Chapter 12 – The Shadow that Unveils the Veil
The training field was now completely silent.
Only the sound of rustling leaves and heavy breaths could be heard.
Kazuki, Hinata, and Shikamaru stood frozen, while a figure in a black cloak slowly stepped out of the darkness of the forest.
The foreign bell hanging on his waist swung gently, producing a chilling chime that pierced the ears.
Kazuki swallowed hard, his fingers gripping his kunai tighter.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"That's him… the shadow that always appeared in my eyes. But now… he's truly real. He's not an illusion… he's real."
Hinata hid slightly behind Kazuki, yet her Byakugan remained active.
Hinata (whispering, anxious):
"I… I can't read his chakra flow. As if he… is not alive… but also not dead…"
Shikamaru, though usually calm as ever, now had a serious expression with cold sweat on his face.
Shikamaru: "Tch… troublesome. We haven't even passed the bell test, and now we get a mysterious guest. Just our luck."
---
Kakashi Moves
Kakashi stepped forward.
His eyes—previously calm—now narrowed sharply.
The bell in his hand stopped ringing, and he stored it inside the pocket of his vest.
Kakashi:
"Who are you? This exam is only for my students. If you interfere… that means you've chosen a dangerous path."
The cloaked figure did not answer. Only the sound of the bell continued to echo faintly, as if mocking them.
Kazuki took a small step forward, trying to stand in front of Hinata and Shikamaru.
Kazuki: "Kakashi-sensei, let me—"
But Kakashi raised his hand, stopping him.
Kakashi (serious): "Don't be reckless, Kazuki. He's not an opponent you can face right now."
Kazuki fell silent, but his heart was in turmoil.
"Why… why do I feel that figure is staring directly at me? As if I… am the true target…."
---
The Whispering Figure
The cloaked figure finally stopped moving. From beneath the pitch-black fabric, a voice echoed—low and layered—as if it came from all directions at once.
Cloaked figure: "You've finally arrived here… Kazuki Akihiro."
Kazuki immediately stiffened, his eyes widening.
Hinata quickly turned to him, her face pale.
Hinata: "A-Akihiro-kun… he… called your name…"
Shikamaru snorted, staring at Kazuki with questioning eyes.
Shikamaru: "Huft… so it's true. From the beginning you've been hiding something, haven't you? The shadow, the voice… and now this strange being knows your name."
Kazuki was silent, his chest tightening.
How could he explain? That he was not from this world? That he had taken the place of the main character in a storyline that was never supposed to change?
Kazuki (in his heart):
"It's impossible… to say everything now. But if I keep quiet… they'll only grow more suspicious of me."
---
Kakashi Testing
Kakashi glanced briefly at Kazuki, as if reading his mind.
Kakashi:
"You don't need to answer now, Kazuki. But one thing must be clear: the secret you're hiding… could become a double-edged sword for this team."
Kazuki lowered his head, gritting his teeth.
He hated this feeling—being looked at as if he was a problem, when he himself didn't even understand what was happening.
---
The Shadow Moves
The cloaked figure suddenly raised his hand.
The bell on his waist rang loudly, producing a sound that made the entire field reverberate strangely.
Leaves trembled, the air grew cold.
Hinata covered her ears, her body trembling.
Hinata: "This sound… it makes my body feel heavy… as if my chakra is being sealed…"
Shikamaru tried to weave hand seals, but his shadow froze on the ground, refusing to extend.
Shikamaru: "What the… even my shadow won't move… tch, seriously troublesome…"
Kazuki himself felt his chest being pressed.
But strangely—unlike Hinata and Shikamaru, his body could still move.
As if the bell's sound did not completely restrain him.
Kazuki (in his heart, shocked):
"Why… am I the only one who can move more freely? Could this… have something to do with me not being from this world?"
---
A Test That Isn't a Test
Kakashi took another step forward, now uncovering his left eye.
The scarlet Sharingan glowed under the sunlight, staring straight at the cloaked figure.
Kakashi: "If you intend to interfere… then I won't hesitate to make you my opponent. But remember… if you touch my students, I won't hold back."
But before Kakashi could make another move, the figure lifted his head, gazing straight at Kazuki.
The voice echoed again:
"It won't be long… before you understand. Time… is but an illusion, Kazuki Akihiro. And you… are the key to that illusion."
Kazuki felt his body tremble. The words pierced his mind, causing dizziness.
Kazuki (in his heart): "Time… illusion? Me… the key? What does all of this mean!?"
Suddenly—the sound of the bell stopped.
The cloaked figure began to fade, his body turning into shadowy smoke blown away by the wind.
Within seconds, he completely vanished, leaving only silence behind.
Hinata fell to her knees, clutching her chest.
Hinata: "Hah… hah… he's gone… but his chilling aura still lingers…"
Shikamaru let out a long sigh, his eyes narrowing at Kazuki with deep suspicion.
Shikamaru: "He called your name. That's no coincidence, Kazuki. If you know something, sooner or later… you'll have to talk."
Kazuki lowered his head, his chest tightening.
Kazuki (in his heart): "They have the right to know… but if I tell them everything now… maybe they won't believe me… maybe they'll even reject me."
Kakashi patted Kazuki's shoulder lightly.
Kakashi: "Calm down. In the end, every secret will find its own time to be revealed. For now… focus on what's right in front of you."
Kazuki looked at Kakashi. For the first time, he felt his sensei was truly serious—not just a laid-back teacher with a book in his hand.
---
The Remaining Bells
Kakashi once again pulled out two small bells from his pocket.
Kakashi: "The exam isn't over yet. Your time is almost up. If you still want to pass… then the only way is… prove that you can move as one team."
Hinata looked at Kazuki, her face full of doubt but also hope.
Shikamaru only sighed, though his eyes remained fixed on Kazuki with many questions.
Kazuki gripped his kunai tightly, his resolve growing stronger.
Kazuki (in his heart):
"I don't know who that shadow was… or what he meant by his words. But one thing's for sure—I can't run. I have to protect them, no matter what."
He turned to Hinata and Shikamaru.
Kazuki: "Come on… let's finish this. Together."
They nodded.
And once again, they prepared to face Kakashi—though beyond this, a far greater mystery awaited them.
TO BE CONTINUED…