CTS TIME RE250.06.01 – 2:15 PM
After a long journey, Ryuji, Kai, and Aiko finally returned to Hikarashi Village, the place where their story had truly begun. The village streets were bustling with life, the air filled with the sounds of merchants calling out their wares, children playing, and shinobi moving swiftly across rooftops.
Their destination was clear—the Academy, where all the new-gen Genin teams would be gathering. This was a rare moment of respite before their upcoming missions and the looming Chunin Exams.
As they entered the academy grounds, a familiar scene awaited them:
Team 6:
Daisuke Tenma – The powerhouse brawler, always looking for a fight.
Tama Aihara – Hana's older brother, wielding the Shirayugan just like her.
Mizuki Yamaoka – A tactical kunoichi with sharp instincts.
Team 5:
Haruki Aozora – The wind user and Rento's rival.
Reina Fushimi – A fierce kunoichi with a bold attitude.
Souta Nagami – The quiet but highly analytical team member.
Team 4 (The Shadow Fang Squad):
Tetsuo Kurogane – The wild beast-style fighter.
Rento Hagane – The lazy yet strategic genius.
Hana Aihara – The silent, observant ice-user.
As soon as they arrived, Kai became the center of attention.
Daisuke and Tama fixated on Kai, intrigued by his Yamigan, a dojutsu that rivaled their Shirayugan.
Every girl's attention was also on Kai, drawn to his cool demeanor.
Reina and Aiko's rivalry ignited once more, both competing for Kai's attention.
Meanwhile, Ryuji and Daisuke glared at Kai in silent frustration—why did everyone like him so much?!
But the most humiliating moment for Ryuji was yet to come.
A few students started whispering behind his back.
"Isn't Ryuji the only one who can't even make a simple Shadow Clone?"
"Yeah, even the weakest Genin can do it. What a loser."
Laughter erupted around him, making his blood boil. His fists clenched tightly, and without hesitation, he roared:
"I will become the strongest Shinobi Blader ever! You all will see!"
The entire academy fell silent for a moment before breaking into murmurs. Some were amused, others intrigued—but one thing was clear: Ryuji refused to be looked down upon.
***
Meanwhile, Seinna had taken a different path, heading toward Aiko's grandmother's house.
The elderly woman welcomed her with a warm smile, offering tea and a seat by the garden. After exchanging greetings, Seinna quickly excused herself, making her way to the work station where her real duty awaited.
She had several reports to send, including one about the upcoming Chunin Exams. However, there was one classified mission report she had to prepare:
The Kasai Clan – An isolated warrior clan that worshipped a legendary deity, Zephyron, the God of War.
Their sacred ground was the Black Towers of Zephyron, a temple rumored to hold forbidden secrets.
As she typed away, her mind drifted toward a personal problem she had been struggling with.
Inside her bag, she had found something unexpected—an advanced wristwatch, nearly identical to the one she was wearing.
A faint smile crossed her lips as she thought about Jasper, the one person she had loved and hated the most.
"Maybe I could give this to him…" she thought.
But she quickly snapped back to reality.
Jasper was dangerous.
He had blackmailed her before, using her private videos as leverage. If she showed any sign of vulnerability, he would take advantage of it.
"Jasper will think I've given up on him."
Just as she was lost in thought, the door opened.
Jasper and Serena entered the room.
Seinna acted swiftly, shoving the extra wristwatch back into her bag, keeping her expression neutral. She pretended to be focused on her work, typing as if nothing had happened.
Jasper walked up behind her, resting a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Seinna, you really like your work, huh?" he said, looking at her screen.
Before she could respond, Serena smirked and teased:
"Oh, how romantic, Jasper."
But this time, Jasper didn't react.
Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against Seinna's ear, and spoke softly:
"I will pray that you find someone better… someone who understands you. You were already broken by what I've done, yet you still failed to understand my feelings. From today onwards, Serena and I will disappear from your life like a bad dream."
Then, he squeezed her shoulder tightly, his grip filled with both frustration and finality.
Seinna felt the weight of his words. No matter what she did, Jasper hated her now. But deep down, she still had one last chance to say sorry…
Because she still loved him.
Before the tension could escalate further, Serena clapped her hands together and changed the subject:
"Alright, lovebirds, before we finish packing, let's go to the market! At least let me buy some kimonos and ninja outfits… and, of course, your new wristwatch."
Jasper exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
"That's actually a good idea. I could use some new ninja gear. I'll show off against Talon and Dante."
With that, the three of them left for the village marketplace, but Seinna's heart remained heavy.
***
Elsewhere, Kenshiro and Ghesso had a more important task to complete.
