The forest was a battlefield now. Smoke curled from shattered trees, the scent of ozone and blood hanging heavy. Team 16 moved cautiously, every sense alert, every footstep measured.
Rei led the way, her sensory jutsu tracing faint chakra trails left by the fleeing Root operatives. "They're heading toward the old ruins," she whispered. "Something's there… and it's important."
Daiki grunted, cracking his knuckles. "Important or not, it's about to get messy."
Kiyoshi's eyes scanned the mist. "Stay focused. One mistake, and Hideo's life—and ours—is over."
Ahead, the first Root operative appeared, standing over a shallow pit. From the shadows, more figures emerged, but they were not alone.
Twisted shapes rose from the ground—chakra-mutated beasts, grotesque forms of foxes and wolves fused with chakra spikes, eyes glowing with unnatural light. Root had unleashed their experiments to guard the ruins.
"Chakra mutations," Kiyoshi muttered, feeling a shiver down his spine. "Same as… Valley of Hell."
The beasts leapt, claws and fangs flashing. Daiki met them head-on, fists moving faster than the eye could follow. Rei's genjutsu wove a snare, but one creature broke free, lunging toward Kiyoshi.
His blood surged instinctively, tendrils forming a cage around the attacking beast. He restrained it, but sweat beaded on his forehead—he felt the familiar strain of controlling his clan's power.
"You're holding back," Rei hissed. "If you lose focus, you'll get us all killed."
Kiyoshi didn't reply. He had no intention of losing control, but the beasts' energy—wild, corrupted—tested his limits with every strike.
Amid the chaos, the Root operative he had been tracking slipped deeper into the ruins, clutching a small, intricately carved box.
Daiki growled. "That's our guy. Let's cut him off."
The team advanced, weaving through the fray. Every step brought more mutated beasts, more Root shinobi. Each clash honed their coordination—Daiki striking forward, Kiyoshi restraining, Rei providing vision and control.
Finally, they cornered the operative near the ruins' center. He smirked behind his mask, holding up the box. "Curious little Chinoike," he said. "Did you really think we'd leave your relic unclaimed?"
Kiyoshi's eyes narrowed. "Relic?"
The operative laughed, cold. "Yes. The bloodline key. Your clan's power—it's more than an inheritance. It's a weapon. And Root will make sure it's ours."
Before Kiyoshi could respond, the operative vanished in a swirl of smoke, leaving the box suspended midair—protected by a barrier of chakra so dense it pulsed like a heartbeat.
Daiki growled, punching at the barrier. Rei's eyes widened. "Too strong. Even our combined chakra won't break it… not yet."
Kiyoshi stepped forward, feeling the pull in his blood, the familiar craving for control. He clenched his fists. "Then we take it back… together. Team 16, this is where we prove ourselves."
The beasts advanced again, surrounding them. Kiyoshi's crimson aura flared. Daiki roared, charging. Rei's hands shimmered with seals.
The Ashen Woods had become their crucible—and Team 16 was ready to forge themselves into something stronger than fear.