Naruto : Rage

Chapter 3: Start of Kai's journey to dominance

The faint mist clung to the air like a suffocating blanket, obscuring Kai's vision and muffling the sounds of the world around him. 

Kai moved cautiously, his senses on high alert. Every step felt like a gamble, every shadow a potential threat. 

He had no idea where he was, but he knew one thing for certain: this world was dangerous, and he needed to be smarter, faster, and stronger if he wanted to survive.

As he trudged through the mist, his mind raced. The system had given him a chance, a way to grow stronger, but it was up to him to seize it. 

He needed a plan, a way to level the playing field. He couldn't afford to be reckless, not in a world where ninja roamed and death lurked around every corner. 

Just as he was about to move forward, he spotted two silhouettes emerging from the mist. 

His body tensed, his instincts screaming at him to either fight or flee. But he forced himself to stay calm, to assess the situation. 

The figures were moving slowly, their shapes distorted by the fog. As they drew closer, Kai's sharp eyes caught the details: one of them had a Kunai embedded in his side, blood staining his ragged clothing. The other was even worse off—his right leg and arm were mangled, blown off in what must have been a brutal encounter. They were injured, desperate, and clearly on the run.

Kai's mind worked quickly. These weren't ninja—they were bandits. And they were in no condition to put up much of a fight.But he couldn't afford to underestimate them.

He needed a plan. Acting on instinct, he decided to play the part of a scared child. It was a risky move, but if he could lower their guard, he might be able to take them by surprise.

As the they drew closer, the bandit with the Kunai in his side—spotted Kai first. 

[Name: Donoru

Age: 33

Strength: 5 (4)

Speed: 4 (3)

Stamina: 5 (2)

Constitution: 5 (4)

Intelligence: 6

Chakra: 0 

State : injured / fatigued ]

His eyes narrowed, and he immediately went on alert.Kai's heart raced, but he forced himself to look small and helpless, his wide eyes filled with fear.

"Please," Kai stammered, his voice trembling. "Please don't hurt me."

Bandit 1 hesitated, his suspicion evident, but the other bandit snapped at him. "Ignore the brat! We don't have time for this! If we don't keep moving, they'll catch up!"

[Name: Azushige

Age: 28

Strength: 4 (2)

Speed: 6 (2)

Stamina: 5 (1)

Constitution: 5 (3)

Intelligence: 4

Chakra: 0 

State : severely injured / fatigued ]

Donoru expression shifted, a flicker of fear crossing his face as he glanced over his shoulder. Whatever—or whoever—was chasing them, it was enough to make even a hardened bandit nervous. 

He nodded reluctantly and started to move past Kai, his pace hurried but uneven due to his injury.

Kai's heart pounded as they passed him. This was his chance. He had to act fast. 

As Dororu moved within arm's reach, Kai lunged. His movements were swift and precise, honed by adrenaline and desperation. 

He grabbed the Kunai embedded in Dororu's side and yanked it free, ignoring the man's pained cry. Before Dororu could react, Kai drove the blade into his neck.

Blood sprayed as Dororu staggered, his eyes wide with shock and pain. 

He collapsed to his knees, his hands clutching at the wound, but it was too late. With a final, gurgling breath, he fell to the ground, lifeless.

Kai didn't have time to process what he'd just done. A faint *ding* echoed in his mind—the system, no doubt—but he ignored it. There was still one more bandit to deal with.

Bandit 2 stared in horror, his face pale and his remaining hand trembling. "Y-you… you little monster!" he stammered, his voice cracking."Do you even know what's coming? There are ninja on our trail! They'll kill us all! We're dead! We're all dead!"

Kai didn't respond. He couldn't afford to hesitate. He sprinted toward Bandit 2, the Kunai gripped tightly in his hand.

Bandit 2 tried to scramble away, but his injuries made him slow and clumsy. Before he could even raise his hand in defense, Kai was on him. With a swift, brutal motion, Kai sliced the bandit's throat.

Blood pooled on the ground as Bandit 2 collapsed, his lifeless eyes staring into the mist. Kai stood over him, his chest heaving, his hands stained with blood. 

The adrenaline coursing through his veins made his entire body tremble, but he forced himself to stay focused.

Another *ding* sounded in his mind, and this time, he remembered the system. 

He had been so caught up in the fight that he'd almost forgotten about it. Closing his eyes, he focused on the glowing screen that appeared before him.

[Enemies Defeated: Dororu and Azushige. Stat Absorption Available. Please select a stat or ability to absorb from each enemy.]

Kai's eyes scanned the options. From Dororu, he absorbed [Strength +5]. From Azushige, he absorbed [speed +6]. 

A warm sensation spread through his body as the stats were absorbed. 

He felt stronger, more resilient, as if his very essence had been enhanced. The system updated his stats:

[Name: Kai 

Age: 11

Strength: 8

Speed: 10

Stamina: 4

Constitution: 5

Intelligence: 8 

Chakra: 0 

Affinity: Earth

Abilities: None 

System Function: Stat Absorption (Steal stats and abilities from defeated enemies.)]

Kai allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. 

He was growing stronger. But his victory was short-lived. The bandits' words echoed in his mind: *There are ninja on our trail.* If ninja were chasing these bandits, they couldn't be far behind. 

Kai wasn't naive enough to believe they'd be like the heroes from his nephew's stories. Real ninja were ruthless, efficient killers. He needed to get out of here—fast.

He quickly searched the bandits' bodies, taking anything useful: a small pouch of coins, a few rations, and another Kunai. He couldn't afford to linger. 

The mist was both a blessing and a curse—it hid him, but it also hid his enemies.

With his supplies secured, Kai set off into the fog, his mind racing. He needed to find shelter, food, and a way to grow stronger. 

This world wouldn't wait for him to catch up. If he wanted to survive, he had to be ready for whatever came next.

As he disappeared into the mist, the sound of distant footsteps reached his ears. The ninja were coming. 

Kai's grip tightened on the Kunai in his hand. He wasn't ready to face them—not yet. But he would be. One way or another, he would become strong enough to survive this world.

And when the time came, he wouldn't just survive—he would thrive.