CTS TIME: RE250.05.26 – 6:00 AM (Hikarashi Village Local Time)
LOCATION: Hikarashi Village – Aiko's House
The morning sun cast a golden hue over Hikarashi Village, illuminating the traditional wooden houses and bustling streets. The air smelled of freshly baked bread and simmering broth, vendors setting up their stalls as shinobi moved about, preparing for their missions.
The sounds of children laughing, shinobi sparring, and the rhythmic hammering of blacksmiths filled the air. Farmers tended to their rice fields, while merchants unloaded goods from distant villages.
The village was alive.
But amidst this lively morning, Jasper Tyros was on a mission of self-destruction.
Inside Aiko's house, the small workstation in the corner of the room flickered dimly, its holographic interface still active from the night before.
Sienna, usually an early riser, had fallen asleep at her desk, her silver hair cascading over her holopad, the glow of the screen reflecting softly against her face.
The entire mission data from her research on Shinobi culture, chakra structures, elemental formations, and combat tactics had been collected and organized.
The final step was to send it all to ISA Headquarters.
Jasper stood silently, his gaze locked on the screen.
Sienna had spent weeks—no, months—on this research.
Every interview.
Every document.
Every carefully recorded chakra signature.
All of it.
He took a deep breath.
Then—
He pulled out a small device, linked it to the panel, and pressed a single button.
FILES DELETED.
A confirmation prompt appeared.
Jasper's fingers hesitated for only a second.
DELETE ALL?
Yes.
ALL FILES PERMANENTLY ERASED.
A soft beep echoed in the silent room.
The holographic panel flickered once, then shut off.
Jasper turned, his face unreadable.
He had done it.
Sienna would hate him forever.
As he walked through the streets of Hikarashi, Jasper took a deep breath, forcing himself to act normal.
The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of burning incense and morning dew.
Shinobi ran across rooftops, practicing their agility, while villagers prepared for the day.
An elderly woman struggled to carry a heavy basket, and without thinking, Jasper helped her.
"Oh, thank you, young man! You outsiders truly are kind!" she said, smiling.
Jasper forced a grin.
"Yeah… no problem."
He kept walking, trying to ignore the guilt gnawing at him.
Finally, he reached the clearing outside the village, a small training area surrounded by tall cherry blossom trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting golden patterns on the ground.
He unsheathed Dragonis.
Then, without activating its true power, he began to train.
Parry.
Swing.
Upper cut.
Lower chop.
His breathing steadied, his mind cleared.
For a moment, he almost forgot.
Then—
He sensed another presence.
Turning, he saw Kenshiro.
The shinobi was standing before a large crystal monument, names etched in its surface—the memorial of fallen shinobi.
Jasper called out.
"Yo, Kenshiro."
No response.
He walked closer.
Kenshiro finally spoke.
"This is where we honor the dead."
Jasper glanced at the names.
"A lot of people?"
Kenshiro nodded slowly.
"Too many."
Silence.
Then, Kenshiro turned toward Jasper.
"Tell me… what is it like to be a Blader?"
Jasper blinked.
"Huh?"
Kenshiro gestured to Dragonis.
"Your sword. It has a will of its own, doesn't it?"
Jasper smirked.
"Yeah. It's not just a weapon—it's my partner."
Kenshiro's expression darkened.
"Then why did it reject me?"
Jasper crossed his arms.
"Because you don't have a bond with it. Dragonis doesn't care how strong you are—if it doesn't accept you, you can't wield it."
Kenshiro nodded slowly.
"I see… But what if I want to become a Blader?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow.
"You seriously want to learn?"
Kenshiro smirked.
"Show me."
With a flick of his wrist, Kenshiro pulled out a kunai.
"Let's see what a Blader can do against a shinobi."
Jasper sighed.
"Alright. Let's dance."
Meanwhile, in Hikarashi Academy, Sienna had begun her research, following Homurakage into the shinobi training grounds.
The academy was a massive compound, filled with young shinobi learning chakra control, ninjutsu theory, and combat techniques.
Inside, students sat in neatly arranged rows, listening as a sensei explained the fundamentals of shinobi missions.
Sienna stood silently, watching as the young genin absorbed every word.
"So, this is how they train…" she muttered, taking notes.
Soon, it was time for the final test.
One by one, students stepped forward, performing the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Each clone formed perfectly—except for one.
Ryuji stepped forward, his expression nervous.
He formed the hand signs, focusing his chakra—
And—
Poof!
A deformed, incomplete clone appeared, then collapsed.
The students snickered.
Ryuji's fists clenched.
Sienna, watching from the observation deck, sighed.
"His chakra control is off-balance."
Later that afternoon, she approached him.
"You need more training in chakra control," she said matter-of-factly.
Ryuji scowled.
"You're not even a shinobi! How do you know this?!"
Sienna adjusted her wristwatch.
"It's part of my study."
Ryuji gritted his teeth.
"Fine! Then let me show you my own technique!"
Before she could respond, he formed hand signs.
"Sexy Jutsu!"
POOF!
Sienna stared in absolute horror as a naked woman appeared before her.
Her brain short-circuited.
"…WHAT KIND OF JUTSU IS THIS?!"
Ryuji grinned.
"Pretty cool, right?"
Sienna rubbed her temples.
"This is… beyond my comprehension."
With that, she left, her mind still reeling.
Back at Aiko's house, Sienna sat at her workstation, finally ready to send her mission report.
She activated her holographic panel.
The files loaded—
And—
Nothing.
Her heart stopped.
She refreshed the page.
Still nothing.
Her hands trembled as she checked the security logs.
Then—
She saw it.
SECURITY LOG: FILE DELETION – INITIATED BY: JASPER TYROS
Sienna's breath hitched.
Her entire body went cold.
Tears formed in her silver eyes, her heart slamming against her ribs.
"No… No, no, no…"
Her mission.
Her career.
Her entire dream.
Gone.
And the person who destroyed it—
Was Jasper.