Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Final Stand
Chapter 4: The Final Stand
Kiyoshi's breath was ragged, his muscles aching from exertion. Across from him, Kenshiro Inazuma stood completely unscathed, his arms crossed over his chest, exuding the air of a bored predator.
Mikoto was still on one knee, her Sharingan spinning slowly, scanning for an opening. Ryota, gripping his katana, looked like he was debating whether to charge in again or just collapse on the spot.
They were out of options.
Damn it… is this really the limit?
Kiyoshi clenched his fists. No. Not yet.
Then he remembered.
The gacha.
That ridiculous daily spin that had granted him some random item this morning. He hadn't even looked at it properly, dismissing it as another useless consolation prize.
Now, in the face of imminent defeat, he mentally opened his inventory.
[Mystery Ninja Tool] – A single-use item that will adapt to the user's greatest need in combat.
His eyes widened.
This is it.
Kiyoshi inhaled deeply.
"One last move," he muttered.
Mikoto glanced at him, brow furrowing. "You have something left?"
"Something like that."
Ryota coughed. "If it's another dumb distraction, I swear—"
Kiyoshi ignored him, focusing on activating the item.
Inventory: Use [Mystery Ninja Tool]?
→ Yes.
A strange sensation ran up his arm as something materialized in his palm.
A kunai?
No—not just any kunai.
The blade shimmered with an eerie, shifting glow, its edges pulsating with chakra he didn't recognize. Inscribed along the hilt were markings—sealing jutsu?
What the hell did I just summon?
Kenshiro's eyes sharpened, sensing the change. "Oh? That's new."
Kiyoshi didn't wait. He moved.
In an instant, he was behind Kenshiro, kunai slicing toward his back—
Kenshiro dodged.
Of course he dodged.
But—
Wait.
His movement stuttered.
A flicker of surprise flashed across the Jonin's face as his body slowed for a fraction of a second—just enough.
Mikoto's Sharingan locked onto the anomaly. "That kunai… it's distorting his movement."
It's actually working!
Kiyoshi's instincts kicked in. He pivoted, twisting the kunai mid-strike.
The seals on the weapon flared to life.
Kenshiro's body momentarily froze—like he was being pulled by something unseen.
What is this effect? Time disruption? Gravity manipulation?
Doesn't matter. Use it.
"Now!" Kiyoshi shouted.
Ryota didn't hesitate. He lunged, katana flashing in a downward arc.
Mikoto followed up instantly, hurling a barrage of shuriken wrapped in wire, aiming to restrict Kenshiro's limited movement.
For a split second, they had him.
For a split second.
Then—
Kenshiro exhaled.
Lightning exploded from his body, crackling arcs tearing through the air.
The force shattered the wires, sent the kunai flying, and forced Ryota and Mikoto to retreat before the electricity reached them.
Kiyoshi barely managed to leap back, his kunai sizzling with residual energy.
Kenshiro emerged from the storm of chakra, rolling his shoulders.
"Huh," he muttered, inspecting his own arm as if mildly impressed. "That actually almost worked."
Kiyoshi's heartbeat was still hammering in his ears.
Kenshiro met his gaze.
"Where did you get that kunai?"
Kiyoshi swallowed. "Uh… black market?"
Kenshiro narrowed his eyes. "...Right."
Silence stretched between them. Then—
Kenshiro grinned.
"Alright, you pass."
Kiyoshi blinked. "What?"
Ryota, still gasping for breath, wheezed, "We… lost. Again."
Kenshiro shrugged. "Of course you did. But the point was never to win. It was to show if you could adapt, push your limits, and surprise me." He smirked at Kiyoshi. "And you did."
Kiyoshi stared at the kunai still in his hand. It had lost its glow, the seals now faded. Whatever power it had… it was gone.
A one-time use.
He sighed, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. "Huh. Guess I got lucky."
Mikoto stood up, brushing dust from her sleeves. "That was reckless, but… not bad."
Ryota groaned. "I need food. And medical attention. But mostly food."
Kenshiro chuckled. "You'll get both. Be at training ground four at dawn. The real work starts tomorrow."
Kiyoshi exhaled.
Tomorrow, huh?
He flexed his fingers, still feeling the phantom weight of the kunai.
A random gacha pull just saved my ass.
He couldn't help but grin.
Maybe this world wasn't so unfair after all.