AN: point out any mistakes in this chapter
Shiba's POV
When we finally arrived at the Valley of Hell, I could see why they called it that. The place was a wasteland—cracked, barren ground surrounded by towering cliffs that trapped the heat in like a furnace. The village the Chinoike lived in wasn't much better. It was run-down, the homes crumbling from neglect, and the people looked like they were hanging on by a thread. They were alive, sure, but just barely.
As we walked through the village, I could see the way the Chinoike looked at us—suspicious, wary but curious. They weren't used to seeing outsiders, especially not ones that looked as normal as we did. They didn't know what to make of us. And frankly, I didn't blame them, I mean any sane person would think twice before going to the valley of hell.
The living conditions were worse than I imagined. It was like they were living in a graveyard, waiting for death to come for them. But that was exactly what boosted my confidence. These people? They were desperate. They had nothing left to lose. And if I could offer them a way out, a better life in Suna, I was certain they'd take it.
We reached what seemed to be the center of the village, and I looked around. "This is it?" I muttered to myself. "This is what they've been stuck with?"
Erza glanced at me. "You think you can convince them to leave?"
I grinned, my confidence bubbling over. "Hell yeah. After living in this place? Who wouldn't want to get out?"
Zoro smirked. "Just make sure you don't say anything stupid that might get us killed, Cap'n."
We found ourselves in front of what looked like the village leader's house—or, what was left of it. The door creaked open, and a man stepped out. His hair was graying, his eyes sunken, but there was a sharpness in them that told me he wasn't someone to mess with.
"You're not from here," the man said, his voice low and gravelly. "What do you want?"
I stepped forward, offering a respectful nod. "You're right, we're not. We're from the Land of Wind. My name is Shiba Mhoraga, and these are my comrades, the redhead is Erza Scarlet, and the green one is Roronoa Zoro. We've come to offer your clan something better than this… place."
The man's weathered face remained unreadable, but his eyes held a sharp suspicion. "You talk big for someone we've never seen before. Why should we trust you, boy? Outsiders have promised us many things, and all we've gotten is more suffering. What makes this 'Land of Wind' any different?"
I could feel Erza and Zoro standing behind me, their hand in their weapons just in case the leader crashes out, but this was on me. I took a breath, my mind racing. I had to approach this delicately. The Chinoike weren't just looking for survival—they needed something more. Something that went beyond the material.
"You're right," I said, meeting his gaze head-on. "Outsiders have failed you. I'm not here to sugarcoat the truth or sell you on false promises. The Land of Wind is harsh, unforgiving—just like this place." I gestured to the barren land around us. "But unlike here, I'm building something sustainable. Suna isn't just a village anymore. It's a foundation—a future for people like you who have been cast aside, and forgotten. A place where your strength isn't just tolerated but needed."
The man's gaze faltered for a moment, but he quickly caught himself. "And what would Suna do with us? Treat us as mercenaries? Or worse, as tools like we've been used before? We've been through that cycle too many times."
I shook my head. "That's not what I'm offering. You've been hidden away here, stuck in this wasteland because of fear—fear of your power, your potential. But in Suna, we embrace strength. I don't need more pawns; I need partners. Your clan's dojutsu the Ketsuryūgan—it's not just some parlor trick. It's a power that can shape the battlefield, that can rival even the Uchiha. I won't lie to you and say there won't be challenges. But I'm offering a chance for your clan to reclaim its former glory—not as weapons, but as allies. You'd have the freedom to grow, to thrive, and to contribute to something greater."
The man's brow furrowed as he considered my words. "And what if we refuse? What then?"
I kept my voice steady. "Then you stay here, in the Valley of Hell, watching your people slowly fade away. But know this: the world is changing, and war is on the horizon. If you stay here, you'll be left behind, and the Chinoike's legacy will be lost. I'm not threatening you, I'm giving you an opportunity."
For a moment, no one spoke. The tension in the air was thick, but I could see it—the slight flicker of doubt in his eyes. He wasn't fully convinced, but I'd planted the seed of hope.
Finally, he sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired face. "You speak with conviction, I'll give you that. But words are cheap. The clan won't just follow a stranger's promise. You'll need to speak to them yourself. Convince the elders, the warriors… my daughter."
His last words caught me off guard. "Your daughter?"
He nodded. "Kijo. She's one of the strongest in our clan and our leader-in-waiting. If you can sway her, you might have a chance."
I glanced at Erza, who gave a small nod of reassurance. Zoro, arms crossed, looked unimpressed but ready for whatever came next. I turned back to the man.
"Where can I find her?"
"She's in the central cavern," he said, pointing deeper into the valley. "But be warned—she's not easily persuaded. She's fiercely loyal to our people and has little patience for outsiders. If you go in there, be ready to prove yourself."
I smirked. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
With that, the man stepped aside, allowing us to pass. As we made our way toward the cavern, I could feel the weight of what was coming. Winning over a skeptical leader was one thing. Convincing an entire clan and their strongest warrior to follow me? That was a whole other challenge. But if there was one thing I'd learned in this world, it was that nothing worth having came easy.
[at the cave]
As we ventured deeper into the Valley of Hell, the landscape shifted. Craggy cliffs and jagged rocks surrounded us, with the ground beneath our feet cracked and dry. The central cavern came into view—an imposing structure carved into the mountainside, its entrance wide and dark like a yawning abyss.
I could hear the faint sound of movement before I saw her. The moment we stepped closer, I caught sight of Kijo. She was in the middle of a large, open area just outside the cavern entrance, shadow-fighting with intense focus. Her movements were fluid and graceful, but sharp and purposeful, each strike precise as if hitting invisible targets. Her crimson eyes—the infamous Ketsuryūgan—glowed faintly in the dim light, and with each swift motion, the air around her seemed to pulse with energy.
