Jayden Shiba had never known a life without duty.
From the moment he could walk, he had been raised as a warrior, molded into the image of the Shiba Clan's next leader. But no matter how much he trained, how strong he became—one truth remained:
He was never meant to be the true head of the Shiba Clan.
The Burden of a Temporary Leader
His father, Shiba Tanamoto, had never lied to him.
"Your sister, Lauren, is the true heir. The only one who can master the Sealing Symbol."
"Until she is ready, you must take her place."
"You must bear the weight of the Red Ranger."
It was not a request. It was a fact. A duty.
Jayden had accepted it without hesitation. He had to. There was no other path for him.
While other children played, he trained.While others dreamed of their futures, his future was already decided.
His life was not his own.
He was not Shiba Jayden, the boy.
He was Shiba Jayden, the protector.
Yet, deep in his heart, a seed of doubt grew.
Because he knew something his father did not.
The Flaw in the Plan
Through years of secret study, Jayden had uncovered a terrible truth.
The Sealing Symbol had been used before.
And yet, Master Xandred had returned.
It was supposed to be an ultimate technique. A final solution.
But history said otherwise.
No matter how strong the Sealing Symbol was, no matter how well Lauren mastered it—there was no guarantee that it would last forever.
So what if Lauren succeeded, only for Xandred to return again?
Would they need another Red Ranger? Another sacrifice?
Jayden clenched his fists.
No.
He refused to accept that fate.
If the Sealing Symbol failed, then there had to be a different way to end this war.
And if no one else could find that way—he would.
The Path of Strength
Jayden had already mastered the sword. By age nine, he had full control over the Crab Disk and wielded Symbol Power at an elite level.
But that was not enough.
The battlefield was unpredictable. There were too many variables, too many unknowns.
That was when he made his choice.
He would learn to dominate the battlefield.
To control his enemies, to ensure absolute victory.
And so, at age thirteen, he secretly began training with chains.
A sword was deadly—but it had limits.
A chain could extend his reach, restrict his opponent, turn their own power against them.
For two years, he honed this secret weapon.
By age fifteen, he had developed custom Symbol Disks to enhance his chains.
A technique that no Red Ranger had ever used before.
A hidden trump card.
A secret weapon that only he knew about.
Because when the day came that the sword was not enough—
The chains would be.
The Forbidden Arts
But even that wasn't enough.
There were techniques forbidden by the Shiba Clan.
Techniques locked away for generations.
Techniques that were too powerful.
Jayden studied them all.
Some drained life force.Some risked permanent injury.Some could kill even the user.
But Jayden learned them anyway.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he had to.
If the worst happened—if Xandred could not be sealed, if the world was on the brink of destruction—then he would have one last option.
A forbidden trump card that would ensure absolute victory.
Even if it cost him everything.
A Father's Farewell
One evening, Jayden stood before his father. The great hall of the Shiba estate was silent, save for the crackling of lanterns.
Tanamoto looked at his son with unreadable eyes.
Then, he spoke the words that Jayden had been expecting.
"It is time."
Jayden didn't react. He had already steeled himself for this moment.
His father was leaving.
Lauren had to be hidden.Jayden had to take the mantle.
And for the plan to work—Tanamoto could not stay.
There could be no father, no guiding hand.
Only Jayden, standing alone.
His father placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"From this moment forward, you carry the weight of our clan."
Jayden nodded. He did not cry. He did not beg him to stay.
He was not a child anymore.
He was a warrior.
And warriors did not ask for goodbyes.
Alone in the Moonlight
That night, Jayden stood in the courtyard, looking up at the sky.
The wind whispered through the cherry blossoms. The moon cast long shadows across the ground.
For the first time in his life, he was truly alone.
No father.No safety net.No turning back.
Only duty.
Jayden clenched his fists.
He would become stronger. Stronger than any Red Ranger before him. Stronger than Master Xandred himself.
Because if the Sealing Symbol failed—
Then he would be the one to finish this war.
No matter the cost.