FLASHBACK STARTS
FEW HOURS AGO:
BESIDE A-UN GATE
The night in Konoha was usually filled with the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of insects. But tonight, that peaceful symphony was drowned out by a far more ominous sound – the muffled roars of a battle drawing closer.
Kiba's boots crunched softly on the dirt path as he approached the A-Un Gate, the massive stone figures looming like silent sentinels against the inky sky. A nervous energy thrummed in the air, a stark contrast to the usual tranquility of this hour. Even Akamaru, usually bounding ahead with playful enthusiasm, stayed close, his low growls echoing the unease Kiba felt.
Reaching the gate, the scene beyond was a stark tableau of chaos against the familiar backdrop of the village. The distant lights of Konoha flickered, usually a comforting beacon, but now they seemed to pulse with a frantic urgency, casting long, dancing shadows that writhed with the unseen conflict.
Closer, near the base of the imposing wall, the ground was already scarred – deep gouges and churned earth spoke of immense power unleashed. And there, amidst the destruction, moved three figures: the bright orange of Naruto, the dark silhouette of Sasuke, and the unsettling presence of the Rinnegan man, his strange purple eyes glowing eerily in the dim light.
The sounds of their battle reached Kiba in sharp bursts: the crackle of what sounded like lightning, the heavy thud of physical blows, and the explosive release of chakra that painted fleeting, vibrant colours against the darkness.
The very air seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their clash. Above them, the Rinnegan man floated with an unnatural stillness, his gaze fixed on the distant lights of the village, an ominous presence hanging in the night sky.
To Kiba's left, the familiar darkness of the forest stretched out, usually a comforting boundary. But tonight, a massive, swirling cloud of dust billowed from within its depths, an unnatural phenomenon that choked the air and obscured the trees.
It hung there like a malevolent shroud, a silent testament to some unseen devastation. A cold tendril of fear snaked around Kiba's heart. What had happened in the quiet darkness of the woods?
His gaze then snapped back to the wall, where Naruto and Sasuke were now scaling the rough stone with practiced ease, their movements swift and determined towards the floating figure above.
Kiba's boots pounded on the uneven ground as he hurried towards the base of the wall, his eyes fixed on the spots where he'd last seen Naruto and Sasuke climbing. The sounds of their fight with the Rinnegan man echoed above, sharp cracks and booming impacts that told of a brutal exchange. He wanted to get up there, to offer Akamaru's enhanced senses, his own strength – anything to give them an edge.
Reaching the wall, he scrambled upwards, his hands finding purchase on the rough stone. By the time he'd gained a decent height, his attention was snagged by the forest behind him. The massive cloud of dust that had billowed upwards was now slowly, almost reluctantly, beginning to dissipate.
Like a veil being lifted, the dark shapes of the trees were gradually becoming visible again through the thinning haze. A strange curiosity tugged at him. What had caused such a violent disturbance?
'No,' Kiba thought, shaking his head slightly, his brow furrowed in self-reproach. 'I came here to help Naruto and Sasuke. They need us in the village, to deal with whatever that Rinnegan freak is planning. Investigating a dust cloud in the woods isn't my priority right now.'
He turned his gaze back upwards, towards the top of the wall, finally reaching a height where he could clearly see the figures against the starry sky. His eyes scanned the dark outline, searching for the familiar flash of orange. But… it wasn't there. Only Sasuke, his figure radiating a quiet intensity, stood facing the floating Rinnegan man.
"Where's Naruto?" Kiba muttered under his breath, a knot of worry tightening in his chest. Had something happened already? Had that Rinnegan guy managed to…
His thoughts were cut short by a sudden, sharp sound that echoed from the direction of the village, beyond the wall. It was a distinct thump, followed by a faint, almost musical ringing.
By hearing the sound Kiba's eyes widened in surprise. Without hesitation, he leaped down from the wall, landing softly beside Akamaru, who stood with his ears perked. Kiba's gaze was fixed on the darkened edge of the forest, where the dust had just vanished.
