Training field fifty seven was peaceful today, but that was due to change. Masaru sat in the center of the field holding the summoning contract scroll for the Wolf clan. While he had two, he already knew that the Wolf clan would take longer to climb ranks and be able to summon actual wolves rather than one of their sub-clans.
Biting the bullet, Masaru cut his thumb and preformed the hand signs. As soon as his hands touched the floor, fuinjutsu script flowed out and surrounded him. For an instant, he was confused, but he quickly realized what was happening.
"Is this rever-"
Poof!
When he regained his senses, Masaru nearly fell but caught himself quickly.
He looked up only to realize that wherever he was, it was dark. It was a forest, one with trees so large that their canopies blocked the sunlight. Running up the nearest tree, he did his best to eliminate the chance of an ambush.
Countless possibilities entered his mind, but he eventually settled on one: "This is a test. I don't know what kind, but its likely I either have to find their den or escape alive."
He hesitated for a long while, carefully listening out for any kind of noise, but it seemed that the forest was empty. There were no birds chirping overhead. No rustling of leaves from monkeys, not even the buzzing of bugs. It was as if the forest was holding its breath.
'If there is ever a moment where the forest goes silent, you are not alone. It is a predator responce to hide one's self, and-'
He finished his sensei's words. "I'm being hunted."
"...Fuck."
This was not something he'd been expecting to do today, but he was already waist deep. The only two directions were to go deeper or bail while he had the chance.
...
Masaru sighed. "But that's not really a choice, is it?"
A moment and a puff of smoke later and there were now four Masaru's perched on a tree. They each nodded at the others before pushing off, flickering off into the forest.
---
The forest was dark and peaceful as it had always been. Ren tousled from his rest, rising to his paws in a deep stretch. A rumbling purr-like growl emanated from his throat as he rose and shook his coat free of dirt.
Padding from his den, his eyes narrowed into a smile when he saw Kiba and Sachi already wrestling in the grass. "Who started it this time?"
"Why as when you already know?" Sachi growled. "This idiot decided it was a good idea to steal my kill!"
"Haha! It was so easy Ren, she didn't even see it coming!"
Ren huffed out a laugh and as he did so, a strange scent caught his attention. That wasn't a wolf, and all the other animals made it a point to avoid their dens. Just as he thought this, a new presence entered their area.
A large wolf, nearly twice the size of them, padded closer. His fur was patched with battle scars, and the jagged line that crossed over his eye told them who he was.
Ren 'frowned,' stepping closer. "What are you doing here, Ronin? What's going on?"
The larger wolf huffed, clearly displeased to be here. "It seems that a new summoner has arrived."
Kiba barked out a laugh. "Another one? Didn't we just get rid of one last month?"
"Yeah, the stupid fuck thought he could boss us around so we fed him to the prairie dogs." Ronin laughed. "But this one's on you three. Go make a fool of him for us."
"Don't worry bossman, whoever it is, they'll end up regretting trying us before the sun sets."
---
Sometime later, in another part of the forest, Ren padded into a grove with his nose to the dirt. The intruder had done something strange to send his scent in many directions, but no one could deceive a wolf's snout.
When he looked up, he grinned as he finally caught sight of the intruder. The young man turned to look at him as he reared up to charge, and something inside Ren caught aflame.
'Is that little shit smirking at me?'
Just as he began running, leaping through the air to pounce on his prey, the kid raised a single hand and formed a seal, that dammed smirk still on his lips. "And suddenly the hunter becomes the hunted."
Poof!
Ren's teeth met nothing as they snapped together, and for a moment he was utterly confused. What kind of being could disappear like that?
Then he remembered that he was facing a shinobi. "A fucking clone?!"
He growled heavily. "When I get my hands on that little shit..."
---
A figure of a young man flickered through the forest, leaping over branches and cutting through the darkness. The young man stopped atop a branch for a moment, flinching once, then twice, and thrice as his lost strength and chakra flooded back into his body.
Masaru frowned, crouching in place. "Three of them...Alright then, let's take 'em down a notch."
His hands slid into one of his pouches and returned with a spool of metal wire, using chakra to float his wakizashi (The small utility blade) from it's sheath. "That never get's old..."
---
As Ren galloped through the forest, Kiba and Sachi met up with him. "He trick you lot too?"
They huffed in response. "Can't believe I fell for that!"
Ren hit the trap first.
There was a sharp twang as the wire cinched around his forelegs, yanking him off balance and slamming him into the dirt. Kiba and Sachi skidded to a halt just in time, instincts saving them from the same fate as they leapt aside with startled growls.
Masaru didn't waste the opening.
Three figures burst from the canopy in a blur of motion, chakra‑reinforced footfalls cracking branches as they descended. One clone peeled off immediately, blade reversed as he dove straight for Ren. The other three — Masaru and two clones — fanned out toward Kiba and Sachi.
"Let's end this quick!"
The clone targeting Ren swung down, but Ren twisted violently, jaws snapping. His teeth clamped around the clone's forearm and pop — the clone burst into smoke.
Sachi reacted even faster. She spun on her heel, eyes flashing, and lunged at the nearest clone. Her fangs sank into its wrist before the strike could land, and it vanished in a puff of white.
Kiba wasn't so lucky.
He dodged Masaru's swing by a hair, but his hind paw landed exactly where Masaru wanted it — the second wire trap snapped shut around his ankle, yanking him off his feet with a yelp.
"Dammit—!"
Masaru's eyes flicked toward Ren just in time to see the wolf's muscles bulge. With a furious snarl, Ren bit down on the wire binding him. The metal groaned, then snapped.
Masaru clicked his tongue. "Of course he's that strong."
The last clone barely had time to react before Ren lunged again. A single swipe of his claws tore through the clone's chest, dispersing it instantly.
Now it was just Masaru — one real body, one remaining clone — facing three very pissed‑off wolves.
They circled him, low and predatory, their growls vibrating through the forest floor.
Masaru exhaled slowly. "Alright… round two."
He and his clone shifted into mirrored stance—and froze as a shadow fell over them.
A massive weight slammed into both of them from behind, flattening them into the dirt. Masaru's breath exploded from his lungs as claws pinned his shoulders. His clone burst instantly, leaving him alone beneath the crushing force.
A deep, gravelly voice rumbled above him.
"Well, well…" Ronin leaned down, hot breath brushing Masaru's ear. "Look what I caught."
Masaru grit his teeth, glaring over his shoulder at the scarred wolf towering over him.
"…Shit."
|AN| Sorry if this chapter was a bit strange, I had quite a lot of trouble getting it together. Writer's block is a bitch.
Also don't forget to vote with your stones if you haven't already used them today!