The ravine was chaos—stone breaking, flames roaring, steel clashing.
Suki's calm voice cut through the madness. "Kai, left flank!"
He turned just in time to see another masked shinobi sprinting low, aiming for Renji's exposed side. Without hesitation, Kai slammed his foot down. The ground split open, a jagged fissure racing forward. The enemy stumbled, thrown off balance, and Renji's blade found its mark.
Renji exhaled sharply, sweat dripping from his chin. "You keep saving my skin. I'm starting to like you, Kai."
Kai gave no reply. His focus sharpened. Each strike, each defense, each breath—it all had purpose now.
But then, the real threat emerged.
From deeper in the ravine, a figure stepped forward, not masked like the others. His forehead protector was scratched, his eyes cold and heavy with killing intent. A rogue chūnin.
Ayaka's jaw tightened. "So that's the leader."
The rogue's voice was low and mocking. "Sending children to fight me? Iwagakure must be desperate."
Before Ayaka could respond, the chūnin blurred forward, faster than any of the genin could track. His strike was aimed straight for Kai.
The world slowed.
Kai raised his arms, chakra flooding through him. Stone surged upward, forming a shield just in time. The impact was brutal, the shield cracking, his body skidding back across the dirt. His arms screamed with pain, but he was still standing.
The rogue Chunin tilted his head. "Interesting."
Ayaka dashed between them, kunai ready. "Kai, Renji, Suki—fall back. This one's mine."
But Kai's blood boiled at the command. His body ached, his chakra was thinning, yet the fire inside refused to dim. He had tasted real battle, and now, faced with overwhelming force, something deeper stirred.
He thought of Ayaka's words: Strength without clarity is a blade turned inward.
He wouldn't waste his strength. Not here. Not now.
His fists clenched. I will endure. I will rise.
And as the rogue chūnin advanced, Kai took a step forward instead of back.