The forest ahead grew eerily quiet. No birds. No wind. Not even the distant echoes of Choji's clash.
Kaelen felt a prickling sensation run down his spine — a hunter's gaze.
Not animal.
Human… no.
Something worse.
Kaelen (thinking):
Someone's watching us.
Riku landed beside him, panting.
"Kaelen, see anything?"
Kaelen's eyes narrowed.
"No… but I feel it. Hide your chakra signatures."
Haru and Riyomi stiffened, following his lead. Naruto rushed ahead — too fast.
Naruto:
"Oi! Why'd you stop—"
A thin golden thread zipped past Naruto's cheek, cutting a line across his face.
Naruto froze.
"What was that?!"
Chakra thread, Kaelen realized instantly.
Wind chakra flickered across his skin like a warning.
A voice echoed from the trees, playful and mocking:
Kidōmaru:
"Heh… nice reflexes, blondie. But my real target is the quiet one."
Six arms slowly emerged from the shadows above — Kidōmaru lounging upside-down in a web perched 40 feet high.
His body glistened with golden armor made of chakra-hardened spider silk.
Kidōmaru smirks:
"That one… Kaelen, right? You give off a weird vibe. Might be fun to break you."
Kaelen felt his muscles tense.
He singled me out…?
Riyomi whispered, terrified:
"He… he uses long-range attacks. Kaelen, don't get hit."
Kaelen exhaled slowly.
"Stay back. I'll draw his attention. Help Naruto catch Sasuke."
Naruto began to protest.
"Kaelen—"
Kaelen shook his head.
"Trust me. I can handle him."
---
The First Strike
Kidōmaru clicked his tongue.
"Bold. Let's test that."
He fired three arrows made of hardened silk, each spiraling with deadly precision.
Kaelen moved — wind flowing beneath his feet like invisible wings.
He sidestepped one, parried the second with his wooden blade, and ducked the third.
But Kidōmaru had already predicted that.
A fourth arrow slipped quietly through the trees.
Kaelen didn't see it.
But he felt it.
Wind chakra pulsed.
Left.
He twisted, the arrow grazing his ribs instead of piercing his heart.
Kidōmaru burst out laughing.
"Ha! You dodged THAT? You've got good instincts… almost like you're sensing the air itself."
Kaelen's breath grew calm.
He lowered his stance.
Focused.
Centered himself.
Kaelen (thinking):
Observation… focus… listen to the world.
The faint flicker of Observation Haki awakened — not fully, just a spark — sharpening his perception of intent.
---
Kidōmaru's True Intent
Kidōmaru suddenly stopped smiling.
"Fine. No more games."
He formed rapid seals with all six hands.
From his mouth, thick spider webs shot out, covering entire tree trunks.
Kaelen gasped.
He was trapping the battlefield.
A sniper's nest.
A killing field.
Kaelen's instincts screamed.
He's going to use the Sacred Bow…
Kidōmaru leapt to a higher branch, saliva dripping.
From his mouth, he began forming a massive golden bowstring.
Naruto yelled from far behind:
"KAELEN RUN! THAT THING CAN PIERCE THROUGH STEEL!"
Kaelen didn't run.
He stepped forward.
Wind circled his feet.
His eyes changed — irises sharpening, pupils frog-like:
Ten-Second Sage Mode.
Kidōmaru's eyes widened.
"...Oh? OH? You're interesting after all!"
---
Kaelen's Counter
Kidōmaru released the arrow — a massive golden spear that tore through the forest, breaking branches like paper.
Kaelen inhaled.
Focused.
The wind is mine.
He swung his wooden sword.
A razor-thin crescent of wind chakra exploded forward —
a technique he'd only barely formed:
Wind Style: Crescent Gale Slash!
The wind crescent met the golden arrow — and the forest lit up in white light.
The explosion shook the trees violently, scattering leaves like rain.
Kidōmaru shielded himself, shocked.
"That… cut my arrow? With a stick?!"
Kaelen staggered, Sage Mode flickering — time almost up.
I have five seconds left.
He pushed forward, leaping up branches toward Kidōmaru.
Wind surged beneath his feet.
Kidōmaru panicked and gleefully laughed at the same time.
"What ARE you?!"
Kaelen didn't answer.
He dashed through the air, fist pulled back.
Kaelen:
"FOR MY FRIENDS!"
He landed a blow on Kidōmaru's armor, cracking it slightly.
Not enough to defeat him — but enough to scare him.
Kidōmaru growled, retreating.
"Tch. Fine. I'll play later. I have orders."
He shot a rapid web blast at Kaelen, forcing him off balance, then fled deeper into the forest, heading toward Sasuke's path.
Naruto arrived seconds later.
"Kaelen! Are you okay?! That was insane!"
Kaelen wiped blood from his side.
"I'm fine. Go. I slowed him down. Catch Sasuke."
Naruto nodded fiercely.
"Right!"
Kaelen watched them leave.
Breathing heavy.
Exhausted.
But alive.
Kaelen (thinking):
I have to get stronger… or next time, that arrow takes my life.
---