Yahiko stepped steadily into the eastern forest, his cloak draped over his shoulders.
His purpose for this journey was clear: to eliminate the threat in this area—the long-out-of-control Fearow.
According to intelligence, this bird was massive in size, astonishingly fast, and capable of creating storms with its wingbeats, tearing entire forests apart.
Over the past few months, many passing Rain Ninjas, wandering ninjas, and even ordinary villagers had fallen victim to its rage.
Yahiko, of course, knew the origin of this Ninja Beast.
It was the Ninja Beast hatched by that Rain Ninja squad leader.
When Hanzo executed the squad leader under the pretext of purging rebellion, the Spearow immediately went berserk and evolved into Fearow.
Since then, it had entrenched itself in this eastern forest, becoming a bird of death that everyone avoided.
Today, Yahiko intended to face it himself.
Behind him, Charmeleon followed silently, its Tail Flame flickering in the rain and mist.
The burning heat it radiated was starkly out of place in this cold, damp forest, yet it symbolized Yahiko's resolve.
Shiroishi and Eevee trailed behind as well, their steps light.
Consumed by hatred, it had entered Overlord Mode—a special wild combat state.
Its size was far larger than that of an ordinary Ninja Beast.
Such a Ninja Beast was no longer a creature that could be easily tamed; its fury had to be quelled.
Yahiko halted, his gaze fixed on the shadows ahead among the trees.
In the wind, there was a faint rustling of leaves and an almost imperceptible, low hum.
"I know you're here."
Yahiko's voice was soft, yet it echoed clearly through the silent forest.
"Your master is dead. I understand how you feel, but I hope you'll stop harming any passersby."
His words were eloquent, but the response was an angry cry.
As soon as he finished speaking, the air seemed to tear apart.
"Screech!!!"
A sharp, piercing cry reverberated through the forest, followed by countless dark shadows bursting from the canopy.
It was a dense flock of birds!
Each one was larger than an ordinary bird, with disheveled feathers and eyes glowing with an eerie crimson light.
They flapped their wings, sweeping wind and rain with them, blanketing the sky.
"Spearow…"
Shiroishi murmured under his breath, his expression turning subtle.
These creatures looked almost identical to the Spearow hatched by the World Tree, but upon closer inspection, there were differences.
They weren't original Pokémon Ninja Beasts but rather derivatives—ordinary birds corrupted by Fearow's Chakra.
That power was continuously eroding their instincts, causing them to mutate in their rage.
This was the wonder of Chakra—Fearow's emotions had transformed them into creatures resembling Spearow.
It seemed this forest had long become its domain.
Yahiko frowned, his fingers tightening slightly.
Behind him, Charmeleon let out a low growl, its Tail Flame flaring up abruptly.
The Spearow flock circled overhead, the wind suddenly intensifying, leaves and branches whirling into the air, rain tearing into fine threads.
And then—
With a thunderous crash, a massive tree deep in the forest was uprooted by a gust of wind and hurled into the sky.
Amid the howling wind came the heavy sound of wingbeats, deafening as thunder.
It was an overwhelmingly oppressive presence.
Then, all the Spearow parted in unison.
Among the treetops, a colossal dark shadow slowly emerged.
It was a monstrous bird standing over ten meters tall—Fearow.
Beneath its enormous frame, its eyes blazed with a crimson glow, burning with fury.
Its beak parted slightly, a piercing screech that tore through the air exploded in the valley, unleashing a fierce gale that uprooted even the trees.
Charmeleon roared defiantly against the wind, the ground beneath its feet scorched black.
Yahiko didn't retreat an inch.
Facing the mountainous Fearow, he slowly formed hand seals.
Chakra surged violently, causing tremors to ripple through the air.
Blue flames spread from his body, swirling like living tidal waves.
The ground shook abruptly as a wave of heat radiated outward.
The flames coalesced behind Yahiko into the shape of a dragon's tail, swaying with his breath.
