
I watched as his eyes widen in shock and disbelief, then followed by grim realization.
I traced his gaze to his bloody fingers and palm portruding from the red spiral of a chuunin vest.
My view of the rest of his arm was concealed behind the now dead body, but I could see blood starting to seep through the sleeve of his orange jacket.
He was in pain.
I could see it.
The time that he was immobile in devastation was the perfect time to strike.
But me, I had to wait and enjoy more of him being in pain. There my mistake lies.
Hesitating to strike, just because I wanted to watch him suffer, was the wrong course of action.
Whether it be joy, sorrow, devastation, fury or pure blind rage, a shinobi was not to act upon his emotions.
I learned why this rule was implemented, the hard way.
I was stupid.
My hatred for the demon and thoughts of vengeance had clouded my ability to think sensibly, and this was what it had led to.
I should have known...
For a demon to be killed...
It's impossible.
My parents' faces... My friends' faces... And my fiancee's face...
All flashed before my eyes...
As my sight dimmed, my last thought was...
To provoke a demon, even a downed demon... foolish.
Konoha's ignorance will be her doom, as was mine...
The world then turned black.