The only sounds now were the distant cracks and booms of Sasuke and the Rinnegan man's battle high above, but Kiba's focus was entirely on the unsettling silence that had followed the earlier commotion in the woods.
Then, cutting through the night air, a faint sound reached them – a muffled scream, the desperate cry of a man in distress.
Kiba's breath hitched. He couldn't ignore that. Curiosity, sharp and insistent, overwhelmed his initial intention to help Naruto and Sasuke. He took a step towards the shadowy treeline.
Akamaru, sensing Kiba's shift in attention, moved quickly, planting himself directly in Kiba's path and letting out a series of sharp barks: "Woof! Woof! Grrr-woof!"
Kiba knelt down, placing a hand on Akamaru's head. "Relax, Akamaru," he murmured, his voice low. "We're just going to take a quick look. Something's not right. We'll just check it out and come right back, okay? Nothing else."
Despite his reassuring words, a multitude of questions raced through Kiba's mind. What had caused the dust cloud? Who had screamed? Ignoring Akamaru's continued worried whimpers, Kiba turned and began to walk towards the dark, silent trees, drawn by an irresistible urge to uncover the source of the disturbance.
Kiba stepped into the darkness beneath the dense canopy of trees, the air immediately feeling cooler and heavier. Akamaru, despite his earlier protests, padded closely behind, his usual confident stride replaced by a more cautious gait.
The forest was a thick tangle of life; trees crowded together, their branches intertwining overhead like skeletal fingers, blocking out most of the moonlight. Every few steps, a stray leaf or a trailing vine brushed against Kiba's face, and he swatted them away with an impatient flick of his hand, his senses on high alert.
The undergrowth was a dense carpet of ferns and tangled plants, making each step a careful negotiation to avoid tripping. As they moved deeper, Kiba noticed a subtle shift in the environment. The vibrant greenery that had marked the forest's edge seemed to be thinning out.
The trees were becoming sparser, and the underbrush less dense, as if they were approaching a more open area. The soft, damp earth beneath their feet began to feel firmer, almost like bare ground.
Kiba's steps faltered. Akamaru, who had been sniffing the ground, suddenly whirled around, his head cocked, ears twitching, looking intently into the deeper shadows.
A prickling sensation ran down Kiba's spine – the unmistakable feeling of another presence nearby. His hand instinctively moved towards the kunai pouch at his hip, his fingers closing around the cool metal.
But before he could draw the blade, Akamaru, who had been looking behind them, suddenly pivoted, unleashing a furious barrage of barks towards the front: "Woof! Woof!"
In that same instant, a glint of silver flashed through the dim moonlight filtering through the trees. A kunai hurtled towards Kiba's face with deadly speed. Reacting on pure instinct, Kiba whipped out his own kunai, the two blades clanging together in a shower of sparks inches from his nose.
Akamaru, a snarling white blur, launched himself at the attacker. A sharp yelp of pain pierced the air, followed by a muffled groan. It was a human sound, a man's cry. As the moonlight shifted, breaking through the leaves, Kiba finally saw the figure Akamaru had tackled.
His breath hitched. The figure, now pinned beneath Akamaru's teeth, wore the unmistakable green flak vest… of a Konoha Jonin!
"Akamaru! Release!" Kiba shouted, his voice filled with shock. Akamaru, obeying instantly, let go, stepping back with a low growl. The man slumped to the ground, his chin scraping against a gnarled tree root.
"Kiba…-san…" the man groaned, his voice weak and strained.
Astonishment washed over Kiba. 'He knows me? If he's a Konoha shinobi and knows my name, why the hell did he just attack me?'
The man on the ground whimpered, clutching his leg where Akamaru had bitten him. Kiba quickly offered some water to the man he had. "Here," he said, his voice still wary. "If you're a Konoha shinobi, why did you just try to kill me?"
The man took a shaky sip, tears welling in his eyes, his face etched with misery. "It wasn't my doing… Kiba-san. I… I didn't want to. I swear."
"Then why?" Kiba pressed, his suspicion still high.
