A few weeks had passed since Kūga and Reifū left the quiet solace of the hut.
Now, they found themselves walking through the steadily shifting landscape towards the Land of Wind.
With each step, the world around them seemed to transform. The lush forests gave way to sparse plains, and the air grew drier as the horizon stretched further, devoid of familiar greenery.
Kūga, though capable of soaring through the skies, had decided on traveling by foot. He wanted to teach Reifū about the value of endurance and the challenges of traversing unfamiliar terrain.
While he had trained her in combat and survival skills, including hunting and gathering, he had never exposed her to the rigors of a long journey.
As they trudged through the ever-changing landscape, Kūga shared stories of his past adventures, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in the face of adversity.
Kūga's fluttered in the desert breeze, the color catching the sunlight as his blue eyes remained focused on the path ahead.
Reifū couldn't help but glance over at him from time to time, admiring his confidence as he led the way, his steps unfaltering. She, however, was finding the terrain more difficult. The loose sand made her footing unsteady, each step taking more effort as the sun beat down on them mercilessly.
"What exactly are we after again?" Reifū asked, breaking the silence that had settled between them. Her voice was strained, as the heat made every breath feel heavy.
Kūga didn't look at her as he responded, his tone casual but his words sharp. "Yūji Tanaka. A notorious slave trader operating in these parts. Rumor has it he deals in more… unique merchandise."
Reifū's brow furrowed, the words turning her stomach. "Unique merchandise? You mean people?"
Kūga nodded, his expression darkening slightly. "Exactly. He's known for capturing and selling people with… quirks. Powers that stand out from the average slave. Some chakra users, others with abilities that even his clients can't fully understand. And that's why we're going after him."
"A man who sells people like cattle," she muttered, her voice thick with disdain. "Digusting."
Kūga nodded, his expression calm yet focused. "I know. But if there's even the slightest chance that someone in his possession is an Aether user, we need to investigate. It's not just about him—it's about the lives he's ruined."
Reifū's eyes narrowed as she trudged beside him. "And what if this Yūji is the one who's using Aether? You think he could be that powerful?"
Kūga shrugged, glancing ahead. "I doubt it. But if there's even a trace of Aether involved, we need to see it through. This is the first lead I've had in years." His voice softened as he looked at her. "And now I have you to help."
Reifū's gaze softened at his words, though her disgust for Yūji's actions remained clear. "I still can't believe people would willingly buy other people like they're some kind of rare collectible," she said bitterly.
"They do," Kūga said, his tone darkening. "And that's why people like Yūji thrive. The world has its dark corners, Reifū. It's not always something we can easily fix."
Reifū let out a frustrated breath but said nothing more, her eyes scanning the horizon ahead.
The sky above them had grown hazy as the sun began its slow descent, casting an amber hue over the desert sands.
They were approaching the border of the Land of Wind, where the wind picked up ferocity, howling over the dunes and carrying with it the smell of dry earth.
As they traveled further into the desert, they started to notice small signs of human activity.
A discarded wagon wheel half-buried in the sand, a tattered piece of cloth fluttering from a broken pole. Each sign marked the path they were following, leading them closer to Yūji's suspected hideout.
.
By the time they reached a distant, sand-swept village, the sun had nearly disappeared beneath the horizon, casting long shadows over the scattered buildings.
The village itself was a far cry from the thriving centers of power like Konoha or other major villages. Instead, it was a forgotten place.
Small, run down homes clustered together with cracked windows and roofs barely held together by dried mud and old timber.
The wind whistled between the buildings, sending loose grains of sand scattering across the stone streets.
Kūga and Reifū stopped just at the outskirts, surveying the scene from behind a rocky outcrop.
From their vantage point, they could see a large central building surrounded by tents and makeshift barricades.
Fires flickered in the distance, and the sound of distant laughter and chatter echoed through the village. There were at least a hundred men, most of them armed, some patrolling, others clustered around the fires.
"That must be where Yūji's holed up," Kūga said quietly, eyes narrowing as he scanned the area.
Reifū crouched beside him, her gaze sharp and focused. "And he's got an entire army of thugs to back him up," she muttered. "How do you want to handle this?"
