(POV: Mysterious Narrator)
Somewhere hidden, Tenmei observed Mirla and Akuma, who were searching for him with evident frustration. He decided to buy some time to recover part of his chakra but also wanted to test them, curious to see how far they were willing to wait.
"Perhaps now I can glimpse more of their true personalities," he thought, his eyes half-closed, evaluating every movement. "I can sense cruelty in one of them, driven by hidden motives... Akuma, in my eyes, harbors a deep desire for control. Unfortunately, he chose to wear the mask of a reckless and impulsive fool."
Tenmei wondered, "Who is he hiding from? Some elite jōnin? Or perhaps... the Hokage himself?" The thought amused him. "The Uchiha clan really is a nest of peculiar personalities, each with a unique individuality."
With an enigmatic smile curling his lips, Tenmei leaned back slightly, as if savoring the moment. Since being reborn into this world, everything he saw fascinated him. The complexity of human nature presented itself in such diverse ways that he could hardly contain his delight.
In these past five years, ever since the day he opened his eyes to this new existence, he had found pleasure in simply observing others. When he was younger, he remained silent, uttering few words. Not out of shyness, but to conceal his true peculiarity. Fortunately, in this world, children were forced to mature early, and he knew how to use that to his advantage.
Suddenly, a wave of memories washed over his mind—his shadow clone was dead... 'Smile,' well done, little girl. You've fulfilled the role I gave you.
Now, almost all the pieces were in place. Kakashi must have met Haruto and would soon be on his way. This battle had already gone on too long.
"Alright, it's time to begin the final act of this beautiful play."
(POV: Kakashi Hatake)
Choices, huh...? I should ask him about that the next time we meet. Anyway, it's time to head back. A bath will feel great after this training.
Tenmei... The merchant described him as peculiar. He sees curiosity in war...? Perhaps his dream is to become a great ninja too.
Hm...? Someone is approaching. The footsteps are unfamiliar... Wait. That peculiar way of moving... It's Tenmei.
"Hey, Kakashi. Collecting stones again? How far do you plan to fall if you keep at it?" Tenmei asked in an amused tone.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, keeping a neutral expression.
"Still trying to be mysterious? What do you want?" he murmured, his voice calm but curious, as if observing from a distance.
"Oh, don't be like that... Want to play a game?" Tenmei smiled mischievously. "You've been well-trained. I'm in a battle right now. How about testing your classmates with me?"
Kakashi blinked, slightly surprised. "Testing my classmates...? Wait..." He noticed the instability in Tenmei's form.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu...? Your chakra is depleting."
"Oh, right! I almost forgot. Head to the forest to the northwest. You'll find one of my friends there. It's two against three. With your help, it'll be quite the show. Hehe! Believe me, you won't regret it."
Before Kakashi could respond, Tenmei vanished in a puff of smoke.
Kakashi remained still for a moment, pondering.
"Always complicating things..." he muttered to himself.
A subtle smile formed beneath his mask. "Let's see how this plays out."
(POV: Haruto)
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed through the forest, and my heart tightened. I couldn't help but worry. I know Tenmei is strong, but he seemed exhausted when we met a while ago. His chakra was low... I can't waste any more time!
Hm? Someone's approaching—too fast to be a regular villager. Who could it be? This is the direction Tenmei mentioned the reinforcements would come from. Great! Finally, we can fall back... but something still feels unsettling.
"Hey, kid, are you one of Tenmei's friends?" said the figure that appeared before me, not introducing himself.
"Ah! The reinforcements!" I said, somewhat relieved. "Glad you made it! I'm Haruto! We need to move quickly. I heard an explosion! Tenmei is fighting three of them alone, and he wasn't in good shape... We have to help him now!"
The man tilted his head slightly, analyzing the situation with experienced eyes. His tone remained relaxed, as if danger didn't faze him.
"So, he decided to stay behind, huh? Alright, let's see what he's scheming."
Without hesitation, I clenched my fists.
"Yoshi! Let's save Tenmei!" I tried to sound enthusiastic, but I couldn't hide the concern tightening my chest.
(POV: Mysterious Narrator)
Hidden in the shadows, Tenmei launched six shuriken in complex trajectories. Each described an unusual angle, designed to confuse his enemies. Time was running out... there was no more waiting. He decided: he would face all three alone.
"I'll keep these guys occupied long enough..."
Meanwhile, Merlin, one of the opponents, had already regrouped with the other two. The pieces were finally in position.
"It's time for the real show to begin."
Akuma was furious. His subordinates had failed miserably—unable to stop a group of children. A sharp sound of a projectile cutting through the air broke the silence, heading toward him from an unexpected angle, targeting a blind spot behind his head.
His sharp instincts kicked in before his mind could process the attack.
"Tsk... That rat finally shows his face."
With an agile move, he drew his kunai in a fluid gesture. There was no time for hand seals or elaborate jutsus—only pure reaction and skill. He spun his body precisely, slightly altering the projectile's trajectory, then deflected it with a quick strike from his kunai, effortlessly redirecting the threat.
A brief, sarcastic smile appeared on his face.
"It doesn't have to be pretty; I just need to survive..."
Unnoticed, a silent shuriken advanced toward the blind spot created by his movement. Mirla, beside him, quickly drew her sword, ready to intercept it. However, another shuriken struck the first, shifting its angle with calculated precision.
