The Kasai Clan's private training grounds were built inside a vast stone courtyard, surrounded by high black walls lined with flaming torches.
The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the polished stone tiles.
Standing at the center, Kenshiro folded his arms, his piercing amber eyes scanning his students.
Aiko, Kai, and Ryuji stood before him, tense but ready.
"This isn't a lesson. This isn't training."
Kenshiro's voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet air like a blade.
"Show me everything you've got."
Ryuji's eyes widened slightly. "Everything?"
Kenshiro nodded. "Your battle instincts. Your strengths. Your weaknesses. I need to see where you truly stand."
He looked at them carefully.
Aiko – The Intelligent One
Kai – The Sharp One
Ryuji – The Unpredictable One
"Each of them has something unique… but none of them are complete warriors yet."
Kai's Deadly Precision – Fire & Lightning Mastery
Kai stepped forward first.
His crimson Yamigan flickered, his pupils sharp like a predator's.
Without hesitation—he formed a single hand seal.
"Fire Style: Ash Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive burst of blackened flames erupted from his mouth, twisting into the shape of a dragon.
The flames roared, scorching the ground, leaving behind nothing but burning embers and thick smoke.
But before the smoke could settle—
"Lightning Style: Thunder Fang Jutsu!"
Kai clenched his fist, and in an instant—his entire arm was coated in bright violet lightning.
His body vanished in a blur—moving with inhuman speed as he reappeared behind a wooden training post.
With a single electrified strike, he shattered it to pieces.
Kenshiro watched, impressed but not surprised.
"His chakra control is elite. But his arrogance will hold him back."Ryuji's Shadow Clone Barrage – The Wild Card
"Alright, my turn!"
Ryuji jumped forward, cracking his knuckles.
He formed a hand seal and grinned.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A loud puff of smoke exploded around him—
And suddenly, ten copies of Ryuji stood side by side.
Kai narrowed his eyes. "Tch. Clones again?"
Ryuji smirked.
"Watch closely, pretty boy."
Before Kai could react—
All ten clones launched forward at once, weaving between each other in unpredictable movements.
They zig-zagged across the battlefield, some jumping high, others rolling low.
It was a chaotic flurry of fists and kicks—so fast that it was nearly impossible to track which one was the original.
Kenshiro's eyebrows raised slightly.
"He's not just relying on numbers. He's using misdirection."
But then—
Kai moved.
With a single flicker of lightning, he erased all ten clones instantly.
Ryuji stumbled back, panting.
Kai crossed his arms. "Still predictable."
Ryuji gritted his teeth. "Tch. I just need more power."
Kenshiro, observing closely, remained silent.
"Power isn't his problem. Control is."
Aiko's Deadly Precision – Raw Strength & Tactics
Aiko stepped forward last.
Unlike the others—she didn't use flashy techniques.
Instead, she simply drew a single kunai.
Kenshiro's eyes narrowed.
"Let's see what she does."
Aiko exhaled slowly, her eyes scanning the battlefield like a strategist.
Then—she vanished.
Not in speed—but in silence.
Kai and Ryuji barely had time to react—
Before Aiko appeared behind Kai, her kunai aimed at his neck.
Kai's eyes widened. "What—?"
Before he could counter—she was gone again.
In a blur, she reappeared next to Ryuji, her blade slicing through the air toward his ribs.
Ryuji barely blocked in time, staggering back.
Kenshiro smirked slightly.
"Smart. Fast. Tactical. She doesn't rely on brute force—she strikes where it hurts most."
"Alright, that's enough."
The three students stopped, panting.
Kenshiro walked forward, hands behind his back.
"Here's my analysis."
Kai – Your power is deadly, but your arrogance makes you reckless.
Ryuji – You have limitless potential, but you rely too much on chaos. Learn to control yourself.
Aiko – Your tactics are flawless, but your raw strength is still lacking.
He looked at them seriously.
"Each of you is strong. But not strong enough. We'll train harder. Tomorrow, you'll understand what true combat feels like."
Kai smirked. "Tch. I can handle it."
Ryuji grinned. "Bring it on!"
Aiko nodded. "I'm ready."
But Kenshiro's thoughts were elsewhere.
"Kai's darkness… Ryuji's transformation… Aiko's hidden potential…"
"I need to prepare them for what's coming.
---
Meanwhile—
Jasper sat outside the ninja hospital, his back against the wall.
