Inuzuka Kizu froze mid-movement. Even Kōmaru, his loyal hound, went rigid.
In the darkness.
Neither man nor beast could twitch a muscle—not a limb, not even a finger.
"Move, damn it!!"
Kizu roared, straining against the invisible bindings. But it was futile. Like the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique, escape was impossible.
"What kind of kekkei genkai is this!? Never heard of it—total cheat!"
Sweat drenched his back. This was worse than Shadow Imitation. At least that could be dodged. But here?
Pure darkness filled his vision. No escape. Unless he mastered Shave to inhuman speeds—and he had no time for that.
Maybe a Shadow Imitation variant?
Both were pitch-black, after all.
"In my darkness, freedom hinges on your chakra reserves."
Kin's voice echoed from all directions.
The required chakra? Think Hatake Sakumo. Or a jinchūriki.
As for Kizu—
"Yours falls short."
Gulp. Kizu swallowed hard.
The moment Kin spoke, something cold pressed against his throat.
A blade. Familiar. Lethal.
"I yield!!"
This wasn't a fight. It was slaughter.
First Might Dai, now this monster!?
"Better luck next time."
A black Spirit Bullet struck Kizu and Kōmaru. Both collapsed, unconscious.
The darkness lifted.
Kin glanced at the fallen pair, then toward a distant thicket. He said nothing, turning instead to rejoin Minato.
Once Kin left, two figures materialized beside Kizu.
Slender kunoichi exchanged glances. One plucked a number tag from Kizu's vest.
"Target acquired."
They'd tailed Kizu, only to stumble upon this gift.
"That darkness… Uchiha Kin."
The first kunoichi shuddered.
"A true monster."
The second nodded. They knew Kin's reputation.
Pitying Kizu, they shook their heads. Of all targets, he picked the worst.
"Might Dai, Uchiha Kin, Namikaze Minato—those three are shoo-ins for jonin."
These kunoichi knew who to avoid.
When Kin returned, Minato's battle was over. He waited atop a tree.
"Took you long enough."
Kushina pouted.
"Opponent was tough. Barely scraped by."
Kin flexed a spotless arm. No one bought it—least of all Minato.
"This exam's full of heavy hitters," Kushina mused.
She actually believes him!? Minato's eye twitched.
"What?" Kushina blinked.
"…Nothing."
They pressed on.
Encounters with other shinobi were frequent, but none bore their target numbers.
They observed briefly, then moved on. Lingering invited conflict.
Nightfall forced them to a cave.
Kin leaned against the wall, chewing a soldier pill as Minato rigged the entrance with traps.
"Night's deadlier than day."
Minato stayed vigilant. Kushina obeyed. Kin understood.
Most daytime skirmishes were reconnaissance. Few ended swiftly like theirs.
Intel gathered, the real hunt began after dark.
The trio rested in silence. Not a breath echoed in the cave.
Unnoticed, insects flitted inside.
Common in the Forest of Death. Harmless.
One crept into Kushina's pouch, nudging the zipper open—soundlessly.
Hours passed. The cave remained still as a grave.
Finally, the tag lifted.
Snap.
A hand clamped down.
Kushina's eyes flew open. The insect crunched in her grip.
"Aburame clan?"
Two other pairs of eyes gleamed in the dark.
"You're the target tonight."
Hidden in foliage, Aburame Fujine frowned.
"Exposed."
She bolted. That girl's companions were trouble.
This test wasn't just combat.
Stealth. Theft. Protection.
Fighting was optional.
By the time Kin's team reached her hiding spot, Fujine was gone.
"Gone. Fast." Kin admired her decisiveness.
"Pursuit?"
He deferred to Kushina. This was her fight.
"Go."
No hesitation. That near-theft had crossed a line.
Rules stated: Lose possession of your tag beyond 10 cm, and you fail.
Three shadows gave chase.
They'd mastered Shave early—Kin, its creator, led the charge.
Fujine's flight was doomed.
Ahead, Kushina dropped from the trees, blocking her path.
Minato and Kin flanked from the sides.
Trapped.
...
Read 50 advance at patreon.com/CNBLUE
(End of Chapter)