The city had grown quiet once more. Streetlights flickered along cracked pavement, casting long, distorted shadows. The air was damp, carrying the faint tang of smoke and mildew from abandoned buildings. Naruto crouched atop a low rooftop, eyes scanning a narrow alleyway below. His trench coat flapped lightly in the wind, collar up, hands resting on the hilt of Purgatory.
Information from the contractor had led him here—a small warehouse near the industrial district where several of the missing night trainers had last been seen. Nothing overtly dangerous, nothing that screamed supernatural. But his instincts told him otherwise.
"Quiet streets, dim lights… perfect hunting ground," he muttered under his breath, the faintest smirk on his lips. "And judging by the smell, we're not alone."
Movement in the alley confirmed his suspicions. Shadows shifted unnaturally, and small, wiry demons scuttled along the walls, drawn by the scent of human activity. Naruto's golden eyes narrowed.
"Let's see what the night has brought us," he said quietly, descending from the rooftop with silent precision. He landed lightly on the cracked pavement, boots barely making a sound.
The first demon lunged from behind a dumpster. Its claws gleamed under the flickering light as it charged. Naruto stepped forward, letting the creature overcommit. Purgatory came up in a fluid arc, jagged edges cutting through its torso. Smoke hissed as the creature dissolved into darkness.
Two more demons appeared from opposite ends of the alley. Naruto pivoted smoothly, swinging Purgatory in a horizontal sweep that caught both at once. Sparks flew as their forms disintegrated, and he took a measured breath. The fight was intense, but his movements remained controlled, precise.
A larger demon, hunched and clawed, emerged from the shadows at the far end. Its glowing red eyes locked on him. Naruto didn't flinch. He stepped forward, letting the demon charge. Its claws slashed downward; he ducked, rolling to the side, and struck upward in a clean, lethal arc. Smoke curled as the creature disintegrated.
The remaining demons hesitated, circling, trying to regroup. Naruto adjusted his stance, golden eyes scanning, muscles coiled like a predator. He advanced slowly, Purgatory slicing with precision, each strike calculated to take out the enemies efficiently.
He moved through the alley like water flowing over jagged stones, never slowing, never panicking. One demon lunged from above, dropping from a fire escape. Naruto rolled under it, bringing the jagged edge of Purgatory up in a rising arc that cleaved the creature before it hit the ground. Another demon tried to flank him; a swift sidestep and a horizontal slash sent it spiraling into black smoke.
"Honestly," he muttered under his breath, brushing a damp lock of hair from his eyes, "I thought I was done with alleyways and warehouse shadows after training disappeared. Guess I was wrong."
The larger demon tried a second charge, swinging wildly. Naruto sidestepped and used its momentum against it, slashing diagonally and tearing through its arm. Sparks flared, and the demon staggered, howling. Naruto pressed the attack, careful, precise, relentless. Within moments, it dissolved into smoke like the others.
The fight was over. The alley was littered with the remnants of broken pavement, gouged walls, and faint smoke curling from where demons had fallen. Naruto stood at the center, Purgatory sheathed at his side, breathing steady, posture relaxed but alert. The street was quiet again.
He surveyed the alley, noting marks, claw strikes, and any detail that could provide clues about the demons' origin. One of the dumpsters had a faint, lingering residue—something magical, something faintly demonic. He knelt, inspecting it carefully, making mental notes.
"Not much, but enough to start piecing things together," he muttered. "Someone's organizing these attacks. Someone's using the city as their hunting ground."
A faint sound behind him made him spin, Purgatory raised, muscles coiled. A small, wiry demon had remained hidden, waiting for an opening. Naruto's movements were swift, precise—he didn't speak, didn't hesitate. A single strike and it disintegrated into black smoke.
Satisfied, he straightened, golden eyes sweeping the alley. The warehouse loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. Naruto approached carefully, every step calculated, ready for whatever might emerge. His investigation wasn't just about surviving; it was about uncovering the truth behind these disappearances and ensuring no one else vanished under his watch.
"Let's see what secrets you're hiding," he muttered, sliding the door open with a practiced hand. Darkness swallowed him as he stepped inside. The air was thick, still, almost suffocating. Faint footprints, scattered debris, and signs of recent activity suggested he wasn't the first to enter.
A low growl echoed from deeper within the warehouse. Naruto tightened his grip on Purgatory, eyes scanning the shadows. Lower-level demons emerged, surrounding him. He didn't flinch. He moved like water, rolling, pivoting, slicing, and striking with surgical precision. Sparks flared as Purgatory met demonic flesh, black smoke hissing as the creatures dissolved.
By the time he reached the center of the warehouse, the demons were gone. He inspected the area, noting faint magical residues and patterns in their behavior. The disappearances were coordinated. The demons weren't acting alone. Someone or something was orchestrating them.
Naruto leaned against a crate, chest rising and falling with calm breaths. He smirked faintly. "Interesting. Very interesting." He pulled out a small notebook, jotting down observations, patterns, and theories. Each detail mattered. Each clue brought him closer to the truth.
The night was far from over. The city still held shadows, mysteries, and threats lurking behind every corner. But Naruto, calm, experienced, and just quirky enough to keep life interesting, was ready. His investigation had only just begun, and he would see it through, one shadow at a time.
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