Ch36: Ninja Graduation Test

In the darkest night of the Forest of Death, Yasuke, exhausted and wounded, rests on the back of the albino leopard that has guided him through the intricate maze of trees and shadows. The trust between the young ninja and the majestic beast has been forged in the heat of countless dangers, an alliance unthinkable under any other circumstances.

The leopard, with each cautious step, shows signs of weakness, its breathing is heavy and its movements, usually graceful and precise, are now clumsy and desperate. Aware of the severity of his injuries, he leads Yasuke to a hidden cave, a safe haven he had discovered in his lonely days in the forest.

Upon arrival, the animal collapsed, its body no longer able to sustain the weight of the battle and the responsibility it had carried on its shoulders. Yasuke, still dazed with pain and fatigue, slid off the leopard's back and fell to the cold floor of the cave. The dull sound of his fall echoed in the silence of the forest, a cruel reminder of the loneliness and danger that surrounded them.

The first ray of dawn's light filtered faintly through the cave entrance as Yasuke awoke from his restless sleep. The pain of his wounds and the stiffness of his body reminded him of the previous day's battles.

As the leopard lies unconscious, Yasuke crawls over to his companion. With trembling hands, he checks the animal's wounds, his heart constricting with every gasp of the leopard's breath. In the gloom of the cave, the feline's wounds appear more serious than Yasuke had feared. The silence is absolute, broken only by the leopard's labored breathing and the occasional buzz of a stray insect.

With the first light of dawn filtering faintly through the cave entrance, Yasuke sits beside his friend, despair peering into his young eyes. The reality of his situation becomes clear; he is alone, wounded and with time against him to complete his mission. His gaze is lost in the darkness of the cave, every shadow seeming to mock his chances of success.

But then, something changes inside the young shinobi. A steely determination takes shape in his spirit. He is not willing to give up, not when so much is at stake. With a superhuman effort, he stands up, leaning against the cold walls of the cave. He knows what he must do. To save his companion, to fulfill his mission, he must face his target with everything he has.

And so, with the image of the wounded leopard etched in his mind, Yasuke prepares for battle. The cave becomes his last-minute sanctuary, a place to gather his strength, to plan his next move.

Preparing for battle, Yasuke checked his few remaining ninja weapons and tools. Every kunai, every shuriken had to count. He adjusted his bandages, mitigating the pain as best he could, and took a deep breath, filling himself with the cool morning air of the cave.

As he sharpens his weapons and mentally reviews every technique learned these past few days in the forest, the echo of his determination fills the cave.

-For you, friend," Yasuke murmured, gently stroking the leopard's head. The animal let out a soft growl.

With a last glance at his fallen companion, Yasuke stood up and headed for the cave's exit. The light of dawn bathed the forest, casting long, crisscrossing shadows like harbingers of the battle to come. Yasuke entered the forest, carrying with him hope and the weight of a promise: to save his friend, no matter the cost.

The forest, waiting, indifferent to the human and animal drama unfolding in its heart. But for Yasuke, every leaf, every whisper of the wind, is a reminder of what is at stake. Feeling the weight on his shoulders, the young ninja is ready to fight, not only for his Genin title, but for the life of his feline ally.

As Yasuke moved deeper into the heart of the Forest of Death, his mind was as alert as his aching body could allow. The urgency of his mission pulsed in every step he took, resonating with the beating of his wounded heart. Every leaf he stepped on, every branch that cracked beneath his feet, seemed to cry out in the silence of the dawn.

It was not long before he found signs of his enemy; fresh marks and signs of a hasty encampment. Haruki Takahashi had been here, that much was certain. With caution etched into his every move, Yasuke prepared for the inevitable.

When he finally found himself facing Haruki, the air between them crackled with the tension of an expected confrontation. Haruki, with an obvious wound that sapped his mobility but not his dangerousness, smiled disdainfully at the sight of Yasuke so depleted.

-Are you coming to finish what you started, kid? -Haruki's voice was a mixture of mockery and defiance.

The forest, with its morning gloom, became the amphitheater of the battle. Yasuke, visibly wounded and shaken, faced Haruki, who displayed a mocking and confident smile.

Yasuke, adjusting his grip on the kunai he held, nodded with determination. The image of the wounded leopard filled his mind, giving him the strength he needed to face the pain and exhaustion.

-This is for my friend," he whispered, just before launching into combat.

The combat was fierce, every move charged with desperation and tactics. Haruki, cunning and experienced, tried to anticipate Yasuke's moves, launching counterattacks that forced the young man to retreat and reconsider his strategy. With each dodge, Yasuke felt the damp ground and cold morning air intensify the tension of the encounter.

As Haruki taunted and attacked, Yasuke felt increasingly desperate. His body and spirit were on edge, and the image of his wounded leopard was the only thing keeping him going. With each blow he received, Yasuke felt he was nearing the end of his strength. He knew he must survive, he must win, for his friend who had saved him and for the promise he had made to himself.

-Is that all you have? I thought you'd be a bigger challenge," Haruki sneered, easily dodging a desperate attack from Yasuke.

Yasuke's every move was charged with urgency, but lack of precision and fatigue made his attacks predictable and easy to counter. Haruki, for his part, toyed with his prey, throwing blows that did not seek to end the encounter, but merely to prolong Yasuke's agony.

-Concentrate! -Yasuke shouted to himself, trying to ignore the pain of his wounds and the taunting voice of his adversary.

In a desperate attempt, Yasuke threw a series of shurikens, but Haruki deflected them with a flick of his kunai, laughing at the futile effort.

-Come on, boy, is that the best you can do? -Haruki provoked, while launching a counterattack that Yasuke barely managed to block.

The disadvantage was clear and every second in the fight only added more scars to Yasuke's body and pride. The image of his feline companion, wounded and probably fighting for his life, was the only flame that kept his resolve burning.

As the fight progressed, Yasuke's desperation grew. His increasingly erratic and frantic movements reflected his clouded state of mind and the urgency of his injuries. Haruki, in contrast, maintained his composure, treating the confrontation as a mere game.

-I really expected more from you," Haruki commented disdainfully as he parried a punch with ease and pushed Yasuke back with a theatrical gesture. -Is this the level of an aspiring genin of Konoha?

Yasuke, breathing heavily, leaned against a nearby tree. The exhaustion and pain were palpable in every sigh. With his eyesight blurred by sweat and blood pouring down his forehead, he searched within himself for the strength to continue.

-No... this isn't over yet," she muttered, looking up to face Haruki. With a supreme effort, he lunged forward in a last desperate attempt to attack.

Haruki, dodging gracefully, countered with an accurate blow that sent Yasuke back to the ground. The sneer in his voice was evident as he approached the fallen ninja.

-You should surrender, boy. Sometimes, courage is knowing when to stop," he advised, though his tone suggested that he did not expect Yasuke to take his advice.

Lying on the ground, Yasuke felt each blow like an echo of despair. As he clung to the pain, a grim thought crept into his mind, trembling and urgent: "What if I give up?" The words seemed absurd, but a part of him was beginning to accept that possibility. It was no longer the longing to be genin that tormented him; it was the need to save his friend. "If by surrendering I can get help for him, I will," he thought to himself, almost convinced.

Just then, a brutal punch from Haruki in the stomach brought him back to the grim reality of combat. As he writhed in pain, he heard Haruki's merciless taunt:

-Thinking of giving up, brat? That will make you a perfect ninja of Konoha!

To be continued...