Crimson Ash

AUTHOR NOTE: Takeda Hanzo POV

Mastery of Ki came with time, discipline, and refinement. And yet, there was one element that continued to defy me—water.

My control over water was conditional, dependent on its availability. Unlike fire, wind, or earth, which could be summoned from the ambient Ki around me, water required a source. It was a weakness I refused to tolerate.

I had read about masters of water element combat—warriors who carried gourds filled with water, always prepared to fight at a moment's notice. Some could forge blades of water, sharper than steel, capable of slicing through flesh as if it were nothing more than mist.

I needed to reach that level.

But first, I had to understand it.

I steadied my breathing and turned toward the training dummy before me. Without hesitation, I flickered forward—Phantom Step activating seamlessly beneath my feet.

The Eclipse Blade materialized against my wrist, appearing in a brief shimmer of blackened steel before slicing through the dummy as if it were paper.

Perfect.

This weapon was made for me—silent, unseen, and deadly. A tool fit for a shinobi.

But I wasn't just a weapon. I was a force.

I exhaled and began manipulating my Ki.

I formed water projectiles, shifting them into shuriken-like discs, sharp and fast. But that wasn't enough. I compressed earth Ki into bullet-like constructs, layering them with wind Ki to amplify their velocity.

When I launched them, they tore through the air faster than arrows, embedding themselves into the training targets with resounding cracks.

<+10 Ki>

A standard one-element user would never be able to match that.

Yet, just as I prepared for another round of training, something changed.

The air shifted—a sudden, unnatural pressure settling over the grounds.

And then—

My breath slowed.

Killing intent?

My gaze flickered around the training grounds—no one in sight.

Then I felt it—heat. A slow, suffocating heat.

Nearby wooden weapons hanging on the racks began sizzling, their edges blackening as if kissed by invisible flames.

Then, he appeared.

Striding forward with the deliberate patience of a predator, Instructor Akashi emerged.

His narrowed amber eyes, marred by a deep scar, fixated on me with unfiltered hatred. His crimson hair, tied into a tight bun, barely moved despite the growing winds of his Ki pressure.

A suffocating aura of flames radiated off his form—his very presence warping the air around him.

He was furious.

And he wanted blood.

"Akashi… what the hell are you doing?" I demanded, voice steady but sharp.

The instructor's lips twisted into a snarl. "Can't you see, boy?" His flames roared to life, illuminating his face with an ominous glow. "I'm here for a duel—and I won't hold back."

"A duel?" I scoffed, rolling my shoulders. "You're trying to reclaim your honor, aren't you? You lost, Akashi. You still have your reputation as an instructor. Don't throw it away."

"FOOL!"

The ground fractured beneath him as his flames exploded outward, a wave of heat rolling through the training grounds.

Students nearby stumbled backward, gasping as the temperature spiked.

"You humiliated me." Akashi seethed, his expression carved from fury. "You made me look weak. Do you think I can let that stand?"

So that was it. Pride. Reputation. Vengeance.

He wanted to erase his shame—to defeat me with Ki this time.

I rolled my shoulders. If he wanted a fight, I wouldn't refuse.

Besides… I had a few things I wanted to test.

"Fine." I said simply. "I accept your challenge."

No sooner had the words left my mouth than Akashi attacked.

A barrage of flaming orbs—each the size of a boulder—rocketed toward me.

I flickered—Phantom Step.

I reappeared meters away, the heat scorching the air where I had stood. I countered instantly, summoning earth Ki, shaping multiple sharp projectiles, and layering them with wind Ki to increase their velocity.

Boom!

I launched them at lightning-fast speeds.

Akashi reacted instantly. He destroyed most of it mid-air, dodging the rest with precision.

Tch. As Expected.

He raised a hand, and a wall of flames roared between us—

Then, he vanished.

My Instincts screamed.

I turned just in time—

Akashi reappeared behind me, his flames condensed into a sword.

I pushed away with wind Ki, but—Pain.

A burning slash cut down my chest.

I landed lightly, pressing a hand against the searing wound. Blood trickled, staining my uniform.

Akashi grinned. "What's wrong, brat? Scared?"

I exhaled. I underestimated him.

But this wasn't over.

"Scared?" I repeated, smirking. "I was just testing the strength of a washed-up instructor."

