Gamerkakashi20_

Ninjas
Prologue: The Phantom’s Return
The moon was a sliver in the sky, casting a ghostly light over the village. The wind carried the faintest trace of a whisper—an omen that the village’s peace was about to be shattered.

Kaito, known as the Shuriken Shadow, had long been a legend—a myth. Yet tonight, he returned. No longer the idealistic student of the Shuriken Shadow Clan, he had become an instrument of vengeance.

His mission was simple, yet infinitely complicated: to find and eliminate Ryuu, his former comrade, now a traitor to the clan.

The winds stirred as Kaito dropped from the shadows, vanishing into the darkness.

Shuriken Shadow

Chapter Eleven: A Glimpse of Light

The moon cast a pale glow over the battlefield that was the warlord's palace, where Kaito had just confronted Ryuu. The tension in the air was thick, like the edge of a blade ready to strike.

But something else was now tugging at Kaito's focus. A soft sound, like a distant melody, floated to him through the night. He instinctively moved toward it, leaving Ryuu's presence behind for a moment. His heart, ever steady in the face of danger, quickened as he realized that he was being drawn to something—or rather, someone.

From the corner of the courtyard, Kaito saw her—a lone figure cloaked in a deep crimson robe, her face partly hidden by a hood. She stood in front of a stone pillar, her back straight as if the world around her did not exist. She was powerful, but not in a way that could be measured in weapons or strength. There was something ethereal about her presence. And something strangely familiar.

The girl turned slightly, as if sensing his approach. Kaito's heart skipped a beat as their eyes locked. He had never seen her before, yet there was something about her—a sense of recognition.

"You're not who you appear to be," she said softly, her voice like the wind on a quiet night. "The Shuriken Shadow... Kaito."

Kaito hesitated, unsure how she knew his name. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his katana, but he didn't draw it. Something about her presence kept him still. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice steady but curious.

She took a step closer, revealing her face in the dim light. Her eyes were a deep, otherworldly shade of green, like the forest after a rainstorm. There was wisdom in those eyes, and an ancient sadness. "My name is Aiko. I've been waiting for you."