Chapter 4: The Fire Within

Chapter 4: The Fire Within

The forest was plunged into an ominous silence, broken only by the crackling of the flames surrounding Kaito.

His breathing hitched, sweat running down his forehead as he assessed the four ninjas cornering him.

He couldn't afford to make a mistake, not now.

Each of them moved their hands in complicated seals, their eyes cold as steel.

But Kaito had something they didn't: the fire that burned within him, both literally and figuratively.

The ninjas, realizing that Kushina was gone, stopped holding back as they were not afraid of hurting the target. 

The closest one, with a abrupt gesture, launched a fair Kanashibari no Jutsu A physical restraint jutsu.

Kaito felt a tug on his mind, a crushing pressure that paralyzed him instantly.

It was as if he were trapped in his own body, unable to move as the shadows of his enemies loomed over him.

Now, attack!" the voice of one of the ninjas rang through the air, cold and calculating.

But Kaito was no beginner. His mind was working at full speed, looking for a way to free himself.

With monumental effort, he channeled his chakra, fighting the control the genjutsu had over his body.

He felt his energy struggling to break the invisible chains that held him, and finally, with a roar that echoed through the trees, he broke the spell.

His body shuddered as the paralysis released him, and without wasting a second, he ignited a barrier of fire around him, creating a wall of heat that isolated him from his attackers.

"That's not going to work a second time!" he shouted, his voice thick with defiance. Flames danced in his gaze, a reflection of the fury that burned within him.

The ninjas, unfazed, adapted their strategy.

One of them released a Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu, a fireball that flew towards Kaito with deadly speed.

Another, with a gesture of his hand, summoned a thick wall of earth that advanced forcefully towards him, as if trying to crush him under its weight.

Kaito felt the heat of the fireball approaching, but he didn't flinch.

It counterattacked with a torrent of flame, the two forces of fire colliding in midair with a deafening bang. Land, however, was a different problem.

The wall advanced relentlessly, forcing him to retreat.

Sweat ran down his forehead, not only because of the heat, but because of the titanic effort he was making.

"I won't make it easy for you!" he growled, although he was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain his energy.

Exhaustion was beginning to take its toll on him, but he couldn't allow himself to falter. Not now.

The ninjas, in a display of mastery, coordinated their attacks. One of them launched a wind jutsu, fanning the flames surrounding Kaito, making them grow in intensity.

The fire, which should have been his ally, was beginning to turn against him, pushed by the fierce breeze.

Kaito felt the pressure building; The ninjas were closing in on him, and his room for maneuver was shrinking with each passing second.

With each movement, his body grew slower, his muscles protesting the effort.

Desperation began to settle in his mind. If this continued, he wouldn't make it out alive.

It was at that moment, when he felt that he was on the brink of the abyss, that he made a desperate decision.

With one last burst of energy, he compressed the fire within him, directing it toward the trees around him.

The flames cut through the trunks like butter, and the trees fell, creating a makeshift barrier between him and the ninjas.

Using what was left of his strength, he ran towards the nearby river, the sound of his footsteps mixing with the crackling of the burning branches.

"Don't let him escape!" The ANBU leader's voice cut the air like a knife.

The ninjas, tireless, followed him, using the Chakra no Suimen to run over the surface of the water, getting closer and closer.

Kaito reached the shore, panting.

Each breath burned his lungs, but he knew he couldn't stop.

Not now. He raised a trembling hand, revealing a small sphere of fire that he had been feeding since the beginning of the fight.

Cruel Sun. A name that resonated in his mind, inspired by one of the characters that he admired so much and that he considered one of the strongest, thinking about that, he replicated the attack using his skills.

Despite not being the same as the original Kaito had stored enough energy to achieve what he wanted.

The air around Kaito began to vibrate with the intensity of the heat.

The small sphere in his hand grew, glowing like a miniature sun, its energy pulsing with restrained fury.

The ninjas, realizing what he was about to do, tried to evade him. But it was too late.

With a piercing scream, Kaito threw the sphere towards them.

The small sun streaked through the air, and the water beneath the ninjas' feet began to evaporate instantly, destabilizing their surroundings. The attack hit them squarely.

The explosion was deafening, the heat searing. Kaito felt his body being thrown backwards, his consciousness fading as the world turned black.

The world was a dark, heavy haze as Kaito began to regain consciousness.

Every muscle in his body ached, as if it had been torn from the inside.

The ground beneath him was cold and damp, and the air smelled of wet earth and ashes.

He tried to move, but his body didn't respond, trapped in a feeling of emptiness.

The last thing he remembered was the explosion, the searing heat, and then… nothing.

