**At Night**
In an old, abandoned building, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway. A figure cloaked in red calmly ascended the stairs to the fifth floor. Dust flew up every time his feet hit the fragile steps. This building used to be an office building that was left behind after a massive fire ten years ago.
"I've been waiting for you," a cold voice broke the night's silence.
The cloaked figure stopped, turning towards the source of the voice. A young man with sharp eyes was sitting at the end of the hallway, arms crossed over his chest.
"You are the serial killer that the police are still searching for. You are the one who enjoys chopping up your victims without mercy..." The young man stared straight at the figure. "Isn't that right, Hashiro the ninja? Former member of the Kuro no Kage clan."
The night wind blew fiercely as Hashiro lowered his hood. His long white hair fluttered, and his red eyes gleamed dangerously. His face was lined with wrinkles, marked by a deep scar on his right cheek, revealing a dark past.
"It seems you know a lot about me, huh?" Hashiro replied with a sardonic tone.
"Of course, I know everything about you. I also know that you've been following us all this time..."
"You have very sharp eyes, huh?"
"Who are you, kid?" Hashiro asked, his tone full of challenge.
"Why should I tell you who I am?" The young man's response was brief and emotionless, his dark purple eyes staring straight ahead without fear.
"It seems you're very brave to come here alone, huh, kid..."
In an instant, Hashiro vanished from his spot. The floor cracked as he dashed toward Kazuki, swinging his right hand with a speed that was difficult for ordinary human eyes to follow. However, Kazuki blocked it with one hand, his face remaining expressionless.
"It seems this isn't your first time fighting a ninja... Are you really a member of the Kuro no Kage clan? You're very weak..." Kazuki said, disappointment lacing his words.
Hashiro stepped back five paces from Kazuki. In his mind, he felt confused. Who is this kid? He had been trying to find out about him for days but had found nothing. The existence of this kid seemed to be hidden by someone.
"It seems you're very confused about me, huh?" Kazuki said, his face flat.
"Hah?!" How does he know? Hashiro looked shocked.
"You know, just by looking at your face, I can tell what you're thinking right now. Truly, you can't find out about me, no matter how many people you send to search for me," Kazuki said calmly.
"Kid, you seem very confident, speaking as if you can take me on alone..."
In a split second, Hashiro was back in front of Kazuki. He swung his right hand toward Kazuki's face, but Kazuki dodged as if it were nothing. Hashiro continued to launch rapid attacks, but all of them were easily avoided by Kazuki.
"Hashiro the ninja. Former member of the Kuro no Kage clan..." Hashiro thought. He felt like he was being toyed with by a much younger child; it was incredibly humiliating.
"So, is that all you can do? I'm very disappointed in your abilities. You're truly weak..."
This kid is very different from anyone I've ever encountered, Hashiro thought.
"Alright, now it's my turn to attack. I haven't fought a ninja like you in a long time. And I also want to know how strong my body is now..."
In the blink of an eye, Kazuki vanished from Hashiro's sight. His speed left cracks in the floor as he reappeared in front of Hashiro, swinging his right leg toward Hashiro's face. But the attack was blocked by Hashiro's elbows.
Kazuki's strike caused Hashiro's elbows to crack slightly. "This kid's attacks are very dangerous," Hashiro thought as he stepped back two paces. However, Kazuki suddenly appeared behind him. What's with this speed? This is utterly unbelievable...
Kazuki swung his right leg toward Hashiro's face again. Is he going to do the same thing? Hashiro raised both hands to block the attack. But just as Kazuki's foot was about to reach his face, Kazuki pulled back his leg.
"What? A feint..."
Kazuki swung his leg toward Hashiro's chin. The sound of teeth cracking could be heard clearly. Hashiro was sent flying, and Kazuki leaped above him, kicking him down to the ground.
The attack caused both of them to fall to the fourth floor. Hashiro's body was in immense pain, blood pouring from his mouth. Kazuki landed on his feet, while Hashiro lay beneath him.
Kazuki approached and placed his right foot on Hashiro's chest. "So, is this all you can do now? I feel so sorry for you, being thoroughly beaten by me. You haven't even managed to hurt me a bit..."
"Kid, I admit you're very skilled, but that doesn't mean you're better than me..."
Kazuki sensed the murderous aura radiating from Hashiro.
"Hah?!" Kazuki quickly stepped back ten paces. Suddenly, the fourth-floor room seemed to be sliced apart by something sharp.
"So this is your true power?" Kazuki wondered inwardly. "This time, I'll be very serious. I'll chop up your body and send the pieces back to your family..."
"Ehh, the way you talk, it's as if you've already won against me..."
"I'll make you regret it, kid, for daring to seek trouble with me. Stop talking so much; show me your true strength!"
Kazuki spoke with a flat expression. Hashiro drew a long sword from within his cloak.
"So that sword is what makes you strong? I feel so sorry for you. It seems without that sword, you're just a clown!"
Kazuki felt a fierce wind rushing toward him. He quickly ducked his head.
Kazuki glanced behind him, seeing a large cut mark on the wall. It was so fast that his head almost got taken off!
The attack caused the fourth floor to become unstable, and moments later, both of them fell to the third floor.
Dust swirled around them as Kazuki thought, "I can't see anything."
"Hah?!" Kazuki looked back. He heard the sound of a sword trying to absorb him. Kazuki quickly dodged the attack, but even though he managed to evade it, he still received a cut on his right cheek.
Blood flowed from his cheek. "Did he intentionally make me fall to the third floor?" Kazuki wondered inwardly. The falling dust obscured his vision, leaving him in darkness.
"It seems I greatly underestimated him," Kazuki thought. "Alright, calm down." He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled.
Kazuki began to hear the sound of footsteps in his mind. In his thoughts, he felt empty, only hearing the sound of footsteps approaching him.
The sound of slicing from behind. Kazuki managed to dodge an attack aimed at his heart, but he still received a cut on his right arm.
Blood flowed from his arm. Kazuki slowly began to open his eyes. "Alright, now I can see..."