Somewhere in the Land of Fire, inside a quiet hot spring inn.
A blonde little girl with twin ponytails walked in, followed by an older woman with short black hair.
They were none other than Tsunade and Shizune. No matter how good their Transformation Jutsu was, Karin recognized them instantly.
There was no helping it. That pink pig wearing a pearl necklace was far too conspicuous—it was impossible to pretend not to notice.
"Huh? I remember the owner here used to be a middle-aged guy. When did that change?" Tsunade stared at Karin, asking casually.
"Business hasn't been good. The previous owner sold the inn. I'm the new owner," Karin replied politely.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"I see... Times are rough. But you're so young and pretty—running a place like this all by yourself... aren't you worried something might happen?"
Karin flicked her long hair confidently. "I'm tougher than I look. Normal people wouldn't dare mess with me!"
At last, Tsunade noticed the vibrant crimson of Karin's hair. Her initial wariness began to ease ever so slightly.
A lot had happened recently. Given Tsunade's unique status, trouble followed her like a shadow, so it was no surprise she was cautious. Still, there were no other inns nearby, and both she and Shizune were exhausted. Sleeping outdoors was far riskier. After some thought, they decided to stay the night.
Shizune silently took care of the check-in. The two of them entered their room and closed the door with a bang.
A cold smile curled on Karin's lips.
Finally—prey.
Business at the inn really was terrible. Aside from Tsunade and Shizune, there were no other guests.
Before nightfall, Karin sat quietly behind the front desk, holding a red-covered novel in her hands. Outside, the wind rustled dry leaves and twigs. Every so often, her face would twist into a greasy grin as she read.
Light footsteps approached. A middle-aged man with a gentle face stepped out from the kitchen, carrying a tray of fruit.
He looked like the inn's cook, but if one looked closely, they'd see tears streaming down his face—his eyes filled with grief and fear, even as he moved with mechanical grace.
Karin looked up from her book, letting her gaze fall briefly on the man's face.
"My, my... Why is a grown man like you crying? I spared your life out of sheer kindness—you should be thanking me, don't you think?"
She tilted her head, wearing an expression of innocent curiosity—like the sweet girl next door.
She didn't dwell on his crying. Her attention quickly returned to the novel in her hands. The man, still silently weeping, could only obey like a servant, offering fruit to the sadistic and twisted witch before him.
Inside, his soul screamed. He wanted to grab her by the throat and squeeze—but his body no longer obeyed.
Once she finished eating, Karin waved a hand lazily.
"Don't forget to take some supper to our two guests."
The man turned and walked numbly back into the kitchen. He picked up a kitchen knife, opened the freezer, and selected a cut of meat. His tears came faster, dripping onto the floor and forming a tiny puddle.
Soon, the scent of roasting meat wafted from the kitchen.
...
2:30 a.m.
The lights were all out, and the inn had fallen into complete silence. Outside, the streets were deserted, save for a few birds calling from treetops in the darkness.
Shizune stirred awake—she'd eaten too much supper. Half-asleep, she shuffled to the bathroom. But when she returned, she noticed something strange.
Tonton was gone.
"Tonton~"
"Tonton~"
She crept through the dim corridor of the inn, her voice soft and cautious, calling for the little pink pig.
No answer.
Her voice echoed down the empty hall. Her shoes creaked on the wooden floor, the sound unnerving in the stillness. Her heart pounded as she searched in the dark, a growing sense of dread tightening her chest.
Then, from outside, came the hoarse, raspy cry of a bird—startling Shizune enough to make her jump. A sudden, ominous premonition chilled her to the bone.
"Tonton!" she called again, urgently now, her brow damp with cold sweat. But no matter how long she searched, the pig never appeared.
Defeated, Shizune returned to her room. She groped along the wall until she found the switch, and the lights came on with a click. The room was warmer than the hall, and the brightness helped dispel the fear gripping her heart.
She muttered under her breath, "Where could Tonton have run off to..."
Tonton was a smart pig. She never ran off on her own.
Frowning, Shizune glanced around the room. A strange sense of unease lingered in her chest, unshakable and unwelcome.
She didn't turn off the light. Instead, she lay down and closed her eyes, trying to think. Wandering around blindly would only waste time—she needed clues to figure out where Tonton had gone.
Outside, the wind howled through the trees. Birds, startled from their rest, squawked noisily into the night.
Sleep would not come. Shizune lay awake, replaying every detail of the night in her head. The fluorescent ceiling light seemed too bright, almost dizzying. Her vision blurred for a moment.
She blinked and turned her head, trying to look away. But the silence in this inn... it felt unnatural. Oppressive. Even here, in a lit room, the feeling wouldn't leave her.
The wind outside grew stronger. It sounded like someone tapping softly on the glass.
Irritation built in her chest.
Then—bzzt bzzt bzzt—a strange crackling noise came from the ceiling bulb.
Maybe the wiring was old. The wind could've shorted something out. The light flickered once, twice... then went dark. Silence and shadow returned.
Only the faintest outlines from the window curtain remained.
Her ninja instincts kicked in. Shizune sat up instantly, slipping into a battle-ready stance.
She wasn't sure how long she waited, listening.
The wind had finally died down.
But from within the room... came an eerie sound.
Muffled sobbing.
She pressed her ear to the wall, straining to listen.
Alongside the sobs, she could faintly hear a slicing sound—like meat being chopped.
Then a voice: "Cut it thin... mince it for stew..."
Shizune's eyes narrowed. A horrible thought struck her.
Tonton... was just a pig.
And there were plenty of hungry, desperate people out there...
She flung open the door and stormed out.
The sound led her through the inn until she reached the front desk.
There, on the floor in front of the empty counter, lay a single object.
A string of pearls.
Her face went pale.
"No...!"
It was Tonton's necklace. She always wore it. She never took it off.
But now—the necklace was here.
And the pig was gone.
Did someone take her? Did she struggle, and the necklace slipped off?
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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