(Pakura POV)
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After finishing my meal, I headed to the training ground to practice the jutsu the Patriarch had given me as a reward for my success in the Chunin Exam.
Unraveling the scroll, I began practicing our clan's foundational signature jutsu, Scorch Release: Flame Orb.
Although it is classified as a C-rank jutsu, it serves as the basis for many of our clan's techniques. Mastering this jutsu is crucial, as it brings me closer to learning more advanced B and even A-rank jutsu.
Excited by the privilege of learning such an important jutsu, I eagerly started to comprehend its basics.
The first step required me to channel both Fire and Wind chakra into one of my palms.
The ratio of these chakras had to be extremely precise, accurate to three decimal places, or else the jutsu would fail, according to the scroll.
'If that's all it takes, why couldn't anyone else do it?' I wondered briefly before dismissing the thought, confident that only our clan knew these specific details.
Focusing both Fire and Wind chakra into my right palm, I watched as hints of red and green chakra began to appear.
Next, I needed to mix them slowly and steadily.
"Agh," I groaned as my hand burned from a mishap.
Forming a fist with my right hand, I tried to suppress the pain.
'Let's try again.'
Bringing both Fire and Wind chakra into my right palm once more, I began mixing them more cautiously this time.
Last time, I had been too excited and lost control, causing the chakras to combust.
The nature of Fire and Wind chakra is such that Wind chakra quickly decomposes in the presence of Fire chakra, intensifying and increasing the potency of the fire.
This time, I was determined to get it ri—
'Why is there a sandstorm all of a sudden?' I thought, canceling the chakra in my palm. Quickly, I covered my teary eyes and ran to Miss Hiyori's house nearby, joining the other children who were practicing there.
As we gathered in her house and washed our faces to clear out the sand from our eyes and faces, Miss Hiyori commented, "It's pretty rare for sandstorms of this intensity to happen out of the blue," sounding confused as she peered outside.
I nodded in agreement, remembering how difficult it was to see anything outside. Unlike other sandstorms, this one had nearly blinded us.
As she continued gazing out the window, her expression grew stern.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice tinged with hostility, directed at a man approaching the house who seemed to blend with the shadows.
Upon entering, he bowed in greeting.
"Apologies for the intrusion. Lord Ebizo sent me to inquire whether the Ryuka clan could send one of their stronger members, if any have recovered. We have intelligence that Kumogakure shinobi have entered the Land of Wind and are targeting the One-Tail Jinchuriki. We need reinforcements to fend them off."
As he finished speaking, Miss Hiyori's tense posture relaxed slightly, though her fists remained clenched.
'Why is she so hostile? He didn't say anything wrong…'
Still, his voice struck me as odd—barren, dry, and empty.
The only visible feature was the mask worn by the Anbu of our village.
"I apologize for the inconvenience on behalf of my clan, but most of us are still recovering from the poison. We can't go right now," she replied with a mournful tone.
"I see. Quite a disappointment, but I should have expected it," the man lamented.
Miss Hiyori's eyes never left him, remaining vigilant as she discreetly gripped a kunai in her hand.
"I guess I should get going now," the man chuckled before turning to leave.
His voice continued to unsettle me; it felt off, and his laugh seemed so unnatural. Miss Hiyori's apology had seemed genuine, even though it wasn't.
She appeared surprised that he was leaving despite the sandstorm, but she didn't voice this, perhaps preferring he depart.
"Go back with the others; I am coming right back," she told me, her eyes fixed intently on something beyond the door.
"What happened?" I asked, puzzled by the tension in her voice and the seriousness in her stance.
"You can say my… shinobi sense…is alerting me," she replied cryptically, gently pushing me to leave the living room.
Reluctantly, I headed towards the kitchen to rejoin the others. As I entered the darkened space, I realized I was alone.
The usual chatter, often directed at me with a mix of annoyance and teasing, was absent.
The subtle, jealous glances they tried to hide were nowhere to be seen.
The room was completely empty.
'Where did they go?' I wondered, feeling a growing sense of unease. I lit a small flame on my left palm to see better and began my search.
They couldn't have gone far, I assured myself.
