The air was still heavy with grief. Shidou-sensei was gone, his death casting a long shadow over the village. Yet, as dawn broke over the mist-covered training grounds, something strange stirred — a flicker of unnatural energy that didn't belong to the peace of mourning.
That day, Kimikage faced something—or someone—that resembled his fallen mentor: a shadow-demon corrupted version of Shidou himself. In the heart of the battle, driven by instinct and desperation, Kimikage unleashed both his Mitsuki (Light) and Yami (Shadow) abilities simultaneously. The explosion of power stunned everyone. Whispers filled the air.
"Who are his parents?"
"Could he be descended from two great clans?"
"Was he born of someone in the higher council?"
Even Sensei Masaki was left speechless.
"Kimikage," he asked carefully, "where did that power come from?"
"I don't know, Sensei," Kimikage replied, eyes still wide from the rush. "It just happened. I felt this strength flow through me—I had to protect the village... I had to stop the corrupted Shidou."
Masaki's curiosity turned clinical.
"I see... would you mind if we ran a few tests? I'd like to study this phenomenon further."
Kimikage nodded. "Sure. I'm curious too."
Before Masaki could respond, Nozomi stepped between them.
"Masaki, you better not do anything reckless with him!"
The teacher chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not that kind of scientist."
She scoffed, clearly uneasy—but her concern ran deeper. She looked at Kimikage, her voice softening.
"Be careful... I'm worried about you."
Kimikage smiled, his tone light and reassuring. "Don't worry, Nozomi. I'll be fine."
Her cheeks flushed, and she turned away.
From the side, Katakuichi, who had been watching silently, finally blurted, "What just happened? Are you into Ki—"
"Katakuichi!" Nozomi snapped, clamping a hand over his mouth.
"Hmph, whatever," he muttered. "He didn't even say goodbye to me..."
"He'll be back," she said firmly.
Later that day, Kimikage stood before the five higher-ups of the village: Kama, Zutu, Krishna, Fomo, and Masuki. They welcomed him with reverence—and studied him with intent. Though his shadow techniques came naturally, his light powers flickered weakly.
"He has the potential," one elder whispered. "If we can unlock his Mitsuki side... he could become a living weapon."
Masaki Endo observed from the side, arms folded. His son, Katakuichi, soon joined him.
"Father... what's going on? Why are you using Kimikage like this?" Katakuichi asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.
Masaki remained calm. "If we can fully awaken his Light powers, he will be unstoppable. The Mitsuki Clan would never dare attack us."
Katakuichi scoffed. "Tch. This bastard of a dad..." he muttered.
Masaki feigned ignorance. "You want to see your friend?"
"Yeah. I guess."
When he entered the chamber, Kimikage looked up. "Oh hey! What brings you here?"
"Just checking on you," Katakuichi said. "That was heroic, what you did. We couldn't save Shidou... he was too far gone. Still a mystery how he even turned into a shadow demon."
Yeah... he was my favorite sensei," Kimikage said quietly.
Katakuichi lowered his voice. "Anyway... they treating you alright in here?"
Kimikage hesitated. "I mean... they're not hurting me or anything. But the way they're poking and prodding me to use my Light... it's exhausting. Feels like I'm a tool."
"It reminds me of how Masaki used my brother Kuzu. How he drained him dry just to prove a theory. I won't let that happen to me."
Kimikage went quiet, then nodded. "You won't. Not while I'm around."
Katakuichi's expression shifted. "Well, get ready. We got a C-rank mission: retrieval of a shadow relic—Obsidian Fang. Apparently, Master Akashi's showing us some favoritism."
Shadow Relic: Obsidian Fang
Type: Cursed Artifact
Rank: C
Known Users: None (sealed)
Origin: Forged from a crystallized tooth of the forgotten Shadow Dragon beneath Yomi Caverns.
Effects: Boosts Yami power at the cost of emotional control. Prolonged use causes hallucinations and chakra corruption.
History: Once a fragment of the greater "Fang of Chernobog." Scattered for safety.
Kimikage grinned. "Seems he does like us. I'm in!"
Their journey led them through dense forests and forgotten trails. They tracked the relic's trace to an abandoned house, where fate intervened—Katakuichi tripped a trap.
They fell hard.
"Gods, damn it!" Katakuichi cursed, rubbing his shoulder.
Kimikage winced. "You okay? Wait... I think I see something."
Deep inside the ruins lay a gate marked with twin sigils—Yami and Mitsuki. Both were needed to open it. Kimikage struggled.
"You got this," Katakuichi said.
Inside, the Kurohebi awaited—a massive serpent with six crimson eyes and scales of midnight. They fought desperately.
Kimikage thought of Nozomi's voice, her worry. His light flickered—and then surged. The gate opened.
Just as the serpent lunged for a killing blow, something inside Kimikage snapped.
A flood of emotion surged through him—memories of Nozomi's smile, Katakuichi's loyalty, and the village he swore to protect. Hope, love, and the desire to protect ignited something deeper than chakra.
His body moved on instinct. The Light and Shadow within him, always at odds, now began to intertwine — not by force, but by feeling.
For the first time, they weren't weapons.
They were his.
A radiant spiral of energy formed in his hands, uncalled, untrained, but true. The forest around them pulsed with it.
It wasn't just a technique. It was a reflection of his very soul.
"Twilight Pulse Strike!"
The blast exploded from his palms, a harmonious fusion of dusk and dawn, slamming into the Kurohebi's eyes with divine force.
And in that moment...
Kimikage awakened.
Not because of lineage.
Not because of testing.
But because of who he chose to be.
Light and Shadow intertwined, blasting the beast into submission.
Atop a bone pedestal, the Obsidian Fang pulsed. Kimikage reached out—and was hit with visions.
Chernobog: A skeletal god on a mountain of corpses. "You are not the first to balance light and shadow… but you may be the last."
The Future: A dystopian world, chakra-fused machines, Kimikage older and bloodied, facing an army.
Loss: Katakuichi, dying in a field of fire.
Kimikage gasped, collapsing to his knees. Before he could speak,
"What the hell was that?"
Four figures stepped from the mist (The Mitsuki Clan).
"Hand over the relic," one said. "And we'll spare your lives."
Katakuichi's eyes widened. "Ryu...!"
The girl leading them smirked.
"Long time, brother."
Katakuichi lunged. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
She dodged, but didn't strike back. "Have you ever wondered where Shadow Demons come from?"
Kimikage paused. Katakuichi attacked again—she bound him in glowing chains of light.
"When a Yami user dies, their chakra corrupts. They rise as Shadow Demons—like Shidou. Our parents made me swear to protect you."
Kimikage demanded proof. Katakuichi's rage dulled. Ryu reached out.
"Let me show you."
He took her hand—and memories surged: childhood laughter, innocence, joy.
"Tch... fine," he muttered. "But just this once."
Suddenly, the relic vanished.
A man stood at the exit.
"Looking for this?"
"Kaji?" Kimikage and Katakuichi gasped.
"Boss's orders," Kaji said, twirling the Obsidian Fang. "Watch Katakuichi. Steal relics. Bye for now."
Katakuichi bolted, but Ryu blocked him.
"You'll get yourself killed alone."
He muttered, "Could it be... Kuzi? Masaki?"
Kimikage placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find answers. Together."
Ryu turned, her voice grave.
"Follow me. I'll show you the truth—the secrets the Yami Clan has buried... the origins of the Shadow Demons... and the corpses they never wanted you to see."