The man's voice trembled. "There's… there's a puppeteer here. Controlling us. Not just me… everyone nearby. Even the guards… at the A-Un Gate… all the way to the borders… they're all being… contro…"
Suddenly, his legs were violently yanked from beneath him, pulling him backwards with brutal force. A bloodcurdling scream ripped from his throat, echoing through the silent forest as he was dragged rapidly into the deeper shadows, disappearing completely into the moonlit darkness. The sound of his terrified cries faded quickly as he was pulled further away.
"Oi!" Kiba shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief and a dawning sense of horror. Akamaru barked furiously at the spot where the man had vanished, his hackles raised.
Kiba stood frozen, the image of the terrified man being dragged away and the sound of his scream playing over and over in his mind. What in the world was happening?
Kiba's mind raced, trying to make sense of the terrifying scene he had just witnessed. 'Just moments ago… back at Senju Park… Konohamaru said that all the shinobi were turning against each other, caught in some kind of genjutsu by that Rinnegan bastard.'
Lost in his thoughts, Kiba continued to walk deeper into the shadowed woods. Akamaru, ever vigilant, once again stepped into his path, letting out a low whine, his body tense – a clear warning.
But Kiba understood. The conflict at the outskirts, the controlled shinobi… this was a different threat, one that needed to be understood and resolved here. He placed a reassuring hand on Akamaru's head, stroking his fur briefly.
"It's alright, boy," he murmured. "This is something I have to see through." He then continued forward, and Akamaru, though still uneasy, followed closely.
'I don't know what's happening inside Senju Park or the village,' Kiba thought, his brow furrowed with concern. 'But out here… the guards at the A-Un Gate, the ones patrolling the borders… that Jonin said they're all being controlled. Just like Konohamaru said Boruto told him… about the chaos in front of the gate. It has to be this puppet master's doing.'
The trees continued to thin, the dense foliage giving way to a more open area where the ground was hard-packed earth. Moonlight spilled through the sparse canopy, casting long, distorted shadows that danced with the gentle breeze. Kiba's senses remained on high alert, Akamaru growling softly beside him, his white fur bristling.
Suddenly, a figure lunged from behind a large, gnarled tree, moving with a speed that belied the earlier victim's clumsy attack. This time, there was no kunai. Instead, the attacker's hands crackled with blue energy
"Raiton: Shuriken!" the figure yelled, unleashing a volley of lightning-infused projectiles that zipped towards Kiba.
"Akamaru! Doteki Markingu!" Kiba shouted, leaping forward alongside his partner. Akamaru spun rapidly, creating a powerful drill of spinning fur and fangs that intercepted the lightning shuriken, dissipating them in bursts of crackling electricity.
Kiba landed agilely, drawing his own kunai. The attacker was another Konoha shinobi, this one with a determined, yet strangely vacant look in his eyes. He weaved hand signs rapidly.
"Katon: Endan!" A large fireball erupted from his mouth, hurtling towards Kiba.
"Tsuuga!" Kiba countered, Akamaru and Kiba charged ahead in a single, powerful drill, tearing through the flames and forcing the shinobi to leap back to avoid the attack.
"Damn it!" the shinobi grunted, his voice strained. "I don't want to do this! But I can't stop!"
"Who's controlling you?" Kiba demanded, while doing the ninjutsu. "Who's making you attack?"
The shinobi dodged Akamaru's snapping jaws, his movements jerky and unnatural. "A… a puppet master! He… he's got us all!"
"Where were you stationed?" Kiba pressed, trying to glean any information he could. "Where were you supposed to be guarding?"
"The… the eastern border…" the shinobi gasped, weaving more hand signs. "The route which connects the Konoha border to the the route of Fire Daimyo's Palace… I was on patrol…"
Then Kiba spoke, "You mean the Hiun-no-Michi ?"(it is a term used to express the place)
Another fireball erupted, and the shinobi said, "Yes...frim there only." Kiba was forced to dodge, Akamaru providing cover with a series of quick, biting attacks.
