Kai's Trap

Kai watched from the shadows, hidden deep within the forest that bordered the ruins of the village. His eyes tracked every movement of the shinobi team as they investigated the clues he had intentionally left behind. The symbol, the torn fabric, the residue of his mana—all of it was part of his plan. He didn't have the strength to face this team head-on, not yet. The destruction of the town hall had drained almost all of his mana in one go, he had recovered by now, but he knew his limits. 

As he observed them using Sloth, his eyes flickered as he read their levels.

The blond one—Naruto, a shinobi he had heard about—was at level 31. A formidable opponent, no doubt, but manageable given the right circumstances. The pale one—Sai—was level 33, and he carried an aura that suggested a high level of tactical awareness. Then there was the silver-haired man—Kakashi. His level was 38, a level that approached that Red-Cloud cloak man, Kakuzu... Kai's eyes narrowed. This one was on another tier entirely. If Kai made one wrong move, Kakashi could easily overpower him.

"This is a whole other level of squad they brought..." Kai muttered under his breath. 

But then Kai's eyes landed on the pink-haired girl—Sakura. Her level was 23, the lowest in the group. 

Kai smirked. "The weak link..." he muttered. "But even so, they're all still stronger than me."

His mind raced as he scanned the environment, taking note of the thick forest surrounding the bridge and the river that flowed beneath it. The forest was dense, with tall trees and rocky cliffs—ideal for setting up traps and creating ambush points. The river, fast and deep, could be used as both a weapon and an escape route if needed.

He needed a plan—one that wouldn't rely on direct confrontation but would sow confusion, fear, and anxiety among the group. 

Kai's eyes flicked to the tall trees overhead, and an idea began to form. He would use the terrain to his advantage, leading them into a chase through the forest. But he would not engage them directly. Instead, he would create illusions and distractions, using Lust in a subtle way, casting faint mirages and whispers that would lead them off course. The goal was simple: divide the group. Once separated, he would target the weakest first—Sakura.

If he could isolate her, he could quickly ambush and devour her, gaining a crucial boost in strength. But he needed to be careful. Even at level 23, she wouldn't go down easily. His attack had to be swift and precise, and he would need the element of surprise.

Kai also considered planting more false clues as he lured them deeper into the forest.

"Confusion, misdirection... fear." Kai grinned as he finalized his plan. "

...

As Team 7 scoured the ruins of the town hall, a sudden cry pierced the air—a voice that sent chills down their spines.

"Help! Someone, please!" The voice was frantic, desperate. It was unmistakably Inari.

Naruto's eyes widened, and without a second thought, he took off running toward the forest. "Inari!" he shouted, sprinting toward the sound.

"Wait, Naruto!" Kakashi called, but the blond shinobi was already gone, plunging into the darkness of the woods. Kakashi, Sakura, and Sai exchanged wary glances before following. They couldn't let Naruto go alone, even if they suspected it was a trap.

As they entered the forest, the shadows seemed to close in around them, the air growing colder. The trees were dense, their thick branches weaving a canopy that blocked out the moonlight. The shouts echoed through the forest, distorted by the dense foliage, making it hard to pinpoint their source.

Sakura kept close to the group, her senses on high alert. Her eyes darted around, searching for any sign of movement. Everything felt wrong—like the forest itself was alive, watching them.

"Naruto, slow down!" she called, her voice tense. But he was already too far ahead. His silhouette disappeared into the trees, and the shouts grew fainter, mingling with the rustle of leaves and the whisper of the wind.

Then, from her left, she heard it—another faint cry. It was Inari's voice, trembling with fear. "Please… someone, help me..."

Sakura's heart pounded. She turned, scanning the darkness. The voice was so close, and she could almost see a small figure moving between the trees. She felt an urge to go, to find him. "Inari?" she whispered, stepping away from the others.

The shadows seemed to shift, and the figure grew clearer—a small boy, crouching and clutching his knees, his face streaked with tears. Sakura felt her heart twist. "Inari, I'm here!" she called, moving closer. The darkness around her thickened, muffling the sounds of her teammates behind her. She was alone, but she didn't realize it yet.

"Inari, it's okay—" she began, but as she reached out, the boy's figure vanished, dissolving into the shadows. The whisper changed, growing low and mocking, wrapping around her like cold tendrils. "So easy… to separate…"

Sakura's breath hitched, and she stumbled back, clutching her kunai. Her senses screamed at her—she had been lured away. She spun around, but the path she'd taken was gone, the trees closing in like a wall of darkness. "Who's there?" she demanded, her voice echoing in the silence.

The air grew colder, and she felt something brush against her skin. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a faint figure—vague, shifting in the shadows, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light. She swung her kunai, but it sliced through empty air. The figure reappeared behind her, whispering in a voice that sent chills down her spine.

"You're alone…"

Sakura's heart pounded as she felt the presence closing in. She braced herself, but the hand that grabbed her wrist was like ice, twisting sharply. Pain shot through her arm, and her kunai fell from her grasp. The figure loomed closer, and she saw the aura of razor-sharp wind forming around its hand, aimed directly at her throat.

Her breath caught as she realized she couldn't move, trapped in the chilling grip of the illusion. Just as the blade was about to strike, a flash of silver cut through the air. "Sakura!" Kakashi's voice called out, and a blade met the figure's arm with a sharp, metallic clang. The figure reeled back, and in that moment of distraction, Sakura felt the oppressive weight of the illusion begin to lift.

Kakashi's Sharingan blazed, the red eye spinning as it pierced through the layers of the genjutsu. The shadows and whispers around Sakura faded, dissolving into nothingness as the world around her became clear once more. Kakashi's presence grounded her, and she stumbled back, feeling the grip on her wrist vanish like smoke.

Kakashi, his Sharingan still active, locked eyes with the figure as it wavered and then, just as quickly, vanished into the shadows. The air went eerily still, and the only sound was Sakura's ragged breathing. The figure, whatever it was, had disappeared without a trace.

Kakashi straightened, his eyes still scanning the area with sharp intensity. "He's gone… for now." His voice was steady, but there was a hint of unease in his expression. "He's skilled, and he knows how to disappear fast."

Sakura caught her breath, clutching her kunai tightly. "Kakashi-sensei, what was that?"

Kakashi's expression darkened. "Someone capable of using powerful illusions to manipulate our senses. Whoever it is, they knew exactly how to lure you in." He glanced around, his Sharingan still active, as if expecting the figure to reappear at any moment.

But the forest was silent, and the figure remained hidden. The darkness seemed to swallow any trace of its presence, leaving only a chilling emptiness behind.

Kakashi turned to her, his voice firm. "We'll need to stay on high alert. He's toying with us..."