Chapter 51 : Blood in the Mist
The moment Ren spoke, everyone's senses sharpened.
Hands tightened around weapons. Breaths slowed. Hearts pounded.
Then—
A rustle from the bushes ahead, unnaturally loud in the silence.
From between the mist and the broken branches, a figure stepped out.
He moved like a predator, slow and deliberate.
A tall man in dark grey flak armor, the symbol of Kirigakure gleaming faintly on his forehead protector—though a long gash ran across it, marking him as a missing-nin. His eyes were sharp, almost feral, and a cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Dried blood splattered parts of his uniform.
Even from a distance, his presence felt heavy.
Bloodthirst radiated off him like heat off a fire.
"A jonin..." Ken muttered grimly, recognizing the threat immediately.
Kaede's eyes hardened. "Everyone—back away and reform formation!"
Ken snapped similar orders to his own squad. "Kogane, Shiori, stay behind me!"
The young genin quickly obeyed, retreating several steps until Ken and Kaede formed a front line, shielding their younger comrades. Hiro and Nao pulled Akane further back toward cover, while Ren stayed close, muscles tensed like a coiled spring.
The Mist ninja chuckled low in his throat, amused at their reactions.
He slowly drew a long, curved kunai, twirling it lazily in his fingers.
"You little rats caught my scent quicker than the last ones..." he said, voice rough and mocking. "I thought I'd have to chase you deeper into the woods."
His bloodthirst grew more palpable with each word, an oppressive weight pressing down on the clearing.
"But it doesn't matter now," the jonin continued, stepping forward, mist curling at his feet. "Leaf... Stone... it makes no difference."
He spread his arms wide, as if embracing them all.
"Today, I'll paint this forest red with both your blood."
His killing intent surged, crashing against their senses like a physical wave. Ren gritted his teeth, feeling his legs instinctively want to freeze—but forced himself to hold steady. Kaede and Ken planted their feet firmly, their chakra flaring in quiet resistance.
"So that's how it is," Kaede said under her breath, her voice steady but sharp. "A missing-nin... and not a friendly one."
Ken nodded grimly beside her. "If we don't fight smart, we're dead."
The mist began to grow heavier again, swirling unnaturally around the Mist jonin's body. His chakra twisted the very air, a sign of deadly skill.
Ren swallowed hard. This isn't like fighting genin... this is the real thing.
Kaede spoke without turning her head. "Ren, Hiro, Nao—protect Akane at all costs. If we fall, you run."
Ken gave similar orders to his genin.
The two chunin stepped forward together, side by side—Konoha and Iwa shinobi facing a common enemy.
The Mist jonin grinned wider at the sight.
"Come, then," he said, raising his blade and sliding into a ready stance.
"Let's see how long you can dance before you die."
The mist thickened again, swallowing the forest whole.
And the real fight was about to begin.
---
The mist thickened until the world became nothing but grey.
Sound was muffled.
Sight was lost.
It was like being trapped inside a nightmare.
Kaede gritted her teeth, standing protectively in front of Akane and Ren.
Ken mirrored her on the opposite side, his stance low, his eyes darting left and right.
"Everyone stay close!" Kaede commanded. "Don't separate!"
The hidden mist pressed on their skin like cold fingers.
Fear crept into their bones.
Ren swallowed hard, his body tense, but... he noticed something.
Small sounds.
Tiny disturbances in the mist.
The faint crush of grass.
The whisper of a breath.
His hearing — his only advantage.
He narrowed his eyes, focusing entirely on the rhythm of the world.
Left. Heavy step. Right. Shift of weight. Behind Kaede.
"Incoming!" Ren shouted, pointing sharply.
At his call, Kaede moved instantly, unleashing a razor-thin gust of slicing wind.
Ken slammed his palms down, raising a stone wall just in time.
Clang!
Sparks erupted as a kunai met wind chakra.
A body blurred past — the Hidden Mist jonin, snarling.
He slipped back into the mist, invisible once more.
Inside the mist, the jonin paused.
