The roar of the crowd still echoed in Kaelen's skull long after the arena faded from view. He floated between consciousness and darkness as medics carried him through the hallways of the stadium.
Everything hurt.
His lungs burned… his fingers twitched from overusing chakra… and his whole body still buzzed from his ten–second Sage Mode burst.
Ten seconds… and I still almost lost.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips before exhaustion finally dragged him under.
---
1. Recovery Room – A Quiet Storm
Kaelen awoke to the antiseptic smell of the Medical Corps. White sheets. Soft light. The low beeping of chakra monitors.
And three faces pressed way too close to his bed.
"Bro… you alive?" Riku whispered like he was talking to a ghost.
"You look like you got hit by a summoning jutsu," Haru added.
Riyomi crossed her arms. "No. He looks like an idiot who pushed Sage Mode past his limits again."
Kaelen groaned. "Thanks. Love you guys too."
Riyomi leaned in and flicked his forehead. "Never do that again."
"Ow—!"
"You scared us," she said quietly. "Idiot."
Haru sat on a chair backwards. "The proctors said your fight caused the chakra sensors to overload. They thought a tailed beast appeared."
Riku added, eyes wide, "And that guy you fought? He just vanished. Poof. Gone. Not even a trail."
Kaelen's jaw tightened.
Yeah… I felt it too. He wasn't normal.
---
2. Hokage's Summons – Truth in the Shadows
Hours later, an ANBU in a porcelain mask appeared at the doorway.
"Kaelen. The Hokage requests you."
Haru gasped. "A–Are you in trouble?"
"No," the ANBU replied. "He is being… evaluated."
Kaelen swallowed. That doesn't sound comforting.
---
The Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, eyes more serious than Kaelen had ever seen. Two ANBU flanked the walls.
"Kaelen," the Third Hokage began, "you displayed unusual abilities today."
Kaelen bowed respectfully, though his ribs screamed. "I'm sorry if I caused trouble."
"On the contrary," Hiruzen said. "You may have saved lives."
With a snap of his fingers, an ANBU projected an image: traces of corrupted chakra left in the arena.
The same type Kaelen felt from the Stranger.
"That individual is not registered in any shinobi nation," Hiruzen said. "Yet he carries strength equal to a mid-tier Kage."
Kaelen's eyes widened.
A Kage-level rogue…
"And more importantly," Hiruzen continued, "he showed… interest in you."
Kaelen's heart dropped.
Me? Why?
"I believe," the Hokage said carefully, "that he recognized the power you're beginning to cultivate."
Kaelen's fists tightened.
"So what now?" he asked quietly.
Hiruzen leaned back. "You keep training. You stay with your squad. You grow. Stronger than ever."
Then a rare smile touched the old man's lips.
"And congratulations… Chūnin Kaelen."
For a moment, Kaelen forgot how to breathe.
He bowed so low his forehead nearly hit the floor. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"You earned it," Hiruzen said warmly. "Now go. Your team is waiting."
---
3. Reunion – A Warm Noise
Kaelen stepped into the evening light outside the tower—
—only to be nearly tackled by Riku.
"YOU PASSED!"
Haru held up fireworks. "He lives! He ranks up! He survives the mysterious demon stranger!"
Riyomi smacked both of them. "Stop being dramatic."
Then she turned to Kaelen.
"You really passed, huh?"
He scratched the back of his head, smiling shyly. "Yeah."
She exhaled with relief. "Good. I'd punch you if you failed after almost dying."
Kaelen chuckled. "Fair."
---
4. A Peaceful End – For Now
That night, the four of them sat on the village wall, dangling their feet over the edge. The sky was orange-purple, stars beginning to spark alive.
Riku munched on dumplings. "Bro… we're really shinobi now."
Haru pointed at Kaelen. "And he's a Chūnin already. Overachiever."
Riyomi nudged Kaelen's shoulder. "How do you feel?"
Kaelen leaned back, letting the evening wind cool his skin.
Tired.
Proud.
Motivated.
And scared… but in a good way.
"It feels like everything's just starting," he said softly.
In the distant forest, something shifted—like the world itself watching him.
The Stranger was still out there.
But for tonight?
He let himself breathe.
For once… peace didn't feel like weakness.
It felt like a promise.
---