Hearing those words, the giant children were seized by terror. They didn't really understand what it meant to be "blown to pieces," but they knew for certain that "blown to death" sounded horrifying.
Every child pressed their lips tight, fighting back the urge to wail, though heavy tears still streamed down their faces.
"That's more like it!"
"Alright. Starve these filthy brats for three days first. Let them learn obedience before we properly break them in. These giant runts are top-quality slave stock."
"Understood!!"
The man turned on his heel and strode out of the dungeon.
Only then did the children dare to let out soft, muffled sobs. They were just kids—when had they ever experienced cruelty like this?
Buri stood up bravely and tried to comfort them.
"Everyone, don't cry! My mom will definitely come to save us."
A child who looked slightly older than Buri spoke up, his face a mask of despair.
"Save us? How? Do you even know where we are? This is the underground prison beneath the Troll Palace—a place our Giant Kingdom hasn't been able to take in hundreds of years. We're finished."
He had been among the first group abducted. At the beginning, he had believed his parents would come. But after months without any sign of rescue—after endless psychological torment—he'd come to believe they had abandoned him.
"No! My mom will definitely come!"
"Yeah! My dad is super strong! He's a squad leader!"
"My dad is a general!"
One giant child asked timidly,
"Is this really the Troll Capital? I heard trolls love eating giant children more than anything. They aren't going to eat us, are they?"
The child beside him shook his head.
"No, but it won't be much better. Didn't you hear him? He wants to use us as slaves. I heard that in the outside world, slaves work forever, every single day—and they get beaten and scolded nonstop. Masters beat them when they're angry, beat them when they're happy, and beat them even when there's nothing to do. They don't even give them enough food."
"Really? The outside world is terrifying!"
A chubby giant child added,
"I don't mind the beating so much, but not having enough to eat? That's crossing the line!"
"And the work… I hate working. I just want to play!"
"What about clothes? If I work hard, will they at least buy me nice clothes to wear?"
Listening to them, Kael couldn't help twitching. He genuinely admired the strange logic of these kids. They were already imagining the details of their "inhumane" slave lives.
But Kael isn't letting you live that kind of life.
"Buri."
Kael's voice whispered out.
Buri froze. He was sure he'd heard Kael's voice—close. Very close.
"Don't make a sound. It's me—Kael. I'm in your pocket."
Buri hurriedly glanced down at the cloth pocket on his stomach. Sure enough, Kael was peering out. Pure joy flashed across the boy's face.
"Shh!"
Kael raised an index finger to his lips, signaling him to stay quiet.
Buri forced down his excitement, then stood and shuffled toward a secluded corner of the cell.
"Kael, why are you in my pocket?"
"I slipped in when you were being taken. I'm here to get all of you out."
Buri's eyes lit up. He'd seen Kael use magic before; he knew Kael was incredible.
"Kael—what do you need me to do?"
"Listen closely. In a moment, go tell everyone to be quiet. Tell them not to make noise and not to panic. I'll be getting you out of here shortly."
"Okay!"
Buri nodded vigorously.
"Full-Body Take Over: Minato Namikaze!!"
Kael began the transformation.
His hair shifted from black to bright, sun-kissed blond, and his pupils turned a piercing sky blue. A forehead protector engraved with the symbol of the Hidden Leaf appeared, followed by a blue jumpsuit and a green flak vest. Finally, the iconic white haori billowed around him, red flame patterns licking the hem, the kanji for "Fourth Hokage" stamped across the back.
Buri had seen Kael transform into Ace before, but watching him become this new, striking figure was almost too much to handle. If they weren't in a prison, he would have shouted at the top of his lungs. Instead, he clamped both hands over his mouth, eyes darting around to make sure no one had noticed. When he saw the coast was clear, he let out a tiny, shaky breath.
"Buri,"
Kael whispered,
"after I leave, go and notify the others. But make it clear: they must stay silent. If we're discovered, escaping won't be easy."
"Mm-hm!"
Buri nodded with serious determination.
Kael scanned the area and spotted a Black Magic Dark Guild guard lingering near the corner.
"Found you."
Whoosh!
A kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God seal cut through the air toward the guard. Just as the blade was about to strike—
Swish!
Kael vanished—and reappeared beside the man in the same instant.
In the next heartbeat, Kael and the guard both disappeared from the dungeon, leaving only the kunai trembling where it had landed.
"So cool…!!"
Buri was starstruck. Seeing Kael unleash massive fire fists as Ace had been impressive, but this was different. Throw a knife—then simply be there—then vanish in a blink. As a giant child, he had never seen magic so fast, so clean, and so stylish.
The Flying Thunder God Technique.
A space-time ninjutsu created by the Second Hokage and perfected by the Fourth. It was arguably one of the most visually striking techniques in the Naruto world—and easily among the coolest abilities in all of anime.
Ever since Kael had first seen it, he'd fallen in love with Minato Namikaze. Handsome, kind, responsible, and overwhelmingly powerful—Minato felt like the ideal hero. Some people blamed Minato for the pain Naruto suffered as a child, but Kael disagreed. That wasn't Minato's failure. That burden belonged to the Third Hokage.
Whoosh!
Kael reappeared outside the Troll City, the Black Magic Dark Guild member locked firmly in his grip.
"Who—?!"
The member finally realized he was no longer in the dungeon.
Splurt!
Kael drove the kunai into the man's thigh.
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
The member let out a blood-curdling scream.
In that moment, a voice so cold it seemed to freeze the air itself rang out:
"Shut up."
The member's scream died in his throat. He looked up and saw a man with blond hair and blue eyes. The appearance was bright—even handsome—but the gaze was terrifying.
"I ask, you answer,"
Kael said calmly.
"If I catch you lying, I stab you again. Don't worry—I know human anatomy well. I'll avoid anything vital. I can keep you alive in a state where you can neither live properly nor die."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Do you understand?"