The rogue chūnin moved like a shadow unbound, his strikes carrying the weight of experience Kai had never faced before. Each clash rattled Kai's bones, every dodge felt a heartbeat too late.
Ayaka met him first, her kunai sparking as she deflected his attacks. "Focus!" she barked at her squad. But even she struggled—her movements sharp, but his relentless power pressed her back inch by inch.
When the chūnin shifted suddenly, bypassing her guard to strike at the genin, Kai didn't think. He stepped forward, earth chakra flooding him. A wall erupted between them, but the enemy's strike shattered it like glass. The force sent Kai tumbling, blood spattering his lips.
"Kai!" Renji shouted, but Ayaka's glare froze him in place.
Kai staggered to his feet. His chest burned, his arms heavy. But something inside screamed at him: Stand. If you fall now, you're nothing.
The rogue chūnin sneered. "Persistent brat."
He wove hand seals with blinding speed. Fire roared forth, a torrent meant to consume everything.
Kai slammed both palms to the ground, pouring every ounce of chakra into the earth. The ground split open, stone rising in jagged walls. The flames crashed against it, heat searing through, cracks splitting wide. Kai's teeth ground together, sweat pouring down his face as he forced more chakra into the barrier.
It barely held. His vision blurred, his ears rang, his body screamed.
Then, with one last push, he collapsed the wall forward, stone avalanching into the chūnin. Dust and smoke swallowed the battlefield.
Silence.
Kai dropped to his knees, barely conscious, lungs clawing for air. His body trembled, chakra reserves flickering on the edge of nothingness.
Through the haze, Ayaka's voice cut like steel. "He's still alive. Stay ready!"
Sure enough, the rogue staggered out of the dust, bleeding but not finished. He raised a kunai, eyes burning with rage
Ayaka struck, her blade flashing, cutting him down before he could take another step.
The valley went still.
Kai slumped fully, darkness edging his vision. He was alive. Barely. His body was battered, his chakra hollow,stretched thinner than ever before. But he had stood his ground and survived.