"Kaito... please... wake up..." A soft voice full of concern called him from the darkness.

Something warm and wet touched his cheek, and when he finally managed to open his eyes, he saw Kushina's face, her expression a knot of anxiety.

"Kushina…" he whispered, his voice barely audible, his throat dry and scratchy. The effort to speak was costing him more than it should have.

"You are alive!" she exclaimed, her voice breaking into a sob of relief.

She hugged him tightly, as if afraid he might vanish at any moment.

But there was no time to celebrate.

Around them, the forest remained silent, but that silence did not promise safety.

Kushina helped him sit up, her gaze scanning his wounds carefully.

He was covered in burns and lacerations, his clothes in tatters.

Her hands shook as she tried to treat him, tearing off pieces of her own clothing to improvise bandages.

"We have to move," Kaito said, his voice weak but firm. He knew they couldn't stay there. If the surviving ninjas discovered his location, they would be in serious trouble.

"Not until you get better," Kushina replied, stubborn as always.

But Kaito had no intention of giving in. He leaned on her, using what little of his strength was left to pull himself up.

"We have no choice," he muttered, looking around with narrowed eyes.

The pain was almost unbearable, but his determination kept him going. "If they find us here, we will be finished."

Kushina didn't argue anymore. She helped him walk, each step a reminder of the combat they had barely survived.

The forest seemed darker than he remembered, every shadow a latent threat, every creak a harbinger of danger.

They managed to go a little way before Kaito stopped short. In the distance, I could hear something. A dull thud, the sound of shuffling footsteps, almost imperceptible if it weren't for the tension in the air. His heart began to pound.

"Kushina…" he whispered, his eyes searching hers. "Someone is coming."

Kushina nodded, the same understanding reflected in her gaze. Without making a sound, she helped him hide among the exposed roots of a fallen tree.

From their position, they could see the entrance to the cave they used as a temporary shelter.

The sound of footsteps became increasingly clearer, and soon a lone figure emerged from the gloom.

The ANBU leader was broken, his armor broken and stained with blood, but his determination was unwavering.

He moved dangerously slowly, each step a fight against the pain that was clearly consuming him.

His eyes, however, glowed with a fury that had not been quenched by Kaito's flames.

"I won't let... them escape..." the leader muttered, his voice barely above a whisper but thick with hate.

Although his body was on the verge of collapse, his desire for revenge kept him going.

Kaito felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew that in his current state, he would not be able to face the ANBU leader.

He wasn't even sure he would be able to stand if he met him face to face.

Kushina looked at him, her expression serious, aware of the danger lurking around them.

"Stay here," she said in a whisper, her voice barely audible.

"I'll take care of him."

"No!" Kaito tried to stop her, but his body barely responded. Before he could protest further, Kushina was already on her feet, her stance firm, as if preparing to face an inescapable fate.

The ANBU leader saw her immediately, his gaze sharpening as he recognized her.

"So you couldn't escape after all..." he said, his voice thick with venom.

"I won't even try," Kushina replied, her tone icy. "Because I won't let you near him."

The ANBU leader gave a crooked smile, although his body trembled with the effort.

"You have guts, but it won't do any good soon you'll be part of us."

Kushina didn't respond.

Instead, she began to focus her chakra, her red hair waving slightly with the energy emanating from her.

He knew he was at a disadvantage, but he wouldn't let Kaito fall into that man's hands.

Not after everything they had been through.

The ANBU leader lunged toward her, his speed slowed but still lethal.

Kushina faced him with everything she had, blocking his initial attack and counterattacking with precision.

But it was clear that the power difference was overwhelming.

Kaito, barely conscious, watched helplessly as the battle unfolded in front of him.

Every blow Kushina received was like a direct blow to her own heart.

He knew he had to do something, but his body refused to move.

He felt frustration and desperation rising inside him, struggling to find a way out.

Finally, with one last cry of determination, Kaito managed to summon a small barrier of fire between Kushina and the ANBU leader.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to give her a moment to breathe.

Kushina, seizing the opportunity, launched a decisive attack.

Using all his remaining strength, he struck the ANBU leader in the vulnerable spot of his armor, knocking him to the ground.

The leader tried to get up, but his body finally gave way, collapsing in a last breath of hatred.

With the danger neutralized, Kushina fell to her knees next to Kaito, exhausted but relieved. "It's…done…" he murmured, his hands trembling as he held it. "We are safe..."

Kaito, still fighting unconsciousness, looked into her eyes, trying to speak but finding the words just out of reach. All he could do was offer her a weak smile, grateful that, at least for now, they had survived.

This is the end of chapter 4.

I will be posting the chapters twice a week.

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