Xaker sat back in his chair, his steely gaze fixed on the holographic display in front of him. The flickering images of the Hidden Leaf Village under attack by the Children of Cerberus shifted and swirled as the scene replayed in slow motion. The destruction had been devastating, yet there was an undeniable elegance to the precision of the assault—an almost choreographed devastation. For a moment, Xaker's mind wandered, lost in the brutality of the attack, but then he refocused on the image that had caught his attention.
A boy.
Wielding a wooden sword.
Xaker's sharp eyes narrowed, focusing on the boy's movements as the battle unfolded on screen. The boy seemed...different. He wasn't like the other villagers who fought in desperation, nor did he show the same reckless aggression that the Cerberus members had. There was an eerie calmness in his stance—an unnatural, controlled precision that stood out amidst the chaos. It wasn't just his demeanor that caught Xaker's attention, however. It was the sword.
The wooden sword seemed to hum with energy, pulsing in a way that was unlike anything Xaker had ever seen. His mind immediately jumped to one possibility, one that sent a chill down his spine. The sword's properties—its strange resonance—mirrored something far more dangerous than simple craftsmanship. It was reminiscent of the power of Yggdrasil, the mythical tree of life that was said to hold the balance of entire worlds within its roots.
"Could it be...?" Xaker muttered, his eyes flicking over the footage again. His breath hitched slightly as the realization settled over him. "Is that boy a creation of Farzana Khan?"
Farzana Khan was a name that carried weight, a name associated with the deepest, most dangerous forms of genetic manipulation and artificial life. Khan's experiments had produced some of the most powerful beings the world had ever seen, but there was always a catch. Her creations weren't always what they seemed. The possibility that the boy in the footage had been created by Khan sent a ripple of unease through Xaker. If the boy was truly one of her creations, then he was no ordinary child. He could be something more—something far more dangerous.
But there was little time to dwell on it. As much as Xaker's curiosity burned, he couldn't afford to get distracted. He had a mission to accomplish. A crucial one. The world had become a far more complicated place in the wake of the Children of Cerberus' attack, and the stakes were higher than ever. The boy, whoever he was, would have to wait. For now, the focus had to be on Fire Fly's mission—and that meant ensuring the acquisition of Titanium-X, no matter the cost.
Xaker's mind snapped back to the present as he watched the boy in the footage once again. The wooden sword was not just a weapon—it was a focal point, a conduit of power. Xaker knew what this meant. If the boy wielded such a weapon, he could potentially pose a threat, especially if his abilities were tied to the mythical forces that Yggdrasil was rumored to command. He had to be cautious. There was no room for mistakes, especially with someone who might hold such power.
Shaking off his lingering thoughts of Farzana Khan's influence, Xaker leaned forward, his fingers tapping against the surface of the desk. "Whatever the case, I'll need to keep a close eye on him," he muttered to himself, his gaze still locked on the boy. He had learned the hard way that there were always unknowns in any situation, and the boy was one of them. But for now, that uncertainty would have to be dealt with later. His immediate concern was securing Titanium-X before anyone else could get their hands on it.
The attack on the Hidden Leaf Village had been a means to an end, a way to test the waters, gauge the reaction, and collect the necessary data on their enemies. The Children of Cerberus had performed admirably in their assault, but the unexpected appearance of the boy had thrown a wrench in his plans. Still, they had succeeded in making a statement—no one was safe. The world was in turmoil, and Fire Fly's reach was extending farther and farther. Their mission, however, was far from over.
But despite his careful calculations, Xaker knew that his path forward would be complicated. There were far too many players involved in this game, and the balance of power was shifting in ways he hadn't anticipated. Fire Fly's resources were vast, but they weren't infinite. And their allies—especially Orochimaru—were unpredictable, to say the least.
Xaker frowned deeply at the thought of the snake-like rogue ninja. He knew Orochimaru's reputation all too well. The man was ruthless, manipulative, and self-serving, traits that made him a valuable asset when working toward a common goal, but also a potential liability. Xaker had no illusions about the true nature of his alliance with Orochimaru. Trusting the rogue ninja completely was out of the question. Orochimaru was a wildcard, a dangerous one, and Xaker didn't plan to make the mistake of underestimating him.
Still, for all of Orochimaru's faults, he was the only one who had the expertise to help secure the Titanium-X. He knew things, had knowledge that Xaker couldn't afford to ignore. The alliance, however fragile, was necessary for now. It was a temporary arrangement—one that would likely fall apart when the mission was completed, and both men had achieved their goals.
Xaker steepled his fingers, considering the next steps. He had already sent out reconnaissance teams to keep tabs on the movements of the Children of Cerberus and any other potential threats. The boy with the wooden sword was now on his radar, but Xaker needed more information before he could make any decisions. Was he an asset or a liability? Could he be turned to Fire Fly's advantage, or would he be an obstacle to overcome? Either way, he couldn't afford to ignore him. Not with the potential power he seemed to wield.
As Xaker continued to strategize, his thoughts wandered back to the matter at hand. Titanium-X. The metal's properties were unlike anything the world had ever seen. It was a material capable of withstanding energy on an unimaginable scale, a substance that could make entire armies unstoppable. In the right hands, Titanium-X would ensure Fire Fly's dominance across galaxies. But in the wrong hands... it could be the end of everything.
With a final, resolute glance at the footage of the Hidden Leaf Village, Xaker powered down the holographic display and stood up from his chair. His mind was made up. The next move was clear. He would continue working with Orochimaru for now, keep an eye on the boy and the Children of Cerberus, and ensure that Titanium-X remained within his grasp.
Suddenly, a face flashed in Xaker's mind. It was James Khan—the son of Farzana Khan, the immortal cyborg. The boy was dead, yet somehow, he was the most perfect living cyborg. Xaker couldn't help but frown. If this boy in front of him was really James, then things were about to get complicated. He shook the thought off, though. No way, he told himself. How could James be here? There was no way that was possible. Still, a nagging feeling lingered, like a whisper he couldn't quite ignore.
Xaker exhaled sharply, mentally preparing himself for the battles to come. Nothing in this world—or any other—was ever as it seemed. And the sooner he accepted that, the better.