CTS TIME: RE250.05.26 – 11:30 PM (Hikarashi Village Local Time)
LOCATION: Hikarashi Village – Training Grounds
A cold wind swept through Hikarashi Village, rustling the treetops and making the torches flicker as a large crowd of shinobi gathered at the training grounds.
The full moon hung above them, bathing the clearing in a silver glow.
Jasper stood calmly in the center, his hands resting casually on Dragonis, which was still sheathed on his back. His blue energy aura flickered softly, like an unshaken flame.
Opposite him, Kaizen Kurogami's gaze was sharp and focused, his fists clenched.
The tension in the air was thick, suffocating.
Even the Jonin and Chunin standing among the crowd felt it.
Something unsettling about Jasper's energy made their instincts scream—as if they were standing near something far beyond human comprehension.
Among the crowd, Homurakage, Kenshiro, and other high-level shinobi observed carefully.
"This outsider swordsman…" one of the Chunin murmured. "His presence… it doesn't feel normal."
Another Jonin nodded.
"It's overwhelming. It's not chakra, yet it feels alive… almost like…"
His words trailed off.
Because deep down, they all felt the same thing—
It felt like Nyxarion.
Kenshiro stood with his arms crossed, unfazed. He had already fought Jasper once and knew exactly what was coming.
But Kaizen had no idea.
The young shinobi activated his Yamigan, his black-and-red eyes glowing faintly.
"Tch… let's see if this 'Blader' is actually as strong as everyone thinks."
Jasper simply rolled his shoulders.
"Alright, emo boy. You ready?"
Kaizen's jaw tightened.
"Don't insult me."
Jasper grinned.
"Then show me what you got."
Kaizen launched forward first, vanishing in a blur.
The ground cracked beneath his feet, his speed almost invisible to the untrained eye.
He reappeared behind Jasper, his hands forming rapid hand signs.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Fang Jutsu!"
A massive surge of electricity erupted from his palms, crackling like a wild storm as he sent twin bolts of lightning directly at Jasper's back.
The crowd watched with anticipation.
But Jasper—
Didn't even move.
The moment the lightning struck him, his blue energy simply flared outward, dispersing the attack like it was nothing.
Kaizen's eyes widened in shock.
"What the—?!"
Jasper turned his head slightly, grinning.
"That all?"
Kaizen gritted his teeth, vanishing again.
From the right—
"Fire Style: Dragon's Breath!"
A roaring wave of fire erupted toward Jasper.
But again—
Jasper didn't move.
The flames swirled around him, unable to touch him, his blue aura repelling them completely.
The shinobi watching were stunned.
"He's just standing there… and not even taking damage?"
Kaizen didn't hesitate.
"Then let's see how you handle this!"
His Yamigan pulsed, its visual powers activating.
The moment Kaizen locked eyes with Jasper, a dark mist surrounded him.
Jasper's vision shifted.
The training grounds vanished, replaced by an endless black void.
A voice whispered in his ear.
"You're trapped now."
The Genjutsu had worked.
The shinobi watching noticed Jasper suddenly freeze in place.
"He got him!" one of the Genin whispered excitedly.
"That's the power of the Yamigan's first level," Kenshiro explained, watching intently. "It can create a powerful illusion and distort an opponent's perception of time. If Jasper doesn't break it, he'll be helpless."
Kaizen smirked, confident in his technique.
But then—
Jasper chuckled.
Inside the Genjutsu.
Inside the void.
He closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
A second later—
His entire body surged with energy, blasting outward.
And just like that—
The Genjutsu shattered like broken glass.
Kaizen stumbled backward, his Yamigan flickering in disbelief.
"W-What?!"
Jasper cracked his neck.
"Nice try."
Kaizen rushed forward again, using his Yamigan to predict Jasper's movements, throwing kunai, activating his speed-enhancing jutsu, launching multiple elemental attacks in perfect synchronization.
His movements were precise, sharp, and well-planned.
Yet—
None of them hit.
Jasper dodged each attack without even trying.
He didn't teleport.
He didn't counter.
He just walked forward, weaving through every attack like he had already seen them a hundred times.
Kaizen was starting to panic.
"Tch… IMPOSSIBLE!"
Jasper stopped just a few inches from Kaizen.
For the first time—
Kaizen felt true fear.
Jasper smirked, raising his hand.
Then—
With a single push—
Kaizen was sent flying backward, crashing into the ground with enough force to shake the earth beneath them.
The shinobi watching were silent.
No one could comprehend what just happened.
Kaizen—one of the strongest genin, the prodigy of the Kurogami Clan—had just lost without landing a single hit.
Kaizen struggled to stand up, panting heavily.
Jasper stretched lazily, looking down at him.
"That's it?"
Kaizen's jaw clenched.
But he couldn't respond.
