Chapter 7: The first enemy. The ordeal of death
A week has passed. Reiji returned to the Academy. His gaze became colder, his movements more precise. The teachers noticed the changes. The students tried not to get in his way. Even Hanami, despite her habit of his taciturn nature, felt like a storm around him now, held back only by an effort of will.
[SYNC: 42.5%]
[PHYSICAL CONDITION: STABLE]
But the calm was temporary. Three days later, the team of Reiji, Hanami, and Kenjiro received their first serious assignment.
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A C-rank mission?
—Hunting for a band of deserters hiding in the mountains,— Jonin said, handing over the scroll. — According to the data, these are only three weak ninjas. The right level for you.
Reiji frowned. It's too easy. Too... convenient.
He looked at the map — the path lay through the forest, in which they had already encountered an unknown enemy. A coincidence?
Doubt did not leave him until he left Konoha.
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The ambush
On the third day of the journey, when the group stopped for the night, it began.
First, silence. Then the clink of metal.
Reiji jumped up. Kenjiro was already lying on the ground, with a knife in his side. Hanami tried to protect him by creating an ice wall, but…
"It's too late," a voice said from the darkness.
Three figures came out of the forest. In ordinary clothes, without bandages, but with movements that left no doubt — these were Shinobi, and far from beginners.
"One Jongin is dead, the other is seriously injured."… You two are left," said one of the enemies, clutching a kunai with poison in his hands. "But we only need you, Reiji.
Reiji stood in front of the Khans.
"Who are you?"
— Those who are watching. Those who select. Those who destroy you if you turn out to be weak.
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The Awakening of Anger
They attacked first. Lightning attacks. One Shinobi used the earth technique to block Reiji's movements. The second one was nearby, trying to immobilize him.
Reiji held on, but he understood: They knew how to fight someone who uses lightning.
[DANGER: CRITICAL LEVEL]
The voice of the Raikage hit my head:
— Don't slow down. Or die.
An explosion of chakra. The ground cracked. Lightning armor flashed around Reiji.
[MODULE ACTIVATED: COMBAT RESONANCE]
[SYNC: 48.9%]
Speed, strength, reflexes — everything has increased.
He punched through the enemy's chest with one blow, breaking his ribs. The second one didn't have time to react — Reiji disappeared and appeared behind his back, knocking him out with a blow to the base of his neck.
But the third enemy, a woman with yellow eyes, stood off to the side, grinning.
"You survived." Congratulations. But the game is just beginning.
She disappeared into the smoke, leaving behind a strange scroll.
⸻
After the storm
Kenjiro barely survived. Hanami is in shock. Reiji was silent, but there was something different in his eyes now.
He realized that he was being hunted. Purposefully. Systematically.
When he returned to the village, he didn't tell anyone the truth. He only reported: "we completed the mission, but were attacked by unknown people."
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The Sealed Scroll
At night, he opened a scroll left by the enemy. Inside is a mask symbol and a word:
"The limit is an illusion. Go through the pain and you will find the truth. 50% is just the beginning"
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Reiji survived. But I got it: It wasn't an accident. It was a test. And the enemy is not just watching. He's waiting... for Reiji to become strong enough—or weak enough.