Chapter 133: Hidden Presences

[ Hi there! This is the other part of the previous chapter, for the ones that didn't read in the comment, i did a mistake in the previous chapter and i didn't post it all, this is the rest!]

 Kurara ran frantically, her breath ragged, pain pulsing in her injured arm.

Her hand, usually steady on the chain of her Kusarigama, trembled slightly.

Behind her, the footsteps of her pursuer grew closer—fast, relentless.

She had no time.

Ahead of her, a cliff.

The void beneath her feet was a death sentence for anyone who hesitated.

Kurara didn't hesitate.

She lunged forward, swinging the chain of her Kusarigama with precise aim.

The weapon wrapped around a lower ledge, giving her the only chance to control her fall.

Her body's weight strained the grip to its limit.

Her muscles screamed from the effort.

Then, she crashed onto the ground.

A sharp pain exploded in her ankle as she collapsed onto one knee.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to ignore the cold sweat running down her temple.

She lifted her gaze.

A figure stood before her.

Kurara's body tensed instantly.

Her hand tightened around the chain, ready to fight—Then she recognized the face.

Ren.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips."Ren…" she said, her voice slightly breathless.

Ren's clone observed her carefully, his analytical gaze scanning her injuries in an instant.

"What happened?" he asked in a neutral tone, wasting no time.

Kurara leaned against a tree, clutching her injured arm with her good hand.

"A student with a mask… He caught me off guard."

The clone remained still for a moment.

"A student with a mask?"Kurara nodded slowly.

"Yes… but something about him felt off."

She paused, choosing her words carefully.

"He doesn't seem to be from our class. His fighting style… it's different. It doesn't resemble that of any student at the Academy."

Ren's clone narrowed his eyes, processing the information.

A student with an unknown style… And a mask?A thought struck him.

Could it be Zabuza?If it was really Zabuza Momochi, then it meant only one thing—someone had tampered with the exam, introducing an uncontrolled variable, and if Zabuza was here…Things were about to get much more dangerous.

Kurara adjusted her stance, testing her injured leg. The clone watched her for another moment, then gave a small nod.

"Can you walk?" Kurara took a step forward, gritting her teeth."I'm not at my best, but I won't just sit here."

The clone nodded. He scanned the surroundings, searching for a safe location. He couldn't delay too long—he needed to dispel himself soon so that the original could receive this information.

But his eyes drifted back to Kurara.

Injured, tense, but not broken.…I can't leave her like this.

He stepped closer. "I'll take you somewhere safe. After that, you'll have to manage on your own for a while."

Kurara nodded without hesitation. The clone supported her, helping her walk for a few minutes until they reached a small crevice in the rock, hidden beneath the roots of a fallen tree.

"This should do."

Kurara dropped to the ground with a heavy breath, rubbing her ankle.

Meanwhile, the clone pulled out a scroll and began tracing a seal on the ground at the cave's entrance. The pattern was complex, a fusion of multiple techniques:

A tracking seal, to monitor any movement around the area.

A barrier seal, preventing entry without the correct chakra flow.

A concealment seal, rendering the cave invisible to the naked eye and to less experienced sensors.

This should keep her safe for a while.

Once the seal was completed, the clone pressed a hand onto the center of the pattern, infusing it with chakra to activate it.

A faint blue light pulsed through the engraved lines before fading.

Kurara watched with a mix of relief and admiration.

"What was that technique?" she asked, still catching her breath.

"A personal invention," the clone answered calmly.

"It'll hold for a few hours. You should rest while you can."

Kurara nodded.

The clone studied her for a moment longer, as if making sure she was truly safe. Then, he stepped back, closed his eyes—And dispelled.

The memories returned to the original.

Now, Ren knew everything.

Ps: Probably there will be a delay in tomorrow release, thanks for understanding ^.^]