The mission was supposed to be simple a routine supply run to a forward outpost near the Hidden Grass Village. Kayomi ran quietly at the back of the group, his eyes focused on the system's quest details as he read through the mission.
[System Quest]
Objective: Deliver supplies to the outpost near Hidden Grass Village.
Reward: D-rank Earth Style Jutsu
Kayomi had been excited at first. A basic mission like this was a good way to improve his standing and maybe even get a new technique to help in combat. Earth Style Jutsu would be a solid addition to his growing arsenal of abilities.
His team was in high spirits as well. As they made their way through the dense forest toward the outpost, But his six eyes couldn't pick up any chakra signatures at all.
As they drew near the outpost, the atmosphere shifted. The faint smell of smoke lingered in the air, and Kayomi's gut tightened with unease. When they broke through the treeline and saw the devastation before them, his stomach sank.
The outpost lay in ruins.
The bodies of Konoha shinobi were scattered across the ground, their eyes vacant and their blood staining the dirt. The air was thick with the stench of smoke and burning wood.
A wounded Chunin, barely clinging to life, sat against the half-collapsed structure. His breath shallow. "Run… get back to the village… warn them…"
Kayomi's heart raced. This wasn't just a failed mission; it was a massacre. If they didn't make it out, Konoha would be blind to the enemy's movements. Realizing someone had to deliver the news, Kayomi's voice cut through the chaos. "Go! Take the wounded and run! We need to bring reinforcements and inform the Hokage."
The other Genin hesitated. Yuki, a girl from his team, looked at him with wide, fearful eyes. "What about you?"
"I will stay and tend to the wounded," Kayomi said, his voice fierce.
With a look of uncertainty but determination, Yuki nodded and helped the Chunin to his feet, leading the others away.
[Emergency System Quest]
Objective: Survive.
Reward: To be decided upon completion.
Before Kayomi could process what had just happened, the enemy emerged from the trees. Six Iwa-nin, their faces twisted in malicious grins. Their leader, a tall, scarred Chunin, smirked. "How noble. Too bad it won't save you."
The Iwa-nin didn't waste any time. Their jutsu flew toward Kayomi and his team in a deadly barrage.
"Fire Style: Multi-Fireball Barrage!"
A dozen fireballs streaked through the air, filling the sky with a blinding, suffocating heat. Kayomi didn't have time to dodge them all, but he could do something else.
He slammed his hands together, focusing his chakra as he rushed through the necessary hand signs. He yelled, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball shot from his mouth, meeting the barrage head-on. The explosion was blinding, and the heat was unbearable. For a brief moment, everything around him seemed to be consumed by flames.
[System Notification]
Fire Dragon Slayer Magic has absorbed external fire energy.
Fire Dragon Slayer Magic has leveled up! (Level 6 → Level 7)
Kayomi felt the fire surge through him, and his body responded instinctively, drawing in the heat, strengthening his magic. His arms and chest burned with pain, as each pasing moment was pure agony but he gritted his teeth and pressed on. He couldn't stop now.
Through the smoke, his Six Eyes flared to life. His vision sharpened, allowing him to track the movements of the enemy shinobi. A Genin from Iwa launched a kunai at him. With a quick flick of his wrist, Kayomi dodged, his One-Tomoe Sharingan enhancing his reflexes.
But they weren't finished. The Iwa-nin regrouped, launching a flurry of kunai and shuriken at Kayomi.
He moved swiftly, darting side to side, using the precision of his Six Eyes to predict their trajectories. But no matter how fast he moved, the attacks kept coming, and he couldn't evade them forever.
Kayomi was cornered.
Suddenly, the Iwa-nin leader formed a new hand seal. Before Kayomi could react, a ring of fire surrounded him, trapping him inside a fiery cage.
The heat was unbearable, the flames licking at his skin and threatening to overwhelm his senses.
[System Notification]
Fire Dragon Slayer Magic has leveled up! (Level 7 → Level 8)
[System Notification]
-! Beast Magic Activation Restricted !
- Reason: User's chakra is heavily disrupted due to injuries and excessive Fire Chakra saturation. Temporary instability detected.
Kayomi gritted his teeth. He had trained with Beast Magic, refined it, but right now? His body wasn't responding. His chakra felt sluggish, unstable—almost like the fire raging around him was drowning out his control.
Tch. No time to dwell on it. If Beast Magic wasn't an option, he had to adapt.
The enemy began to close in, weapons drawn, ready to finish him off.
Kayomi's heart raced in his chest. He couldn't escape. Not now. But there was still one last thing he could do.
"Fire Style: Ash Concealment!"
A thick cloud of smoke erupted from his body, surrounding him completely and shrouding him from view. Kayomi's Six Eyes pierced through the mist, locking onto the closest enemy.
With a roar, he lunged.
His fist slammed into the chest of one Iwa-nin, sending him crashing to the ground. One down, but there were still too many left.
Kayomi's body burned with exhaustion, but he didn't stop. He refused to be weak.
Before he could strike another enemy, a fresh barrage of fire rained down on him, the heat and impact overwhelming. The flames seared through his body, wracking him with pain. His vision blurred, his mind foggy.
[System Notification]
- Fire Dragon Slayer Magic has reached MAX Level.
- Trait Chakra Eater has been created.
- Sharingan: 2-Tomoe Activated.
Kayomi felt his body surge with power for a moment, but it was fleeting. His senses dulled again. The strain on his small body was too much. His legs buckled, and his vision began to fade.
The last thing he saw was the enemy leader raising his weapon to deliver the final blow.
Then, everything went dark.