'Just from the headband, I could make a guess. Now that they've told me I'm in Konoha territory, it's confirmed—I'm in Naruto.'
'But why are they dressed like that? Armor? Weren't they supposed to wear green flak vest?'
Though K' had watched Naruto years ago, he was never more than a casual viewer. He barely remembered the plot, only some characters and iconic scenes.
The details—the political structure, clans, power systems—were fuzzy at best.
The sun hung low behind the mountain ridge, casting long shadows across the thick forest.
Mist clung to the undergrowth, and the chirping of birds had gone silent the moment the ninja team appeared.
They stood on tree branches and along the rocky forest floor, all clad in armored vests over dark uniforms, their headbands glinting with the Konoha symbol.
Each of them carried a standard shinobi pouch, kunai, and short swords sheathed at their sides.
Still disoriented from being dropped into this strange world barely an hour ago, K' felt the unfamiliar terrain pressing in on him.
The trees were massive—tall and ancient, their gnarled roots tearing through the forest floor like veins. The air was crisp, clean, and carried the faint smell of sap and wildflowers.
'From now on, I need to be careful about what I say to people.'
K' narrowed his eyes and scanned the ninjas surrounding him. There were five in total, well-positioned to attack from all angles.
Their expressions were unreadable—stoic, disciplined, and dangerous. He had no doubt that they had killed before, likely more than once.
Despite his tension, he kept his stance relaxed. He didn't want to provoke them.
"I don't know where I am exactly. You could say I'm lost. Just help me get to the nearest village or town. I'd be grateful."
Facing these seasoned shinobi, K' slowly raised his hands in surrender. He kept his movements minimal—no sudden gestures. His heart pounded, but he forced his voice to stay calm.
Any wrong move, and he'd be greeted by a rain of shurikens.
The leader stepped forward—a tall man with dark eyes and a sharp jawline.
His posture was impeccable, his hand resting loosely on the hilt of a blade strapped to his lower back. He exchanged silent glances with his team before addressing K'.
"State your identity first. Then we'll point you toward the nearest town," he said, tone cold and commanding.
K' swallowed hard. He wasn't sure how much longer he could maintain this act.
He had no documents, no background, no story that could withstand proper questioning. Only his wits.
'Combat... can I even win against them?'
His palms felt sweaty. He had barely adjusted to the idea that he was in another world—now he was already facing possible death.
"I'm being honest! My name is K'. I'm just a traveler. Yes, a traveler... Actually, you could call me a fighter. That works too."
He steadied his breath and looked the leader directly in the eyes.
"I'm a street fighter. I make a living in underground arenas—rooftop matches, alley fights, backdoor clubs. Street fighters like us don't carry identification. We're nobodies. Ghosts."
The forest remained silent. Not even the wind stirred the leaves.
'I just need to get to a town. A crowd. Somewhere I can hide if things go south.'
"There," the leader said, pointing beyond the trees. "Head in that direction. After the mountains, you'll find a small town."
"Thank you. I appreciate your help."
K' exhaled in relief and turned. He had taken only one step when—
"There were other teams in that direction. You couldn't have made it this far unless…"
The voice was now behind him.
K's senses exploded with alarm.
He saw the shurikens in mid-air—spinning with deadly speed, slicing the air toward his head. His ears rang, and the air seemed to tighten around him. Time slowed.
And just like that, his body moved.
His right arm surged with deep red flame, muscles tightening, heat radiating from his palm.
'Hah!'
He spun—a reflex more than a decision—and unleashed a fierce back kick that forced the ninja leader to retreat a step.
The shurikens missed by inches, their edges burning through the air where his head had been.
His eyes glowed red. His body flickered, reappearing a meter to the side. He hadn't thought—he had just moved.
'What was that just now…? My body… it acted on its own.'
Even he stood frozen for a breath. Had he just awakened something? Some ability tied to this world?
"Close combat!" the leader barked.
The ninja team instantly moved in, forming a tight, practiced formation. Their stances shifted to a crouch, blades drawn, ready to strike and counter in a deadly dance.
The forest was no longer silent—it buzzed with killing intent.
The leaf ninja closed in, swift and silent. Their formation was fluid—clearly honed through rigorous training and countless missions.
No wasted movement. No hesitation.
K' could feel it in the air now: pressure. Like the air itself had thickened, soaked with chakra and discipline. Every step they took sent pulses through the ground.
'They're not bluffing. These aren't street thugs. These people are killers.'
K' dropped into a low stance, one foot back, right hand still wreathed in flame. He didn't know how he could summon the fire, but right now, he didn't have the luxury to ask questions.
The first ninja lunged—short sword flashing toward his ribs.
K' twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the slash, and countered with a sweeping kick. The ninja leapt back just in time, but it disrupted the team's rhythm. That was all K' needed.
A second ninja came from above, dropping down with a kunai aimed at K's shoulder.
K' raised his flaming hand and met the attack directly. The kunai sizzled as the flame engulfed it. With a surge of adrenaline, he pushed the attacker back mid-air, sending them crashing into a tree trunk.
The others didn't stop. They moved like a unit—one distracted, another struck. Their attacks weren't wild—they were coordinated, designed to exhaust, to corner, to kill.
K' gritted his teeth. His breathing was fast but steady. His body felt light, dangerously light, like he was running on pure instinct.
'What's going on with me? My body… it's too responsive. Too sharp. Like it's been training for this all my life.'
His eyes tracked everything now—subtle shifts in weight, muscle tension, direction of breath. His reflexes fired before he even registered threats.
The ninja leader finally moved. A blur of movement—silent and deadly.
K' barely had time to react. He bent back, almost unnaturally, as a blade swept past his chin. The flame on his hand flared in protest.
The leader didn't pause. A hand seal flashed.
"Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
A surge of heat shot forward—a compact jet of flame.
K' raised both arms. His own flame burst outward in response, clashing with the jutsu mid-air. The two fires collided in a roaring explosion, blasting leaves and smoke through the forest clearing.
The shockwave threw K' back several meters, but he landed on his feet, skidding through dirt and gravel.
Coughing, he wiped the ash from his cheek.
'I can use fire. Like them. But mine feels… different. Hotter. Wilder.'
Through the smoke, the ninja squad emerged again—scratched, but not deterred.
"You're no ordinary fighter," the leader said, stepping forward again. "You used chakra without hand signs. What are you?"
K' didn't answer.
He was still breathing hard, trying to control the fire crawling up his arms.
'I need to escape. I can't hold them all off forever.'
Then, a flicker of movement in the trees behind them. A shadow, distant but deliberate.
And in that moment, K' made his choice.
He planted his foot and exploded into motion—his body blinking a short distance forward, then another, darting into the forest like a bolt of red lightning.
The ninja team reacted instantly, giving chase.
But K' had already vanished into the trees, the heat of his flame leaving scorched bark in his wake.
***
The forest blurred around him as K' sprinted at full speed, leaping over roots and ducking beneath low branches.
The wind whipped past his face, carrying the scent of scorched wood and smoke.
Every step he took left behind faint scorch marks, the remnants of the flames still flickering on his skin.
'Faster. I need to go faster.'
His chest burned—not from exertion, but from something deeper. The same fire that erupted in his hand was now simmering in his core, urging him to run, to survive.
Behind him, the sound of pursuit was relentless.
Branches snapped. Chakra surged.
Kunai sliced through the air, striking trees mere inches from his head.
The leaf ninjas weren't letting up.
K' darted left, kicked off the trunk of a thick oak, then vaulted onto a higher branch. He moved like a phantom now, his body instinctively adapting to the terrain.
He didn't know where this agility came from—but it felt natural. Like he had always been meant to move this way.
Still, the pressure didn't lift.
The ninja team was fast. Their movements were like shadows dancing behind him—fluid and deadly.
A female kunoichi with sharp eyes and twin blades was the closest. She was nimble and precise, hopping through the treetops just behind him.
"You won't get away!" she shouted, flipping mid-air to throw three shurikens at once.
K' turned his shoulder and spun. One grazed his arm, the others embedded into a trunk ahead of him.
The pain was sharp, but his adrenaline dulled it.
'There—those rocks. If I can cross that ravine, I might lose them.'
Up ahead, the trees thinned into a rocky slope, and just beyond that—a deep ravine, its bottom obscured by mist and darkness. A broken rope bridge hung limp from one side, the planks rotting and moss-covered.
He didn't slow.
Gathering what little control he had over the flame, K' forced the fire into his legs. Heat surged through his muscles as he neared the edge.
The ground cracked under his feet.
And then—he jumped.
The wind howled as he soared through the air. Below him, the ravine gaped like a mouth waiting to swallow him whole.
He barely made it. His hands scraped against the edge of the opposite cliff, dirt crumbling beneath his grip.
But he held on.
With a grunt, K' hauled himself up, rolled onto the flat stone, and stumbled to his feet.
'No time to rest.'
He turned and faced the other side. The ninja team had stopped at the edge, watching him from the trees. The leader stood at the front, his blade still drawn.
They didn't follow.
At least, not yet.
The distance, the ravine, and K's sudden burst of power had bought him precious seconds.
He just turned and vanished into the forest.
Branches closed behind him. The path ahead was uncertain, but for now, he had escaped.