Blood Universe

Konohagakure, Outskirts

A few moments later, Kiba and the remaining recon team pressed onward, their steps heavy with exhaustion and grief. The forest grew denser as they advanced, the towering trees and tangled underbrush forming a natural barrier that slowed their progress. The sounds of wildlife echoed faintly, blending with the rustle of leaves in the evening breeze.

Kiba raised a hand, signaling the group to stop. "We'll rest here," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Everyone needs to recuperate before we move any further."

The team settled into the small clearing, each member finding a spot to sit or lean against. Yoro began scanning their surroundings, his protective instincts kicking in, while Inaho, though quieter than usual, maintained his usual confidence. Mijin and Mujin, still shaken, sat close together, whispering softly as they tried to process the events that had unfolded.

Kiba leaned against a tree, his eyes distant as he reflected on the fight. His mind replayed the sacrifices of his comrades and the urgency of their mission. Yet, even amidst the heaviness in his chest, he steeled himself.

"This isn't over yet," Kiba muttered under his breath, his resolve burning brighter. "We'll finish what we started."

As the team rested, the oppressive atmosphere of the forest seemed to loom over them, a reminder of the challenges still ahead.

As the night deepened, the sounds of the forest shifted into a more eerie silence. The only sounds were the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind and the soft breathing of the resting recon team. One by one, the members drifted into sleep, their exhaustion from the recent battle taking its toll. However, Kiba and Sana remained awake, standing a few paces apart, their eyes scanning the darkened surroundings.

Kiba's arms were crossed as he leaned against a nearby tree, his gaze fixed on the distant shadows between the trees. He wasn't entirely at ease, not after what they had just gone through. "I can't shake the feeling," he muttered quietly. "That this isn't just some random attack. Whoever those people were, they were well-prepared. The monolith, the cloaked figures... it all feels like part of something bigger."

Sana, leaning casually against the same tree, absently twirled one of her kunai in her hand. "I agree," she said, her voice low but steady. "That magic they were using... it was different. Almost like a mix of rituals and dark sorcery. We may have destroyed one monolith, but that doesn't mean they don't have more hidden out here." Her eyes gleamed in the low light, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "And the way Nab and Vijeeter fought... they had purpose. They didn't just show up to stop us. They were trying to slow us down."

Kiba's jaw tightened as he considered Sana's words. "You think this is connected to something bigger, too? A larger plan?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Sana shrugged, her smirk fading into a more serious expression. "I think so. This isn't some rogue group. They had strategy. They knew where we were, what we were doing, and they took out a few of your team, just to weaken us for the next move."

Kiba clenched his fist, anger and frustration brewing beneath the surface. "They'll regret that," he growled. "None of us die here. Not on my watch." He looked down at the ground for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "We'll hunt down every last one of them and destroy their plans. If this is the beginning of something bigger, we'll stop it here. It's the only way."

Sana glanced at him, her smirk returning, but now it had a more determined edge. "I like the sound of that," she said, her tone darkly amused. "You've got your team back now. Let's make sure we finish this. The right way."

Kiba nodded, his eyes narrowing with renewed focus. "Exactly. We need to keep pushing. The others will rest, but we'll stay vigilant. We can't afford to be caught off guard again."

Sana's eyes glinted as she spun her kunai once more. "You know I'm always ready. But don't forget, Kiba... your team is stronger than you think. We might've lost a few, but we're still standing. And we've got you."

Kiba cracked a faint smile at her words, though his thoughts remained on the battle ahead. "Right. We'll make sure this isn't the end of the road for any of us." His gaze turned back to the darkened forest, where shadows danced between the trees, and for the first time in a while, he allowed himself to believe that despite everything, they had a chance.

As the night wore on, both Kiba and Sana stayed alert, their watchful eyes scanning the perimeter while the rest of the team slept, unaware of the threat that still loomed just beyond the treeline.

Just as Sana was about to approach Kiba, the moment she turned around, a blade pierced her throat.

Sana's hand instinctively went to her throat, but it was too late. The blade had already pierced deep, and blood flowed from the wound, staining her fingers. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground with a sharp gasp.

"Kiba..." she barely whispered, her eyes wide in shock and pain.

Kiba's heart pounded in his chest as his mind scrambled to process the situation. "Sana!" he roared, rushing to her side. But before he could reach her, a chill ran down his spine as the sound of mocking laughter filled the air.

"Wassup, dead meats?" Jet's voice rang out, dripping with cruel amusement. He stepped into the moonlight, his wide grin only growing as he and Droy emerged from the shadows, the gleam of their weapons reflecting off the dim light.

Droy's hand twitched around a large, jagged knife, his expression one of grim satisfaction. "You really thought you'd get through the night without a surprise, huh?" he sneered.

Kiba's vision burned with rage as he turned his attention to the two ambushers. His pulse throbbed in his temples as he knelt by Sana's side, blood staining his hands as he tried desperately to stop the flow from her throat. But it was no use — the wound was too severe. She wasn't going to make it unless help arrived, and fast.

"Get... get away from her!" Kiba shouted, his voice thick with fury, but the enemies just laughed louder, clearly enjoying his torment.

Jet flexed his fingers, spinning a knife between his hands. "Oh, don't worry, we're not done yet," he taunted. "You're all dead anyway, we just wanted to have a little fun first."

