Hyuk stood alone in the chilling silence of the hideout, the remnants of Shijen's goons frozen in place, their desperate screams lost to the encroaching frost. The rogue ninja himself struggled against the icy prison enveloping him, shock and panic etched on his face.
"Let's end this," Hyuk said, his voice cold and unyielding as he stepped forward, his chakra surging in response to his fury. With a swift motion, he summoned jagged shards of ice, glinting menacingly in the dim light.
"You think you can just kill me?" Shijen yelled, his bravado fading as he glanced at the frozen bodies of his comrades. "You're just a kid!"
"I'm more than just a kid," Hyuk replied flatly, his eyes narrowing as he unleashed the ice shards. They flew forward like arrows, piercing through the air with deadly precision. One by one, the goons met their icy demise, their bodies shattering upon impact.
Shijen's confidence crumbled alongside his henchmen, the rogue ninja scrambling to maintain his composure. "No! I won't go down like this!" he shouted, desperation creeping into his voice as he prepared for a last-ditch effort.
But Hyuk was faster. He unleashed a torrent of icy energy that engulfed Shijen completely, sealing him in an unbreakable prison of frost. The rogue ninja's terrified screams faded into silence as he was encased, becoming just another frozen statue among the remains of his goons.
As the echoes of the battle faded, the door swung open, revealing Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke, along with the members of Team 8. They stepped into the room, their expressions shifting from shock to awe as they took in the scene—Hyuk standing amidst the chaos, cold fury radiating from him.
"Hyuk! Are you okay?" Kakashi called out, surveying the frozen remnants of Shijen's gang.
"Did you do all this?" Naruto stammered, his eyes wide as he took in the carnage.
"I did what was necessary," Hyuk replied coldly, his gaze hardening.
Kakashi stepped closer, studying Hyuk with a mix of admiration and concern. "You've awakened your Kekkei Genkai," he noted. "I didn't know you had Yuki clan blood."
Sasuke observed silently, a flicker of jealousy in his eyes as he took in the scene.
"Where's Hinata?" Hyuk demanded, his voice cutting through the tension.
Kakashi nodded. "We found Hinata and sent her back to the village. She's safe."
Hyuk's heart sank slightly, relief mingling with the intensity of the moment. He turned his attention to Reina and Sakura, who were recovering from their ordeal, visibly shaken.
"Are you both okay?" he asked, his voice still cold but laced with concern.
Reina looked up, her eyes wide with relief and fear. "We thought we were going to die," she admitted, her voice trembling.
Sakura nodded, still processing everything that had happened. "Hyuk, what was that power? You defeated them all so easily."
"It was instinct," Hyuk replied, his tone remaining cold. "I couldn't let them hurt you."
Kakashi glanced at the others, noting their expressions of disbelief. "We should get you back to the village. There's still a lot to discuss."
As they prepared to leave, Hyuk felt the weight of the recent events settle upon him. He had taken lives to protect those he cared about, and while the darkness had momentarily receded, he knew it was only a matter of time before it returned.
With a shared resolve, Team 7 exited the hideout, leaving behind the chilling memory of the battle. Hyuk's thoughts were consumed with the need to grow stronger, to ensure that he could protect Reina and Sakura, no matter the cost.