Raiden's eyes snapped open as the first light of dawn filtered through the window. He hadn't gotten much sleep, his mind too tangled in excitement. The thought of meeting a ninja had kept him up all night. Now, as the world outside began to wake, his restless energy surged again. Today was the day he would find a ninja. No more distractions.
He quickly gathered his things, pushing the lingering thoughts of the sacred jewel aside for the moment. As he looked out of the window, something caught his attention—movement on the roof of the inn. It was too swift to be anyone ordinary.
Raiden's heart skipped a beat. A ninja.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his shirt and sprinted for the door, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the quiet inn as he ran outside.
He reached the back of the inn, where a narrow alley ran alongside the building. The sounds of shuffling on the roof grew louder, and Raiden's pulse quickened. He couldn't afford to waste any time. This was his chance.
He climbed up a stack of crates at the edge of the alley, his hands gripping the rough wood as he hauled himself onto the roof. The moment he stood, he saw the silhouette—a figure dressed in dark clothing, almost blending in with the shadows. The ninja.
The figure turned sharply, sensing his presence, and Raiden's heart raced with anticipation. This was it.
Without a word, the ninja bolted, moving with an inhuman speed. Raiden cursed under his breath and sprinted after him. The chase began, across rooftops, through narrow alleyways, leaping over fences and weaving through the trees. The ninja was fast, almost too fast for Raiden to keep up, but his determination burned brighter than ever.
The distance between them only grew as they sped through the winding paths of the village. Raiden pushed himself harder, but the ninja remained just out of reach. His frustration mounted. He could feel the gap between them widening with every second.
Then, without warning, Raiden planted his feet firmly on the rooftop, electricity crackling around his legs. He bent his knees, lightning flashing through him, and with a wild shout, he launched himself into the air. The force of the jump cracked the building beneath him, sending chunks of stone tumbling to the ground.
Raiden was in the air, weightless for a moment, his eyes locked on the ninja ahead. His heart raced as he hurtled through the sky, but the distance was still too great.
He reached out, his fingers barely grazing the ninja's cloak—but it was enough. The impact of his landing sent them both crashing into the side of another building, the walls splintering and breaking beneath their weight.
Raiden, breathless and disoriented, lay atop the ninja, his body still trembling from the force of the fall. "Gotcha," he said through gritted teeth, a grin spreading across his face.