For a moment, I just watched, gauging her strength. There was no denying it—Kijo was skilled. Every strike she delivered weighted it, and the way she moved, seamlessly blending hand-to-hand combat with weapon use, told me she was no ordinary fighter. Her reputation as one of the strongest in the Chinoike clan was well-earned.
Eventually, she noticed us. Stopping mid-movement, she straightened up and turned toward me, her eyes narrowing. "You're the outsider," she said, voice calm but laced with a hint of suspicion. "The one who wants to move us to the Land of Wind."
I nodded, stepping forward with confidence. "I'm Shiba mahoraga. And you must be Kijo Chinoike."
She didn't respond immediately, her eyes scanning me like she was trying to read every intention I had. After a few tense moments, she spoke again. "You think you can convince my people to leave the Valley of Hell? It's not the first time someone has come here with grand ideas, only to fail."
"I'm not here to sell you on false promises," I replied, keeping my tone steady. "I'm here to offer your clan a chance—an opportunity to rebuild, to thrive. Suna can give the Chinoike the future they deserve. I understand that if I want your approval, I'll have to earn it."
Kijo raised her eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And how do you plan on earning it?"
"I heard you're one of the strongest warriors in your clan," I said, taking a step closer. "I'm willing to prove myself. Do you want to see if I'm serious? Test me."
A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, and she folded her arms across her chest. "Test you? You realize what you're asking, don't you? If I fight you, it won't be for show. If you lose, you leave this valley and forget this idea of migration. You'll be proving yourself to me in more ways than one."
I didn't hesitate. "I'm ready."
Kijo's eyes gleamed with something between amusement and respect. "Very well. Let's see if you're as capable as you claim."
Without warning, Kijo moved, closing the distance between us in an instant. Her hand shot out, aiming for my chest, but I barely had time to block with my forearm. The force of the blow sent a jolt through my arm, and I quickly realized she wasn't holding back she was going all out. She was fast, and her strikes were heavy.
I retaliated with a sweeping kick, aiming low to knock her off balance. She leaped backward effortlessly, her crimson eyes locking onto mine as she activated her Ketsuryūgan. The air around us seemed to hum with tension as her eyes glowed with an eerie red light. I felt a sudden weight in my limbs—a subtle pressure that made it harder to move.
"The Ketsuryūgan allows me to manipulate the iron in your blood," Kijo said, her voice calm. "You'll find it difficult to move freely under its influence."
I gritted my teeth. That was a nasty ability. My movements were slowed, like I was wading through thick water, but I wasn't out of the fight yet.
Quickly, I formed a hand seal. " druid Wind Style: nature Gale Palm!" A burst of wind shot out from my hands, aiming to disrupt her balance. Kijo twisted her body, narrowly dodging the gust as she charged forward again, this time with a kunai in hand. She slashed at me, but I deflected the blow with my katana, the clash of metal ringing out.
I knew I couldn't fight her on speed alone, so I had to switch up my strategy. I focused my chakra, enhancing my physical strength, and swung my sword in a wide arc. Kijo blocked with her kunai, but the force of the blow made her skid back, her feet digging into the dirt.
She smirked. "Not bad."
With a flick of her wrist, she launched several shuriken at me. I dodged two, deflecting the third with my blade, but as I moved to counter, Kijo made a series of quick hand seals.
"Water Style: Blood Mist!" she called, and suddenly, a thick, crimson mist enveloped the battlefield. The air became heavy with the metallic scent of blood, and I could barely see a foot in front of me.
I kept my senses sharp, knowing she was trying to obscure my vision. As I focused on listening to her movements using my druid ability— movement in air rapidly moving. Instinctively, I ducked, just as Kijo's kunai sliced through the air.
I swung my sword in retaliation, but Kijo was already gone, her figure disappearing into the mist—it was a game of cat and mouse, and Kijo was using every advantage her Ketsuryūgan gave her.
I needed to change the battlefield. With a deep breath, I slammed my hand onto the ground.
"Druid Earth Style: Rising Stone Spears!"
The ground around us erupted with jagged stone spikes, piercing through the mist and forcing Kijo to retreat. The blood mist began to dissipate, revealing Kijo crouched on one of the stone spires, her eyes still glowing.
"You're resourceful," she admitted, standing to her full height. "But this isn't over."
She made another set of hand seals, her chakra flaring. "Blood Dragon Jutsu!"
A serpentine dragon made entirely of blood and water burst forth from her hands, roaring as it lunged toward me. I had to think fast. I formed another set of seals.
"Druid Wind Style: hurricane Breakthrough!"
I unleashed a powerful blast of wind, colliding with the blood dragon mid-air. The two forces clashed violently, but Kijo's jutsu held strong, inching closer despite my wind's resistance.
Damn, she was strong.
Realizing the wind wouldn't be enough, I quickly drew my katana, channeling chakra into the blade. As the blood dragon neared, I leaped into the air, bringing my sword down in a powerful slash.
"Dragon Slash!"
My blade cleaved through the blood dragon, dispersing the jutsu in an explosion of red mist. I landed lightly on my feet, breathing hard but focused.
Kijo landed across from me, her expression unreadable. For a moment, we just stared at each other, both of us exhausted but neither willing to give up. Finally, she broke the silence.
"You've proven your point," she said, her eyes dimming as she deactivated the Ketsuryūgan. "You're strong. Stronger than most I've met."
I sheathed my katana, wiping the sweat from my brow. "Does that mean you'll consider my offer?"
Kijo studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "I'll speak to the elders. If they agree, we'll join you in Suna."
A wave of relief washed over me, but I didn't let it show.
AN: more power stones