Akuma, eyes wide and cold sweat trickling down his forehead, realized the new trajectory now aimed at his exposed heart. At the same time, Mirla found herself under threat, with another shuriken targeting her right eye.
"Ki o tsukete! (Watch out!)" shouted Merlin, saving Akuma and Mirla.
"He's no ordinary opponent..." she murmured, scanning the area for Tenmei's hiding spot.
As Merlin intervened, a blade unexpectedly grazed her combat attire. Designed to withstand impact, her clothes absorbed most of the damage, but a faint red scratch appeared on her back, causing her pupils to contract.
What truly alarmed her was seeing three shuriken collide in front of her, one of them redirected precisely toward the center of her forehead.
Akuma, overwhelmed from all sides, felt his mind falter briefly. He almost lost the composure he clung to, but in a split second, he reacted with a quick hand seal:
"Shunshin no Jutsu!"
In an instant, he appeared in front of Merlin, intercepting the shuriken just in time. A thin cut appeared on his face, leaving Akuma stunned. He had never been forced to react so quickly in his life.
Mirla blocked the second blade aimed at Merlin's back, holding her sword firmly. The situation grew critical within seconds; with just a few attacks, the three were already surrounded, exposing Tenmei's precise control over the battle.
"Too bad... It was almost fatal," Tenmei remarked, with an empty smile and cold eyes.
He stepped back a few paces, adjusting his position, ready to strike again.
"Focus, everyone. If we advance together, we have a chance," said Merlin, her cautious voice still feeling the sting of the wound on her back. The attack had been relentless, but she couldn't afford to get distracted now.
"Oh, come now, little leaves. The weather is so fresh today... I can even feel signs of rain coming, haha," said Tenmei with a carefree smile, his tone slightly provocative, as if the battle wasn't his biggest concern.
"That guy is clearly taunting us," muttered Akuma, irritated, but containing his frustration this time. He clenched his fists, recalling the danger he had just witnessed. He couldn't act recklessly anymore.
With a swift hand seal, Tenmei intertwined his fingers in quick succession: Tiger, Snake, Horse.
"Suiton, Daiha no Jutsu."
A powerful jet of water emerged, expanding like a tidal wave, typical of water-style techniques.
Without hesitation, Merlin swiftly performed the Ox and Snake seals, concentrating her chakra to raise a solid defense.
"Doton, Dorokabe no Jutsu," she exclaimed as a mud wall rose in front of her.
Akuma formed the Monkey and Tiger seals with quick precision, gathering his fiery chakra.
"Katon, Hōsenka no Jutsu!" he shouted, launching flaming projectiles that streaked through the air toward Tenmei.
Meanwhile, Mirla moved silently through the shadows, circling the battle. Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the combined attacks, she slipped behind Tenmei, ready for a lethal strike.
Tenmei's eyes scanned the battlefield rapidly, analyzing the situation with surreal precision. He knew he was at a disadvantage—his chakra was running low, and he wouldn't be able to cast many more jutsus.
Suddenly, a cold blade pierced his chest. Mirla, precise and deadly, had completed her move.
"It was only a matter of time," she murmured, a faint cold smile on her lips.
However, what she received in response was an enigmatic, provocative smile from Tenmei.
"Oh yes... I should say something like, 'Oh, what pain. I'm dying,'" he said theatrically, without any emotion in his eyes, as if the situation didn't affect him.
With a sudden clap, he sighed as if resigned. Snapping his fingers, he spoke with unsettling smoothness:
"Well, friends, I've run out of chakra. Time to wake up."
In an instant, the scene before Merlin, Mirla, and Akuma began to distort. Cold sweat trickled down their foreheads as they realized the truth.
It had all been an illusion.
"What a terrifying skill," they thought. "A deceptively simple yet devastating genjutsu. He used hand seals and words to manipulate us without us realizing it. His real talent has always been the art of deception."
"Impossible. We were fooled like idiots the whole time," the three exclaimed in unison, frustration evident in their voices.
"Oh, don't be like that," Tenmei said with a light smile. "It was all real... in part, haha. I'm not strong enough to deceive all the time. I just made you see what you expected to see. But now that my chakra is gone, this is when things really get started."
Tenmei smiled as he saw two familiar figures approaching.
"Tenmei, are you alright? I brought reinforcements. You're not hurt, are you?" Haruto asked, worried, noticing that Tenmei only seemed slightly tired.
"Oh, Kakashi, Haruto. You've arrived at the perfect moment," Tenmei said with a smile, as if he were at the climax of a grand performance.
Kakashi stood still for a moment, evaluating the surroundings and observing the three opponents. With his keen gaze, he took in every detail.
"Still getting into trouble, huh, Tenmei?" Kakashi said in a calm tone, with a hint of controlled sarcasm.
Tenmei shrugged, his provocative smile never leaving his face.
"I told you, Kakashi. These three are good. What do you say? Break the monotony with a three-on-three battle."
Kakashi tilted his head slightly, thoughtful. The subtle glint in his eyes indicated that, despite his indifferent tone, he was mildly intrigued.
"Hm... This sounds interesting," he murmured, his voice calm and composed, but not hiding the faint pleasure at the imminent challenge. "But I hope you didn't use up all your chakra before we got to the fun part."