Kūga's senses sharpened as he probed the area, his connection to Aether seeking out anything unusual.
That's when he felt it... a faint trace of something, just at the edges of his perception. It wasn't strong, but it was there, lingering like a whisper on the wind.
"There's definitely Aether here," Kūga confirmed, his voice low. "But I can't tell if it's coming from who."
Reifū's expression darkened. "So what's the plan? We take them all down?"
Kūga smirked, the usual playful glint in his eyes. "I want you to handle them first," he said, leaning back against the rock. "This will be a good test of everything you've learned."
Reifū shot him a skeptical look. "All of them? By myself?"
"Think of it as your final exam," Kūga replied, grinning mischievously. "Besides, I'll step in if things get too rough. Just don't get knocked out too quickly."
Reifū rolled her eyes, though a spark of excitement lit up her gaze. "Fine, but don't blame me if I end up not leaving some for you."
With that, Reifū stepped out from their hiding spot, her figure moving swiftly and silently through the shadows.
She approached the village cautiously, her movements precise and controlled.
The first group of thugs barely had time to react before Reifū struck, her body now infused with Aether as she unleashed a flurry of attacks, cutting through their defenses with swift, practiced movements.
.
Reifū moved like a ghost across the battlefield.
The moment she struck, her body blurred, enhanced by the Aether that coursed through her veins, coating her skin and blade in an almost translucent glow.
Her reflexes had sharpened over the past few months of intense training, and now, it was paying off.
The first opponent didn't even know what hit him.
Reifū's Aether-infused sword sliced through the air with a whistle, severing the man's weapon cleanly in half before plunging deep into his chest. She spun, her movements fluid and precise as she flowed into the next strike, disarming another thug in one swift motion.
Her speed was blinding, leaving her enemies scrambling to keep up.
A third came at her with a spear, his eyes wide in panic as he tried to stab her in the back. But Reifū had already anticipated the attack.
She twisted her body just enough to avoid the blow, her blade cutting upwards in a graceful arc that left the man clutching at the gaping wound on his neck as he collapsed in the sand.
As the bodies began to pile around her, Reifū's focus never wavered.
Each movement, every step, was calculated, as she wielded her Aether like an extension of herself.
Her control over the ancient energy had grown exponentially, and now it rippled around her, increasing her speed and strength to levels that rivaled even the most seasoned shinobi.
But then came a ripple in the air, a shift in the energy around her.
Suddenly, a wave of chakra-wielders surged forward, their presence altering the atmosphere as their jutsus ignited the battlefield.
A Fireball Jutsu then immediately shoots out toward her, the heat radiating off it in waves as it spiraled through the air.
Reifū's eyes widened for a split second, but she was quick, raising her hand, "Aether: Shielding Veil" she stated as a transparent barrier materialized and absorbed the impact of the fireball, the flames licking at its edges before dissipating harmlessly.
The chakra-wielders were not deterred.
They launched another barrage of Wind Release: Gale Palm, Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet, and Earth Release: Rock Shatter. Each attack crashing toward her like a tidal wave of destructive force.
Reifū countered with her Aether abilities, her body moving with inhuman speed as she dodged and weaved through the deadly onslaught. Her blade glowed with Aether, cutting through jutsu like it was nothing more than air. Aether: Cutting Wind tore through the chakra attacks, neutralizing them with precision.
As the air became thick with chakra and Aether, a violent clash of energy erupted, shaking the ground beneath her feet. The chakra-wielders attacked relentlessly, throwing everything they had at her, but Reifū retaliated just as fiercely.
"Aether: Surge Step" Reifū stated as this allowed her to leap forward in bursts of speed, bypassing their defenses, while her Aether-coated blade clashed against weapons and fists alike.
She was holding her own—but barely.
Kūga watched from his vantage point, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes following the chaos below. He observed Reifū, her movements a blur, and despite the danger of the situation, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"She's doing well," he mused aloud, his voice carrying over the wind. "But…"
As if on cue, more chakra-wielders emerged from the shadows, their hands already weaving through complex hand signs. They unleashed an even more concentrated barrage of jutsus, pushing Reifū further to the edge. Lightning Release: Thunderclap Strike crackled through the air, while Fire Release: Phoenix Flower shot toward her in rapid succession. Reifū deflected what she could, using Aether: Barrier Sweep to disperse the flames, but the pressure was mounting.
