Chapter 3: Battle in the Cave
He sat beneath the shadow of the mountain. Not a trace of light remained in the extinguished sky. The wind plucked at the tips of the leaves, scattering them like snow. In an empty, silent world, he was alone—yet filled with inner noise.
One thing was clear: he hadn't come here by accident. Someone, somewhere, was guiding him. He felt it. But for what purpose, to what end—that he had yet to understand.
He had learned to converse with his shadow. Without words, only through feeling. Though still on the outside, inside him, a whirlwind raged—strength, fear, doubt… all hidden behind the veil of shadow.
That evening, he headed deep into the mountains. Into darkness that resembled a cave in the depths of the earth. Yet that darkness gave him a familiar sensation. A sudden drop. A tunnel clad in stone. Footsteps slicing through the silence.
Someone was watching him. He knew. Without letting knees or elbows touch the ground, he stepped with precision, stretching his shadow forward. But this time, his shadow… collided with another.
Movement ceased. Cold air slipped between his lips. A voice rose behind him.
— "Are you alone?"
He turned. In the dim light of a lantern, several figures emerged. Masked, scarred, eyes uneven. Some wore old uniforms, others unrecognizable black garb. None of the eyes showed fear—only anticipation, observation.
A tall one stepped forward, gaze locked.
— "Is that a shadow technique?"
He nodded. No need for explanation.
— "Controlling others with your own shadow… intriguing."
A cold smile. The man with hands on his lap gave a slight signal, and two others closed in. Still, he didn't resist. He hadn't come to escape—he came to understand.
The cave deepened. He caught new scents—wounds, oil, the dry smell of blood. The scent of survivors. Breaths of those whose battles never ended. This is where they lived.
Finally, they reached a wide chamber. The stone walls felt like they were watching. He stood. The tall man before him didn't turn but said:
— "We have rules. No one passes freely. Fight. We must see you."
A guard stepped forward—young, fast, unstable gaze. Lightning chakra gathered in his hands. When he moved, it was like a snap of wind.
But before the guard could strike, the darkness thickened. Shadows beyond the light stretched outward, expanding toward the walls. Then—a slash through the air.
The shadow detached and moved. Its tip cold, slicing. The guard stepped back—but too late. The shadow beneath his feet rose and slid across his back.
— "Your fear outran your speed." The whisper was quiet, yet the entire cave heard it.
With a hand gesture, the shadow settled. The guard, defeated, knelt down. Silence returned.
— "Interesting technique." The leader turned to look at him for the first time. Not at his face—but into his gaze, as if reading him. — "Turning fear into true power…"
Then something else stirred. An echo in the wall—not a breath, not a scream, but a whisper deep in the soul. Someone else was there. Far more dangerous.
— "A man with something we need has arrived," he said. The others began to shift.
They gave him a choice: stay, join—or leave. But he wouldn't leave alone.
— "We want to study your technique. Come with us. Or…"
The sentence remained unfinished. But the feeling was clear. He didn't step back.
— "I follow a purpose. I have no time to stay."
The leader tilted his head slightly. His gaze unchanged, yet his assessment seemed to shift.
— "Then another test. This time… with me."
Tension thickened. Between the two of them, the walls seemed to close in, the air growing cold. The light didn't go out, but the darkness deepened.
The man before him—experienced. He had won, killed, lost. He could kill with psychology alone.
This wasn't a real battle. It was a collapse of the mind. An attempt to break his balance, control him. But he understood:
No one can enter my shadow.
His technique slowly changed. This time, his movements weren't sharp—but steady. As he raised his hands, the cave walls began to release shadows. No one moved. Not even the leader. For the first time—they felt fear.
Suddenly, he took two steps. The leader remained still. The shadows flowed along the walls and spread beneath them. Alive, almost.
— "This is my path. I will continue."
He didn't look back. Every step was certain—without fear. His shadow followed.
The leader furrowed his brow.
— "Pity… He's too young. But far too powerful."
No one moved. His shadow left the cave—vanishing with him.
