Blood Universe

Konoha Outskirts

Kiba and his team pressed on, the dense forest around them growing darker and more foreboding as they approached the first location of the mystical energy tracked by Konoha's sensor team. The air grew heavier, almost humming with an unnatural vibration that set everyone on edge. The usual sounds of the forest—chirping insects and rustling leaves—were eerily absent, replaced by an oppressive silence.

Kiba raised his hand, signaling for the group to halt. "We're close," he said in a low, firm voice, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. "Stay sharp. Whatever's out here won't be ordinary."

The team instinctively tightened their formation, their earlier tension rekindled.

Mamushi's grin widened as he whispered, "Hope it's something worth killing." His deranged excitement made Muyami shudder, but the shy ninja remained silent, clutching their hands tightly.

Koji sneered, adjusting his stance. "Let's just get this over with. I don't like wasting time on fairy tales."

"Fairy tale or not, Koji, you'll follow my orders," Kiba snapped, his tone brooking no argument. Koji scowled but said nothing, falling in line.

The group crept forward, moving with precision. Sana activated her Sand Cloak Technique, her form blending seamlessly with the surrounding terrain as she scouted ahead. Muyami used the Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique, burrowing underground to flank their destination. Yoro stayed at the rear, his protective instincts keeping his attention on the team rather than the surroundings.

Kiba and his team broke through the trees, finding themselves at the edge of a clearing illuminated by a faint blue glow. The sight was alarming: cloaked figures encircled an ancient monolith, their hands raised as they chanted in an incomprehensible tongue. The runes on the monolith shimmered with power, feeding into the ritual. Whatever they were summoning or protecting was no ordinary force.

Inaho tensed. "Looks like we've got company," he muttered, drawing a kunai.

Kiba raised a hand to halt him. "Hold your ground. We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

Just as they prepared to strike, two figures stepped forward from the shadows, halting their advance. Nab Lasaro and Vijeeter Ecor stood with confidence, their expressions daring Kiba's team to proceed.

Nab spoke first, his voice calm but laced with menace. "You've wandered too far, Konoha shinobi. Turn back now, or face the consequences."

Kiba's eyes narrowed. "We're not turning back. Whatever you're doing here, it stops now."

Vijeeter chuckled, his movements fluid as he began to sway rhythmically. "Such confidence. Let's see how long it lasts."

Nab's arms glowed with an eerie light as he summoned the spirit of a wolf into his left arm. The ethereal form of the animal surrounded his limb, enhancing his strength as he launched a powerful punch at Kiba. The attack was swift, forcing Kiba to dodge sideways, the blow leaving a crater where he had stood.

Meanwhile, Vijeeter danced gracefully, his movements almost hypnotic. A pulse of energy radiated from him, bolstering the cloaked figures' power while sapping the strength of Kiba's team. Muyami, trying to flank them, found himself mimicking Vijeeter's steps, his movements no longer his own.

"Damn it! He's controlling me!" Muyami yelled, struggling to resist.

Sana stepped in, her Sand Cloak Technique creating a whirlwind that broke Vijeeter's control over Muyami. "Stay sharp!" she called, her sand swirling protectively around her.

Mamushi, known for his stealth and strategic strikes, darted around Nab, using the cover of Sana's sandstorm. Mamushi's Sand Cloak Technique masked his presence, allowing him to get close for a sneak attack. "Big guy, you don't look so tough when you can't see me," he taunted as he launched a surprise kick aimed at Nab's ribs. Nab, however, switched to the eagle spirit, granting himself enhanced agility, and dodged just in time.

"Not bad," Nab admitted, countering with a swipe of his wolf-empowered arm. Mamushi flipped backward, evading the strike with ease.

Kiba faced off against Nab, drawing on his own enhanced speed and reflexes. He zigzagged around Nab's heavy strikes, using his expertise in taijutsu to deliver precise counters. As Nab shifted to the bear spirit, his punches grew heavier and more destructive, forcing Kiba to fight defensively.

Muyami, freed from Vijeeter's control, rejoined the fight. Using Earth Release, he created jagged spikes to disrupt Vijeeter's graceful movements. Vijeeter, however, twisted midair, his acrobatic skills keeping him out of harm's way. "Is that all you've got?" he mocked, spinning into a retaliatory kick aimed at Muyami.

Koji stepped in, intercepting Vijeeter's attack with his Sandstone Fist, creating a shockwave that pushed Vijeeter back. "You're not as untouchable as you think," Koji said, his eyes blazing with determination.

Sana used her sand to bind Vijeeter's legs, stopping his movements and breaking his support for the cloaked figures. Mamushi coordinated with Muyami to flank Nab, the latter using Earth Release to trap Nab's legs momentarily. This allowed Kiba to deliver a swift, decisive strike to Nab's abdomen, knocking him to the ground.

Koji surged forward, aiming for the monolith, but Nab intercepted him with a devastating punch enhanced by the spirit of a bear. The sheer force sent Koji crashing into a tree, leaving him groaning on the ground. Nab's grin widened. "You're not breaking anything today."