Then the fiery light spread across his entire body, forming a translucent dragon-shaped Chakra Cloak.
The draconic silhouette faintly overlapped with Charmeleon, scales glimmering, aura dragon-like.
With a low shout, Yahiko stomped the ground, transforming into a blazing blue streak shooting skyward.
Metal Claws extended from his arms, wreathed in flame-turned-light.
He cut through the air, leaving a searing trail like a cyan meteor charging straight at Fearow.
BOOM!
The impact's heatwave swept through the entire forest, instantly igniting the leaves.
A vortex of Chakra spiraled through the air, locking onto Fearow's position and closing in.
Simultaneously, Charmeleon let out a deep roar.
Its Tail Flame surged violently as it kicked off the ground, soaring upward to mimic Yahiko's aerial assault.
Yet its move was more primal, more wild—as if driven by instinct, its flames fiercer but lacking precise control.
Two streams of fire intertwined midair, forming a towering spiral of flames shooting toward the sky.
Fearow's reaction far exceeded normal expectations.
With a shrill cry, it spread its wings wide, generating a gale capable of tearing through mountains and forests.
The air compressed, distorted, and exploded into dense wind blades that shrieked counterattacks.
Countless wind blades wove into a net, simultaneously blocking both Yahiko and Charmeleon's assaults.
Flames and storm collided, erupting in deafening roars.
Yahiko flipped through the air before landing, his gaze locked ahead.
The Fearow had already ascended high, its massive figure skimming the clouds as raindrops slid along its feathers, glinting coldly in the night.
It was observing, probing, calculating its next move.
This Ninja Beast's intelligence was no less than a human's!
It knew—as long as it kept its distance, it wouldn't easily fall into danger.
Yahiko looked up, blue flames reflecting in his pupils, battle intent burning.
The Fearow looming overhead radiated intense pressure.
Suppressing both Yahiko and Charmeleon.
Though they had progressed rapidly recently, they still fell short against this overlord-level Fearow.
Especially now, with Fearow's rage reaching terrifying levels.
In truth, Fearow wasn't ignorant of the scene before it.
As it looked down upon Yahiko and Charmeleon standing side by side, complex emotions flickered in its crimson pupils.
That tacit understanding, that posture of fighting side by side.
It resembled too closely what it once shared with the deceased Rain Ninja Captain.
But now, that person was long gone.
And it, having lost its master, remained trapped in a cage of pain and hatred.
Why?
Why can you stand together like this, while I've lost everything?
This thought fermented rapidly in its heart.
Rage, jealousy, and sorrow intertwined, converging into a nearly uncontrollable killing intent.
Fearow's wings suddenly spread wide, its Chakra Wave distorting the air as if the entire forest was swayed by its emotions.
In the distance, Shiroishi slightly raised his head, his fingertips lightly brushing through the air as his perception rapidly expanded.
The mist in the forest was disturbed by the Chakra, faintly revealing several blurred human figures.
The next moment, his eyes abruptly contracted!
Those originally calm eyes slowly transformed into eerie Round Eyes, the pupils rotating with a faint glow.
Fine veins appeared at the corners of his eyes, his gaze piercing through layers of tree shadows to precisely lock onto the Rain Ninjas hidden in the periphery.
Dozens of ninjas clad in Rain Village uniforms were scattered throughout the woods.
These were the former subordinates of that Rain Ninja Captain from years past.
Now, under Hanzo's orders, they had been monitoring Fearow's movements in this area for a long time.
And now, Yahiko's battle with Charmeleon had undoubtedly ignited their vigilance.
Staring at Yahiko, who was clad in a Chakra Cloak, several Rain Ninjas froze: "What... is that?"
"That aura feels wrong—quickly report to Lord Hanzo!"
The layer of blue Chakra flames enveloping Yahiko stood out vividly in the night rain, like a beacon illuminating the entire forest.