He had given everything—and it still wasn't enough.
The shinobi standing in the crowd felt a deep unease.
They had witnessed power before.
But this?
This wasn't just power.
This was something unnatural.
And the strangest part—
It felt exactly like Nyxarion's chakra.
Homurakage finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Jasper Tyros… What are you?"
Jasper simply smirked.
"A guy who's good with a sword."
Far from the training grounds, Sienna sat at her workstation, typing her research notes into her holographic wrist display.
The room was quiet.
Serena and Aiko were already asleep.
Yet Sienna…
Kept glancing at the door.
Her heart felt heavy, her mind racing with thoughts of Jasper.
"He wants me to hate him."
Her fingers trembled slightly as she typed.
"But he doesn't realize… That's impossible."
She clenched her fists, determination flooding her veins.
"I won't lose to you, Jasper."
The night outside was calm.
But inside her heart—
A storm was brewing.
Jasper walked out of the training grounds, his hands casually resting behind his head, his sword Dragonis hanging on his back as if it weighed nothing. The shinobi around him still whispered, confused and slightly uneasy about what they had witnessed.
Kenshiro, still standing by Homurakage, watched Jasper's retreating figure and called out, "Jasper."
The Blader stopped but didn't turn around.
"What?" he asked lazily.
Kenshiro's gaze was sharp.
"That energy of yours… It's too similar to Nyxarion's. Do you know why?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"Nyxa-what now?" he said with genuine confusion.
Kenshiro's frown deepened.
"Nyxarion. The dragon sealed inside Ryuji. Your energy… It felt just like its chakra."
Jasper turned slightly, giving Kenshiro a bored stare.
"Look, I don't know anything about that demon dragon of yours. I just fight with my blade, that's all." He paused, then smirked. "Maybe Sienna knows. She's the smart one. Ask her tomorrow."
Homurakage and the shinobi exchanged glances.
"Then we'll talk again in the morning," Kenshiro finally said, still suspicious.
Jasper simply shrugged and waved him off.
"Whatever. I'm going to sleep."
With that, he walked away.
Ryuji jogged beside Jasper, still pumped with excitement.
"That was so awesome! You completely destroyed Kai!" he grinned.
Jasper chuckled.
"I didn't destroy him. He just wasn't strong enough."
Ryu pouted.
"Same thing!"
Then, with sudden determination, he pointed at Jasper dramatically.
"I've decided! I won't just be the strongest shinobi—"
He clenched his fists, his red eyes burning with ambition.
"I'll be the strongest Shinobi Blader!"
Jasper blinked, then laughed.
"That's a new one. You're not even a Blader."
"I'll find a way!" Ryu declared. "I'll get a sword, and I'll train just like you! I'll make my own dragon spirit, just watch!"
Jasper smirked.
"Good luck with that, kid."
The two of them finally reached Aiko's house.
The door creaked softly as they stepped inside, careful not to wake anyone. The house was quiet, except for the faint sound of Serena's soft breathing from the other room.
But as they walked toward their sleeping area, Jasper noticed something
Sienna was still at her workstation.
She was asleep, sitting upright in her chair, her head tilted slightly to the side. The holographic screen was still on, flickering softly.
Her silver hair fell over her face, her expression peaceful yet tired.
Jasper's gaze lingered on her for a second longer than he wanted.
His heart felt… heavy.
Not in sadness.
Not in guilt.
Just… something.
But instead of acknowledging it, he turned away.
"See?" he muttered to himself. "She really does love her work more than me."
Ryu, oblivious to Jasper's thoughts, flopped onto his mattress, still buzzing with excitement.
"Man, I can't wait for tomorrow! I'm gonna train so hard! I'll prove to everyone I can do it!"
Jasper smirked, lying down on his own mattress.
"Yeah, yeah. Get some sleep first, future 'Shinobi Blader.'"
Ryu yawned and closed his eyes. Within seconds, he was snoring softly.
Jasper, on the other hand, stared at the ceiling, arms behind his head.
His eyes wandered—
And landed on something shining faintly in the moonlight.
It was the miniature version of Dragonis.
The small necklace Sienna had made for him.
It sat on the window ledge, its blue surface glowing softly under the night sky.
For a moment, Jasper just stared at it.
Something deep inside him stirred.
But then—
He turned away.
"Doesn't matter," he muttered to himself. "I'm finally free from her."
And yet, his heart felt heavier than before.
Even in her sleep, Sienna's heart ached.
She had heard Jasper and Ryu talking.
She had felt his presence when he walked past her.
She had seen him look at the necklace.
And yet, he still pushed her away.
But instead of breaking—
She smiled slightly.
"You can keep running, Jasper."
Her fingers tightened around the miniature Dragonis necklace.
"But I'm not going anywhere."
The night was quiet.
But inside their hearts—
A battle was still being fought.