The two shinobi made their way toward the Homurakage's office, walking through the grand corridors lined with mission scrolls and historical records of past leaders.
They reached the office, where an elder shinobi greeted them.
"State your purpose," the shinobi asked, glancing at their uniforms.
"We need three forms for the Chunin Exam selection," Kenshiro stated firmly.
The shinobi nodded, handing over the documents.
As Kenshiro scanned the forms, he realized that this year's exam would be more brutal than ever.
Not only were the village's strongest Genin participating, but several rogue elements and external clans were rumored to have infiltrated the selection process.
Even worse, whispers of Jasper's involvement in something dangerous had begun spreading.
Kenshiro clenched his fist.
"We need to prepare."
With the forms in hand, he turned to Ghesso.
"It's time to gather our teams. The Chunin Exams won't be just a test… it'll be a war."
***
Jasper and Serena moved through the bustling Hikarashi marketplace, picking out supplies for their journey. Stalls lined the streets, offering everything from shinobi gear to exotic foods.
Serena was busy selecting her prescribed foods, ensuring she had enough nutrients for her condition. Meanwhile, Jasper browsed the weapon stalls, testing the weight of a few kunai and inspecting different types of wristwatches, searching for a replacement for the one Seinna had destroyed.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, Jasper spotted Ghesso approaching.
Jasper turned to Serena and whispered, "I'll go check that side to see if I can find some fancy watches."
Serena, still scanning through a row of neatly arranged fruit, barely nodded.
As Jasper stepped away, Ghesso grinned widely, placing a hand on Jasper's shoulder.
"Wanna see something big?" Ghesso teased.
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you told me earlier that I was going to see something big. What is it?"
Ghesso simply patted his shoulder and said, "Just wait here… five minutes."
Jasper crossed his arms and leaned against a wooden stall, watching as Ghesso disappeared into the crowd.
Exactly five minutes later, Jasper's eyes caught sight of a woman walking gracefully through the market.
She was unlike anyone he had ever seen.
Her presence was otherworldly, radiating an aura of elegance and divine power. As she moved, it was as if the very air around her adjusted to her presence, allowing her to glide effortlessly.
Then—
SMACK!
Ghesso slapped the back of his head, snapping him out of his trance.
"Don't look at her like a damn pervert, you idiot!" Ghesso scolded. "She's one of the Legendary Sages—her name is Ayame Nozomi."
Jasper rubbed his head and muttered, "Ouch, damn it... but still, she's absolutely gorgeous."
Then, curiosity struck him.
"Wait... what exactly is the 'big' thing I was supposed to see?" Jasper asked, glancing at Ghesso.
Ghesso grinned mischievously and motioned with his hands, describing an exaggeratedly large size in the air.
Jasper squinted. "Wait... are you talking about her...?"
Ghesso nodded proudly, whispering, "Big melons, my friend. And with the perfect giggling physics."
Jasper leaned slightly forward, pretending to be casual as he analyzed Ayame's figure.
Then his eyes widened in shock.
"Wait, wait, wait… how big are they?!" Jasper asked.
Ghesso grinned smugly. "A pervy sage never reveals his secrets, my friend."
A Meeting with the Celestial Sage
As Jasper and Ghesso were whispering among themselves, Ayame suddenly turned toward them.
"Oh, you're here, Ghesso," she said in a soft yet commanding voice.
Then, her glowing green eyes landed on Jasper.
"And you… you must be Jasper Tyros, the outsider."
Jasper straightened up instantly, his casual demeanor shifting into something more respectful.
He placed a hand over his chest and slightly bowed his head.
"You are correct, my lady," he replied smoothly. "It is an honor to meet such a divine presence."
Ayame smiled faintly, the expression both warm and unreadable.
"I'm simply exploring the area. This village still looks very much the same," she mused, glancing around.
Then, with one final glance at Jasper, she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd like a ghostly mirage.
As soon as she was gone, Jasper let out a deep breath.
"Holy shit… that was intense."
Ghesso grinned and patted his back. "So? You like big ones, huh?"
Jasper rolled his eyes. "That's not the point! You could have told me I was about to meet someone THAT powerful!"
Ghesso simply chuckled and continued, "Well, you might want to stay here for four or five months. You'll witness the Chunin Exams firsthand. I can even teach you some Ninjutsu or Taijutsu if you want. And if you live with me… you'll help with my 'research' as well."
Jasper considered it for a moment before shrugging. "Okay, done."
Then, a thought struck him.
"Wait a second—you told me that you're over 3,000 years old… so how old is Lady Ayame?"
Ghesso took a sip from his drink and casually answered:
"More than 9,000 years."
Jasper froze. His brain took a solid ten seconds to process that information.
Then he blinked rapidly, shaking his head.
