Even amidst his rising musical fame and diligent training, Minato never forgot his friends. He'd noticed Himiko's continued quietness, a stark contrast to Mina's exuberance or Kirishima's booming energy. His instincts, honed from a past life of observation, told him something was deeply wrong. He decided to investigate.
One afternoon, Minato put his Transformation Jutsu to use, subtly shifting his appearance as he shadowed Himiko home from school. He located her house and, using his shinobi stealth, began to spy. What he witnessed over the next few weeks filled him with growing anger. From various vantage points, he observed Himiko's parents. They weren't physically abusing her, but their words cut deep. He consistently overheard them berating her for using her Quirk, calling it "disgusting" and "unnatural," actively trying to suppress it. He even saw them try to force her into acting "normal" or "cute," which clearly distressed Himiko. He meticulously collected this information, capturing audio and video recordings of their emotional abuse whenever possible.
One particularly harsh day, Minato watched as Himiko, her shoulders hunched, finally walked out of the house after what sounded like another intense verbal assault, her face a mask of quiet despair. This was his chance.
After Himiko left, Minato, still cloaked by his Transformation Jutsu as the imposing figure of Kakuzu, seamlessly entered the house. The front door was unlocked, a careless oversight. He found Himiko's father and mother in the living room, still fuming from their confrontation with their daughter. They startled violently at the sudden appearance of the tall, scarred stranger.
Before they could even utter a sound, Kakuzu moved with terrifying speed. In a blur, he was behind Himiko's father, a glinting knife suddenly pressed firmly against his neck. "Don't make a sound," Minato's voice, deepened and gravelly by his transformation, rumbled. "Just listen."
The parents froze, their eyes wide with fear. Kakuzu then extended his other hand to Himiko's mother, a pendrive held between two fingers. "Play this," he commanded, his voice cold and unwavering.
Trembling, Himiko's mother took the pendrive and shakily inserted it into the nearby media player. The television screen flickered to life, and then, the familiar scene of their living room appeared. But this time, it was their own voices, their own faces, captured in chilling clarity. The video played clip after clip of them berating Himiko, shaming her for her Quirk, and verbally abusing her, their words echoing through the suddenly silent room. The weight of their own cruelty, laid bare, hung heavy in the air.
As the final clip faded, leaving only a blank screen, Minato, still as Kakuzu, tightened his grip on the knife slightly, just enough to convey his seriousness. "This is a warning," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion. "I have more of these recordings. If you continue to abuse and emotionally damage Himiko, I will report every single instance to the authorities. I will see to it that you go to jail for child abuse."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper. "This is your first and last warning. Understand?"
The parents could only nod frantically, fear etched onto their faces.
With a final, sharp glance, Minato released his Shadow Clone Jutsu. The Kakuzu clone shimmered and dissolved into smoke, leaving nothing but a lingering chill and the scent of ozone. The room was empty, the parents left with only their fear and the damning evidence of their actions burned into their minds.
What will Minato do next to ensure Himiko's safety and well-being?
After dispelling his Kakuzu clone, Minato quickly shed the Transformation Jutsu, reverting to his normal form. He took a deep breath, the adrenaline of the confrontation slowly receding. The immediate threat was gone, but the long-term well-being of his friend remained. He knew exactly where Himiko would be.
He found her sitting on a park bench a few blocks from her house, knees drawn up to her chest, staring blankly at the ground. Her usual bright disposition was completely absent, replaced by a profound sadness that tugged at Minato's heart.
Minato approached her slowly, sitting beside her. "Hey, Himiko-chan," he said softly, his voice gentle.
Himiko startled, looking up with wide, tear-rimmed eyes. "Minato-kun?" she whispered, surprised to see him.
He offered her a warm, comforting smile. "You okay? You seemed a little down when you left your house."
She looked away, her shoulders slumping. "It's... it's nothing, Minato-kun. Just... parents."
Minato knew it was far from "nothing." He put a reassuring hand on her arm. "Himiko-chan," he began, choosing his words carefully, "I know things have been really tough at home. I... I saw what happened. And I heard what they said."
Himiko's eyes widened, a flicker of panic mixed with surprise. "You... you saw?"
"Yes," Minato confirmed. "And I want you to know something. They won't be doing that anymore. Not to you."
Himiko looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
Minato leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, a hint of his mischievous side showing. "Let's just say... I had a very serious, very convincing chat with them. I showed them some... evidence. And I made it very clear that if they ever abused or hurt you again, verbally or otherwise, there would be serious consequences. Like, police, and maybe even jail time serious."
Himiko blinked, processing his words. "You... you did that?"
"Yup," Minato affirmed, a knowing look in his eye. "I told them it was their first and last warning." He saw a glimmer of hope, a fragile spark, return to her eyes.
Then, Minato leaned in even closer. "But here's the really important part, Himiko-chan," he stressed, his voice low and serious. "You have to keep this a secret from them. Don't let them know I was involved."
Himiko tilted her head, confused. "Why?"
Minato grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Because if a ten-year-old boy shows up and threatens them, who's going to take it seriously? They'd just laugh it off. But if they think someone... bigger, someone they can't see, is watching them, they'll be terrified. They'll know they can't get away with it." He tapped his nose. "It's all about making sure they believe they're being watched, even if they don't know who by."
Himiko's eyes widened, then a small, hesitant smile touched her lips. The idea of an unseen protector, a mysterious force, clearly appealed to a part of her nature. "Okay," she whispered, a hint of wonder in her voice. "I understand. It's our secret."
Minato smiled, a genuine relief washing over him. "Good. And remember, Himiko-chan, your Quirk is part of you. It's not disgusting. It's powerful, and unique. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You're amazing just the way you are."
He then gently changed the subject, talking about the concert's success and how exciting it was that the album was out, diverting her from the painful memories. Slowly, the dark cloud over Himiko began to lift, replaced by a fragile but real sense of relief and a renewed glimmer of her usual, albeit subdued, cheerful demeanor. Minato knew this was just the first step, but it was a crucial one. He would continue to watch over her, ensuring her safety and nurturing her spirit.