Yet, after checking all the nearby rooms and even going upstairs, there was no sign of them.
It was as if they had vanished into thin air.
"They must have gone outside," I muttered in frustration and turned to inform Miss Hiyori.
She would definitely reprimand them for their recklessness.
Being young doesn't give them the right to cause unnecessary worry, especially not during a sandstorm that had nearly blinded us moments ago.
As I returned to the living room, a faint metallic scent reached my nose, sending a shiver down my spine and making me dizzy.
'That's blood!'
"Took you long enough," a distant voice echoed through the room.
That voice… It was unmistakable.
The voice of that man!
"Where is everyone?!" I demanded, my mind racing to connect the dots between his presence, Miss Hiyori's wariness, the others' disappearance, and the scent of blood.
Too many coincidences can not be called coincidences if it happens in too short a time.
"They have been sent to be better utilized," he said calmly, his footsteps drawing nearer from behind me.
"Wind Release: Wind Bullet!" I quickly fired as I finished weaving the hand signs. A rush of air shot towards my opponent with lethal speed.
'Wait, he dodged just like that!' I stared at him in horror as he moved effortlessly before my jutsu could hit him. His agility was astounding, far beyond anything I had ever witnessed at such close range.
I had never seen someone move so fast at such close range. My mind raced, trying to comprehend his incredible speed. Panic set in as I realized the dire situation I was in. There was no way I could escape now, especially not leaving everyone behind.
"I don't mind if you resist," he sighed. In an instant, a cloth clamped over my mouth while my left arm twisted painfully. The grip was ironclad, and I struggled futilely against it.
'It must be him,' I was sure of it as I struggled to get free from his grip. This reminded me of so many terrifying stories about kidnapping and trafficking heard from my clan adults as cautionary tales. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the gravity of the situation I was in.
I tried my best not to breathe in, confident the cloth had something in it…but for how long? I needed to act fast.
I am confident this man is no match to Mr Kaen, brother Enji and Ena-sensei, let alone our Patriarch, but how long before an adult arrives to save us? The thought was bleak. The others had no idea what was happening to us as they sheltered themselves from the sandstorm. By the time help arrived…..it would be too late.
'Then this is my last shot.' Desperation fueled my resolve. I summoned both Fire and Wind chakra into my right palm, mixing them to create the potent 'scorch' chakra needed for my jutsu.
I knew the chances of success were slim, but I had to try.
However, I accidentally breathed in and was now being affected by the chemical. My vision is blurred, and my limbs feel heavy.
'NOOOOO!!' I screamed internally as the world started to fade.
Despite my diminishing consciousness, I forced myself to concentrate.
I knew I was running out of time, but I wouldn't give up.
I am a shinobi like my deceased parents.
Their will and courage flowed through me.
I would fight to the bitter end, even on my deathbed!
So I kept concentrating, pulling myself from the trance as long as I could until the Fire and Wind chakra finally stabilized in my right palm, and I understood what to do next. With a surge of determination, I unleashed my last gambit.
'Scorch Release: Flame Orb!' The fiery orb formed and I thrust it into the man's abdomen from behind. It expanded briefly before imploding, releasing a burst of scorching energy.
As I felt my left hand be freed from his grip and the hand that grabbed my mouth no longer present, I sighed in rel—
"Pretty impressive," he said, standing in front of me…unharmed! My heart sank.
How could he still be standing?!
"H-How?!" I cried out, feeling the horror in front of me. His calm demeanor was terrifying.
"Did you reallt think I wouldn't have realized by now?" he whispered in my ear as I fell to the ground, the weight of my body no longer responding to me. My strength was gone, and darkness enveloped me.
'No…' I cried out for the last time as my consciousness stopped working. The world faded away, and I was left in a void of despair.
…
..
.
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Author's Note:· I was busy with classes and assignments, so I couldn't find time to write until now. Anyway, I finally published this chapter.
·What is your opinion of this chapter? Were the horror elements satisfactory, or were they too subtle to feel like true horror? Initially, the chapter was supposed to be in Akio's POV, but it felt out of place. Instead, I considered writing it from Pakura's POV, which felt better and more interesting (at least for me).