Logan's rage wasn't just about the death of Xiao Tao's mother.
After all, they had only met once and spent three days together on a boat. That wasn't enough to build a deep bond.
But Logan took action for two reasons:
From a rational standpoint, after he killed the six Kirigakure ninjas, he found a recent shipping manifest in the office. According to the document, two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had already left Mirage Castle—one to make a delivery, the other to purchase supplies.
Which meant… only one member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was currently stationed here.
A rare opportunity.
One-on-one, Logan had a chance at victory—and more importantly, a chance to earn soul fragments.
He wasn't about to let that pass him by.
From an emotional standpoint…
This wasn't something humans should do.
Caging people so tightly they couldn't even stand, using starvation and fear to break their spirits, treating them as toys to violate and discard…
Even the Nazis weren't this cruel.
If Logan walked away from all this—if he turned a blind eye—then he wouldn't be Logan anymore.
Boom—boom—boom!
His heart pounded with steady power, resonating with his resolve. Behind him, Star Platinum shimmered with divine clarity, its form more solid than ever—like a god descending upon the mortal realm.
Logan raised his hand and pointed forward.
"Smash it."
"ORA!"
Star Platinum tore at the cages, ripping through steel bars like they were noodles.
"ORA! ORA! ORA!"
In under ten seconds, every cage was torn open.
"You're free," Logan said.
Over four hundred captives stared at one another, eyes filled with confusion. The longing for freedom fought against the deep-rooted fear of Kirigakure's cruelty. The chains that bound them weren't just metal—but terror, humiliation, despair.
And then…
Someone took a trembling step forward.
Only to be stopped.
"Let's see who dares to move."
A chilling shout rang from above.
Bang!
The skylight shattered.
A large figure crashed down from the ceiling with the force of a thunderbolt.
He had long, wild orange hair and green facial markings. His thick neck was wrapped in bandages. Sharp, shark-like teeth lined his mouth, and strapped to his massive back was a massive blade wrapped in bandages.
The Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost.
One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
He was a war veteran feared across nations, the wielder of Samehada, a living sword that devoured chakra.
Without hesitation, the Pufferfish Ghost hurled a kunai at the prisoner who'd dared to take a step.
Despite his brutish appearance, he wasn't stupid. His intent was clear: kill one to intimidate the rest.
If over 400 prisoners rushed out like mad dogs, even he would be overwhelmed.
But—
A hand snatched the kunai from midair.
Logan had stepped in.
And yet… the prisoners' courage began to crumble again.
They recognized the man before them.
Despair crept back into their hearts.
Slowly, they shrank back into their cages, kneeling down, lowering their heads—trying to make themselves invisible. As if pretending not to exist could protect them.
But then—
"Stand up. Don't kneel."
Logan's voice, infused with Ripple energy, echoed through the room.
It vibrated inside their chests like a heartbeat.
One by one, the prisoners raised their heads and looked at the lone figure walking toward the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost.
Behind Logan, Xiao Tao stared with wide eyes.
"Is there really… hope?" she whispered.
---
Four more Kirigakure ninjas dropped down from the broken skylight.
They had been drinking nearby with the Pufferfish Ghost. When they sensed something was wrong at the processing plant, they rushed over.
Now, seeing the shattered cages and open cells, sweat poured down their backs.
If the "goods" escaped, the Fourth Mizukage might forgive the Pufferfish Ghost.
But they—mere subordinates—would not be spared.
So their eyes locked on Logan, filled with murderous intent.
"I didn't think anyone would be foolish enough to barge in," said the Pufferfish Ghost, towering above. His voice was low and heavy, rumbling with disdain. "And I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to release the prisoners."
He stood on a high platform, Samehada looming behind him like a monstrous tail.
"Which village are you from?" he asked. "Why are you here? Why did no one else act? Do you think you're the only smart one?"
He wasn't just talking.
He was laying out the unspoken truths—politics, compromise, cost-benefit.
"Tell me who sent you," he continued. "If you cooperate, I'll have your village retrieve your body. Maybe I'll even carve your name on the memorial stone."
Arrogance.