"You need to fight it!" Kiba yelled, frustration building. "Whatever's controlling you, you have to resist!"
The shinobi's eyes flickered, a brief moment of clarity flashing within them. "I'm trying! But… it's too strong…" He launched another lightning attack, his movements becoming more frantic.
The fight continued, a desperate clash between a controlled shinobi and Kiba, who was trying to subdue his opponent without causing serious harm while extracting information. The air crackled with elemental jutsu and the sounds of Akamaru's ferocious attacks, punctuated by the controlled shinobi's pained grunts and desperate cries.
Kiba and Akamaru were now moving with more caution. The rapid Tsuuga attacks had taken their toll, and Kiba could feel his chakra reserves dwindling. Instead of the spinning drill, Kiba focused his chakra, gathering a significant amount into his right fist.
He moved towards the controlled shinobi, intending to knock him unconscious with a powerful punch and end the fight without further injury.
But just as Kiba closed in, a glint of steel flashed in the dim moonlight. A katana blade suddenly appeared from behind the controlled shinobi, piercing him directly through the chest.
The shinobi's eyes widened in shock, a gasp escaping his lips as he crumpled to the ground. A dark stain bloomed rapidly on his flak jacket as blood seeped from the wound.
Then, with a sickening heave, he vomited a stream of blood, his body going limp. He was dead.
Kiba froze, his chakra-infused fist hovering in mid-air. He stared in disbelief at the lifeless body before him. A Konoha shinobi, killed so brutally, right in front of his eyes, and he had been powerless to stop it. A wave of nausea washed over him.
Kiba stood there for a long moment, the image of the fallen shinobi burned into his mind. The man's last words, the vacant look in his eyes just moments before the katana struck… it all painted a horrifying picture.
A cold fury began to simmer within Kiba, slowly eclipsing the shock and disbelief. This wasn't just some random attack; this was a deliberate, cruel manipulation that was turning their own against each other, leading to senseless death.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The trauma of witnessing such brutality, coupled with the burning anger at the unseen puppeteer, solidified his resolve. He wouldn't stand by and watch any more of his comrades be used and discarded like puppets.
With a newfound grim determination etched on his face, Kiba moved forward, Akamaru following silently at his heel. He had accepted the challenge, a silent vow made in the shadowed forest: whoever was behind this, whoever was pulling the strings and forcing his fellow shinobi to kill each other, would face his wrath.
Kiba pressed on, the horrifying image of the fallen Jonin fueling a grim determination. The forest gradually opened up, the dense trees finally giving way to a more spacious clearing bathed in the soft glow of the moon.
Directly ahead, the ground was bare and somewhat uneven, leading to what looked like another section of the woods. To his left, a dark opening in the earth hinted at a cave, its entrance shrouded in shadow. Reaching this point was a testament to Kiba's resilience.
His face was etched with exhaustion, a sheen of sweat on his brow, and he moved with a weariness that suggested his chakra reserves were dangerously low. Even Akamaru, usually bounding with boundless energy, now walked close by, his head low, his breathing heavy.
The journey here had been a brutal gauntlet. In total, including the initial attacker and the Jonin he couldn't save, they had faced ten shinobi. Some had attacked with elemental ninjutsu, unleashing fireballs and lightning strikes. Others had relied on swift, brutal taijutsu, their movements unnatural and relentless.
A few had even attempted to ensnare him with genjutsu, illusions that flickered and threatened to trap his mind. There were kenjutsu users with sharp blades flashing in the moonlight, and even a couple who seemed to be masters of fūinjutsu, their hands glowing with strange seals that threatened to bind or explode.
It had been a relentless, draining battle. Some of the controlled shinobi had been cut down brutally in the fighting, their eyes wide with a horrifying mix of vacancy and pain.
Others, those Kiba had managed to subdue without fatal injury, had only echoed the same desperate pleas about being controlled, their words garbled and filled with fear, before succumbing to the unseen influence once more.
The sheer number and variety of attacks had pushed Kiba and Akamaru to their limits.
