Kaen POV
I hit the ground behind the warehouse, crouched, and let the dirt settle. The air was thick with dust and wood rot, heavy enough to taste. My pulse picked up immediately. This was a good place for a fight.
The flare left my hand with a sharp hiss and streaked upward, exploding in a red star that bled across the night sky. The glow washed the yard in crimson, making the crates look like stacked coffins. Perfect.
My Sharingan flared to life, and the world sharpened until I could see the smallest twitch of shadow. My grip on the kunai tightened.
Let them come.
The men approached carrying mostly swords, some with spears, and one large man with a heavy axe. A few wore crude chest plates. They moved carefully in teams of three, approaching from different directions. They were shaken by what happened to their friends, moving slowly and checking the ground. Sena's traps had done their job well, breaking their morale and making every step feel like a gamble. The explosive tags had been scattered randomly in some places, forcing them to crawl forward. That delay gave us more time for support to arrive. I doubted the Hokage would risk losing his puppet Noa.
I took the time to grab more kunai from my pouch, holding one in each hand.
The first team came closer, their confidence growing with every step. One of them shouted, "We're close enough that the blast would hit him too! Attack!"
They rushed me.
I threw the first kunai with all my strength. The lead man dodged, and it struck the man behind him in the shoulder. He staggered and turned toward me. "You little shi..." was all he managed to say before another kunai hit him in the neck. Blood gushed out as he fell to the ground, choking on it.
I savored the moment as the other two came at me. The first attacked with a sword, and I blocked with another kunai, sparks flying as he tried to overpower me. The other went low, slashing at my legs. I shoved the sword back with all my strength, surprising the bandit enough to make him stumble as I jumped over the low slash, saw my chance, and sent a kunai into the side of his neck. He dropped instantly.
The last man roared in anger, slashing hard at me for killing two of his group so quickly. I leapt back, evading the blow, and threw a kunai at his side. He managed to twist away, but the blade still cut deep, blood spraying as he fell back to the ground, alive but unable to move as he held his bleeding side with both hands.
The second group came next, close enough to be sure no tags would ignite. Without a word, they attacked with killing intent. I was certain Shisui-sensei would scold me if I didn't go for the kill every time, so I did. My father's training had made sure I would never hesitate to take a life.
Two came with spears, forcing me backward. One overextended with his thrust, and I sidestepped, grabbing the shaft and pulling hard. At the same time, I threw a kunai that hit him under the arm. Blood sprayed, and he fell to the ground screaming.
The other spear wielder pressed harder, using every bit of strength he had, his thrusts fast and relentless. My Sharingan tracked him perfectly, my body moving with precision. The feeling was sublime. I ducked under another thrust, my motion becoming smoother with every second. Combat truly is the best teacher.
I dashed forward under the spear, forcing the man to react. He tried to draw back, quick but not quick enough. I batted the shaft upward with my kunai, throwing his guard and sightline off for a split second. In that moment, I sent a kunai flying. He barely had time to react before it sank into his left eye. He fell to the ground, screaming and clutching at his face, blood pouring through his fingers as he yanked the weapon free in a violent motion.
The last man of that group froze, staring at the bodies on the ground before his eyes locked on me. I knew my grin looked bright, almost eager.
The third group moved in, no longer worried about the explosive tags. The three tried to circle me, but I was not stupid enough to let them. I shot toward the last man from the second group, forcing him to swing in desperation. I stopped short, evading his slash, but before I could counter, I saw it. The heavy axe cutting through the air toward me.
I jumped back just in time, the blade slamming into the dirt where I had stood. Before I could breathe, another spear flew at me. I ducked under it, only to be met by a sword slash from the side. I blocked with my kunai, the bandit trying to pin me in place.
My Sharingan caught the axe man's movement just as he started to swing. I saw the path it would take and made my choice. My free hand shot forward and grabbed the sword itself, the edge biting into my palm as blood ran down my fingers. The bandit's eyes widened at my sudden grip, and before he could react I yanked him forward with all my strength, pulling him straight into the axe's path.
The strike landed exactly where I had predicted, the heavy blade cutting halfway through his arm. Blood sprayed across the ground as he collapsed, screaming and clutching the ruined limb.
I smiled. "Three to go."
Suddenly, a huge explosion was heard far beyond the warehouse entrance.
The bandits shifted slightly, now more tense, before the big man hefted the axe again. Its weight made it slow to recover once committed, which I could use.
The other two spread out, spear and sword coming from either side. The spear shot toward my neck, and I jumped sideways, only to be met by another slash. The axe came next, cleaving downward with enough force to split a tree.
I stayed low and burst forward beneath the massive swing, closing the distance before darting in at the axe wielder's legs. My blade swept in a vicious horizontal arc, aimed to cut him before he could recover.
But the spear man reacted fast, quicker than I expected, cutting me off. His weapon darted in from the edge of my vision, a sudden thrust from a half-blind angle. I twisted, barely fast enough, but the tip still grazed my cheek.
I rolled to the side, came to my feet, and touched my face. My fingertips came away red.
Rage bubbled up inside me. My hands shook, not from fear but from anger.
I pulled out my ninja wire, coiling it in my hand. "I will make you pay for that cut," I said coldly as the three men regrouped.
I surged forward. The spear came again, but I sidestepped and looped the wire around it, yanking it from his grip. Using the momentum, I spun and hurled the spear at the swordsman. He tilted his head at the last instant, the weapon missing him by inches as he swung again. I slid under him, wrapped the wire around his legs, and yanked hard. He pulled back instinctively, stumbling forward as his balance broke, just as the axe man charged. The weapon carved a vicious arc through the air toward my current position, but I didn't stop. I used my momentum to jump back with all my strength, dragging the swordsman with me.
He screamed, "Stop!" but the axe was already falling. The blade struck just above his ankle, severing his foot. Blood splattered across the dirt as he collapsed, shrieking. I released the wire and let him writhe on the ground.
The spear wielder grabbed his weapon and slashed horizontally. I read the movement, caught the shaft, and held it still. The axe came again, and the man let go this time, avoiding the same fate as his comrade. I leapt back as the axe split the spear in two.
I caught the broken shaft and hurled it like a javelin. It struck the axe man in the neck, blood pouring down his chest, but he still tore the weapon free from the ground and swung it in a savage, rising semi-horizontal arc.
I jumped, my Sharingan guiding the timing perfectly as I landed on the slightly tilted flat side of the axe and kicked off, using it as a springboard to vault high into the air. Still rising, I hurled a spread of kunai, my hands switching to seals in one smooth motion. The spear wielder dodged the first, but two buried themselves deep in his legs. He collapsed, clutching them and howling in pain.
As I climbed higher, my fingers flew through the last seals, chakra flooding my chest until it felt ready to burst. By the time I reached the peak of my jump, the jutsu was primed. I leaned forward, aimed down, and unleashed it.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique"
The fireball roared from my mouth midair, blazing downward before slamming into the ground. It exploded on impact, a wall of heat and flame racing outward and devouring everything in its path.
The unfortunate ones who were still alive began to scream, their voices twisting into horrifying shrieks as the fire consumed them. I landed on the scorched ground, surrounded by burning men writhing in agony, their clothes and severed body parts ignited. Blood hissed and dried where it touched the flames, the air thick with smoke and the stench of cooked flesh.
I smiled, the night around me painted red by the roaring flames. Smoke curled through the air, glowing faintly in the firelight. Surrounded by fire, death, and agony, I stood motionless, my Sharingan glowing brighter, reflecting the crimson blaze around me. "This feels right," I murmured. "The battlefield is where I belong."