My Brother's a Jinchūriki!

Chapter Twenty-Four- ANBU Slayer

Kiri held up a hand and they stopped once a cluster of cabins came into view.

Most were in such a state of disrepair that nature had begun to take over. Only the largest of them stood strong, worn, but habitable.

There.

Kiri relayed signals and they nodded and split up cautiously, examining the area and found it to be clear. They drew nearer to the buildings, peering inside before meeting again on a branch.

"They seem to be all clear. Let's check inside to be sure." Kiri looked between Sena and Natsumi. "There only seems to be one way in and out, and most of the windows are boarded up. Stay alert."

Kiri checked for traps, then carefully opened the door and led them inside.

Natsumi walked carefully around the darkened cabin with her Ninjato drawn.

It doesn't look like anyone is here...

Kiri turned to Sena and Natsumi, making several hand signals, and they spread out to look into the various side rooms.

Natsumi peered into a small, windowless room. It was stained with blood and waste, with chains attached to the wall. She stooped to examine the shackles, stained also with blood. She raised a hand to her mask and made a face.

The smell is so strong in here... it's disgusting.

She swallowed and nearly gagged at the taste in the air.

But this is definitely where people have been held.

Along the walls and back of the door were bloody scratches. On another wall, several names were scratched in with tallies beneath. Natsumi's stomach turned as she read off the names in her head, stopping at the final one— Sonoko.

There are fourteen tallies under her name. Natsumi pressed her lips together. That poor girl was here for so long.

Natsumi left the room silently and spotted Kiri, who waved her into the next room.

This room was identical to the one before, with the exception of the woman slumped into the corner. Sena knelt at her side and looked her over.

After a moment, she shook her head and stood close to Kiri and Natsumi, glancing back at the corpse.

"It's the missing woman, for sure." Sena whispered. "Judging by her color and texture, and by the smell... I'd say she's been dead about a week."

Natsumi studied the woman cloaked in the shadows. Her wrinkled, aged face was gray and ghastly, with a waxy appearance. She was abnormally skinny, as if hollowed, and her skin clung to her bones like wet clothes. Flies buzzed around her, and maggots could be seen wriggling under and on her skin.

Natsumi turned her face away and bit her lip hard.

Don't throw up. Don't throw up. Don't throw up.

Kiri patted her shoulder, leaning in close to whisper. "Don't worry; You'll get used to seeing corpses. It's the smell you never get used to."

Natsumi gulped, immediately regretting it, and coughed quietly. That doesn't make me feel better at all!

"Spread out. Make sure the place is clear." Kiri muttered. "They probably went out looking for Sonoko."

Natsumi nodded gratefully and stepped out of the room, looking around.