Inside Kenshiro's spacecraft, the cabin lights dimmed slightly as the ship entered hyperspace, cutting through the void with unimaginable speed. The external viewing panels revealed the mesmerizing effect of space itself bending, streaks of golden and violet light swirling outside, a visual spectacle that was both beautiful and eerie.
A low hum vibrated through the ship, stabilizers automatically adjusting to keep everything in balance.
The journey through hyperspace was brief—only minutes long—but inside the cabin, the tension had already begun to build.
Jasper sat lazily with his arms behind his head, tilting his chair back slightly, looking as relaxed as ever. Serena sat next to him, resting her arms on her knees, her mind still locked on one thought Blaze.
Sienna was at the control panel, ensuring the ship's navigation logs were updated while also monitoring their arrival status.
Meanwhile, across from them, the three shinobi—Ryuji Inazuma, Aiko Himura, and Kaizen Kurogami—sat watching them.
Or rather…
Kaizen was watching Jasper.
There was something off about him.
Not his personality—Kaizen could already tell that Jasper was a bit of an idiot.
It was his presence.
His chakra.
It felt massive—yet… wrong.
Unlike anything Kaizen had ever sensed before.
And then there was his sword.
A massive, curved blade hanging on his back, glowing faintly with a deep blue aura.
It was unnatural.
And Kaizen wanted answers.
Kaizen leaned forward, his sharp purple eyes locking onto Jasper.
"Your sword."
Jasper blinked, caught off guard.
"Uh… yeah? What about it?"
Kaizen's gaze didn't waver.
"What is it?"
Jasper gave him a confused look.
"It's… a sword? What kind of question is that?"
Kaizen narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That's not just a normal sword. It carries an enormous amount of chakra."
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Chakra? What the hell is that?"
Sienna, who had been listening, turned her head slightly.
"In this universe, 'chakra' is what they call energy," she explained calmly.
Jasper's eyes widened slightly.
"Ohhh. You mean like life force? Energy that powers attacks?"
Sienna nodded.
"Essentially, yes."
Jasper smirked.
"Why didn't you just say 'energy' then? Would've saved us a whole conversation."
Kaizen's eye twitched slightly.
"That's what we call it. You're the outsider here."
Jasper shrugged.
"Fair point."
Kaizen crossed his arms.
"So, your sword. What exactly is it?"
Jasper glanced at Dragonis, then back at Kaizen.
"This bad boy?" He grinned, tapping the hilt. "This is Dragonis."
Kaizen narrowed his eyes.
"And?"
Jasper smirked.
"It's not just a sword. It has a dragon spirit inside it."
Kaizen's expression shifted slightly, his curiosity deepening.
"A… dragon spirit?"
Jasper nodded.
"Yeah. His name is Dargonis. He's… kinda an ass sometimes, but he's powerful as hell."
Kaizen frowned.
"You're telling me your sword has a living dragon inside it?"
Jasper grinned.
"Yup. And Serena's sword, Infernum, has one too."
Serena finally looked up, speaking for the first time.
"My dragon spirit is Infernum. He's the embodiment of pure destruction."
Kaizen processed this, his mind racing.
"Dragons sealed inside swords… This sounds just like…"
His thoughts drifted to the legendary dragons sealed away centuries ago.
Was it possible that these outsiders were connected to those myths?
"If what you're saying is true," Kaizen said slowly, "then your swords are more than just weapons. They're like living beings."
Jasper stretched his arms.
"Pretty much. They talk, they have personalities, and they don't shut up when you need them to."
Serena sighed.
"Especially Infernum. He's… stubborn."
Kaizen leaned back, deep in thought.
This was serious.
Their swords—if they truly contained dragon spirits—could be far more powerful than he originally thought.
And if Kenshiro's hunch was right…
Then they could be connected to the monster sealed inside Ryuji.
Kaizen glanced at Kenshiro, who was staring at Jasper's sword with an unreadable expression.
Something told him—
This mission was going to be far more complicated than expected.
Kenshiro finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Enough talking. We're about to land."
The ship's stabilizers activated, the view outside shifting from hyperspace distortion to the vast open skies of the Land of Blaze.
The world below them was vast and mountainous, its valleys filled with lush forests and ancient cities built into the landscape.
The Land of Blaze—a nation of shinobi, warriors, and lost legends.