Kiba and Akamaru stood at the edge of a small clearing. Directly ahead, the moon cast an eerie glow on a structure that vaguely resembled a forgotten laboratory – strange angles, darkened windows, and an air of unsettling stillness clung to it.
To their left, the gaping mouth of a cave beckoned, swallowed by deep shadows. Kiba was a few paces away from the peculiar building, the cave entrance further to his side.
He took a hesitant step forward, intending to investigate the strange structure.
But as he went to take another, his leg felt inexplicably heavy, refusing to move. He grunted in surprise, trying to lift his foot, but it remained stubbornly rooted to the spot. He glanced down, seeing nothing obstructing him. Beside him, Akamaru whined, his paws also seemingly stuck to the ground.
'Don't tell me,' Kiba thought, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. 'This time it's a member of the Nara clan?'
"Oi!" Kiba called out into the silent clearing. "If you can hear me, answer! Are you a member of the Nara Clan? Where were you stationed?"
Suddenly, a soft thud echoed nearby, like something collapsing. And then, Kiba's own balance gave way. His legs buckled beneath him, and he fell to the ground, Akamaru collapsing beside him with a soft thump.
"Ow…" Kiba groaned, pushing himself up slightly. "Looks like… the shadow's gone." He flexed his legs, finding them free once more.
Then, a distinct sound cut through the quiet – the soft clink of metal against something hard, not the sharp ring of a kunai or the heavy clang of a katana, but something… different.
A voice followed, smooth and unsettlingly calm. "Hmm… I've never encountered resistance quite like that before. Interesting…"
Kiba's thoughts were abruptly interrupted. 'I thought the Shadow Paralysis was released when the shinobi died… then whose voice is that?'
Akamaru, shaking himself, rose to his four legs, a low growl rumbling in his chest. Kiba pushed himself up and slowly turned around, his eyes widening in shock at the figure standing in the shadows behind them.
His voice trembled as he spoke, disbelief and a dawning horror creeping in. "You… What are you doing here?"
The figure stepped slightly into the moonlight, a familiar, unsettling smile spreading across their face. "It's been a long time, Kiba-kun."
---
QUIZ QUESTION:
The mysterious Rinnegan-wielding antagonist (Hikaru) has displayed two distinct visual jutsu: his primary Rinnegan and a form resembling the Sharingan. Based on the information revealed so far, what significant implication does his ability to use the Sharingan have regarding his past or his connection to the Uchiha clan, beyond his stated association with Uchiha Mikoto?
A) It suggests he is a direct descendant of the Sage of Six Paths.
B) It implies he possesses a unique Kekkei Genkai allowing him to wield both Dojutsu.
C) It hints at a potential method of acquiring or transplanting Sharingan eyes.
D) It confirms he was once a member of the Uchiha clan during its founding.
Share your answer in the comments below!
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey everyone, thanks for sticking around! Sorry for the little delay in getting this chapter out. Things got a bit hectic on my end, and sometimes the words just need a little extra coaxing to appear, you know? 😅
Well, things just took a seriously intense turn, didn't they? We saw Kiba's terrifying encounter in the forest, facing off against his own comrades who are clearly being manipulated. And that shocking, brutal death… definitely not something anyone wanted to see. It looks like this "puppet master" is a truly dangerous foe, and the stakes are getting higher with every shadow.
I know you're probably reeling from that ending – Kiba coming face-to-face with someone familiar in such a tense situation! Who could it be, and what does their reappearance mean? 🤔
Get ready because the next chapter will pick up right where we left off! We'll finally see who that mysterious figure is and hopefully get some answers about what's really going on in the outskirts of Konoha. What kind of history does Kiba have with this person, and are they friend or foe in this chaotic situation? Trust me, you won't want to miss the reveal! 🐺❓
Thanks so much for reading and for your patience! Your enthusiasm keeps me going. Also, a quick heads-up: for the next two weeks, updates might not be daily as my exams are starting, and this student needs to hit the books! Wish me luck! 🙏
Can't wait to hear your reactions to that cliffhanger and your theories about who Kiba just encountered! 😉