His arms were crossed, his mind racing.
Serena and Seinna had been inside for over an hour.
And he was tired of pretending he didn't care.
"Damn it."
For days, he had ignored Seinna.
Refused to talk to her.
Refused to acknowledge her.
But now?
He had questions.
And there was only one person who could answer them.
The hospital doors slid open.
Seinna and Serena stepped out, Serena looking shaken but composed.
Jasper stood up immediately, his blue eyes locking onto Seinna.
Jasper stood in front of Seinna, his fists clenched.
His blue eyes burned with frustration, his heart pounding.
For days, he had ignored her.
For days, he had pushed her away, avoided talking, refused to acknowledge her presence.
But now—
He had no choice.
His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.
"Tell me what's going on. Now."
Seinna raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms.
"Oh? So now you want to talk?"
Jasper gritted his teeth.
"Seinna, just say it."
Serena, standing beside Seinna, was watching closely.
She knew what was coming.
Seinna, always composed, always in control, gave Jasper a slow, knowing smile.
"Fine. But first—"
She leaned in slightly, silver eyes gleaming.
"Say my name properly."
Jasper's eye twitched.
"Tch. You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Seinna simply smirked.
Serena, unable to hold back, laughed.
"Ohhh, Jasper, you're so screwed."
Jasper glared at her. "Not. Helping."
But deep down, he knew Seinna had him cornered.
There was no escaping this now.
Jasper took a deep breath, reluctantly saying her name.
"Seinna."
Seinna smirked. "See? That wasn't so hard."
Jasper rolled his eyes. "Just talk."
Seinna glanced at Serena, who nodded, silently giving her permission.
Then, Seinna dropped the bombshell.
"Serena is pregnant."
Jasper froze.
For a moment, his mind went blank.
"Wait. What?"
Seinna's expression didn't change. "She's going to be a mother. My scanner confirmed it last night. The hospital just confirmed it again."
Jasper's brain completely short-circuited.
He turned to Serena. "You're serious?"
Serena, nervous but smiling, placed a hand on her stomach.
"Yeah. It's real."
Jasper's heart pounded.
For the first time in a long time, he felt something deep inside him shift.
This wasn't just another mission.
This wasn't just another fight.
This was Serena.
His friend.
His battle partner.
And now—she was going to be a mother.
He couldn't explain it, but—
A wide grin spread across his face.
"Holy shit. Serena. You're gonna be a mom."
Serena laughed, a little teary-eyed. "I know, right?"
"Blaze is gonna freak."
Serena nodded. "I know."
Jasper suddenly grabbed her shoulders.
"We have to tell Dante and Talon. They're gonna lose their minds! And Blaze—when we find him, I swear, I'm gonna punch him for leaving you!"
Serena laughed harder.
For a moment—everything felt right.
But then—
Jasper's mind snapped back to something else.
His expression darkened slightly.
He glanced at Seinna.
She was watching him closely, smiling slightly, as if she had already predicted his next move.
"Damn it. She knows."
Jasper gritted his teeth.
"Fine. If she thinks she's winning, I'll just have to make her hate me faster."
He needed to find a way to push her away completely.
And fast.
---
While Jasper was processing the news, Kenshiro had his own concerns.
He stood in the Kasai Clan's private training grounds, arms crossed, watching his students.
Aiko, Kai, and Ryuji stood in front of him, waiting for instructions.
But Kenshiro wasn't interested in drills.
He wanted to test them.
"No more warm-ups. No more simple exercises."
His voice was firm, commanding.
"We are moving into real combat scenarios."
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Real combat?"
Kenshiro nodded.
"Tomorrow, you fight me."
Aiko and Ryuji froze.
Kai's mouth curled into a smirk. "Tch. You're serious?"
Kenshiro didn't blink.
"If you want to be strong, you have to survive a real battle."
His amber eyes burned like molten gold.
"And I will not hold back."
Aiko swallowed hard.
Ryuji gritted his teeth. "Alright. Bring it on."
Kai simply smirked. "I've been waiting for this."
But deep down, Kenshiro was watching them carefully.
He wasn't just testing their strength.
He was testing their resolve.
"Ryuji's transformation is unstable."
"Kai's hatred will consume him if he doesn't control it."
"Aiko is sharp, but she still lacks power."
They had potential—but potential wasn't enough.
They needed to become warriors.
And if they couldn't?
Then they wouldn't survive.