Chapter 3: Battle in the Cave
He sat beneath the shadow of the mountain. Not a trace of light remained in the extinguished sky. The wind plucked at the tips of the leaves, scattering them like snow. In an empty, silent world, he was alone—yet filled with inner noise.
One thing was clear: he hadn't come here by accident. Someone, somewhere, was guiding him. He felt it. But for what purpose, to what end—that he had yet to understand.
He had learned to converse with his shadow. Without words, only through feeling. Though still on the outside, inside him, a whirlwind raged—strength, fear, doubt… all hidden behind the veil of shadow.
That evening, he headed deep into the mountains. Into darkness that resembled a cave in the depths of the earth. Yet that darkness gave him a familiar sensation. A sudden drop. A tunnel clad in stone. Footsteps slicing through the silence.
Someone was watching him. He knew. Without letting knees or elbows touch the ground, he stepped with precision, stretching his shadow forward. But this time, his shadow… collided with another.
Movement ceased. Cold air slipped between his lips. A voice rose behind him.
— "Are you alone?"
He turned. In the dim light of a lantern, several figures emerged. Masked, scarred, eyes uneven. Some wore old uniforms, others unrecognizable black garb. None of the eyes showed fear—only anticipation, observation.
A tall one stepped forward, gaze locked.
— "Is that a shadow technique?"
He nodded. No need for explanation.
— "Controlling others with your own shadow… intriguing."
A cold smile. The man with hands on his lap gave a slight signal, and two others closed in. Still, he didn't resist. He hadn't come to escape—he came to understand.
The cave deepened. He caught new scents—wounds, oil, the dry smell of blood. The scent of survivors. Breaths of those whose battles never ended. This is where they lived.
Finally, they reached a wide chamber. The stone walls felt like they were watching. He stood. The tall man before him didn't turn but said:
— "We have rules. No one passes freely. Fight. We must see you."
A guard stepped forward—young, fast, unstable gaze. Lightning chakra gathered in his hands. When he moved, it was like a snap of wind.
But before the guard could strike, the darkness thickened. Shadows beyond the light stretched outward, expanding toward the walls. Then—a slash through the air.
The shadow detached and moved. Its tip cold, slicing. The guard stepped back—but too late. The shadow beneath his feet rose and slid across his back.
— "Your fear outran your speed." The whisper was quiet, yet the entire cave heard it.
With a hand gesture, the shadow settled. The guard, defeated, knelt down. Silence returned.
— "Interesting technique." The leader turned to look at him for the first time. Not at his face—but into his gaze, as if reading him. — "Turning fear into true power…"
Then something else stirred. An echo in the wall—not a breath, not a scream, but a whisper deep in the soul. Someone else was there. Far more dangerous.
— "A man with something we need has arrived," he said. The others began to shift.
They gave him a choice: stay, join—or leave. But he wouldn't leave alone.
— "We want to study your technique. Come with us. Or…"
The sentence remained unfinished. But the feeling was clear. He didn't step back.
— "I follow a purpose. I have no time to stay."
The leader tilted his head slightly. His gaze unchanged, yet his assessment seemed to shift.
— "Then another test. This time… with me."
Tension thickened. Between the two of them, the walls seemed to close in, the air growing cold. The light didn't go out, but the darkness deepened.
The man before him—experienced. He had won, killed, lost. He could kill with psychology alone.
This wasn't a real battle. It was a collapse of the mind. An attempt to break his balance, control him. But he understood:
No one can enter my shadow.
His technique slowly changed. This time, his movements weren't sharp—but steady. As he raised his hands, the cave walls began to release shadows. No one moved. Not even the leader. For the first time—they felt fear.
Suddenly, he took two steps. The leader remained still. The shadows flowed along the walls and spread beneath them. Alive, almost.
— "This is my path. I will continue."
He didn't look back. Every step was certain—without fear. His shadow followed.
The leader furrowed his brow.
— "Pity… He's too young. But far too powerful."
No one moved. His shadow left the cave—vanishing with him.