Her breath came in short gasps, her muscles burning from exertion. She could feel the strain of the battle pulling at her, pushing her to her absolute limits. Sweat dripped from her brow as she narrowly dodged a barrage of shuriken, the deadly metal spinning past her cheek by mere inches.
It was then that one of the chakra-wielders, a man with a cruel grin, saw his opportunity. He dashed forward, his sword raised, aiming directly for Reifū's exposed back. She turned just in time, but exhaustion slowed her reaction. The blade descended, its edge gleaming with lethal intent—only to be stopped mere centimeters from her throat.
Kūga had appeared between them, catching the blade effortlessly between two fingers.
"You've had your fun," he said casually, his voice carrying a playful edge. His eyes flicked to Reifū, a smirk still dancing on his lips. "Now watch carefully."
The chakra-wielder's face paled, his body trembling as he tried to pull his weapon free. But Kūga's grip was like iron. With a lazy flick of his wrist, he shattered the blade, sending the man sprawling backward in shock.
"Let me show you how to use Aether."
.
Kūga stepped forward, the air around him shimmering as Aether gathered in his palm. He raised his hand, and with a simple gesture, Aether: Pulse Wave erupted from him in a violent burst. The shockwave tore through the battlefield, sending chakra-wielders flying like rag dolls, their bodies tumbling through the sand as if caught in a hurricane.
With a grin, Kūga began to move, his body barely exerting any effort as he danced through the chaos. Aether: Flicker Step allowed him to blink from one spot to another in an instant, dodging attacks with ease. A chakra-wielder launched a Fire Release: Great Fireball directly at him, but Kūga didn't even flinch. With a snap of his fingers, Aether: Barrier Flux appeared, the massive ball of fire dissolving into harmless sparks against the invisible shield.
One of the more daring chakra-wielders charged at him, a katana raised high, coated in chakra. Kūga simply sidestepped the attack, his eyes half-lidded with boredom, before delivering a casual palm strike to the man's chest. The force of the blow sent the fighter crashing through several stone walls with a resounding boom.
Reifū watched in awe and disbelief, her body trembling as she realized just how outmatched these chakra-wielders were. Kūga wasn't even breaking a sweat. Every move he made was precise, calculated, and devastating. Even as the enemies regrouped and tried to launch another assault, Kūga seemed almost amused, grinning like a child playing a game.
"This…" Reifū whispered to herself, her breath catching. "This is how powerful he really is?"
As the chakra-wielders desperately flung jutsus at him, Kūga continued to toy with them. He sent out Aether: Gravity Crush, pulling a group of enemies to the ground with such force that they couldn't even move, their limbs pinned beneath an invisible weight. Others tried to attack from a distance, using projectile jutsus, but Kūga merely swatted them away with Aether: Disperse, their attacks fizzling out before they could even reach him.
.
With the remaining chakra-wielders lying defeated in the sand, Kūga turned toward the large house at the center of the village. But before he could take another step, a figure floated into the sky, casting a long shadow over the battlefield.
It was Yūji Tanaka.
Sensing the traces of aether being by this man, 'So it was him who had aether.' Kūga thought as he continued to watch the man floating.
The notorious slave trader hovered above them, a manic grin twisting his face as he looked down at Kūga and Reifū. His arms were outstretched, Aether swirling around him like a storm. His voice was dripping with arrogance as he began to laugh, the sound echoing through the empty village.
"You think some brat like you can just waltz in here and cause terror?" Yūji sneered, his eyes gleaming with madness. "You, whoever you are, are nothing! I will tear you apart, limb by limb, and once I'm done with you, I'll take that pretty little companion of yours. She'll make an excellent slave, after I've had my fun."
Reifū's entire body tensed, her hand tightening around her sword as disgust and fury burned in her eyes. She opened her mouth to shout a retort, but Kūga's calm voice interrupted her.
