The streets of Minato Town were quieter than usual, the kind of silence that pressed against the skin and made every sound feel sharper. Teriyaki and his fledgling team moved carefully through the alleys, keeping to the shadows. Their target was no ordinary criminal—a dangerous fugitive who had been slipping through the city's grasp for weeks.
"This is him," Akonto said, voice low and steady. "He's cunning, ruthless, and he knows how to exploit weaknesses. One mistake, and we lose more than just the mission."
Flare adjusted the straps on her daggers, eyes flicking from shadow to shadow. "Great. So basically, it's exactly like our first real fight, but with higher stakes."
Teriyaki swallowed, heart hammering in his chest. He had trained, learned to control his powers better, and built trust with his allies—but the thought of facing someone with lethal intent still made him tense.
A figure appeared at the end of the alley, cloaked in ragged black. His movements were deliberate, almost predatory. The fugitive's eyes gleamed as he spotted Teriyaki's team, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
"Well, well… what do we have here?" the man sneered. "A child playing hero with his little friends?"
Teriyaki stepped forward, purple energy flaring faintly around his hands. "We're not children. And you're done running."
The fugitive laughed, a chilling, hollow sound. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged at the team, attacking with a precision that made Teriyaki's head spin.
Flare spun, her daggers whistling through the air, blocking strikes and creating openings. Akonto moved like liquid shadow, intercepting attacks with minimal motion, guiding Teriyaki's focus with sharp, calm instructions.
"Concentrate! Feel the flow, don't fight it!" Akonto barked.
Teriyaki clenched his fists, violet energy coiling tightly around him. He dodged, countered, and finally found an opening, sending a surge of power that knocked the fugitive back several feet.
But the man recovered instantly, smirking. "You're stronger than I expected… but still weak. Weakness is always punished."
He lunged again, faster this time, forcing Teriyaki to dive to the side. Pain seared his shoulder as he hit the ground, but he refused to give up. Around him, his allies continued to fight, moving in sync, defending each other, pushing back against overwhelming odds.
Teriyaki's aura flared brighter. For the first time, he felt not just his power, but its connection to the team, to the people who had chosen to stand with him. Every strike he made was guided by instinct, but also by trust—the unspoken bond between friends who had nothing but faith in each other.
With a roar, Teriyaki unleashed a concentrated blast of purple energy. It hit the fugitive squarely, sending him sprawling into the wall behind. Smoke and dust filled the alley, and for a moment, everything was still.
The fugitive groaned, struggling to rise. "This… isn't over…" he hissed before disappearing into the night, leaving only a faint echo of his laughter behind.
Teriyaki collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. Flare crouched beside him, hands on her hips, smiling despite the bruises and cuts. "Not bad for a first real fight," she said.
Akonto extended a hand to help Teriyaki up. "We've only begun to test you," he said softly. "But today… you led. You protected. You survived. That is what matters."
Teriyaki looked around at his friends—his team—and finally allowed himself a small, exhausted smile. They were learning. Growing. And he was beginning to understand the responsibility of being the Purple Samurai.
From the shadows, unseen eyes observed once more. The White Fang organization noted the boy's growing skill and the strength of his allies. Plans were whispered, dark and precise. The boy who wielded the Purple Samurai's power was no longer a secret…
And the storm was approaching.