Dawn filtered through the thick canopy, painting the forest floor in streaks of gold and green. The camp hummed with quiet energy. White Zetsu scuttled through the underbrush, blending into roots and shadows, scanning every movement and sending constant updates to me. Every leaf, every ripple of wind, every faint smell of a distant predator registered in my mind almost instantaneously.
I stood at the edge of the clearing, cloak brushing against the moss, eyes narrowing. Behind me, the team prepared silently, each focused on their own methods of readiness. Tsunade adjusted her armor lightly, checking her chakra levels and the slug summoning seal. Orochimaru traced his fingers over a scroll, whispering incantations as he extended a thin, sinuous serpent into the forest. Kakashi flexed his fingers, purple lightning already sparking faintly along his arm, practicing control in tiny bursts.
Good, I thought. Everyone is ready. The path to Camp Half-Blood is long, treacherous, but nothing here can stop us—not with the combination we have.
I raised a hand, and the forest seemed to pause, waiting for direction.
"White Zetsu, scout the first kilometer and report any potential threats," I ordered.
A ripple of black and white energy flowed beneath the soil as the Zetsu split, moving like liquid shadows into the trees. Moments later, a soft buzz reached me through the network—nothing immediate, no monsters detected, paths clear.
I turned to the team. "Let's move. Stay coordinated. One misstep, and we risk fatigue, injury, or exposure."
Tsunade grunted in acknowledgment, stepping forward with a powerful stride. Kakashi followed, eyes scanning for ambushes, fingers twitching in anticipation of the next seal or lightning strike. Orochimaru glided silently, serpent weaving alongside him, testing the terrain.
The forest gradually gave way to a river cutting through the underbrush. The water was shallow here, but a faint current could sweep the unwary off their feet. I led, extending my senses three kilometers ahead, checking for unstable banks, lurking creatures, or hidden predators.
No immediate threats, I confirmed internally. But we move as if every step could be the last.
I signaled the team, and we crossed the river in coordinated efficiency. Tsunade adjusted her stance, chakra flowing in steady pulses to maintain balance. Kakashi zipped across with a controlled arc of purple lightning, testing his ability to channel and manipulate energy in unpredictable terrain. Orochimaru's serpents slithered across rocks, guiding him and providing a living bridge.
Once across, I paused. The forest ahead thickened again, dark and twisting.
"First test," I murmured. "Expect a challenge. Stay focused."
No sooner had the words left my lips than the ground trembled beneath us. A low growl echoed, vibrating through the soil and trees.
Monsters. A pack of demonic wolves, larger than any normal animal, emerged from the shadows, eyes glowing like molten coals. Their fangs dripped with acidic saliva, claws tearing at the earth. They circled, calculating, hungry, dangerous.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Finally. Some action." She summoned a pair of slugs, which shimmered with a faint light, ready to heal or block damage.
Orochimaru extended his serpents, hissing as they stretched toward the advancing wolves. "Interesting… organic mutation. Likely magical interference. Perfect for testing strategies."
Kakashi's arm sparked purple as he assessed angles and trajectories, eyes flicking from wolf to wolf, computing probabilities.
I stepped forward, feeling Kurama's chakra rise, flowing in golden heat through my veins. My hands ignited with lightning, swirling energy already forming a spear.
Chidori Sharp Spear, I thought. Let's make this efficient.
The spear shot forward with a crack, splitting the ground and catching the largest wolf mid-leap. Its howl was answered by the chorus of the pack, but the momentum was broken.
"Kakashi," I called, voice calm, eyes scanning. "Precision lightning. Take the flank."
Purple bolts arced from his fists, striking the wolves in calculated bursts.
"Orochimaru," I continued, "wind attacks, use serpents to control movement. Keep them contained."
Serpents surged forward, creating barriers of slithering muscle and bone, guiding wolves into traps I had silently prepared with chakra-infused roots.
Tsunade moved in, fists striking the ground and trees with controlled bursts, knocking smaller wolves into the temporary roots and serpents' coils. Her strength was devastating but precise, never harming her allies.
I followed up with Amaterasu, black flames latching onto the largest wolves, immolating them without harming the environment. My other hand extended Chidori Senbon, tiny lightning needles streaking to incapacitate the remaining pack.
The battle was over almost as quickly as it began. Ash and smoke lingered in the air. The wolves were gone, the forest quiet once more.
I exhaled slowly, letting the golden warmth of Kurama's chakra seep back into my muscles. My eyes scanned the team. They were breathing heavy, sweat glistening on their skin—but alive, stronger, coordinated.
"First real test," I said. "Passed. Good work."
Tsunade grinned, brushing ash from her shoulder. "Not bad for a kid leading adults."
Kakashi smirked faintly. "I learned more in that five minutes than a month in a library. Efficient."
Orochimaru tilted his head, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Interesting… you adapt quickly. Your foresight is… remarkable."
I let a small smirk curl my lips. Exactly.
"Rest briefly," I instructed, "but stay alert. The journey has only begun, and monsters will continue to get stronger as we progress. White Zetsu, maintain perimeter and report back every thirty minutes."
The Zetsu network shifted beneath us, roots and soil moving as one, observing the surrounding forest, silently awaiting the next wave.
The path to Camp Half-Blood is long, I thought, eyes scanning the horizon. But my team is ready. My power is ready. And every step brings us closer to shaping the future exactly as it should be.
The forest returned to quiet, but I could feel the pulse of movement nearby—predators, potential threats, the world itself sensing the arrival of a force it could not yet comprehend.
Let's see how far we can go before the first true challenge