The Missing Squad 8

Kaito Yotsuki's POV

The trap had worked, and Kaito couldn't suppress a smirk. Another Anbu squad, another mission completed. How many was this now? The eighth? No, ninth squad they had taken down and exchanged the bounty for. It was becoming routine, a deadly rhythm. For him, it was just another day of bloodshed and profit.

Kaito Yotsuki, once a shadow guard for the Raikage himself, had long since turned his back on his previous loyalties. His allegiance now lay with something greater—something darker. The Ginkaku and Kinkaku brothers had shown him the true nature of power, the endless possibilities when one could operate outside the shackles of traditional duty. The Ginkaku Force was his new family, and their goals aligned with his own desire for chaos and disruption.

He could already feel the adrenaline rising in his veins as he surveyed the situation. Silver was the one who had called the signal flare. Smart, but predictable. The operative didn't know who he was dealing with. Kaito had already noticed the telltale signs of the enemy's movements—their positions, their subtle changes in breath, the shifting of trees. All part of the game. His target, Silver, wasn't just any shinobi. He was a skilled Anbu, a man of calculated tactics, but Kaito was faster, and more lethal.

The moment the wind shifted, Kaito flickered into action. Lightning Chakra Mode surged through his body as his muscles pulsed with energy, charging him forward with deadly speed. His hand came up, ready to strike with the full force of a lightning-charged fist. He would make quick work of Silver—after all, one powerful blow should be enough to break through that hardened exterior.

But the moment his fist connected with his target, something strange happened.

Wood. Splinters exploded from the ground as Kaito's fist passed clean through a wooden decoy. A trap, a well-placed illusion to buy time.

Kaito's eyes narrowed. So that's how it is. He could already feel the pull of the next battle. Silver had taken the bait, but now the real game had begun. A slight rustling behind him told him everything he needed to know: his target wasn't where he expected. Silver was fast—fast enough to turn the tables on him.

Kaito spun on his heels and flared his chakra, channeling a burst of lightning chakra from his hand. He aimed straight for the massive tree beside him, where he had felt a slight movement earlier. The electric energy lanced out, arcing with deadly intent, and struck the trunk, sending crackling energy through the bark, splintering it like brittle wood.

The lightning surged through the air with ferocity, and as the tree exploded in a shower of splinters, Kaito could feel the heat of his attack. But there was no satisfying thud of impact, no victory cry. Silver was still moving. Too fast.

His eyes darted back toward the clearing, assessing. It was a fast-paced, high-stakes battle. Taijutsu, ninjutsu, all of it moving in the blink of an eye. The brief flickers of light that danced around the forest were the only signs of their deadly dance, the only indication of the dangerous game they played.

This is good.

Kaito licked his lips, readying himself for the next move. Silver's fast, but not fast enough. He had the power to finish this, the skill to outlast his enemies. This battle would be an intense one—more of a test than a simple mission. Kaito could feel the thrill in his chest, the heat of the chase growing with every second.

His eyes locked onto Silver's form again. The Anbu was calculating, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But that moment wouldn't come. Not this time.