Death Strom: Chapter 2 — A World of Ninjas
The red-haired man's cloak fluttered under the dry wind as he stared at Usuki — sharp, calculating, but not hostile.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Only the sound of training echoed from afar — fists striking, fire crackling, blades cutting through air.
Usuki swallowed hard.
"I... I saw a portal... behind my school's mountain. It was invisible, I swear! I just touched it and— now I'm here."
The man frowned slightly.
"I see. That explains your strange clothing... and your energy feels different. Not from this world."
Usuki took a step back, nervous.
"Where... am I, exactly?"
"You are in the Ninja World," the man said, his voice calm yet heavy. "The Sengoku Era. This land breathes war and training... and only the strong survive."
"Sengoku...?" Usuki repeated. "That's... hundreds of years in the past. That's impossible."
"Impossible?" The man gave a faint, dry chuckle. "In this world, 'impossible' is just another word for ignorance."
The man turned his gaze toward the distant field — a hundred warriors practicing hand signs, their palms glowing with different lights. Some wielded streams of fire, others flickered with lightning or bent water in elegant arcs.
Each movement seemed deliberate, graceful, and deadly.
"Those," he said, "are Ninja Students. Each one trains to master an elemental flow — a power born not from blood, but from discipline. Their strength comes from balance: stance, focus, and motion."
Usuki stared in awe.
"They're... controlling elements? That's insane..."
The man nodded. "Indeed. But it's dangerous too. The elements respond only to those whose minds are calm yet fierce. Lose focus, and the very power you command will destroy you."
Usuki's throat went dry. He couldn't tell if he was dreaming or trapped in some elaborate illusion.
"I just... wanted to get my hoodie," he muttered under his breath.
The man tilted his head. "A strange reason to be here."
He paused, then extended a hand. "My name is Kanshiki. I lead the training of Lightning Users in this region. What is yours?"
Usuki hesitated, but shook his hand. "Nani Usuki."
Kanshiki's half-covered eye glimmered. "Usuki, huh... a name unfamiliar to this land. Still, it holds strength."
As they walked down the dirt path, passing the roaring sounds of elemental clashes, Kanshiki continued explaining, his tone steady and wise.
"This world runs on energy we call Elemental Essence. It flows through every living being — though few ever awaken to it. Once harnessed, the body moves differently, the mind sharpens, and the world obeys your focus."
Usuki blinked, processing every word.
"So... can I go back to my world?"
Kanshiki looked at him, unreadable. "Perhaps. Portals between timelines are rare, unstable. If one brought you here, it can take you back."
Relief flashed across Usuki's face. "Then please — help me get back!"
The man gave a slow nod. "Very well. I will open one for you."
He knelt, drawing ancient symbols into the soil. Lightning sparked faintly around his hands, forming a glowing oval that hummed with blue energy.
The air grew heavy — like time itself was bending.
Kanshiki stood and gestured toward it. "This portal leads to where you came from. Step through, and you will return to your world."
Usuki stared at the shimmering surface — it looked exactly like the one that brought him here. He took a deep breath, clutching his hoodie tight.
"Mom... Sis... I'm coming home."
He stepped forward—
And the portal rejected him.
A shockwave rippled out, throwing him back onto the dirt.
Usuki gasped, eyes wide. "Wh—what the hell!? Why can't I—"
"Strange…" Kanshiki murmured, touching the portal. His hand passed through effortlessly. "It accepts me... but not you."
Usuki's heart raced. "No... no, no, no! My mom—my sister— they'll panic if I don't come home! Please!"
He tried again, but his body wouldn't pass through. Every attempt ended in a violent repulsion. Tears burned in his eyes.
Kanshiki placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Calm yourself, Usuki. Panic will do nothing. If this world has trapped you, there must be a reason."
Usuki stared at the ground, trembling. "A reason...? What reason could ever be enough to take me from my family...?"
Kanshiki looked up at the glowing rift, expression unreadable.
"The world's balance is delicate... sometimes, destiny chooses those who never asked for it."
The portal flickered once— then vanished into thin air.
The forest fell silent.
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End of Chapter 2: A World of Ninjas