MTLNOVEL Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Hunters Become the Hunted
Chapter 8: The Hunters Become the Hunted
The moment stretched. The air was thick with tension, the lingering smoke from Kiyoshi's bomb swirling between them. The Chunin leader, still reeling from the sudden reversal, clenched his jaw. His subordinates were struggling to regain their footing—Mikoto's precision strike had cut deep, and Ryota's sword strike had thrown the other off balance.
Kiyoshi's fingers formed a quick hand seal.
"Time to end this."
"Fire Style: Flaming Palm Technique!"(1)
Heat surged through his arm, chakra igniting like a furnace. He lunged forward, his palm glowing with intense heat, aimed directly at the Chunin leader's chest.
The leader's eyes widened. Fire chakra enhancement?
At the last second, the Chunin twisted, dodging just enough to avoid a direct hit. But Kiyoshi's palm grazed his vest, and the fabric sizzled, blackening instantly from the heat. The leader leaped back, landing in a crouch, hand pressing against his smoldering armor.
His sharp eyes locked onto Kiyoshi. That technique… it's not standard Academy-level jutsu.
Kiyoshi grinned. "Surprised? You should be."
The Chunin leader exhaled, his breath controlled despite the sudden turn of events. "Not bad, kid. But a flashy move alone won't win you this fight."
Mikoto and Ryota closed in on either side of him, their weapons ready.
"Who said anything about 'alone'?" Kiyoshi shot back.
The Chunin's eyes flickered with realization—he was outnumbered. His teammates were still recovering, and the three Genin had already proven themselves capable of coordination.
This had gone from a simple hunt to a full-blown disadvantage.
He exhaled sharply. "Tch."
Then—he vanished.
---
The sudden retreat left behind an eerie silence. Kiyoshi, Mikoto, and Ryota remained tense, their eyes scanning the surrounding trees.
"They're gone," Mikoto confirmed, her Sharingan fading back to black. "They knew they couldn't win."
Ryota let out a shaky laugh. "Did we just… did we just win?"
Kiyoshi exhaled, letting his shoulders relax. "We survived. That's what matters."
But deep inside, he knew the truth. This wasn't a true victory. The Chunin hadn't been going all out. They had tested them, pressured them… and when the Genin adapted, they withdrew.
This was never about capturing us.
It was about seeing what we could do.
Mikoto, as if sensing his thoughts, spoke. "They'll be back. Stronger this time."
Ryota groaned. "Of course they will."
Kiyoshi clenched his fists. "Then we need a new plan."
---
Unknown Location – The Trackers' Camp :
The Chunin leader landed on a thick tree branch, his subordinates appearing beside him moments later. One clutched his side where Ryota's strike had nearly broken through his guard. The other wiped blood from his shoulder where Mikoto had cut deep.
The leader crossed his arms, watching the distant forest where the Genin had disappeared.
"Those kids…" one of the injured Chunin muttered, adjusting his bandages. "They're not normal."
The leader smirked slightly. "No. They're not."
Another voice cut through the silence.
"So? What's the verdict?"
From the shadows, Kenshiro stepped into the clearing, his usual smirk playing on his lips.
The Chunin leader exhaled. "You weren't joking when you said they had potential." He glanced at his teammates. "They're raw, but they adapt fast. If they get a few more real fights under their belts…"
Kenshiro's smirk widened. "They'll be monsters."
The Chunin leader sighed. "What now?"
Kenshiro cracked his knuckles. "Now? We crank up the difficulty."
---
Back with Kiyoshi and the Team – Midnight Approaches
Night fell quickly in the dense forest. The three Genin sat in a small clearing, hidden within a thick patch of brush.
Kiyoshi rested against a tree, eyes half-closed. The thrill of the fight had faded, replaced by exhaustion.
Mikoto sat nearby, quietly sharpening a kunai. Ryota poked at a small fire, still grumbling about their situation.
"This sucks," he muttered. "We finally outplay those guys, and now we have to wait for round two?"
Kiyoshi exhaled, waiting.
His gaze flicked up toward the moon, watching the slow movement of the stars. His system operated on a strict timer, and by his calculations…
12:00 AM.
[Daily Gacha Spin Available!]
A small blue notification blinked in the corner of his vision.
Finally.
Taking a slow breath, Kiyoshi pressed the spin button.
The wheel of fate turned, glowing symbols flashing by—jutsu scrolls, kunai, random food items. Then—
[Obtained: Binding Wire – Reinforced Chakra-Infused Wire (10 meters)]
Kiyoshi's eyes widened.
Perfect.
He quickly read the description. Extremely durable, resistant to breaking, and able to hold strong even against high-speed targets.
