Chapter 11: Nowhere to Hide
"What is it? Yoko-san, what did you see?" Inoshita Rino rushed over and supported the girl, his voice urgent.
Yoko looked like she was about to burst into tears. "I... I think I just saw a shadow flash past the window..." she choked out.
"What!"
"Are you serious?"
"Yoko, don't scare me like that..."
The students erupted in panic, scrambling backward away from the window where the shadow had appeared. A large empty space instantly formed in the crowded room.
Inoshita stared grimly at the window for a moment but saw nothing. The students, however, were becoming more frantic. One of them clutched at the corner of Inoshita's clothes, looking like he wanted to climb onto him.
"Rino-sensei, is there really something... out there?"
The other students around him wore the same terrified expressions, huddling tightly together. Inoshita didn't answer, but his vigilance was at its peak, his eyes darting back and forth between the two windows.
Kael shook his head almost imperceptibly, a little concerned by the poor composure of his fellow academy students. Children in the Shinobi World usually matured early, and at ten years old, they were already quite sensible. In just three years, these students were supposed to graduate and become Genin, but Kael couldn't see a shred of a shinobi's discipline in them.
After another moment of careful observation, Inoshita saw nothing and relaxed slightly. "Everyone, stay calm. There are so many of us; that thing won't dare to come in! Besides, I'm right here with you, so what is there to be afraid of?"
Although he spoke lightly and put on a relaxed expression, Kael's experienced eyes saw right through it. Inoshita was just trying to comfort them.
He's probably not confident at all, Kael thought.
After the "shadow" incident, the atmosphere in the room grew tense once more. Some of the more timid students didn't even dare to look at the windows.
Just then, outside the window behind them, the darkness seemed to thicken. A pitch-black, almost intangible shadow materialized. An inconspicuous hand reached through the window and instantly grabbed the collar of a boy who was pressed against the wall.
WHOOSH!
There wasn't even a cry. The people nearby only felt a cold draft on their backs. They turned around curiously to find a small empty space where their classmate had been standing just a moment before.
"R-R-Rino-sensei, Kawa... Kawa is gone!" a student finally stammered out after a few seconds of stunned silence.
"That bastard is just toying with us. It has to be a Jashinist; no one else would be this twisted," Kael muttered, gritting his teeth. "They're still my classmates... I can't just stand by and watch them die..."
He thought for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. He pulled Rei along with him and pushed through the crowd to Inoshita's side. He had decided to step up. If he couldn't hide, then he wouldn't hide.
"Rino-sensei, this isn't working. Let's each watch one window. If we see anything, we attack immediately."
Inoshita was taken aback. Seeing the serious look on Kael's face, he nodded helplessly. He was only a retired Chunin. An old injury from his youth meant that his strength had long since faded. Now, he was only slightly stronger than an average Genin. Faced with the mysterious figure who had snatched two of his students, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
A few minutes later, the inky blackness outside the window in front of Kael seemed to grow even deeper and more foreboding.
The next moment, a hand shot through the window!
SHING! SHING! SHING!
Three shuriken, which Kael already had in his hand, flew out instantly.
"Argh!"
A cry of pained disbelief came from outside, and the black hand immediately retracted.
In a fluid motion, Kael leaped through the window. Inoshita, shocked, was about to follow when a voice, urgent but rapidly moving away, called out from the darkness, making him hesitate.
"Rino-sensei, don't follow! In case there are others waiting to..."
The rest of the words were lost in the distance, but he understood Kael's meaning. He sighed, looking at the stunned and terrified students around him.
Beside him, Rei watched Kael disappear into the darkness, her face filled with worry. She clasped her hands together, praying for his safe return.
"Kael-kun, you have to be okay..."
In the dead of night, Kael relentlessly pursued the dark figure ahead. He had his reasons for giving chase. The ground beneath his feet bulged as he ran, the Earth Dragon and the Ironclad Hedgehog keeping pace just below the surface. The Earthen Beetle on his head had received its orders and was ready to act at a moment's notice.
Kael was like a ghost in the night, his figure a fleeting blur under the hazy moonlight. But the shadow ahead was even faster. In just a dozen seconds, Kael could barely make out its form.
Just as he was about to give up, the figure suddenly stopped.
Kael paused, then a cold smile touched his lips as he realized what was happening.
You want to finish me off? Let's see who finishes who.
With that thought, he slowed his pace to conserve his energy. He mentally commanded the Earth Dragon to burrow deeper underground.
When he was about ten meters away, he finally got a clear look at the person. The figure was dressed in a black robe and wore a grotesque demonic mask. Under the moonlight, only a pair of dark, intrigued eyes were visible.
"You've got some nerve, kid..."
Kael remained silent. To the Jashinist Genin, this looked like fear, like he was just putting on a brave face.
After a moment, Kael's face hardened, and he asked in a low voice, "My two classmates. What did you do to them...?"
"Why, they have returned to the embrace of the great Lord Jashin, of course. They experienced the most beautiful form of death. I drained them of every last drop of their blood..."
"You bastard!" Kael's eyes blazed with uncontrollable anger as he stared at the cruel cultist.
"Hehehe... So, little one... by chasing me alone, have you chosen to throw yourself into Lord Jashin's embrace as well?" the Jashinist Genin rasped, clearly enjoying the powerless rage of his soon-to-be victim.
"Die!" Kael roared, seemingly driven mad by the man's nonchalant attitude. He charged forward, kunai in hand.
"Interesting, very interesting! You're nothing like your classmates, are you, kid? It almost makes me not want to kill you." The Jashinist Genin easily dodged all of Kael's attacks, a look of surprise in his eyes as he chattered on.
"I've changed my mind. How about it, kid? Interested in joining me? Join the followers of Jashin! Believe in Lord Jashin, and you will gain eternal life! For someone so young to have such an excellent mind, and to already have the strength of a Genin as a third-year... If you learned some ninjutsu, even I would have a hard time with you..."
Seeing that Kael was ignoring him and continuing his relentless assault, a flash of irritation appeared in the man's eyes.
"Kid! There's no future for you in a place like the Hidden Hot Water Village. I'll give you one last chance. Believe in Lord Jashin..."
"Believe in your mother!" Kael suddenly roared, simultaneously giving the Earth Dragon the command to attack.
"Are you serious? I already sacrificed my mother to Lord Jashin!" the cultist replied, his eyes dark with a morbid, fanatical glee.