Vijeeter, meanwhile, danced gracefully in the midst of the chaos, his magic weaving through the battlefield. Muyami, attempting to close the distance, found himself suddenly imitating Vijeeter's movements, his body locked in a helpless rhythm. "Damn it, I can't control myself!" Muyami yelled as Vijeeter's mocking laughter echoed through the clearing.

"Not good!" Sana muttered, her sand swirling defensively. She launched a barrage of sand projectiles at Vijeeter, forcing him to leap back and break his spell on Muyami. "Focus on the monolith!" she shouted.

Despite their efforts, the recon team was being worn down. Nab's raw strength and Vijeeter's crippling magic kept them on the defensive. Kiba's heart sank as he saw Mamushi attempt a flanking attack on Vijeeter, only to be caught by Nab. The wolf spirit surged through Nab's arm as he delivered a crushing blow to Mamushi's chest, sending him flying lifelessly to the ground.

"Mamushi!" Kiba roared, fury igniting within him. His team had already suffered too much.

Koji, clutching his injured side, rose unsteadily. "We can't let them finish that ritual," he grunted, glaring at the glowing monolith. With a defiant roar, he charged forward again, dodging Vijeeter's attempts to manipulate him.

Muyami and Sana worked together to pin Nab down, combining earth spikes and swirling sand to trap his limbs momentarily. It was enough for Kiba to leap in with a spinning kick to Nab's jaw, breaking his concentration. "You're going down!" Kiba snarled.

Vijeeter flipped acrobatically toward the monolith, attempting to shield it with his body. Koji intercepted him mid-air, the two clashing violently. Koji managed to land a solid blow with his Sandstone Fist, cracking Vijeeter's ribs. Staggering, Vijeeter attempted to recover with another mesmerizing dance, but Sana's sand immobilized his legs.

"You've done enough damage," Sana spat, sending a final wave of sand to crush Vijeeter. The cloaked figure crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Meanwhile, Nab broke free of his restraints, his body surging with the spirit of a dragon. The sheer power of his attacks forced Kiba and Muyami to retreat. Nab roared, unleashing a devastating energy wave that obliterated part of the clearing, taking Muyami with it. Kiba barely managed to shield himself with a kunai, the shockwave throwing him backward.

Koji, with a final burst of determination, charged the monolith. Nab turned to intercept, but Koji feinted, using a hidden explosive tag to catch Nab off guard. The explosion tore through Nab's chest, killing him instantly.

Staggering, Koji placed his hands on the monolith. "Not today," he whispered before channeling his remaining strength into a devastating punch. The monolith shattered into fragments, its glow fading as the cloaked figures screamed and dissolved into nothingness.

Kiba, panting heavily, limped toward Koji. "You did it," he said hoarsely. Koji, smiling faintly, collapsed to the ground, his injuries too severe.

Sana, battered and bleeding, stumbled to Kiba's side. "We lost too many," she said, her voice heavy with grief.

Kiba looked around the devastated clearing. Mamushi, Muyami, and Koji—all gone. Only he and Sana remained. His fists clenched. "We'll make this loss mean something," he vowed, his voice trembling. "Whoever is behind this… they'll pay."

The two survivors turned toward the ruins of the monolith, bloodied and battered. As the dust settled, the remaining recon team members—Yoro, Inaho, Mijin, and Mujin—finally arrived, their faces pale with shock at the carnage before them.

"You're late," Kiba said bitterly, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Inaho stepped forward, her gaze darting between the shattered monolith and the fallen bodies of their comrades. "We got held up in the rear… we didn't think…" She trailed off, guilt etched into her face.

Yoro clenched his fists. "What happened here? Where's the rest of the team?"

Sana wiped blood from her mouth, her expression cold. "Dead. Koji, Mamushi, Muyami—they're all gone. But we destroyed the monolith. The mission is done."

Mijin knelt beside Koji's lifeless body, his hand trembling as he gently closed his comrade's eyes. "We'll make sure this isn't in vain," he murmured.

Mujin surveyed the ruined clearing, his jaw tight. "Whoever's behind this… they're playing for keeps."

Kiba's voice was low, but it carried an edge of steel. "And we'll make them pay. For Koji. For everyone."

The recon team regrouped, their numbers fewer but their resolve unshaken. As they prepared to move out, Kiba glanced at the shattered remains of the monolith. His voice was steady but laced with frustration.

"So these monoliths were the source of the mystical energies," he said, his sharp eyes scanning the debris. "I don't know what they were fully capable of, but I'm sure they were part of their weapons."

Yoro stepped forward, his tone grim. "If they had more of these scattered around, destroying this one might only slow them down."

Kiba nodded, his expression hardening. "All the more reason to keep moving. We'll regroup with the main forces and warn them about this."

The weight of their losses lingered heavily, but the surviving team members pressed on, their shared determination bolstered by the sacrifices of their fallen comrades.