"We can use this," he muttered.
Mikoto leaned closer, reading over his shoulder. "Chakra-Infused Binding Wire?"
Kiyoshi grinned. "Exactly. If we set it up in the right places, we can slow them down—maybe even take one of them out of the fight entirely."
Ryota smirked. "Now you're talking."
---
For the next hour, they worked in near silence, preparing the battlefield.
Mikoto used her Sharingan to map out enemy approach routes, identifying the best spots to place the binding wires.
Ryota, skilled with a blade, helped secure the wires in strategic locations, blending them seamlessly into the environment.
Kiyoshi spread dry leaves and bushes near the wires—if the enemy was moving fast, they'd never notice until it was too late.
But it wasn't enough to just set traps.
They needed to lure the Chunin into them.
Kiyoshi tapped his chin, then smirked.
"I'll be the bait."
Ryota blinked. "Okay, I was on board up until now. Why do you get to be bait?"
"Because I can survive it," Kiyoshi said simply. "We've already seen that I can hold my own, at least for a while. If I make it seem like I'm running scared, they'll focus on me."
Mikoto crossed her arms. "And if they catch you?"
Kiyoshi's grin widened. "They won't."
Ryota groaned. "I swear, one day your overconfidence is gonna get you killed."
"Not today."
---
As dawn broke, the three Genin moved into position.
Kiyoshi stood near the ruined outpost, making sure he was the most visible. Ryota and Mikoto had already vanished into the trees, hidden by the dense foliage.
He took a slow breath, then—
He ran.
Loud. Fast. Obvious.
It only took seconds before the enemy took the bait.
From the shadows, three figures emerged, their movements blurring through the trees.
Knew it.
The Chunin leader smirked as he dashed forward. "You again?"
Kiyoshi threw a glance over his shoulder, pretending to panic. "Crap, crap, crap—!"
He leaped over a fallen log, making sure his pursuers kept their momentum.
The trap was set.
Just a little closer…
The lead Chunin lunged—
And his foot hit the wire.
There was a sharp whipping sound, then—
SNAP!
The reinforced chakra wire tightened instantly, yanking the Chunin violently off his feet and slamming him into a nearby tree. His body jerked as the wire locked around his legs and torso, completely immobilizing him.
The other two Chunin barely had time to react before—
Mikoto struck.
She burst from the foliage, kunai flashing. Her first strike sliced across the second Chunin's shoulder, forcing him to stumble back—
Right into Ryota's attack.
CLANG!
Ryota's katana met the Chunin's defensive kunai, the impact forcing him further off balance.
The last remaining tracker's eyes widened. "A trap—!"
Too late.
Kiyoshi skidded to a stop, pivoted—
And slammed his fist into the ground.
"Fire Style: Flaming Palm Technique!"
The dry leaves and bushes they had prepared earlier ignited instantly, flames surging to life in a ring around the battlefield.
Nowhere to run.
The hunters had become the prey.
The leader struggled against the chakra wire, but the reinforced bindings held firm. "Tch… sneaky brats."
The remaining two took defensive stances, realizing the situation had flipped.
Kiyoshi, Mikoto, and Ryota stood together, forming a perfect triangle around their enemies.
Kiyoshi cracked his knuckles. "So… what do you think, sensei?"
A slow clap echoed through the clearing.
From above, Kenshiro stood perched on a tree branch, watching with an amused smirk.
"Not bad," he admitted. "You actually made them sweat."
The Chunin leader sighed. "This was a test, wasn't it?"
Kenshiro chuckled. "Obviously."
The leader shook his head but grinned. "I'll admit it. You kids are a lot better than I expected."
Kiyoshi exhaled, the adrenaline finally wearing off.
They did it.
They won.
---
A few hours later, the team sat near a newly built campfire, their bodies sore but their spirits high.
Ryota leaned back, stretching. "Okay, I'll admit it. That was fun."
Mikoto smirked. "And we didn't die. Always a plus."
Kiyoshi chuckled, rubbing his sore knuckles. "Told you we'd be fine."
Kenshiro approached, arms crossed. "Enjoy the break while you can."
They all turned to him.
"Because your real mission starts tomorrow."
Kiyoshi blinked. "Wait. What?"
Kenshiro grinned.
"You didn't think this was the end, did you?"
A/N : 1. Fire Release: Flaming Palm Technique ( Katon: Houka Hira no Jutsu ): A more advanced version of the Katon: Tanebi no Jutsu, this jutsu allows the user to hold the spark in their hand. They then amplify it with their chakra until it is a small flame. By mimicking the gentle fist style, the push the flame into their opponent, causing clothes to light, or minor burns on the body.