With a primal scream, Kiba launched himself at Jet, his claws extending and his eyes wild. His fury was undeniable, but Jet was quick to step back, dodging with ease. He flipped over Kiba's outstretched arms, landing behind him with fluid grace. "Feisty," Jet mused, "but not enough to save you."

The others were starting to stir, hearing Kiba's cry and the chaos that followed. Mujin shot up, quickly assessing the situation, his eyes locked on Jet and Droy. Mijin was the next to rise, drawing a kunai with swift precision.

"Inaho! Yoro!" Mujin yelled, his voice urgent. "Get to Kiba!"

Inaho was the first to act, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. She saw Sana's lifeless body and Kiba, raging with an intense fury that almost blinded him. Her heart clenched at the sight. She could see that the ambush was calculated, but there was no time to think. Her hand gripped her own weapon, preparing to rush into the fray.

Yoro, though slower to rise, wasn't far behind. His heavy steps made a thudding noise as he rushed toward Kiba, knowing they had to close in quickly before their enemies could make another move.

Mijin and Mujin formed a defensive line, preparing to counter any of Jet and Droy's attacks while Inaho and Yoro rushed to back up Kiba.

"You're done!" Kiba screamed, turning around to face Droy, but before he could act, Jet's voice cut through the air.

"Don't bother, dog. You're not fast enough for us," Jet taunted, his grin never faltering.

Droy, standing behind Jet, raised his hand, his fingers weaving through a series of hand signs. "Get ready, mutts," he sneered, his voice low and dangerous.

Suddenly, the ground around them began to tremble as thick, twisted vines shot out of the earth, snaking toward Kiba and Mujin. Droy's plant magic was in full force, the tendrils wrapping and coiling around rocks and trees, using the environment itself to bind his enemies. The vines moved with alarming speed, slithering and lashing out like living creatures, aiming to trap their prey.

Mujin reacted first, slashing at the vines with his blade, but the thick roots only seemed to grow stronger, pushing back with an unnatural force. "Damn it!" Mujin grunted, struggling to free himself.

"Nice try, but they're not going anywhere," Droy said with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with confidence as the vines continued to spread, creeping closer to their targets.

Kiba, still standing protectively over Sana, growled, but Jet's taunt reached him. "You're too slow!" Jet dashed forward in a blur, his speed magic making him appear as nothing but a streak of lightning. He aimed to deliver a quick strike to Kiba's chest, but the Inuzuka had already anticipated the attack.

Kiba leapt back, narrowly avoiding Jet's attack, his claws bared and ready to strike. "Not fast enough," Kiba snarled, his own speed enhanced by his instincts, but Jet was already circling around him, too quick to pin down.

Yoro, Inaho, and Mijin quickly moved to join the fight. Inaho's kunai flew through the air, targeting the vines Droy controlled, but with a snap of his fingers, Droy sent the roots in every direction, blocking the projectiles with ease. Mijin wasn't far behind, using his own technique to set up a defensive barrier around the team, but the vines kept pushing against it, relentless.

"We need to get rid of these vines!" Yoro shouted, his voice sharp as he moved to help Kiba. "Inaho, Mijin, focus on Droy's magic!"

Inaho nodded, her eyes narrowing. "On it!" She drew a set of shurikens, her hands a blur as she launched them in rapid succession, cutting through the vines. Mijin concentrated, his barrier technique glowing brightly as she strengthened it, pushing back against Droy's control over the plants.

Meanwhile, Jet was still a blur of motion. He zipped around Kiba, his speed magic making it almost impossible for the Inuzuka to land a solid blow. Every time Kiba lunged, Jet was gone, his laughter echoing in the night air.

"You can't catch me!" Jet mocked, his voice carrying as he dodged Kiba's attacks effortlessly.

But Kiba's rage was a driving force. With a growl, he adjusted his approach, taking advantage of the terrain. He used his heightened senses to predict Jet's movements, forcing him into a corner. Kiba lunged once more, this time anticipating Jet's next dodge.

With a flash of claws and teeth, Kiba finally managed to grab hold of Jet, slamming him into the ground with a force that shook the earth. Jet grunted in surprise, his speed momentarily countered by Kiba's brute strength.

"Gotcha now!" Kiba shouted, pinning Jet down, but Droy wasn't about to let that stand.

"Don't get too cocky, dog!" Droy called out, his voice tinged with menace. With a sharp motion, he caused more vines to surge out of the ground, aiming to restrain Kiba and drag him away from Jet.

Mijin focused his technique on the vines once more, his energy flaring as she tried to hold back Droy's onslaught. But it was clear they were running out of time.

Inaho leapt forward, her kunai flashing in the moonlight as she attacked Droy directly. "We're not done yet!" she shouted, forcing Droy to momentarily shift his attention from the vines.

Yoro, seeing an opening, charged forward with the speed and power of a beast, aiming for Jet, who was struggling to regain his bearings. But with a grin, Jet quickly activated his speed magic again, darting away from Kiba's grip, evading Yoro's strike.

"This is far from over," Jet sneered, "but you won't last long."

Kiba growled in frustration. "We're not going anywhere until you're both dead," he said, summoning all his willpower to fight back the encroaching vines and push forward in the battle.

The battle raged on, but Kiba and his team were now more determined than ever. The fight for survival wasn't over yet, and they would make sure to end it on their terms.