The sun was barely rising past the mountain peaks, but the village was already alive with excitement and unease. Students raced through the cobbled streets, forming last-minute teams. The aroma of fresh dumplings from nearby food stalls lingered in the air, though most vendors had closed early to watch the start of the First Challenge from their home windows. Horses trotted uneasily in their pens.
Ryju stopped mid-step, a chill running down his spine. His eyes narrowed, body tensing. That feeling again… bloodlust. It wasn't just fear. It was hatred. Rage. Pure killing intent.
He turned sharply. "Rei, do you feel that? All that bloodlust… it's thick in the air."
Rei's expression darkened. "I feel it too. But I can't pinpoint where it's coming from."
Elsewhere — A Forgotten Cave Beneath the Village
At the edge of the Ninja Academy training grounds, a small cave sat tucked beside the village wall—hidden from most eyes and easy to overlook. Old lanterns flickered weakly along the narrow walls. Deep inside, surrounded by jagged stone and darkness, a confrontation had begun.
A trembling voice echoed off the walls.
"P-Please… don't hurt me…"
It was the blue-haired girl from earlier. Her knees shook as she backed against the cold wall.
A shadow stepped forward, sword drawn.
"Why should I spare your life?" the attacker sneered, eyes glowing faintly in the dark. "If you're weak, you die."
"I—I can get strong. I know I can!" she cried.
A cold laugh answered her.
"That's what they all say. But in the end, they all fall. Weaklings don't belong in this world. We only need the strong."
Back at the Challenge Grounds
Suddenly, Ryju spun around. His senses sharpened.
"That bloodlust… It's over there!" he pointed past the edge of the village training grounds, toward a rocky hill lined with dark pine trees.
"Let's go!" Rei shouted, already sprinting.
"Can I… just stay here?" Kenshiro muttered, halfway into another bag of chips.
Everyone shouted at once. "NO!"
The team charged together, racing toward the source.
In the Cave
The attacker raised his blade. "Alright. Let's make this quick. Just die."
"No! Somebody—someone help me!"
"One Sword Style: 50 Consecutive Slashes."
The wind screamed with the speed of the attack.
Then—
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Ryju crashed into the cave just in time.
"Don't you dare hurt her!"
The girl blinked in recognition. "It's you… Redhead."
The attacker turned, sword still raised. "So… you brought friends. But why protect the weak?"
Ryju clenched his fists. "Because I hate seeing the strong bully the helpless. That's why I became a ninja."
Rei stepped forward. "Enough talking. Let's beat him."
Goro cracked his knuckles. "Yeah. This guy talks too much."
Kuroyami's tone was cold. "We can stop him together."
Kenshiro shrugged. "Still too much work… Can I go?"
Everyone shouted at once. "NO!"
The attacker grinned. "Six of you, huh? Guess I'll just take you down one by one."
He vanished.
"Starting with you."
"Wait—me?!" Kuroyami flinched.
Rei's eyes widened. "Where did he go?!"
A whisper from behind: "Behind you."
"50 Consecutive Slashes!"
Kuroyami was struck. "AHHH!"
"Kuroyami!" Ryju ran toward him, but—
"You bastard!" Rei snarled. "I'll kill you!"
The attacker charged forward. "75 Consecutive Slashes."
Rei slammed into the stone wall with a sickening thud.
"Rei!" Ryju shouted.
"One by one…" the attacker muttered. "Next—green hair."
"Shun, move!!" Ryju warned.
"Huh?"
Too late.
"75 Consecutive Slashes."
Shun crumpled to the floor, groaning in agony. "This pain… I'm gonna die…"
"Three down. Three more to go."
Kenshiro tossed aside his snack bag.
"Alright. Fine. I'm done holding back."
"Oh?" the attacker smiled. "You finally stopped being lazy?"
Kenshiro vanished—then reappeared, delivering a clean punch to the attacker's face.
"Urgh—can't dodge…!" the attacker growled.
Kenshiro smirked. "How's that punch?"
"Not bad."
"Round two."
They clashed—fast, brutal.
"100 Consecutive Slashes!"
"Kenshiro!" Goro yelled, leaping into the air. "I've got you from above!"
"A two-on-one fight? Unfair… but pointless."
"WATCH OUT!" Kenshiro shouted.
"TOO FAST—I CAN'T DODGE!" Goro gasped.
Ryju kicked Goro aside just in time.
"Thanks," he wheezed.
"Three on one," the attacker sneered. "Let's raise the stakes."
Kuroyami winced. "Let's try a team attack."
Rei coughed. "We haven't unlocked our powers yet."
"We don't need powers," Kenshiro said. "We've got Spiritual Force Coating."