CTS TIME: RE 250, DAY 63 – 3:00 AM (Universe 15A Time)
CTS TIME: RE 250.11.24 (Aboard Kenshiro's Spacecraft, En Route to the Land of Blaze – Hikarashi Village)
The spacecraft shuddered slightly as it emerged from hyperspace, leaving behind the golden-violet vortex and entering the deep expanse of Universe 15A.
Through the transparent viewing panels, a new reality unfolded—
A vast system of planets, both large and small, floating in the distance, but something was immediately different.
Unlike other universes where intergalactic highways crisscrossed the stars, this space was… empty.
Very few space hubs.
Almost no trade routes.
Only one or two major spacecrafts drifting through the system.
Serena and Jasper leaned forward, their eyes scanning the eerie, silent void of space.
"This place feels… empty," Jasper muttered.
"It's weird," Serena added. "Other universes have massive orbital cities, thousands of spacecrafts flying at any given time. But here…?"
Kenshiro, standing near the control panel, folded his arms.
"That's because our universe isn't like yours."
He gestured toward the approaching planet, its massive surface covered in mountain ranges, dense forests, and flowing rivers of molten lava.
"This is the Land of Blaze. Our main planet—Hikarashi Village—will be our landing point. Unlike your worlds, we do not rely on advanced technology. We preserve our way of life through—"
Before he could finish, Sienna cut him off.
"Through chakra, tradition, and ancient shinobi techniques. Your people wield jutsu based on the five elemental chakra natures: wind, earth, fire, lightning, and water. And your world is governed by five great clans—each led by a Kage who holds dominion over their respective lands."
Silence hung in the air.
Kenshiro's eyes widened slightly, and Kaizen, who had been listening quietly, snapped his gaze toward her.
"How do you—?" Kenshiro began.
"How do I know?" Sienna finished for him, her silver eyes unwavering.
She tapped her holo-display on her wrist, causing a series of classified documents to appear in front of her.
"I'm an HD Pro Hero. It's my job to gather intelligence on different universes."
Kaizen's fingers curled slightly.
"You're not even a shinobi. And yet, you know more about our universe than most outsiders."
Sienna met his gaze without hesitation.
"That's because I study everything. If I step into a new battlefield, I ensure I know what I'm dealing with. That includes your history, your power systems, and your rulers."
Kenshiro narrowed his one visible eye.
"Impressive. But knowledge alone doesn't mean you understand our way of life."
Sienna tilted her head slightly.
"Perhaps not. But that doesn't mean I'll be unprepared."
Kaizen and Kenshiro exchanged glances.
For the first time, they realized—this outsider was dangerous in her own way.
As the spacecraft descended, the planet Hikarashi came into full view—
An expansive world, burning with volcanic ridges, but also filled with lush forests, towering mountains, and ancient cities carved into the land itself.
There were no floating megacities.
No skyscrapers piercing the atmosphere.
No mechanized warfare drones patrolling the skies.
Instead—
The entire civilization had been built around nature itself.
Traditional shinobi villages dotted the landscape, their high walls and watchtowers blending seamlessly into the terrain.
Large torii gates stood at the entrances of cities, adorned with ancient kanji inscriptions, glowing faintly with chakra.
Even from orbit, massive training grounds could be seen, where shinobi warriors practiced their jutsu, their chakra illuminating the landscape like small beacons of light.
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Every planet I've been to looks like a Type-3 civilization, but this place…"
He turned toward Kenshiro.
"You guys have no space tech? No advanced military?"
Kenshiro smirked slightly.
"You outsiders rely on machines. We rely on chakra."
Jasper scoffed.
"That's… inefficient."
"Is it?" Kenshiro challenged.
Sienna stepped in before the argument could escalate.
"This is the only universe that has preserved its shinobi heritage. That's why their technological advancements are minimal. Instead of developing intergalactic warfare, they've perfected chakra control. Their energy manipulation is superior to any other universe."
Jasper crossed his arms.
"Yeah? Well, I'd still take a battleship over a kunai."
Kenshiro smirked.
"Then you clearly don't know what a true shinobi is capable of."
Jasper was about to retort when a bright red alarm flashed on the navigation panel.
"We're approaching the village," Kenshiro announced.
Serena's heart skipped a beat.
This was it.
Blaze had vanished without a trace—but if he was anywhere, it had to be here.
She clenched her fists.
"You won't slip away this time."
As the spacecraft broke through the clouds, the legendary Hikarashi Village came into view—
The stronghold of the Land of Blaze, home of the most powerful shinobi in Universe 15A.
And the place where the next chapter of their journey would begin.