Escape!

Amidst the bustling streets of Konoha, Kai's gaze roamed with a mix of curiosity and wonder. His steps carried him through the vibrant marketplace, where stalls overflowed with an array of goods – from colourful fruits to intricate crafts. Among the offerings, his focus settled on something that resonated deep within him – food.

With a thoughtful nod, he decided to indulge in a simple pleasure. He sought out a bustling eatery, its aromatic offerings wafting through the air like a siren's call. The aroma of freshly cooked meals beckoned to him, drawing him closer with each step.

Sitting at a quaint wooden table, Kai's senses were treated to a feast of flavors. The food arrived, a masterpiece crafted by skilled hands. Each bite was amazing, it was as though nothing mattered anymore. He savoured the nourishment and he couldn't help but acknowledge the truth – there was a special magic to a well-prepared meal, one that cannot be earned from his hunts in the forest.

Once His appetite was fulfilled, Kai shifted his focus to another quest – a search for potions. His knowledge of the old world told him that certain elixirs and remedies were widely available, manufactured and mass-produced for everyone. However, as he inquired among the villagers, a puzzling reality emerged. The mention of these potions drew blank looks, confusion etching the faces of those he questioned.

Perplexity furrowed Kai's brow. It seemed inconceivable that such commonly known remedies would be unfamiliar to the people of Konoha. It seems like he had recognised it by now. It was likely that he was no longer in the world he once existed in.

Before he could delve deeper into this upsetting realization, his senses tingled with a shift in the atmosphere. Murmurs and gestures echoed around him, catching his attention like a sudden gust of wind.

He turned, eyes widening as he realized that all eyes were on him. Pointing fingers and the presence of shinobi behind him ignited a surge of urgency within him. Immediately, his legs propelled into a frantic sprint. His goal was simple – reach a hidden corner where there would be a gap in the Shinobi's vision

Kai's breath came in hurried gasps as he darted through the labyrinthine alleys. His every step was a heartbeat in the rhythm of escape. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he found it, the perfect spot – a concealed blind spot that could serve as his lifeline.

In the blink of an eye, Kai's form dissolved into the surroundings. The chameleon's gift enveloped him, rendering him invisible to the naked eye. As the Shinobi took the same turn, they were all perplexed. With but a tiny margin of time, they immediately fanned out in search of their intruder.

Yet, just as Kai thought he was safe, a single figure just barely arrived at the scene. Time seemed to slow as their gazes locked. It was a shinobi of white hair whose single visible eye radiated an air of quiet intensity.

Kai's heart raced as he attempted to slip past the vigilant shinobi.

'There was no way he could see me right?' Kai wondered.

But in an instant, a fist lanced through the air, a calculated strike aimed at his very core. The blow was swift, a clear showing of the shinobi's mastery and awareness. Kai's evasion faltered, his Ant physical strength barely saving him from the full impact of the strike.

The moment hung in the air like a suspended breath. Kai's gaze met the eye of the shinobi before him, a single glance that held a world of unspoken recognition. The white-haired man was no ordinary shinobi – his eye bore the infamous Sharingan, the eyes feared by many.

It was Kakashi, a name whispered in reverence among shinobi and villagers alike.

Kakashi's voice, laced with intrigue, drifted through the air, intertwining with the tension that gripped Kai's senses. The weight of those words settled heavily, echoing the gravity of the situation that had unfolded. "What an interesting ability you have there."

Kai's throat tightened, a nervous gulp erupted in him. He stood before Kakashi, a man he deemed as dangerous. Unbeknownst to him, the significance of Kakashi's Sharingan eye remained unknown, Kai focused on the mysterious pattern in the eye.

Their gazes locked as the intricacies of the Sharingan were lost on Kai, his focus singular as he sought to find the best way to deal with this situation.

Yet at this time, an unexpected torrent swept through his consciousness. Reality warped and twisted, ensnaring his senses in a relentless cycle of betrayal. Within the clutches of a genjutsu, the scene of his friend's betrayal replayed with haunting persistence.

Agony clawed at Kai's mind, the lines between reality and illusion blurring. Time stretched, a suffocating cycle that seemed to have no end. Yet in a few moments, a spark of recognition popped in Kai's head – With a surge of willpower, Kai's voice cut through the maelstrom of illusion. "This is an illusion," he proclaimed, his words a lifeline to end his suffering. Drawing from a well of determination, he plunged into action. His own ability became his weapon, a means to break the chains that bound his consciousness. He recalled a monster he fought in his previous life that had a similar ability. The best way to deal with this was to hurt himself so badly that he woke up from the illusion.

The sensation was surreal as he drove the blade into his own body, the pain searing and damage was clear. However, the illusion wavered, reality asserting its dominance as Kai fought to reclaim his senses. With a gasp, he emerged from the depths of the genjutsu, his breath ragged as he found himself once again in the tangible realm.

Kai's instincts flared, his body moving on instinct as he kicked Kakashi away right when Kakashi was merely centimetres in front of him. The distance that separated them was his lifeline, a fleeting chance to regain his bearings and run to safety. With determination etched across his features, Kai's feet carried him through Konoha's streets once more, his heart pounding a rhythm of escape as he climbed back the tall wall in disguise.

The forest welcomed him back, its embrace a familiar sanctuary. Panting and disoriented, Kai sought solace within the confines of the trees, his breath a reminder of the very real pain he had endured within the illusion.