Spiritual Force—the life energy flowing through every living being. It enhances strength, speed, and durability, unlocks your power, and is essential for survival. Though nearly impossible, rare humans are born without it. Such individuals, despite being alive, are dangerously fragile. Coming too close to someone with Spiritual Force overwhelms their body… and kills them instantly.
"NOW!"
"Spiritual Punch!"
"Spiritual Kick!"
"Spiritual Punch!"
They connected—barely.
The attacker smiled.
"Heh. You fools."
He stabbed his blade into the ground.
"250 Consecutive Slashes — Upward Spiral!"
Kenshiro's eyes widened as he realized what was coming.
He shouted at the top of his lungs—"MOVE!!"
Too late.
"One Sword Style: DEATH SLASH!"
"ALL-AROUND SPIRITUAL SHIELD!" Goro shouted, blocking just enough to survive—but the hit sent him flying.
"Who is this guy…?" Kenshiro panted. "Too much… work…"
Goro groaned. "I thought we had him…"
"Teamwork, huh?" the attacker scoffed. "Try this. 500 Consecutive Slashes!"
"Kenshiro!" Ryju cried.
He shoved Ryju out of the way—then coughed blood.
"GRUH! I could've stayed home playing video games… Thanks, Mom. I hate this."
"Why…?" Ryju asked.
Goro roared. "I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Emotion clouds judgment. 200 Consecutive Slashes."
Goro slashed mid-charge—And froze.
"When… when did he hit me?!"
"Five down," the attacker whispered. "One to go."
Ryju.
He shook. He couldn't move.
"You killed all my friends…"
He dropped to his knees.
"I know I'm weak… I want to fight… but I can't. I'm going to die."
"Let me end your misery. 1000 Consecutive Slashes."
He raised his sword—
"TIME'S UP!" a powerful voice declared.
The Spiritual King's voice echoed from above.
"Everyone return to the academy."
The boy snarled. "Tch. You're lucky. I'll finish this next time."
And then… he vanished into the shadows.
Later — Academy Hospital
Ryju ran into the emergency ward, panting. "My friends… I need help! They're still alive!"
The nurse rushed out. "Five critical injuries from your team?! We need surgery—NOW!"
Hours Later
The Spiritual King stood solemnly beside the hospital door.
"Bad injuries. What happened?"
Ryju told him everything.
He placed a hand on Ryju's shoulder.
"Then you must grow stronger. You must protect your team."
"I will," Ryju said, trembling. "I swear… I'll get strong. I'll get revenge."
The nurse peeked out. "Surgeries complete. They survived. Somehow… maybe it was divine."
Ryju fell to his knees.
"They're alive…? That's great… That's amazing…"
He looked up toward the sky.
"Thank you."
The hospital smelled like antiseptic, clean steel, and burnt spiritual energy. Faint murmurs from healers echoed softly down the quiet, dimly lit white halls. Moonlight filtered through narrow windows, casting pale silver streaks across the cold stone floor. The world outside was cloaked in darkness, but inside, the glow of healing runes and lanterns fought back the shadows.
None of that mattered to Ryju—not when the nurse walked out of the emergency room, clipboard in hand, smiling gently.
"Ryju," she said, "you can see your friends now. They've all woken up."
His heart stopped—then leapt.
"Actually?!" he gasped, eyes wide.
She nodded. "Yes. You may."
Ryju didn't wait another second. He sprinted down the corridor, sandals slapping against the stone floor, heart pounding like a war drum.
They made it. They were alive.
Academy Hospital – Recovery Room
The recovery room was dim, lit softly by lanterns and the quiet glow of spiritual healing runes carved into the walls. The air was heavy with exhaustion.
His friends lay across several cots, wrapped in bandages and bruised all over—but breathing.
Alive.
"Hi guys," Ryju said softly, stepping in. His smile was weak but real. "How're you feeling?"
Rei groaned. "My whole body hurts…"
"Yeah… same here," Goro muttered, wincing.
"I'm okay. Just sore," Kuroyami said, voice low.
"My back feels like it's been stabbed by ten swords," Shun grumbled.
Kenshiro was already buried under his blanket. "I'm horrible everywhere. I wanna go home."
Ryju chuckled. "Can't blame you for that."
The door creaked open. The Spiritual King stepped inside, presence commanding, voice calm.
"I'm glad to see you all awake."
Ryju stood and bowed slightly. "Yeah… me too."
The king looked around the room, then crossed his arms.
"I've postponed the next challenge by five days. You'll need time to recover."
"Good…" Kuroyami said under his breath.