His expression twisted with rage.

Good.

Anger makes people sloppy.

His flames erupted once more, sending a scorching heatwave rippling through the academy.

From the corner of my eye, I saw students pouring in, their eyes wide with shock and anticipation.

AUTHOR NOTE: Director Jin POV

The Disciplinary Committee was meant to establish order. A group of select students with authority—even over instructors.

But power struggles were inevitable.

Now, I was witnessing the fallout.

A massive heatwave pulsed through the academy.

I rose from my desk, my gaze snapping to the training grounds just as my office doors burst open.

Two instructors stormed in.

"Director Jin! Akashi has lost his mind!" one blurted. "He's going to kill a student! We must intervene!"

I didn't reply immediately.

My eyes remained locked onto Takeda Hanzo and Instructor Akashi. Their battle was fierce, their attacks shaking the very air.

I expected this.

Akashi's pride had been shattered. And Takeda… he was still learning the weight of his own arrogance.

A sigh left my lips.

"What a predicament." I murmured. 

Then, I made my decision.

"Do not intervene." My voice was calm but absolute. "Stop any instructor who tries. This is a Disciplinary Committee matter. Let Takeda handle it."

The instructors hesitated.

"…Understood, sir."

They left.

My gaze remained on Takeda.

"Let's see how far you'll go, Takeda Hanzo."

AUTHOR NOTE: HIROSHI FUJIMOTO POV

Something was happening.

I hadn't planned to deviate from my schedule—I had a lesson to get to—but the murmurs in the corridors grew louder, turning into rushed whispers, then into a frantic wave of movement.

The words Takeda and Akashi surfaced over and over again.

That was all I needed to hear.

I turned on my heels, pushing through the gathering crowd as students sprinted toward the training grounds.

By the time I arrived, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. The sea of students surrounding the arena left no doubt—this wasn't some simple spar.

This was serious.

And then, I saw it.

A wave of scorching heat surged from the center of the battlefield, sending tremors through the air. Flames roared, climbing toward the sky like an untamed beast, devouring everything in their wake.

At the heart of it all stood Instructor Akashi, his flaming aura pulsating around him, his presence unmistakable.

But what caught my attention wasn't just his power.

It was the unhinged fury in his eyes.

And then there was Takeda.

Standing opposite Akashi, his stance unwavering, his expression unreadable.

His presence was different—colder, sharper. As if he weren't just fighting an instructor, but calculating the most efficient way to eliminate a threat.

A shiver ran through me.

This wasn't just a battle. This was a lesson in survival.

I pushed my way through the crowd until I found myself standing next to Ryu Kazuki and Aiko Tachibana.

Both of them were silent, their gazes locked onto the fight unfolding before them.

The tension in the air was suffocating.

"Akashi is a lot stronger than he let on." Ryu muttered, shielding his face as a blast of heat rolled past us. His usual cocky demeanor was gone, replaced by something bordering on disbelief.

"Yeah…" I murmured, unable to tear my eyes away. "To think Takeda is struggling."

And he was.

Even from here, I could tell—this was the first real challenge Takeda had faced at the academy.

His movements were still precise, still sharp—but there was a strain to them. Akashi wasn't just fighting with power—he was fighting with intent.

Intent to kill.

I clenched my fists.

Would Director Jin stop this? Would the instructors step in?

I turned toward the academy instructors standing nearby. They weren't reacting.

They were just watching.

Glancing over at the main building, I spotted Director Jin himself, his hands folded behind his back, his expression calm and composed.

He had no intention of stopping this fight.

He was testing Takeda.

AUTHOR NOTE: Takeda Hanzo POV

This had gone on long enough.

I leaped into the air, channeling fire Ki into multiple fireballs, launching them toward Akashi while manipulating wind Ki to push my body toward different areas and attack from multiple angles.

Then—Phantom Step.

I vanished into his shadow, reappearing directly behind him.

Earth Ki surged through my fingers, locking him in place.

I pressed a wooden short sword to his neck.

"Akashi." I said coldly. "You underestimate me."

Then, he laughed.

A slow chuckle that turned into a menacing cackle.

"You think I've lost?" Akashi sneered, pulling a red pill from his satchel.

My eyes narrowed.

He grinned.

"Good luck, child."

And then—he swallowed it.

What the hell?