Dusk slowly descended behind the dense trees at the border, casting long shadows across the leafy ground and tree trunks. The chirping of crickets and whisper of the wind set a calm backdrop—too calm for an escort mission.
Team Hiroshi stood at the edge of the narrow path that cut through the forest, carrying a large basket of rare herbs—goods the village needed for medicinal mixtures and supplies. The mission was considered trivial: light, safe, routine. But for the three of them—Katsuki Bakugo, Hana Uchiha, and Ren Takahashi—and their sensei, it was their first real test as a team.
"Stay alert," a silent warning seemed to drift through the air as their feet pressed into the fallen leaves.
Their sensei, Hiroshi Yamato, walked ahead, his gaze empty yet vigilant—like a predator sensing danger before it emerged.
Ren carried the large herb basket, Hana guarded the rear, and Bakugo took the middle position. They moved slowly. The snap of a branch, the sweep of the wind, made the quiet even more pronounced.
Suddenly, Hiroshi's sensor flared—his subtle chakra waves holding their breath. He stopped, turning to the trees, his pale teal eyes narrowing.
"Foreign element… chakra structure… abnormal."
The short statement thickened the tension. Everything froze.
From the shadows near a large tree, a thin gray smoke began to rise—hot, foul steam. The acidic scent cut through the air—corrosive.
Hana startled, hands gripping her kunai. Ren raised his arms, ready to trace chakra paths. Bakugo growled, body tense, eyes blazing wildly.
No pause.
From the shadows, a rogue ninja appeared—wearing a tattered cloak and a bird-like mask. One hand clenched, from the other came a stream of corrosive vapor. This was no ordinary smoke—it was Boil Release: vapour style, a kekkei genkai combining water and fire chakra, producing acidic steam. The vapor could melt flesh, iron plating, even disrupt chakra defenses on contact.
Hana leapt back—the vapor hissed against the ground, momentarily evaporating the soil. "Don't…!" she shouted.
Ren moved fast—but the chakra pressure from the enemy shattered the wind wall he tried to form. A hard shock slammed him backward; his body hit the ground with a loud thud.
Bakugo, fire burning in his eyes, shot forward. "THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT!" he yelled. He channeled mixed chakra—cotton explosion + lightning + earth—into his palms. Yellow-orange sparks flickered, and moments later…
Explosion.
BOOM!
The blast wave of heat and light surged forward, hitting the corrosive vapor—as if fire challenged acid. But before major damage occurred, Hiroshi shouted, calm yet urgent:
> "No! Don't touch that vapor! It's a kekkei genkai!"
With a subtle motion—hands dancing—his sensor-elemental chakra spread, breaking down the corrosive steam into basic elements: water + fire. The acidic vapor dispersed, transforming into harmless smoke and small sparks—safer for the team, yet confusing enough to disorient the enemy.
Ren, sprawled on the ground, pushed himself up and released a gust of wind from his palms. A strong vortex circled the area, clearing the smoke, blocking sharp debris and hot fumes, giving the team a chance to breathe.
Hana, with precise chakra control, reset her stance, inhaled deeply, then launched a focused Katon toward the tree roots—creating a directional flame that disrupted the enemy's position. The fire scorched the dry earth, smoke rising, limiting the enemy's approach to the team.
The Boil Release user scowled. Their mask cracked, face obscured by smoke, voice muffled behind the beak. Before they could unleash another jutsu, Bakugo had already lunged; his explosive aura merged with lightning—pure destructive force.
The combo strike—explosion + speed + elements—hit the enemy hard. Their body toppled, leaving only chaotic chakra waves, quickly dispersed by Ren's wind and Hana's residual fire.
In the next moment—silence.
The smoke cleared. Dust settled. Among the heavy breaths and cracked earth, only three figures stood: Bakugo—chest heaving, eyes blazing; Hana—gaze alert yet calm; Ren—breathing steady, eyes fixed on the battle-scarred ground.
Sensei Yamato stepped forward. His face showed no satisfaction, only stern quiet. He observed them, checking for injuries, lingering chakra vibrations, and the surrounding environment. After a few seconds, his calm voice broke the remaining silence:
"Good work."
Three words—light, yet hitting like a hammer to their chests. Not grand praise, not a pat on the back. Just three words. But the meaning was clear: they survived. They were alive.
Ren straightened, looking at Bakugo and Hana. "We… made it," he said softly but with weight.
Hana pursed her lips, eyes still vigilant. "Don't think this is the start of victory," she thought. "There's still much to learn."
Bakugo simply glanced, a bitter smile twitching at his lips. "Fine… follow orders. But don't blame me if this path blows up."
Hiroshi looked at each of them coldly, yet with a faint glint of approval in his teal eyes. "You have potential. But untamed potential only leads to death—for you and those around you."
That night, walking down the village path lit by torches, the trio carried the herb basket home. But a new weight rested on their shoulders—and a resolve.
What seemed like a simple mission had been a real test. In an instant, the quiet forest became a battlefield, and the Boil Release they had dismissed as rumor proved that the ninja world was not so easy.
Yet they survived. They won.
And Team Hiroshi… had just opened a new chapter.