Mokuton Phantom in Naruto

The sound of the mercenary's footsteps had already faded into the dark tunnel.

Ryuusei glanced at Misaki and Seiryu.

They needed to act fast, but without making mistakes.

"If he's running, there must be another exit," Ryuusei said firmly.

Misaki nodded.

"Then he might try to escape while we're distracted."

Seiryu crossed his arms, taking a deep breath.

"If we're going to surround him, we'll need to split up."

The plan was obvious.

"Someone has to stay with the hostages," Misaki pointed out. "There might be more enemies hiding."

Seiryu scoffed.

"And someone needs to get outside the cave and make sure he doesn't escape."

Ryuusei looked at the two of them.

Then, he made his decision.

"Misaki, stay here and protect the hostages. If any more enemies show up, take them down without hesitation."

Misaki agreed without question.

"Seiryu, get out of the cave and find any other exit he might be heading toward."

Seiryu smirked.

"Got it. Just don't go dying in there alone."

Ryuusei didn't respond.

He simply turned toward the dark tunnel and moved forward.

The tunnel stretched on for meters, but it didn't take long to reach the end.

And then, Ryuusei saw it.

A small room, dimly lit by torches.

The stench of sweat and blood hung heavy in the air.

And at the center, three women were chained to the wall.

All of them battered, their bodies marked by clear signs of abuse and mistreatment.

And there, standing before them…

The mercenary leader.

He held one of the women by the face, a kunai pressed against her throat.

Ryuusei stopped at the entrance of the room, his gaze cold.

"It's over for you."

The man chuckled darkly.

"Is it, though?"

He looked at Ryuusei with disdain.

"You're just a brat. A kid pretending to play hero."

Ryuusei didn't react.

His eyes scanned everything, every detail.

The enemy had nowhere to run.

He knew it.

So, he was stalling for time.

"You know…" the mercenary began, his tone almost nostalgic. "I used to be like you."

Ryuusei said nothing.

"I was once a shinobi from a great village."

He laughed bitterly.

"Followed orders. Completed missions. But one day, I realized it was all a lie."

He squeezed the woman's face tighter, making her whimper in pain.

"And now here you are, playing the righteous fool, thinking you can change anything."

Ryuusei didn't break eye contact.

"Let the hostages go."

The mercenary raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Just like that? No attempt to negotiate? No speech about right and wrong?"

He smiled.

"You don't get it, kid. In the end, we all turn out like me."

Ryuusei clenched his fists.

"No."

The mercenary's eyebrow twitched.

"No?"

"You didn't become this because you were forced. You chose to be garbage."

The man's smile vanished.

"You had choices. I have them too."

Ryuusei stepped forward.

"And I choose to end you."

The mercenary stood in silence for a few seconds.

Then, he smiled once more.

"Well…"

He moved the kunai closer to the woman's neck.

"Then I have a choice too."

And he pressed the blade.

It happened in an instant.

In that tiny fraction of a second.

The energy within Ryuusei exploded.

His eyes shifted, blue irises turning a fiery orange.

Red lines appeared around his eyes.

And before the mercenary could complete his move…

Ryuusei was already there.

Too fast.

Time seemed to slow.

He appeared beside the mercenary in a blink, his hand gripping the man's wrist before the kunai could cut the woman's throat.

The mercenary's eyes widened in shock.

"Wha—?!"

But he had no time to finish the sentence.

Ryuusei's other fist rose and struck.

A single punch.

But not an ordinary one.

It was pure power.

The force of the blow shattered the man's internal organs instantly.

Blood spurted from his mouth as his body convulsed in agony.

The shock in his eyes was unmistakable.

He tried to speak.

But nothing came out.

His body collapsed to the ground.

Dead.

Ryuusei stood there for a moment, breathing heavily.

The crimson shadow in his eyes slowly faded.

He looked at the hostages.

They were still trembling, but they were alive.

That was all that mattered.

He released the kunai he had taken from the mercenary's hand.

Then, he turned to the women and spoke just one word.

"It's over."

The campfire crackled softly, its flickering light casting dancing shadows against the cave walls.

The group had found a temporary shelter on their way back to Hoshigakure.

After ensuring the hostages were safe, that no enemies remained lurking, and that the mercenary leader no longer drew breath, exhaustion finally caught up with them.

Ryuusei distanced himself from the group, sitting on a rock a little farther from the fire.

He didn't feel sleepy.

His body ached.

His fists still remembered the impact.

And his mind…

It couldn't stop replaying the mercenary's words.

"We all start as heroes."

"But in the end, we become like me."

He closed his eyes.

Was that true?

Misaki quietly approached, sitting beside him.

She didn't speak right away, just watched the flames.

Until…

"What's bothering you?"

Ryuusei took a deep breath.

Then, he muttered:

"That man…"

Misaki turned her head toward him.

"What about him?"

Ryuusei stared into the fire, lost in thought.

"He said he was once like us."

Misaki remained silent.

"That he used to believe in what was right. That he started as a normal shinobi… and ended up like that."

The fire crackled, filling the momentary silence.

Then Seiryu let out a dry laugh.

"Hah. So that's what's eating you?"

He spat on the ground, disdain clear in his voice.

"He said that to sleep better at night, that's all."

Misaki glanced briefly at Seiryu but didn't immediately disagree.

She thought for a moment.

And then, she spoke calmly:

"The choices we make shape us."

Ryuusei looked at her.

Misaki continued, her tone thoughtful:

"The ninja world isn't black and white. It's not always about right and wrong."

She sighed.

"But threatening innocents, abusing the weak, and using war as an excuse for it?"

Her eyes gleamed under the firelight.

"That has no justification."

Ryuusei didn't answer right away.

But for the first time since the battle…

He felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

Seiryu crossed his arms, scoffing.

"If we start worrying about what a piece of trash like that said, we'll end up like him. That's the real danger."

Ryuusei let out a faint chuckle.

Seiryu was blunt and rough, but deep down…

He wasn't wrong.

The fire continued to burn.

And for the first time that night…

Ryuusei allowed himself to close his eyes.

He still had much to learn.

But one thing he knew for sure.

"I'll never become like him."