Naruto: Becoming a master taijutsu using martial arts.

Every step deeper into the forest made the fog feel thicker, like it was trying to swallow us whole. The trees were so dense, they practically looked alive, and I could feel the hairs on my arm stand on end, like I was being watched by something— or someone— super creepy.

I don't know exactly what was bothering me, but something didn't feel right. It was that weird gut feeling, you know? Like a bad first date where you're not sure if they're into you or planning to steal your wallet. Maybe it was just the spiritual energy stuff? This forest was famous for being all spooky with that. There's even some crazy urban legend that it turned all weird because someone from the Kurama clan offed themselves here. Yeah, cheery stuff.

Still, the feeling lingered, like something was hiding just beyond the surface, something I couldn't see.

I wasn't sure if that was true, but I was pretty sure this forest wasn't your average hiking spot. The vibe here? Totally off. I looked at Jimei and Natsu and wondered how long they'd last before their brains melted from the weirdness. Traversing a regular forest was hard enough. A forest that felt... like this? Oh, man, no thank you. I was definitely not ready for whatever illusions were about to hit us.

"Stay alert." I said. "If you see anything weird, don't trust your eyes. Double-check with the others before acting."

"Great, now I'm even more scared." Jimei said, his voice a mix of nervous laughter.

My mind was in ninja mode, scanning every shadow. Natsu, with her sharp eyes was walking beside me, she looked a bit tense, but I had confidence that with her Byakugan, we'd reach our destination quickly. I knew we'd be alright, but still... something gnawed at me, like a half-eaten sandwich you're pretty sure you left on the couch.

This whole "test" felt fishy. There had to be a twist. This couldn't just be a simple race. Nah, too easy.

"Hey, Jimei!" I called out, noticing the boy had suddenly stopped in front of me.

He was staring straight ahead, eyes vacant, like he'd just seen a ghost or... a really bad YouTube video. I stepped forward, trying to figure out what he was seeing.

"You hearing this?" he mumbled, not even turning to look at me. His voice was all weird and quiet.

I furrowed my brow. The forest was unnervingly silent, almost too quiet, and Jimei had stopped for a reason I couldn't yet understand.

I exchanged a look with Natsu. Both of us were freaked out by his weird behavior. Then, without warning, Jimei took off running, heading straight toward... who knows what.

"Jimei! That's not the way!" I yelled, trying to call him back.

But no. He wasn't listening. His body was stiff, like something— or someone— was pulling him against his will. Like a magnet, but way creepier.

Natsu and I locked eyes. I could see the hesitation in her gaze, and I'm sure mine looked the same. She tilted her head, as if asking, What now?

"We're going after him." I said firmly, even though my gut was doing flips.

Natsu didn't say anything, but she gave a quick nod, and we took off after him, darting through the forest, swiping branches out of our way.

As we got closer, we started to listen to strange music that got louder with every step we made— hauntingly pretty but giving me serious chills, like someone was serenading us from the other side of the grave. I felt my mind wander for a second, then snapped back to reality. Nope, not normal. Not at all.

Finally, we burst into a clearing. I stopped dead in my tracks.

Jimei was stuck in a giant web, completely frozen, his eyes staring blankly ahead like a zombie. But the most unsettling thing wasn't the web, oh no. It was the figure standing over him.

She was bent over him like some kind of creepy shadow, her white hair cascading down in slow as she continued to sing the haunting melody that we heard.

And, okay, this was when I realized— She's not human.

Well, at least, not entirely. She had these eyes. Not just one set, but a bunch of spider eyes, all over her head, each one darting around like they were looking for something to eat.

A chill ran down my spine as I saw those eyes lock onto Jimei, staring at him with an empty expression as if he were being consumed by the song.

"Jimei!" I yelled, panic creeping into my voice.

Natsu's voice came out low, tight. "His chakra's all messed up... He's in a genjutsu."

I didn't need any more confirmation. Whatever creepy-crawly nightmare was in front of us was controlling Jimei. The air was thick with tension, and I swear I could feel the whole forest holding its breath.

The woman— no, the thing— looked up slowly, her eyes narrowing as she studied us. Her spider eyes glowed like headlights, and then— oh joy— she gave us the creepiest smile ever. I almost tasted death in the air.

"So... you decided to wander into my web?" she purred, her voice sweet, but dripping with enough malice to make you want to run screaming in the other direction.

I couldn't look away. She was circling Jimei like a predator, caressing his head and watching us with a sickening malice. Her white hair extended like threads of silk, swirling in the air. She was starting to transform right before our eyes.

"I am Shiragumo... And no little bugs get away from my web."

I watched in horrified fascination as spider legs started emerging from her back, pulling her skin in grotesque ways. My stomach churned. She was turning into a full-on hybrid— a creepy spider lady, like something out of a horror movie. Her legs became grotesque spider legs, her face warping into something monstrous.

I clenched my fists, my body tense. I wasn't leaving Jimei behind. Not now, not ever.

"We have to get him out of there!" I shouted, ready for a fight.

But Natsu hesitated.

"Kenshin... We have to keep moving. This is a race. If we waste too much time, we'll fail. We'll be disqualified." she said, voice full of uncertainty.

I stared at her, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air, but I refused. I wasn't abandoning Jimei. 

Despite his quirks, he was the first real friend I had made in this world. And beyond that, this test was about becoming a genin team. This whole thing was probably a test for teamwork, and if that's the case, we had to work together.

"I'm not leaving him behind." I said firmly. "Not now. Not ever."

Natsu sighed, clearly exasperated, but she fell into position, her eyes burning with resolve.

The spider-woman grinned even wider, her white hair stretching toward us, forming webs that advanced like hungry snakes.

"How sweet... You think you can save him before he gets devoured." Her laugh was even more terrifying.

I braced myself. The game was on, and Jimei's life was in our hands.

But what would come next? That, I didn't know.

The only sound that broke the silence was the scraping of Shiragumo's spider legs against the ground, and the air felt like it was about to snap.

"Now... let's play, children." she purred.