That brat... he thought darkly. He's the one sensing me. Not the chunin. That boy.
His lips twisted into a cruel smile under his mask.
If I take him out, the rest will be blind sheep.
---
On the other side, Ren crouched low, heart pounding.
So this is a jonin... he thought, blood cold. He's faster than anyone I've ever seen.
Around him, Hiro, Nao, Kaede, Ken, and even Kogane and Shiori stood tense, backs nearly touching.
It was strange.
An hour ago, we were ready to kill each other.
Now we fight side by side.
The irony made Ren almost laugh bitterly.
In the end... survival always comes first.
The world fell into deadly silence.
Ren strained his hearing to its limits, trying to catch any sign — any whisper.
---
The jonin struck.
Fast. Deadly.
A blur of movement aimed directly at Ren.
Ren barely twisted aside, but the blade still found him.
Pain exploded from his side.
A kunai plunged deep into his flesh.
He gasped — but he didn't scream.
"REN!" Hiro and Nao cried out.
Kaede's chakra flared dangerously.
Ken roared and lashed out with earth-shattering force.
But the jonin already leapt back into the mist, a cruel chuckle echoing.
Blood poured from Ren's wound, soaking his side.
The others froze — shock and horror flashing across their faces.
The Mist jonin smirked, sure of his easy victory.
But then he saw it.
Ren's face — smiling.
Despite the agony.
Despite the blood loss.
Ren grabbed the jonin's ankle with iron strength.
"Got you," Ren hissed through gritted teeth.
The jonin's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
At Ren's signal, the genin exploded into action.
Hiro and Nao attacked from the sides.
Kogane and Shiori struck from behind.
The jonin twisted, parrying their attacks, but even a jonin couldn't ignore being surrounded.
Their hits weren't deadly — but they broke his flow.
And Ren never let go.
Anchored by the wounded boy, the Mist jonin's speed was compromised.
Kaede and Ken saw their chance.
Ken slammed his hands into the earth — Earth Style: Stone Spikes!
Jagged pillars of rock erupted beneath the jonin, throwing him off balance.
Kaede weaved hand seals faster than the eye could follow — Wind Style: Gale Slash!
Blades of compressed air howled toward the jonin.
He tried to dodge — but he couldn't.
The combined assault landed squarely.
A scream tore from the jonin's throat as the gale and the stones smashed into his body.
Blood sprayed in the mist.
The jonin staggered, clutching his side where bones cracked audibly.
Inside his mind, panic sparked.
If I stay... I'll die here.
Cursing bitterly, the jonin hurled a smoke bomb, clouding the area even further, and fled into the deepening mist.
---
When the mist finally began to clear, everyone was left panting.
Weapons lowered.
Bodies battered.
Hearts still racing.
Ken exchanged a glance with Kaede, chest heaving.
Neither said a word — but both understood.
They couldn't keep fighting.
Not today.
Ken grunted. "Another day, then."
Kaede nodded stiffly.
Without further words, the Stone nin retreated, disappearing into the forest with grim expressions.
---
The Leaf shinobi immediately gathered around Ren.
He was barely conscious, blood pouring freely from his side.
Akane's face went pale.
She dropped beside him, pressing glowing green chakra to his wound without hesitation.
"The wound's bad — deep! It's near his lung!" she said urgently.
"I can stop the bleeding for now, but if we don't get him to camp... he'll bleed out."
Kaede's face tightened with fear.
"Move!" she barked.
Nao and Hiro moved to lift Ren carefully, careful not to jostle the wound.
Akane kept her hands steady, maintaining the emergency healing as best she could while running.
---
They sprinted toward the camp.
Branches slapped their faces. Mud dragged at their boots.
But none of them stopped.
In Ren's fading consciousness, he heard the frantic voices around him.
"Stay with us, Ren!"
"Almost there!"
"Don't you dare die!"
And in that swirling darkness, Ren smiled faintly.
In the end... even if the world is cruel... sometimes, we find people willing to fight for us.
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