Chapter 19:

The sounds of cheers slowly died down, as one ninja was left standing in the center of it all: Toshi. He stood almost lifelessly, staring at his clan being destroyed by the one he had raised. The girl he trained to be his greatest weapon, turned into the one that was standing directly across from him, choosing a boy over him. However, he wasn’t staring at her, he was staring at Yuji. 

“You…You caused all of this. My daughter betraying me, my clan being destroyed, all because of you!” 

He outburst, launching a kunai straight for him. He barely dodged it, now sticking into his stand. 

“You made a grave mistake ever fighting back, Yuji Toshida.” 

He growled. 

“That’s enough, Father!” 

Yumi shouted. 

“We won, fair and square, now leave us alone…” 

She said, still staring him down. Mao was running from the dojo onto the scene, and was met with her and her father having one last argument. 

“This clan is terrible, father…All of the innocent lives taken, all of the families ruined, and everything we ever destroyed…It means nothing to me anymore.” 

She stated, still standing her ground. 

“If you know what’s best for you and this ridiculous clan, you’ll turn back.” 

She said, pointing her katana straight at him. Toshi refused to leave, and took one step closer at the two of them. 

“You wouldn’t dare, father…” 

“Leave this to me and the boy, Yumi…” 

“No! I won’t let you touch him!”

It wasn't until Toshi grabbed her by the shoulder, and threw her off to the side to focus on Yuji. 

“Toshi!” 

Mao shouted, begging him to drop the fight. Two ninjas held her by the arms, and restrained her from getting closer. Some of the villagers even tried to step in and help, but the ninjas were back up, and formed a wall around the villagers and the three of them. Toshi immediately lifted Yuji into the air by the collar, giving him a firm grip. 

“Ah!” 

He said, already losing his breath. 

“This is what you get… for ever stepping into my soldiers life…” 

He said darkly, his grip around his neck got tighter and tighter as he spoke. 

“I…S-Sir…Please…” 

Yuji said, his face already turning purple. Yumi finally knocked her dad off course. 

“I said…not to touch him…” 

She said, already tired from the fight before. 

“Get out of my way…the boy needs to die.” 

He said, snarling at his daughter. 

“If you’re going to get to him…you’ll have to get through me first.” 

She said, already entering a defensive position. 

“Don’t make me regret this…” 

He said, warning her one last time. 

“Give me the boy…” 

She didn’t answer him, and 

kept her stance. 

“Oh…I understand.” 

He said, sensing her challenge. He quickly got up, and handled his dual kunai with expertise. The air was filled with a new kind of energy, one that is only formed from the altercation of the student and its mentor. The two of them slowly circled each other, waiting for the other to strike first. 

“Why did it have to come to this, father…if you could let me and my friend be, none of this would have happened.” She said, still circling. 

“It’s all because of that boy…whatever he did to you, he made you weak…All of those years of training, gone because of him…” 

He said, trying to spark Yumi’s fire. She started to get more and more angry at her father every time she looked at him. 

“He didn't make me weak, father…you’re the one that tried to turn me into something that I’m not…” 

She said, tears starting to form. 

“It’s not my problem…you’re the one that couldn’t handle the Hoshira name.” 

He said. 

He snapped his fingers, and two ninjas quickly wrapped their arms around Yuji to restrain him. 

“It’s just you and me…let’s see what you got” 

He said, beckoning Yumi. She finally lost it at the sight of her friend being held, and charged right at her father with her katana. They met with the perfect sound of two strong katanas finally clashing. Both of them used martial arts, dodges, sword moves, anything to gain the other hand. Yumi was already physically tired from the first attack, yet tried her best to keep up with her father. He didn’t care if this fight was fair, all he cared about now was the death of Yuji. 

Yumi was able to land a punch, leaving an open cut right on him. He gave her the darkest look he has ever given, yet continued to fight. He punched harder, kicked faster, and snuck some dirty blows, all to beat his daughter. All of his hits drew more and more blood, the atmosphere slowly getting more tense as the duel continued. 

“Seems you can’t keep up with your master after all…Now I see what that boy did to you.” 

He said, throwing Yumi on the ground after a failed flying attack. She hit the ground hard, and couldn’t get up for a moment. All Toshi did was rest a foot on Yumi’s back, and spit right next to her. 

“Now…without you in the way, I can finally get who I was after…” 

He said, signalling for the ninjas to bring the weakened Yuji to him. 

“You wouldn't dare, father…” 

“You’ll get a front row seat, huh?” 

He said, a faint grin forming across him. Yuji, still hurting from being held and choked, was before him. 

“This is what you get for ever stepping into this clan’s life…” 

Toshi said, preparing the stab. Yuji tried his best to squirm, tears already falling. 

“Please…I can’t go…” 

He said weakly. Toshi gave him one last look, one filled with disgust and disrespect. Yumi could only see partially from where the ninjas held her captive. “Yuji…please…YUJI!” 

She screamed helplessly. The sound of Yuji being impaled felt like it was the only sound in the silent village. Yumi saw it all. Yuji coughing up blood, and being shoved to the ground, left to die. 

“Please…no no no…” 

Yumi said, panicking at what to do. Toshi finally signalled for his ninjas to file back to the dojo, leaving Yumi and Yuji in the center of the village. 

“Stay with me…We need to patch you up, now!” 

She said, looking for any signs of help. It wasn't until Yuji weakly grabbed her cheek. 

“No…It’s okay…He got what he wanted…” 

He said, clearly losing his consciousness. 

“I-I can’t leave you here to die! I need to save you, ASAP!” 

“It’s no use…It’s the rib…” 

He said, pointing to his side. A huge stab wound was visible, and blood was pouring quickly from the sight. Tears started to fall on him from Yumi. 

“You can’t leave me…I said I would protect you with my life!” 

She said. Yuji only grabbed her hand with all of his remaining strength. Time seemed to slow down, meaning only one thing. 

“Just…Hold me…” 

He said, gazing at her once more. He was cold, and it felt that she was carrying a soul, not a body. 

“You made my life better…” 

He said, tears forming once more. 

“No…Don’t say that…” 

She said, her eyes widening at his confessions. He used the rest of his strength to lift himself to her level, and…finally kissed her. 

“I love you, Yumi Hoshira…” 

He said, his final breath being used on those words. “Yuji…no no no…YUJI!” 

She said, shaking him to awake him, but it was no use. He was gone. She pressed her head on his chest, his familiar heartbeat gone. 

“No…Why…” 

She said, already grieving. The village fell silent at the sight of Yuji dying out. That day, he wasn’t just the chef that lived in the village, he was the chef that saved it, sacrificing his life to protect the ones he held dear. 

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