Dawn broke over Kumogakure beneath a sky heavy with storm clouds.
Low thunder rolled across the mountains.
The air felt cold.
Charged.
Hundreds of academy students gathered at the eastern gates.
Some spoke in hushed excitement.
Others stood in silence.
Today wasn't training.
Today was judgment.
Thunder Basin
Beyond the village stretched the Thunder Basin.
A wide, unforgiving valley.
Dense forest swallowed most of the terrain.
Jagged stone ridges split the land.
Narrow ravines carved unpredictable paths through the earth.
Perfect for ambushes.
Perfect for war.
From the overlook above—
Kaito Ren folded his arms.
"Storm's coming."
Beside him, Takeshi Aran watched the sky.
"…Good."
Ren smirked.
"You enjoy this."
Aran didn't look at him.
"…Reality doesn't care about comfort."
Squad Deployment
Students lined the ridge as banners were distributed.
One by one.
No mistakes.
No second chances.
When Raizen's squad stepped forward—
Aran handed the banner to Daigo.
"Protect it."
Daigo grinned.
"Always."
Aran's eyes shifted briefly to Raizen.
"…Make sure he can."
Raizen met his gaze.
No words.
Then they stepped away.
The Descent
A horn shattered the silence.
"Squads deploy!"
The mountain came alive.
Students surged down into the forest.
Some rushed recklessly.
Others vanished into cover.
Raizen's squad moved differently.
Controlled.
Measured.
Akari scanned constantly.
"…Too many blind spots."
Daigo adjusted the banner.
"Good."
Raizen walked at the front.
Inside his mind—
Astra activated.
"Environmental scan active."
"Multiple squad signatures detected."
Raizen nodded.
Expected.
First Position
They reached the valley floor.
Movement echoed through the trees.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Chaos already beginning.
Daigo cracked his knuckles.
"…Plan?"
Raizen didn't hesitate.
He pointed upward.
"High ground."
Akari smirked.
"Predictable."
Raizen replied:
"Effective."
They moved.
Predator Territory
Halfwayup the ridge—
Astra's voice sharpened.
"Contact detected."
"Two squads. Northern vector."
Raizen stopped.
Instantly—
Akari vanished behind cover.
Bow drawn.
Daigo stepped into the path.
Banner secured.
Raizen moved forward.
"Six opponents."
Daigo grinned.
"…Finally."
First Clash
They came fast.
Too fast.
"Banner squad!"
Two charged immediately.
Mistake.
Daigo met them head-on.
Steel clashed.
Akari fired.
An arrow struck just beside a foot—forcing hesitation.
Raizen moved.
Silver Step.
He slipped inside an attack—
Redirect.
Palm strike.
Clean.
One down.
"Eliminated."
The fight hadn't even begun.
Collapse
The rest faltered.
They weren't ready.
Akari fired again.
Daigo drove one back down the slope.
Raizen advanced—
calm.
Unrushed.
The remaining students broke.
Too late.
"Eliminated squad."
Watching Above
From the ridge above—
Ren nodded.
"…Clean."
Aran said nothing.
Ren glanced sideways.
"You expected that."
Aran answered quietly:
"…Yes."
Aftermath
Daigo laughed.
"…That was easy."
Akari shook her head.
"They rushed."
Raizen didn't relax.
His eyes stayed on the forest.
Inside his mind Astra spoke:
"Enemy behavior: inexperienced."
Raizen answered quietly—
"…That was the warm-up."
Because now—
Everyone would adjust.
Everyone would learn.
And soon—
Every squad in Thunder Basin would realize the same truth.
To win—
They would have to face the strongest.
And on that battlefield—
Raizen Tenrai was no longer hiding.
The storm had begun.