"You're pathetic," Kūga said, shaking his head in disappointment. "I searched for Aether users hoping to find others like me, people who could use their power to create something good—peace, stability. But you? You're exactly what I expected. Someone who let the power consume them."
Yūji's laughter only grew louder. "Consume me? You fool! I am power! I've transcended humanity itself! You're just afraid—afraid of what I'll do to you!"
Without warning, Yūji vanished from Reifū's sight, disappearing into thin air as he reappeared behind Kūga, a blade made of Aether aimed at his neck.
But Kūga didn't even flinch. He sighed and looked up toward the sky. "For someone who focuses on speed, you're too slow."
Yūji's Aether blade stopped dead in its tracks just inches from Kūga's neck, as it was met with a shimmering, invisible barrier. Yūji's eyes widened in disbelief as the blade refused to move forward, no matter how much force he applied.
Kūga sighed, shaking his head. "You know," he began, his tone almost mocking, "I made this barrier back when I was just a child. How old are you again?" His gaze flicked lazily toward Yūji. "You can't even pierce something made by a child? How disappointing."
Before Yūji could respond, Kūga's hand moved faster than the eye could follow. With a swift turn of his body, he extended his arm and delivered a casual back-hand slap to Yūji's head. The impact was anything but casual.
BOOM!
The force of the blow sent Yūji hurtling through the air like a ragdoll, crashing through several dilapidated buildings in the village, each one crumbling under the sheer force of the collision. Dust and debris filled the air as Yūji's body skidded across the ground, finally coming to a stop, half-buried under the rubble.
Reifū stared, her mouth slightly agape, her eyes wide with shock. She had seen Kūga fight before, but she had never witnessed him so effortlessly overpower someone—especially not an Aether user. It was like he wasn't even trying.
Yūji groaned as he pulled himself out of the wreckage, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His once-manic expression had twisted into one of pure rage. "You… you think you can humiliate me like this?" he spat, his voice hoarse from the pain. "This is energy is what you call aether right!? Well... I'm the most powerful Aether user alive! I will crush you!"
With a roar, Yūji gathered all of his remaining strength, his Aether surging wildly around him. The ground beneath him cracked as he launched himself into the air, his hands weaving complex movements as he prepared to unleash a barrage of Aether techniques.
"Oblivion Fangs!" Yūji screamed, summoning two massive jaws of energy that clamped down toward Kūga from opposite sides, intending to trap him.
Kūga didn't even move. With a simple flick of his wrist, he summoned Aether: Reflect, a shimmering wall of energy that intercepted the jaws mid-bite. The fangs shattered on impact, dissolving into nothingness as Kūga stood there, utterly unphased.
"Is that the best you can do?" Kūga asked, genuine disappointment lacing his voice. "You really don't understand Aether at all, do you? You even weave handsigns for chakra."
Yūji's face twisted in fury as he unleashed another barrage of attacks, each more desperate than the last.
Storm Barrage!"
Hundreds of razor-sharp blades of Aether materialized in the air, each one aimed directly at Kūga, who stood calmly with his arms crossed.
Kūga glanced at Reifū, who was watching in stunned silence. "Pay attention," he said with a grin. "This is what happens when you try to brute-force Aether without understanding it."
The blades shot toward Kūga, their speed creating a high-pitched whistle as they tore through the air. But Kūga didn't dodge. He simply held up his hand and whispered, "Aether: Wave Dispersion."
A ripple of energy pulsed outward from his palm, and in an instant, the hundreds of blades disintegrated, vanishing into thin air as if they had never existed.
Yūji was visibly trembling now, his face pale as he realized just how outmatched he truly was. Desperation overtook him as he pulled out his final trump card as he weaved so many handsigns.
"Cataclysmic Shroud!" Yūji roared, enveloping his entire body in a swirling mass of chaotic Aether. The ground trembled as the overwhelming power distorted the air around him, warping the very fabric of reality. His eyes glowed with madness as he glared at Kūga. "I'll destroy everything! You, your little companion, this entire village—everything will burn!"
