1. In the Western Forest
A cold wind rustled through the dense canopy of the western forest. Dry leaves danced in the air, carried by the breeze before gently settling onto the forest floor. The silence was strange—tense—only broken by the soft crunch of footsteps through fallen leaves and the quiet breathing of two hunters, both waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Underneath an ancient tree, two figures faced off.
On one side—Yuhi Kurenai. Her slim frame held steady with resolve, black hair flowing gently with the wind. Her deep crimson eyes gleamed with determination.
On the other—Tatami Iwashi, one of the future personal guards of the Fourth Hokage. His stance was firm, his gaze sharp. In his hand, a blade gleamed faintly under the moonlight.
No words.
No taunts.
Only action.
2. The Clash! Genjutsu vs. Kenjutsu
SWOOSH!
Iwashi lunged forward like a launched arrow, blade slicing through the air in a vicious arc.
CLANG!
Kurenai spun sideways, her kunai meeting the blade with a shower of sparks as steel clashed against steel.
Iwashi pushed off, flipping in midair, spinning into a crushing kick toward her ribs.
Kurenai ducked low, narrowly evading it—then retaliated with a flurry of shuriken!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Iwashi deflected each one with his sword, his movements precise.
But then—
GENJUTSU: ACTIVATE!
Kurenai smiled faintly. Her crimson eyes shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
Iwashi's steps faltered.
The forest twisted.
Light dimmed.
Everything around him warped like a dream slipping into a nightmare.
He was caught.
In his eyes, Kurenai vanished. The trees writhed, darkness closed in, and from the shadows—
Sharp vines burst from the ground, entangling his limbs, locking him in place.
He couldn't move.
And the darkness… was swallowing him whole.
3. Breaking the Illusion – Turning the Tide
"Damn it!"
Iwashi bit down hard on his tongue. Pain shot through his skull, giving him a moment of clarity.
But not enough.
"I need a bigger shock…!"
He gritted his teeth, hurled his own sword into the air—
THUNK!
It reached its peak and plunged down—
STAB!
Right into his own upper arm.
The pain exploded through his nerves—
THE GENJUTSU SHATTERED!
In a flash, Iwashi's eyes sharpened. Without hesitation—
SWOOSH!
He disappeared from sight—then reappeared right behind Kurenai.
His cold blade pressed against her throat.
"You're strong… but I'm not that easy to defeat."
Kurenai stiffened. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple.
She had lost.
4. Gai vs. Iwashi – The Eight Gates Unleashed
Iwashi straightened, breathing heavy from the mental strain. But before he could leave—
A voice echoed with unshakable energy!
"Sorry, but I can't let you walk away with that scroll!"
He turned—
Might Guy stood nearby, that iconic grin blazing, eyes burning with passion.
Iwashi raised an eyebrow.
"Gai…? Weren't you the class dunce?"
But then—
WHOOM!
A surge of heat exploded from Gai's body. The ground trembled. Leaves flew into the air like a storm.
Iwashi's eyes widened.
"The Eight Gates…?!"
5. Gai's Victory – A Promise Fulfilled
The battle ended in a blur.
Gai's kicks were too fast.
His reactions—too sharp.
Each strike carried overwhelming power. Even a trained elite like Iwashi couldn't hold out.
He tried his best—countered with swordplay—but Gai dodged everything with ease, hammering back with devastating blows that shattered any defense.
When it was over—
Iwashi lay motionless on the ground, drenched in sweat, body aching from Gai's relentless assault.
And Gai?
Still grinning wide, holding the Ten Character Scroll.
He looked up at the sky, the moonlight shining through the trees, cool wind brushing across his sweat-drenched face.
"Sensei… I kept my promise."
"I will become a splendid ninja!"
End of Chapter.