Rei nodded weakly. "Thanks…"
Ryju's eyes narrowed. "Are you going to address what happened?"
The king's expression didn't change.
"There's nothing to address. Fighting is not against the rules. It is a natural part of becoming a ninja."
Ryju's fists clenched. "I understand fighting. But that wasn't fighting—he was trying to kill us."
"Still," the king said flatly, "it was a fight. And people die in fights."
"But he hated the weak!" Ryju snapped. "He was enjoying it!"
The Spiritual King finally looked him in the eyes.
"Then don't be weak."
The words hit harder than any slash.
Ryju opened his mouth to argue—but the king continued.
"You rushed into a battle you couldn't win. That wasn't bravery. That was recklessness. Don't get angry at me because you weren't strong enough."
Ryju flinched. Silence filled the room.
"But that's not why I came here today," the king went on.
"You six are different. If you survive these trials… if you become full-fledged ninjas… I'll tell you who you really are. Why you're still alive."
He turned and left without another word.
"…'Who we really are?'" Ryju repeated under his breath.
"What's he talking about?" Shun asked, confused.
"No idea," Kuroyami mumbled.
"Don't care," Kenshiro yawned.
"You're so boring," Rei sighed.
She turned to Ryju. "But seriously—don't lose your temper. We were weak."
"…Yeah," Kuroyami said quietly. "I was the weakest. I was just a burden."
Silence.
Ryju stood slowly.
He decided to go for a walk.
Outside – The Hospital, Great Village Nighttime
The evening air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of rain from the distant mountains. Horse-drawn carriages moved through the village at night. Lanterns were being lit across the village, casting long shadows on the stone pathways.
Ryju walked alone, hands in his pockets, thoughts a storm.
Man… he had been so weak. Grandpa would've never fallen like that. Neither would Dad… or his brother. He had to get stronger. Somehow.
He looked at his hand. Then slowly clenched it into a fist.
"…Actually, I need a break."
"You really do."
Ryju froze. That voice…
"No way. If he turned around and it's—"
He looked up. There, perched lazily on a tree branch above the trail, legs swinging, was the boy who had nearly killed them all.
Uzuki.
"Y-You!" Ryju shouted. "You came to finish me off?!"
Uzuki shrugged. "If I wanted to, you'd already be dead."
Ryju stepped back, heart racing.
"Then… why are you here?"
"Just wanted to see if your friends made it."
"Why would you care?! You did that to them!"
Uzuki tilted his head. "Because I came to finish them off."
"What?!"
A slow smirk tugged at Uzuki's lips. "Kidding."
"That's not funny!" Ryju yelled. "I'll kill you!"
In a blur, Uzuki vanished—then reappeared directly behind Ryju, barely inches from his neck.
"We don't want to go that route again… do we?"
So fast… Ryju swallowed hard.
"Can I ask you something?" he said slowly. "Your name… and age."
Uzuki raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"So I know the name of my rival."
Uzuki chuckled. "You think we're rivals? Cute."
Then, after a pause: "Fine. I'm ten. Name's Uzuki."
"…Ten?!" Ryju whispered, horrified. He was only ten… and already this powerful?!
"That all?"
Ryju nodded. "Yeah."
"Good. See you in the next challenge."
With that, Uzuki vanished into the air—gone like smoke in the breeze.
Minutes Later – The Spiritual King's Office
Ryju burst through the door, breathless.
"Spiritual King!"
The king didn't even look up.
"Don't ever bang on my door like that again," he said coldly.
"Sorry—but this is urgent! Also… this is my first time in your office. It's so clean… The past kings' portraits are amazing—wait! Focus!"
Ryju stepped closer.
"The boy who attacked us—his name is Uzuki!"
The king nodded.
"Uzuki Makando. Full name. From the Makando Clan—the Clan of Swords. He's a prodigy."
Ryju's eyes widened. "That's… insane."
"He mastered the One Sword Style by five. By nine, he was known as 'The Prodigy of the Sword.'"
The king's voice softened. "His mother died giving birth to him. Since then, he's obsessed with being the best. And he might already be. He's mastered the Blinded Sword Style—a technique only two others in his clan ever achieved."
Ryju leaned in. "What's that?"
"A style where the user fights without sight. Only with instinct and sound. If he hears you… you're already dead."
The king looked Ryju in the eyes. "He's the favorite to win this year's trials."
Ryju stood frozen. The truth sank in like a stone.
Then slowly—he looked down at his hands.
"…Do I even stand a chance?"
He tightened his fists.
"…No. Not yet. But I'll change that. I'm going to defeat him. I swear it."
The Spiritual King gave a rare, approving smile.
"I'd love to see that."