11. The Struggle Begins

Kaito sat cross-legged, frustration etched on his face. It had been hours, and still—nothing.

Rengoku's instructions echoed in his mind:

"Sense your Essence energy. Move it to every part of your body. Keep it flowing."

But no matter how hard he tried, he felt nothing. Just the dull ache of exhaustion.

Unbeknownst to him, Seijuro Arata sat high above in the trees, watching with sharp eyes. Struggling, huh? He had expected this. Mastering Flow wasn't something that happened overnight, but Kaito didn't have the luxury of time.

That's why Seijuro had taken matters into his own hands. Rengoku had strictly told him to keep Kaito a secret, but he knew the Grandmaster would eventually take Kaito in. So, he had decided to act early.

His solution? Send someone who understood Essence Energy better than most. Someone who had a gift for explaining things clearly.

And that person had just arrived.

The First Encounter

A voice broke through Kaito's frustration.

"Yo. You look like you're constipated."

Kaito's eyes snapped open.

A young man stood before him, casually adjusting his Exterminator uniform. His brown hair was tousled, and a cocky smirk played on his lips.

"Who the hell are you?" Kaito asked, standing up.

The young man placed a hand on his hip. "Name's Hibana Ryuu. And you?"

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "Tenshiro Kaito."

Hibana's eyes widened slightly. "Tenshiro? As in… Shinzo Tenshiro?" He whistled. "Damn. No wonder the old man's interested in you... Anyway Rengoku sent me to help with the training."

Kaito frowned, suspicion creeping in. "Rengoku?"

Hibana nodded smoothly. "Yeah. He figured you'd need some help, so here I am."

High above in the trees, Seijuro Arata smirked. Lying with a straight face. Good.

Kaito still felt uneasy. "If he sent you, then why didn't he tell me?"

Hibana shrugged. "Look, I get it. You don't trust me. But let's be real—you're struggling, and you don't have time to waste. So, what's it gonna be? Keep failing, or let me help you?"

Kaito hesitated, but he knew Hibana was right.

"…Fine."

Hibana grinned. "Good. Now, first things first—you're thinking too hard."

Understanding Flow

Hibana crouched in front of Kaito. "Flow isn't about forcing your Essence Energy. It's about allowing it to move naturally."

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "That doesn't make sense."

Hibana tapped Kaito's stomach—the same spot Rengoku had touched before. "Your Essence Energy is already active. You just don't realize it."

Kaito furrowed his brows. "How do you know that?"

Hibana smirked. "You healed an injury that should've taken three weeks in just three days. That wasn't natural healing—that was your Essence Energy working without you knowing."

Kaito's eyes widened. That's what Rengoku said too…

Hibana continued. "Your problem? You're trying to control it instead of feeling it. Flow is like breathing. You don't force yourself to breathe—you let it happen."

He stood up and demonstrated. A blue glow pulsed from his body. "Watch."

Kaito stared as Hibana's energy spread evenly through his muscles, enhancing his physicality.

"You're trying to grab your energy. Instead, just recognize it's there, then guide it."

Kaito took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Instead of forcing himself to find his Essence Energy, he just focused on his own body—the warmth in his chest, the slow pulse in his veins.

Then—

A faint flicker of Essence Energy sparked at his fingertips.

Hibana's eyes lit up. "There it is."

Kaito gasped. It was weak, barely anything, but it was real. He had felt it.

High above, Seijuro nodded in approval. Not bad, kid.

A New Presence

Before Kaito could celebrate, a shiver ran down his spine. His instincts screamed—something was watching them.

Hibana immediately tensed. "You feel that?"

Kaito turned, scanning the forest. The air felt heavy. A presence—strong, but unfamiliar.

Then, a voice came from the darkness.

"You're not half bad."

A figure stepped out—a woman, tall and clad in black and red Exterminator robes. Her face was hidden by a mask, but her piercing golden eyes studied Kaito with cold amusement.

Hibana's grin faded. "Oh, hell…"

The woman tilted her head. "I came to see what the fuss was about. And now that I have… I wonder if you're worth keeping alive."

Kaito clenched his fists. Who is she?

Alright, let's expand the scene with Seijuro Arata's perspective, letting him strategize while also evaluating Kaito under pressure. This will add tension and further develop Seijuro's character as someone who balances observation with intervention.

A Predator in the Shadows

High above in the trees, Seijuro Arata's sharp gaze locked onto the unknown figure as they stepped out from the shadows.

They were not an Eldritch Beast. That much was clear.

Their movements were too precise, too controlled—not wild and erratic like those cursed creatures. This was an Exterminator.

