Naruto: The King of Despair

Another day passed, and after sifting through his memories, Shikato finally found a sense of peace. He had practiced enough to confidently act normal in front of his parents. Today was the day they were expected to return, and if everything went well, the medics might even discharge him to go home with them.

Unfortunately, there had been no new messages since last night. It seemed that Danzo had finally calmed down. Ambitious though he was, Danzo wasn't a complete fool. Still, Shikato couldn't ignore the satisfaction of earning 5000 points from tormenting him alone. Other points trickled in from minor mischief: breaking a few toys belonging to kids who wandered in by mistake, swiping small belongings from unsuspecting visitors, and causing just enough trouble to provoke reactions.

[+0.1 point.]

Shikato frowned at the low value of his latest antics. It was clear he needed to aim for more impactful actions. As he mulled over potential targets, a nurse came to collect his empty plates. Just as she turned to leave, Monokuma darted out of his hiding spot and slapped her lightly on the back. The nurse looked around, bewildered, before shaking her head and walking off.

[+5 points gained.]

Shikato's lips twitched. "Even minor pranks like that yield better results than mine," he thought bitterly. Monokuma, of course, simply giggled.

Determined not to waste any opportunity, Shikato silently vowed to keep poking at Danzo whenever possible. That man's temper seemed to be a goldmine.

The day went by mostly uneventfully, aside from Monokuma's frequent antics. Whenever a woman walked into the room, Monokuma would inevitably cause some sort of mischief, leaving Shikato to don an innocent face to avoid trouble. "At this rate, my reputation will fall to the level of Jiraiya's," he mused grimly.

"Shikato!" A familiar voice startled him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see a young-looking woman with black hair and eyes rushing toward him. Behind her was a man in his thirties with a short beard and sharp eyes.

It was Nara Shikaro and Nara Sayuri, his parents.

"Have you been okay, my dear?" Sayuri exclaimed, her voice thick with worry.

Shikaro's expression, though less overt, also carried traces of concern. After all, hearing that their son had been caught in the Nine-Tails' attack would have been a nightmare for any parent.

"I'm okay, Mom. See?" Shikato replied, holding her hands with a warm smile. His words carried no trace of discomfort, and he surprised himself by how naturally he accepted their affection. He didn't know why, but it felt right.

"Upupu," Monokuma giggled quietly from behind Sayuri, rubbing his paws together mischievously. Before anyone could react, the bear jumped and smacked Sayuri's back lightly. She spun around, startled, but found nothing behind her. Her gaze shifted to Shikaro, narrowing suspiciously.

"Our son is injured, and you're joking around?" her glare seemed to say.

Shikato could only offer her a confused expression as Monokuma snickered and disappeared into the shadows. "This is going to be a long reunion," Shikato thought with a sigh.

After a one-sided argument between his parents, Sayuri and Shikaro managed to convince the medics to discharge Shikato. The three of them left the hospital together, making their way toward the Nara clan's estate.

As they approached, Shikato noticed the extensive repairs made to the clan's buildings. Most of the estate had been destroyed during the Nine-Tails' attack, but the craftsmen had worked quickly, and nearly everything was restored.

"We're almost there," Sayuri said with a smile as she carried Shikato. The house wasn't very large, but it was cozy and big enough for their family's needs. To Shikato, it felt more than sufficient.

But he wasn't foolish enough to think he was returning to peace. The black-and-white devil had followed him home.

"Shikato, be a good kid and head to your room," Sayuri instructed gently as they arrived. "Your father and I need to attend the clan meeting. We'll be back soon, okay?"

Shikato was dumbfounded. "Your son almost died, and you're already leaving him alone?" he wanted to say, but instead, he sighed and nodded. "Troublesome."

He climbed the stairs to his room. As soon as he opened the door, a wave of steam hit his face. Blinking in confusion, he took a cautious step forward, only for a figure wrapped in a towel to emerge from the mist.

"Wahhhh! A pervert!" the figure screamed before delivering a powerful kick to his face. Shikato stumbled backward, hitting the wall outside with a thud. Groaning, he rubbed the back of his head before cautiously opening the door again.

This time, it was just his normal room.

"Genjutsu," he thought, scowling. "Monokuma."

"Upupu, not angry, I see," Monokuma taunted, his mocking smirk almost daring Shikato to react. But Shikato had learned during his time in the hospital: the best way to handle Monokuma was to ignore him. The bear's antics always fizzled out if they failed to entertain.

Shikato closed the door and moved toward the mirror in his room. He studied his reflection silently: black hair, black eyes, and a slightly handsome face – the signature Nara features.

After a moment's hesitation, he whispered, "Zetsubougan."

His eyes changed instantly, turning pitch black with golden pupils surrounded by red dots. A shiver ran down his spine as he glanced at the floor. Crimson hands clawed their way across the surface, reaching toward him.

"So this is the spirit eye ability," he thought, surprisingly calm. Though eerie, it wasn't entirely unexpected. He had anticipated the Zetsubougan's ability to reveal spirits, no matter how disturbing. Compared to the horrors of modern films, these were child's play.

His gaze shifted to Monokuma, who stood silently in the corner. But this time, a shadowy figure loomed behind the bear – the silhouette of a young high school girl. A name surfaced in his mind unbidden: Junko.

The antagonist from Danganronpa. Seeing her in person was a chilling first.

Shikato's lips tightened into a thin line. "What exactly are you planning, Monokuma?" he thought, his unease growing.

But the bear simply giggled, his red eye glinting ominously as the shadow behind him deepened. For now, Shikato could do nothing but wait – and prepare.