The sun had dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows through the dense forest as Ei and her team moved quietly toward their target. This mission was no longer training; it was their first real challenge as shinobi. Their task: eliminate a rogue Chūnin from Amegakure who had stolen important information and crossed into the Land of Lightning. The scroll in his possession contained sensitive intel, and their job was to retrieve it at all costs.
Ei glanced back at her team. Yugito, with her mismatched eyes—one a deep, unsettling black, the other split between blue and yellow with slitted pupils like Matatabi's—led the way, her sharp senses alert. Samui's hand hovered near the hilt of her sword, ready for action at any moment. Mabui, the strategist, walked behind them, her eyes scanning the surroundings as she mulled over potential strategies.
They had been training together for a year now, and each of them had grown stronger in their own way. Yugito's heightened senses, a gift from Matatabi, had developed into something remarkable. Today, she wasn't relying on chakra sensing. Instead, she was tracking their target by scent.
"I smell him," Yugito said softly, inhaling deeply. "Blood and sweat—he's injured, but the scent is fresh. He's close, maybe by the river."
Ei nodded, her violet eyes narrowing. "Good. Let's be cautious. He might have set traps."
Mabui, ever thoughtful, considered the idea of learning a sensing technique to complement her tactical mind. She had been developing her lightning and wind jutsu, and the idea of eventually creating a space-time jutsu had been lingering in her thoughts. But for now, she was focused on supporting the team.
"If I knew a sensing technique, we could pinpoint him and avoid any traps," Mabui said quietly, almost to herself. "I'll work on that after this mission."
"You'll get there," Ei responded, keeping her voice low as they moved closer. "Focus on the basics first. Lightning and wind chakra are your strengths for now. Develop those, then we'll see about the rest."
They neared the river, the sound of rushing water masking their movements. Yugito stopped, her eyes scanning the dense brush ahead. "He's hiding near the bank. His scent is strongest there."
Ei nodded, signaling for them to stay low. The rogue Chūnin had picked a good spot, using the natural sound of the river to cover his movements. But he had underestimated the keen senses of a Jinchūriki.
"Yugito, flush him out with your flames," Ei ordered quietly. "Samui, be ready. Mabui, keep an eye out for any traps."
Yugito grinned, the power of Matatabi flickering to life in her hands as blue flames crackled in her palms. With a swift motion, she sent the flames roaring through the underbrush, scorching the ground and forcing their target out of hiding.
The rogue ninja leaped from the flames, landing heavily on the ground with a curse. His breathing was ragged, his face twisted in pain as he clutched a bloodied wound on his side. But even injured, he moved quickly, forming hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" he shouted, summoning a torrent of water from the river to douse the flames.
Samui dashed forward, her blade slicing through the water as if it were air. She was fast, her swordsmanship precise, cutting through the rogue's jutsu before it could fully form. The rogue Chūnin stumbled back, trying to retreat, but Samui pressed her advantage, her strikes swift and relentless.
Ei's violet eyes gleamed with cold determination as she activated her Lightning Chakra Mode, her body crackling with electricity. In an instant, she was beside the rogue, her wakizashi drawn and humming with lethal intent.
The rogue ninja froze, realizing how outmatched he was. Blood dripped from the cut Samui had inflicted, and he was breathing heavily. He looked at Ei, hatred and fear swirling in his eyes.
"Hand over the scroll," Ei demanded, her voice like thunder in the silent forest.
The rogue sneered, but his options were gone. With a shaky hand, he pulled the scroll from his pouch and threw it at her feet. "Take it," he spat, his voice filled with venom. "But don't think this changes anything. You're all still—"
He never got to finish his sentence.
With a single, swift motion, Ei slashed her wakizashi through the air. Her blade cut cleanly through his neck, and the rogue's head rolled to the ground with a sickening thud. His body crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap, blood pooling around him as the last vestiges of life drained away.
Samui wiped the blood from her blade, her expression unreadable. Yugito, still glowing with Matatabi's power, watched silently as Ei sheathed her wakizashi, her face calm, but her eyes cold.
Mabui glanced at the rogue's body, then back at Ei. "Was that necessary?" she asked, her tone neutral but curious.
Ei didn't flinch. "He was a threat as long as he was alive. We don't leave threats behind."
The forest was eerily quiet now, the rushing of the river the only sound. Their mission was complete, and they had retrieved the scroll. Ei felt the weight of leadership settle on her shoulders again. She had made the decision, and there was no room for second-guessing.
"Let's head back," she said, her voice steady. "We've got what we came for."
The others nodded, falling in line behind her as they began the trek back to Kumogakure. Their first mission had been a success, but it was also a reminder of the harsh reality they now lived in.
Ei walked ahead, her thoughts already moving beyond the mission. She had proven herself as a leader today, but there was still much more to do. Their path as shinobi had only just begun, and the challenges would only get harder from here.
As they walked, Mabui's mind turned back to her earlier thoughts. The idea of learning a sensing technique seemed even more important now. She would start working on it as soon as they returned.
Yugito's eyes, one blue, one yellow, flickered with the remnants of Matatabi's power as she kept an eye on their surroundings. Samui's hand rested on her sword, her body tense but calm.
Ei led the way, her eyes fixed ahead, her thoughts on the future. She had killed without hesitation today, and she would do it again if necessary. In Kumogakure, strength ruled—and she would be the strongest.
End of Chapter 13.