"WHAT THE FUCK?! SHE LOOKS 25 AT MOST!"
Ghesso burst out laughing. "Yeah, we Legendary Sages age differently. We might as well be immortal."
Jasper leaned against the stall, rubbing his temples.
"First, I get nearly killed by Seinna… then I find out that these so-called 'Sages' are all immortal weirdos… what the hell kind of world did I end up in?"
With that, Jasper and Ghesso continued walking, heading toward the next destination, while Jasper tried to wrap his head around everything he had just learned.
***
Serena pushed open the wooden door, stepping inside Aiko's grandmother's house, her arms full of bags. The weight wasn't just from the new clothes and food she had bought, but also from the baby toys she had impulsively grabbed.
She set everything down in the corner of the room, exhaling loudly.
"Where the hell is Jasper?" she muttered to herself. "That idiot told me he went to look for a wristwatch, and now he's missing?"
Her eyes swept across the room, searching for any sign of him, but instead, her gaze landed on Seinna.
The usually composed and confident woman was sitting motionless at her workstation, her head lowered, her hands resting on the desk. Serena took a step closer and noticed what Seinna was staring at—a wristwatch identical to the one she always wore.
The workstation itself was filled with three high-tech monitors, holographic projections, and various gadgets, but Seinna's entire focus was on that one single watch.
Serena tilted her head, stepping closer.
"That's a beautiful and advanced-looking watch," she commented, trying to start a conversation.
But Seinna didn't respond.
Serena's playful expression faded when she saw something unexpected—
Tears.
Silent drops of sadness fell from Seinna's cold silver eyes, landing onto the smooth metallic surface of the watch.
Serena immediately frowned, her voice softening.
"Hey… What happened?" she asked, placing a gentle hand on Seinna's shoulder. "You're strong. Tell me what's wrong."
Without another word, Serena pulled Seinna into a hug.
At first, Seinna didn't move. But after a moment, she gripped Serena's shirt tightly, taking deep, shaky breaths.
And then—she spoke.
"Jasper…" Seinna whispered, her voice raw.
Serena stayed silent, just listening.
"Jasper secretly downloaded my private videos from my wristwatch," Seinna said, her hands clenching into fists. "Then he tried to blackmail me with them. So I broke his watch… and I punched him in the face."
Serena's eyes widened slightly.
"At least ten times," Seinna added. "And I used every harsh word I could think of. I wanted him to feel what it's like to be completely shattered."
Serena nodded slowly, rubbing Seinna's back to comfort her.
But then Seinna's voice broke even further—
"But after everything… I still care about him. I still love him."
Serena's chest tightened at those words.
"Even after all the humiliation… even after everything he's done to hurt me… I still want to give him this watch." Seinna lifted the new, advanced wristwatch in her trembling hands.
Serena exhaled, processing everything.
Finally, she spoke.
"That idiot…" Serena muttered, shaking her head. "Jasper really went too far this time."
Seinna lowered her gaze, looking almost ashamed.
"But…" Serena continued, "you still love him. So go find him. Give him the watch. Maybe—just maybe—his mood will change. Maybe he'll delay our return time. And maybe… you'll get one last chance."
Seinna hesitated. "But what if he truly hates me now? Or… what if he always hated me from the beginning?"
Serena placed her hands firmly on Seinna's shoulders, forcing her to look up.
"If there's even a one percent chance… then try," she said firmly.
Seinna's heart pounded.
Then, with a deep breath, she grabbed the wristwatch, wiped her tears, and stood up.
Seinna searched the village, moving through the busy streets with purpose.
Then, finally—she found him.
Jasper was sitting inside the Inferno Ramen Shop, laughing with Ghesso.
The scene was almost ridiculous—both of them had tears in their eyes, red faces, and were gasping for air as they struggled to handle the insanely spicy ramen in front of them.
"HOLY SHIT—MY MOUTH IS ON FIRE!!" Jasper shouted, chugging a glass of water.
Ghesso, also sweating profusely, coughed violently. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO CHALLENGE ME, YOU IDIOT!"
Seinna paused for a second, watching them.
It was strange—after everything that happened, Jasper looked… happy. He was laughing, joking, acting as if nothing had happened between them.
Her chest tightened, but she took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Ghesso, noticing her approach, froze for a split second.
Then, with a sly grin, he instantly disappeared, teleporting away in a puff of smoke.
Jasper, still recovering from the burning spice, didn't notice at first.
"Hey, where the hell did you go—" Jasper started, looking toward where Ghesso had been sitting.
Then—he saw her.
Seinna stood there, expression unreadable, holding something tightly in her hands.
Jasper's eyes narrowed, his smile instantly vanishing.