But no one—not the four Kirigakure shinobi, nor the trembling prisoners—thought anything he said was wrong.
To them, the Pufferfish Ghost was invincible.
All eyes turned to Logan, waiting for his reply.
Words.
Words were what made humans different from beasts.
Logan normally believed in them—in negotiation, in diplomacy.
But not today.
His eyes were calm—like a dark, still river reflecting moonlight. Within that calmness lay wrath.
These people didn't deserve words.
They didn't deserve to be called "human."
Logan took a step forward.
A flicker of golden light crackled at his feet.
Whoosh—!
He vanished.
And reappeared in front of one of the Kirigakure shinobi.
His hand glowed with Ripple energy.
Shing!
A clean slash.
The ninja's throat opened, blood spurting.
It wasn't until the body collapsed that everyone realized what had happened.
He started the fight.
No warning.
No hesitation.
"Bastard!"
The remaining Kirigakure shinobi charged.
The Pufferfish Ghost's eyes flared. "Boy! I gave you a chance!"
He jumped high, unraveling the bandages from Samehada.
The blade gleamed, monstrous and jagged. He brought it down on Logan like a guillotine.
The weapon shrieked through the air, fast and lethal. Had it landed, Logan would have lost a limb—or worse.
The shinobi grinned savagely.
The prisoners shut their eyes.
They couldn't watch.
But Logan didn't move.
He wasn't afraid.
The Pufferfish Ghost and Logan locked eyes for a split second.
And in that moment, the shinobi saw nothing… no fear.
Only rage and calm—two clashing emotions perfectly balanced.
He had seen that look before… but where?
He didn't have time to figure it out.
Because—
Bang!
Samehada halted mid-swing.
As if it had struck a mountain.
The blade trembled.
Cracks formed along its surface.
Samehada whimpered—its living tissue howling under pressure.
"What… what is this? Genjutsu?" the Pufferfish Ghost muttered.
He flared his chakra to break free.
That's when he saw it—
The Stand.
A monstrous, ethereal figure towered behind Logan.
"You said you gave me a chance?" Logan's voice was cold.
"Unfortunately… I'm not giving you one."
He raised a finger.
Star Platinum surged forward.
It grabbed Samehada and yanked the Pufferfish Ghost toward it, seizing him by the throat.
Its other hand curled into a tight fist.
"ORA!"
The punch distorted the shinobi's face.
The other Kirigakure ninja froze in horror.
The prisoners slowly opened their eyes—and gasped.
The demon of Mirage Castle was losing.
For the first time, hope entered their hearts.
Logan's voice rang out again:
"I'm not taking revenge for myself. There are 400 people here who suffered your torment."
"If I punch you once, and you survive…"
"…I'll leave."
His tone was even, almost casual.
But that calmness tore at the Pufferfish Ghost's pride more than any insult.
His bloodshot eyes burned. "Don't look down on me! I'm the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost!"
His orange hair lengthened, turning into sharp, porcupine-like quills.
He launched them like spears.
Star Platinum responded with a barrage of punches.
"ORA ORA ORA ORA!"
Each strike shattered the hair-quills midair.
Then Star Platinum grabbed the bundle of living hair and ripped it out.
The shinobi's scarlet scalp was exposed. His skull peeked through the bleeding flesh.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!"
He howled in agony.
"Can't handle it when it happens to you?" Logan asked.
The shinobi snarled and weaved hand signs, about to launch a Water Style technique—
Star Platinum clamped his mouth shut, forcing the jutsu to fizzle in his throat.
Then:
"ORA! ORA! ORA!"
Four hundred punches.
All in the span of seconds.
The Pufferfish Ghost remembered now.
That look in Logan's eyes… He'd seen it during the Third Ninja War.
Might Duy. The madman who opened all Eight Gates. The man who nearly wiped out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
That look—burning fury and absolute control.
He had survived that day.
But the fists he had escaped…
Now came crashing down.
"ORA!"
The final punch exploded against his face.
His body hurtled backward, smashing into the wall.
He embedded into it—a human-shaped crater.
Like a grotesque mural.
> You have slain the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost.
Soul Fragments Obtained: 450.
pàtreøn (Gk31)