The forest was thick with mist and shadows, the kind that swallowed footsteps whole. Every snap of a branch or rustle of leaves sounded like a roar to the senses.
Kaelen led the way, moving swiftly through the trees, his wooden katana strapped to his back. Wind teased at his hair, carrying the faint scent of chakra.
Kaelen (thinking):
Stay focused. The Sound Four are fast, strong, and deadly. One mistake… and someone dies.
Naruto ran beside him, his orange cloak flapping, eyes burning with determination.
Naruto:
"I can sense him! He's close!"
Before Kaelen could respond, the ground shook violently. A boulder the size of a small house rose from the earth.
Jirōbō appeared, crouched on it, his eyes glinting.
"Who's first?" he bellowed, voice like rolling thunder.
Choji stepped forward instinctively, fists clenched.
"Leave him alone!" he shouted.
Jirōbō grinned.
"Big guy first. I like it."
The earth quaked again. Rocks and dirt shot into the air. Kaelen instinctively activated his wind sensing from Sage Mode — just enough to feel the shifts in Jirōbō's movements.
Kaelen (thinking):
This is dangerous… he's using earth chakra to manipulate his body weight. One wrong step and Choji's crushed.
Choji braced himself, taking in a deep breath. He flexed his arms.
"Expansion Jutsu!"
His arms grew to enormous size, muscles swelling like balloons. He charged at Jirōbō. The boulder trembled under the Sound Four ninja's feet.
Kaelen dashed forward, wind slicing between the trees to intercept.
"Choji! Watch your flank!"
Jirōbō laughed, swinging a massive arm, sending a wave of earth crashing toward Kaelen. The wind pushed him back but his reflexes were fast — faster than anyone in the squad expected from a newly minted Chūnin.
He rolled, planting his feet on a tree branch, and flipped over the attack.
This is my first real mission… I can't fail.
Choji collided with Jirōbō, who barely budged. Dust and dirt erupted in every direction.
Kaelen (thinking):
He's strong… really strong. But I can help.
Kaelen gripped his katana. Channeling his wind chakra subtly, he sliced through a hanging branch and swung it toward Jirōbō, distracting him.
Jirōbō staggered slightly, giving Choji an opening to push him back.
Naruto:
"Good job, Kaelen!"
Kaelen exhaled sharply, focus sharpened, eyes glowing faintly from the early traces of Sage Mode.
If I want to keep my team safe… I'll have to push my limits.
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The battle had just begun. And Kaelen knew it:
this first clash with the Sound Four would be nothing compared to what was coming.
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