Naruto : Rage

Chapter 4: A chance encounter

The mist swirled and shifted as Kai sprinted through the dense forest, his heart pounding in his chest. Every step felt like a gamble, every breath a struggle.

His legs burned, and his lungs ached, but he pushed himself forward, driven by sheer willpower and the primal instinct to survive. He didn't dare look back. He couldn't afford to.

If the ninja were chasing him, they'd be on him in seconds. He had to put as much distance between 

himself and the bandits' corpses as possible.

——

A couple moments passed since Kai disappeared into the mist, two figures emerged from the shadows, their movements silent and deliberate. 

The first was a lean, sharp-eyed ninja with a serious expression, his headband bearing the symbol of the Hidden Mist Village. 

[Name: Aratoshi

Age: 30

Rank: chunin 

Strength: 58

Speed: 66

Stamina: 59

Constitution: 47

Intelligence: 10

Chakra: 63

State : healthy ]

The second was a taller, more imposing figure with a calm demeanor and a faint, almost amused smile playing on his lips. This was Captain Jūzō, a seasoned shinobi of the Mist, known for his cunning and ruthlessness.

[Name: Jūzō Biwa

Age: 20

Rank: Elite Jonin 

Strength: 119

Speed: 112

Stamina: 129

Constitution: 105

Intelligence: 16

Chakra: 108

State : healthy ]

Aratoshi crouched beside the bandit's bodies, his fingers brushing against the still-warm wounds. 

"Captain Jūzō," he said, his voice low and analytical, "these wounds are fresh. The killer should be close by." He paused, examining the crude, jagged cuts. "The cuts are crude and inexperienced. Whoever did this isn't a trained fighter."

Captain Jūzō tilted his head, his smile widening slightly. "Hmm, interesting," he murmured, his voice smooth and unhurried. He glanced in the direction Kai had fled, his sharp eyes catching a faint disturbance in the mist. "I caught a glimpse of the little guy as we were approaching. He's just a kid, but… there's something about him."

The Aratoshi straightened, his expression hardening. "Captain, should I go capture him? He couldn't have gotten far."

Jūzō raised a hand, silencing his subordinate with a single gesture. "No," he said, his tone firm but calm. "Let him go. He seems… special." His smile turned almost predatory, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "If he survives, I'll look for him later. The Bloody Mist Academy could use someone like him."

The Aratoshi eyes widened in shock, but he quickly masked his surprise and nodded. "Understood, Captain."

Without another word, the two ninja performed a series of hand seals and vanished in a blur of speed, using the Body Flicker Technique to disappear into the mist. 

The forest fell silent once more, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves and the distant drip of water.

——

Meanwhile, Kai continued to run, his legs pumping as he pushed himself to his limits. After five minutes of full-speed sprinting, he finally slowed, his chest heaving as he leaned against a tree to catch his breath. 

His mind raced as he scanned his surroundings, his senses on high alert. The mist was still thick, but there was no sign of pursuit. No sounds of footsteps, no flicker of movement. If the ninja had been chasing him, they would have caught up by now.

Kai exhaled sharply, his body steadying as the tension drained from his shoulders. He was alive—for now. The encounter had stripped away any lingering illusions. 

Two men lay dead by his hand, their lives extinguished in moments. Though he told himself it was survival, their deaths were inconsequential—mere footnotes in this brutal world. 

His fists clenched, nails biting into his flesh, leaving crescent marks as he honed his focus. They were obstacles, nothing more. In this unforgiving reality, hesitation was a death sentence, and mercy, a fatal flaw.

This world didn't reward weakness, morality, or doubt. Survival demanded ruthlessness—strength, speed, and cunning. Sentiment was a luxury he could no longer afford.

As he continued forward at a more comfortable pace, his thoughts turned inward. He felt powerless, vulnerable, and it was a feeling he hated. 

The ninja he had glimpsed in the distance were on a completely different level. They moved like shadows, their presence overwhelming even from afar. 

If they had wanted to kill him, he would have been dead before he even realized what was happening.

"I can't stay like this," Kai muttered under his breath, his voice low but filled with determination. "I can't keep feeling powerless. I won't."

He vowed then and there to never feel this way again. He would grow stronger, no matter what it took. 

The system was his key, his cheat code in this brutal world. He would use it to its fullest potential, absorbing stats and abilities from every enemy he defeated. He would train, learn, and adapt until he was no longer the prey but the predator.

As he walked, his mind began to formulate a plan. He needed shelter, food, and a safe place to rest and recover. But more than that, he needed knowledge. 

He needed to understand this world, its rules, and its dangers. He couldn't rely on half-remembered snippets from his nephew's ramblings. 

He needed to learn everything he could about chakra, ninja techniques, and the political landscape of the Hidden Villages.

The mist began to thin slightly, revealing a faint path ahead. Kai followed it cautiously, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

He didn't know where the path would lead, but it was better than wandering aimlessly. 

As he walked, he couldn't shake the image of Captain Jūzō's smile from his mind. The man had seen him, and yet he had let him go. Why? What did he want?

Kai shook his head, pushing the thought aside. It didn't matter. What mattered was survival. 

He would take things one step at a time, growing stronger with each passing day. And when the time came, he would face whatever challenges this world threw at him—head-on and without fear.

For now, though, he needed to find shelter. The sun was beginning to set, and the forest was growing darker. Kai quickened his pace, his eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of danger—or opportunity. 

This world was harsh, but it was also full of potential. And Kai was determined to seize every bit of it.