R16

Tora's Pov

My mind was not on whatever the instructor was teaching today as it had wandered a long time ago. I was pondering on more ways to adapt my swordsmanship with Byakko's power in order to increase damage output. The possibilities were endless. I just had to put my mind to good use.

After school, I made my way to the training location as usual only to find the professor was not alone. With him were Kiri and Ame. "What are they doing here?"

Turning his head to look at me Professor Pius replied me 'I believe it is pertinent to mold your unit into a proper one if you are to make any progress in the future. From now I will take charge of your team and take it upon myself to whip you in shape before the time comes to send you on missions.'

Ame was still pouting and making comments about a grumpy old man under her breath while Kiri just said

'Well I hadn't gotten to the point of selecting a teacher to be our team's guardian yet so this makes things easier.'

Sighing I stepped up before asking "Is it ok to begin with just us? Our team isn't complete yet so shouldn't we wait?"

The professor motioned for us to follow him

'That isn't necessary. Since you don't know when your team will be complete, it's best to start getting familiar with each other and have a basis for your teamwork. That way, when the others get here they will have something to look forward to.'

Following Professor Pius we ended up in the chamber that houses the mirror. Thinking back, it had not been up to two months since I had my experience here and yet things were already changed so much since then.

'There is something else that isn't known to the public about the mirror used for reconnection. It also acts as a door.'

The professor's statement was met with surprise as this was the first I had ever heard of it. Looking at Ame and Kiri, it was obvious the case was the same for them. Ame was the first to respond 'What do you mean by that? How does it serve as a portal?'. Instead of answering, Professor Pius just walked up to the mirror and whispered something inaudible. A few moments later, the mirror became glassy white as it caved in on itself. The strange thing was it didn't make any noise and the pieces didn't fall to the ground, rather they folded in on themselves and opened up like curtains on a stage being pulled back.

The professor gestured for us to follow him as he stepped into the path created by the mirror. Glancing at the others we each have a nod of confirmation before following suit. The scenery before our eyes was nothing like we could have expected. We were standing on a cliff that seemed to be the highest point on an island.

Taking a look back, the portal that we had stepped out from was embedded in a huge thick tree that seemed centuries old. The professor waved his hand and the portal became a mirror once more. Turning my gaze back to the scenery it was a lush island that had waterfalls and some mountain ranges scattered across. The trees created a thick blanket that didn't allow for anything to be seen while looking from a high point. However, what really amazed me about the forest was the clear demarcation it had that could be seen from above.

A river ran through the forest and branched off in two directions. This created a Y-shape and on each side, the trees were of a different color. One side looked like a normal forest with green leaves and grasses, the other side seemed to be covered in snow. Only upon looking more closely would one realize that it wasn't actually snow, but the color of the plant life there was white giving it a magical look.

The final part of the forest was the same except this one had a red coloration. Giving off a feeling of autumn. This was the most beautiful and serene environment I had ever seen. As I was about to channel power into my eyes to give me a better view of the place, Professor Pius spoke up.

'You will start off at different points on this island. This place may be beautiful to the eyes but if you take it lightly you may end up losing your life. Your goal is to survive against the master of this place whose dwelling is on the other side of the island. You will only be permitted to get there after the three of you have overcome the trial that will be given to you individually. Only then will you be granted access to face the master.'

Looking determined Ame finally spoke up 'So we just have to prove we won't be a burden to each other then we work together to deal with the final obstacle. Doesn't seem too hard.'

Kiri who had been quiet until now finally remarked

'I knew sticking with you was going to be worthwhile Tora.'

His unnerving smile was already plastered on his face. 'It seems like we'll be able to get good recognition by the time the academy is ready for the official team formation process. Let's give them something to make them question their timing.'

While he was talking his shadow seemed to stretch and gradually envelope him before transforming his uniform into the outfit he had been wearing when he first attacked me. Covered in typical ninja gear there was a scarf around his neck and he wore a helmet that seemed similar to a masked Kabuto. There was a small breastplate covering his chest and protective guards covering his shins and forearms. On his chest was the emblem of a multi-tailed fox sprinting. His outfit covered every part of his body except his fingers.

Ame on the other hand summoned the same spear she had used when fighting me the other day. However, her uniform also transformed into a deep blue kimono-like outfit that allowed for free movement. It was adorned with wave-like patterns making it look like the surface of a stormy sea. A white wave-like pattern had also appeared on her face as well. Before I had a chance to make a comment, the scenery around me turned foggy and when it stabilized, I found myself in the autumn forest with red-looking plant life.