But from which school?

Seijuro narrowed his eyes, keeping his presence hidden. If he acted too soon, they might escape. But if he waited too long, Kaito could die.

He had to be patient. He needed to see.

Let's see what you do, kid…

The Uninvited Guest

The masked woman took a slow step forward, her golden eyes gleaming behind her mask.

Hibana instinctively moved in front of Kaito, his body tense. "Who the hell are you?"

The woman tilted her head slightly. "You're not worth remembering."

Kaito clenched his fists. He didn't like this. This person… they weren't normal.

She wasn't just watching—she was studying him.

Why?

Then, she spoke again, but this time directly to him.

"You're Shinzo's boy, aren't you?"

Kaito stiffened. His father's name.

"How do you—?"

She took another step. "You don't belong here."

The way she said it wasn't a threat. It was a fact.

Like she had already decided his fate.

Seijuro's Dilemma

From his vantage point, Seijuro's mind raced.

Shinzo's boy…

The woman's words confirmed it—whoever she was, she knew about Kaito.

But how?

Seijuro's grip tightened on the hilt of his blade. This wasn't just a coincidental encounter. Someone had sent her.

This wasn't about a casual test of strength—it was about possession.

She was here for Kaito.

But from which school?

Seijuro's eyes flickered across her uniform, taking in every detail. The black and red robes, the mask, the stance—none of it screamed allegiance to any of the Seven Extermination Schools.

That meant one of two things.

• A rogue faction.

• A hidden force operating in the shadows.

Either way, this was dangerous.

Seijuro's first instinct was to eliminate her. But if she escaped, they'd lose any chance of tracking her back to whoever sent her.

So he held back.

He wanted to see how far she'd go.

And more than that—

He wanted to see how far Kaito would go.

Kaito's First Test

Kaito took a slow breath, his mind racing.

This woman—who was she? Why did she know his father's name?

He didn't have time to think.

The woman vanished.

His instincts screamed.

Behind you—!

Kaito barely twisted in time as a dagger slashed past his throat, missing by a hair. The air hissed as the masked woman moved with terrifying speed.

Hibana spun, blocking the second attack with his blade.

She's fast.

Kaito stumbled backward, his heart pounding.

Hibana gritted his teeth. "Stay sharp, kid. She's no joke."

The woman twirled her dagger effortlessly. "I expected more."

She lunged.

Hibana met her head-on, steel clashing against steel. Sparks flew as the two exchanged rapid blows, their speed blurring in Kaito's vision.

But Hibana was being pushed back.

She was faster. Stronger.

And then—

She disappeared again.

Kaito's breath caught.

And before he could react—

A cold blade pressed against his throat.

His body froze.

"Pathetic," she whispered.

Seijuro's Move

Seijuro exhaled slowly.

Alright. That's enough.

He had seen what he needed to see.

Kaito was green, untrained, barely able to follow an opponent of this caliber.

But he had reacted.

Even a second of survival against someone this skilled was a feat.

Still, the kid was going to die.

Seijuro finally moved.

The Demon Appears

Before the blade could draw blood, a violent gust of wind tore through the clearing.

The woman's eyes flickered up—

And in an instant, her dagger shattered into pieces.

A shadow landed between her and Kaito.

Seijuro Arata's blade was already drawn.

The woman's golden eyes widened slightly. "…You."

Seijuro's tone was calm, but laced with quiet menace.

"I was wondering when you'd stop playing around."

The tension exploded.

Hibana let out a breath of relief. "Took you long enough."

Kaito just stood there, frozen, heart pounding.

Whoever this Person was…

The air around him had changed.

Cold. Unforgiving.

Like standing before a storm ready to break.

The masked woman tilted her head. "Interesting."

Seijuro didn't blink. "I'll only ask once."

"Which school sent you?"

For the first time, the woman laughed.

Then, before anyone could react—

She vanished.

Seijuro's blade slashed through the air—too late.

She was gone.

A chilling silence filled the clearing.

Seijuro slowly sheathed his sword. His expression darkened.

This wasn't over.

Whoever she was, whatever faction she belonged to—

They weren't just after Kaito.

They were watching. Studying.

And Seijuro had a sickening feeling.

This was only the beginning.

Final Scene: A Name Left Behind

A single piece of paper fluttered to the ground.

Kaito picked it up, unfolding it with trembling fingers.

One word was written.

"Sovereign."

Hibana read over his shoulder. "Sovereign...? What the hell does that mean?"

Seijuro exhaled sharply.

It meant trouble.