The air crackled with unstable energy, and Reifū instinctively took a step back, feeling the raw, destructive force emanating from Yūji's form. But Kūga, as always, remained calm.
He sighed again, louder this time, as if disappointed by the entire display. "I've seen enough."
In a single, fluid motion, Kūga vanished from his spot and appeared directly in front of Yūji, his hand outstretched. Before Yūji could even react, Kūga placed his palm on the center of Yūji's chest, where the chaotic Aether swirled most violently.
"Aether: Nullify."
The effect was instantaneous.
Yūji's chaotic Aether dissipated in an instant, as if it had never existed. His body froze, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief as the overwhelming power he had just summoned vanished like a puff of smoke.
"W-Wait!" The slave trader stammered and hurriedly try to kneel down, "I-I'm s-sor-"
"I've knew you were going to say you're sorry..." Kūga leaned in, his voice low and cold. "Don't be..."
"You don't have to be sorry you attacked me. You don't even have to be sorry for abducting innocent people." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Say sorry to to the world… for existing."
Before Yūji could even process the words, Kūga flicked his fingers and said, "Sunstrike"
There was a flash of blinding light from the sky emerged, it turned into a sudden burst of searing heat and flashed itself towards the slave-trader, and then—
Nothing.
(Think of Invoker's Sunstrike)
Yūji Tanaka was gone. Not a trace of him remained. The spot where he had stood was scorched, the air still vibrating with the residual energy of Kūga's attack, but his body had been entirely obliterated. There was nothing left but silence.
Reifū stood frozen, staring at the empty space where Yūji had been moments ago, her mind struggling to comprehend what she had just witnessed. The sheer power, the effortless control—she had always known Kūga was strong, but this… this was something else entirely.
Kūga dusted off his hands, as if he had just finished a simple chore, and turned to Reifū. "Come on," he said casually, his tone light as if nothing had happened. "There's still a trace of Aether here."
Reifū blinked, snapping out of her daze. "R-right…"
As they continued walking, the black haired started. "About what happened, I finally got to see how strong you are..."
"Hm?" Kūga turns his head and looked at Reifū then laughs, "That? Oh, that was nothing... why would I even put effort to someone as weak as that?"
Reifū looks at Kūga and shakes her head, 'I don't know anymore.'
The two of them arrived at the large, rundown house at the center of the village. The once grand building was now little more than a storage for the unfortunate souls who had been taken as slaves. Inside, the air was thick with the stench of decay, and the faint sound of chains rattling echoed through the dimly lit halls.
As they approached the holding area, Kūga's sharp eyes caught sight of the slaves. They were huddled in corners, their faces gaunt, their bodies frail from starvation. Emotionally, they seemed hollow, like broken shells of the people they once were. But then Kūga's attention was drawn to one in particular—a teenage boy, about thirteen or fourteen, almost as tall as Reifū at 170 cm, red hair and electric blue eyes. The boy was thin from malnutrition, his body bruised and battered, evidence of the mistreatment he had endured at the hands of the slave trader and his goons. But what truly caught Kūga's attention was the faint, unmistakable trace of Aether that clung to the boy, weak and unrefined, but there nonetheless.
Kūga's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the boy, assessing the damage to both body and spirit. There was something in the way the boy held himself, a quiet resilience beneath the layers of trauma. Though he was bruised and battered, his Aether still flickered faintly within him, like a fragile ember struggling to survive.
Kūga looked at the other slaves then, their lifeless expressions and hollow eyes reminding him of the stark difference. Most were emotionally drained, their will long broken, but this boy… he was different. He still had fight in him, whether he knew it or not.
"They're okay, well... not, but anyways..." Kūga muttered to himself, his voice low. "They just need food, and… some time to heal."
Reifū's heart clenched as she took in the sight. "They've been through so much…"
Kūga nodded, his expression softening for a brief moment. "Let's get them out of here. Then we can talk about what comes next."
Reifū looked at him, still in awe of what she had just witnessed. But in that moment, she realized something else. Kūga wasn't just powerful—he cared. And that made him even more dangerous to those who stood in his way.
Together, they began freeing the slaves, preparing for whatever would come next.