KONOHA :THE RISE OF KAITON

The Forest of Death is the largest and most perilous forest outside Konoha Village.

The forest is home to a wide variety of ferocious beasts, many of which are strong enough to rival ninja in power. For ordinary villagers, this place is considered a forbidden zone—a place where survival is almost impossible, hence its ominous name.

However, for Kaiton and his team, whose strength had surpassed that of ordinary Genin, the Forest of Death was little more than a scenic area. They traversed it casually, carrying supplies as though they were out on a leisurely camping trip.

As they walked deeper into the forest, Kaiton raised his head, scanning their surroundings. Towering trees with trunks thicker than an adult's waist loomed all around, their intertwined leaves forming a dense canopy that barely allowed sunlight to penetrate.

The forest exuded an eerie silence, its oppressive atmosphere a stark contrast to the carefree mood of the four young ninjas. They meandered through the area, seemingly unaffected by the surroundings.

After some time, the group stopped by a small, clear stream. Large fish swam lazily in the water, and Kaiton nodded with satisfaction.

"This spot looks good. Let's camp here. I'll catch some fish, and we'll have grilled fish for lunch," he said, setting down his pack.

Stretching out his palm, Kaiton channeled chakra, creating two fine chakra threads. He expertly manipulated them to plunge into the water.

Splash! Splash!

In a matter of moments, the threads emerged with two sizable fish ensnared. Kaiton repeated this process until he had caught six fish in total.

Meanwhile, Akirai had already started a fire, arranging four large stones around it to hold their cooking tools. Shortly after, Tenzou and Hinatabi returned with firewood.

As Kaiton prepared the fish for grilling, the others worked together to pitch their tent. It didn't take long before the tent was ready, and the fish had been grilled to perfection.

Sitting around the fire, the four teammates began their meal.

"This is delicious, Kaiton!" Akirai said between mouthfuls. "It's been a while, but you've still got your cooking skills!"

"It's good, but it would be even better with some sake," Shinzuru remarked wistfully, pouting.

"We're not old enough to drink," Kaiton reminded her with a teasing glance.

Shinzuru groaned, cutting him off before he could continue. "Yes, yes, I know! 'Drinking is bad for your health.' You've said that a thousand times!"

Kaiton chuckled and reached into his bag, pulling out a small bottle. "That's why I brought something special. This is grape wine my dad made. It's safe for us to drink and tastes great. Try it."

Shinzuru's eyes lit up, and a bright smile spread across her face as she accepted the bottle.

"Kaiton, you really do understand me!" she exclaimed before taking a sip. Her expression quickly turned to delight. "This is amazing!"

Seeing her reaction, Akirai grew curious. "Kaiton, do you have more? I'd like to try it too."

"Of course," Kaiton replied, handing out more bottles. Soon, all four were enjoying the wine with their grilled fish, the aroma of their meal wafting through the forest.

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As they feasted, an unsettling sensation crept into the air. Kaiton was the first to notice. Setting his food aside, he glanced around, alert.

The ground beneath them began to tremble, and the fish in the stream scattered in panic. The distant sound of heavy footsteps grew louder, accompanied by the crashing of trees being toppled.

The source of the commotion soon revealed itself—a massive black bear, towering three meters tall. Its thick black fur gleamed in the dappled sunlight, with a distinctive crescent moon marking on its chest. Its crimson eyes locked onto the group, and saliva dripped from its sharp fangs.

Despite its menacing appearance, the four young ninjas remained calm.

"A black bear?" Akirai said, rubbing his hands together with excitement. "Kaiton, didn't you say bear paw is a delicacy? Looks like we've got dinner covered!"

Kaiton nodded. "It's true. Go ahead, Akirai. Let's see what you've got."

Grinning, Akirai stepped forward confidently.

"Watch this!" he declared, forming a series of hand signs. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball shot toward the bear.

To everyone's shock, the bear simply swatted the fireball away with a single paw, emerging unscathed. With a deafening roar, it charged at Akirai.

A surprised Akirai tried to leap out of the way, but instead, his body froze, and he collapsed to the ground, snoring loudly.

"What's he doing? Playing dead?" Kaiton muttered, baffled.

Suddenly, Kaiton felt a wave of dizziness. His limbs grew heavy, and he struggled to keep his balance.

"The wine!" he realized. "The alcohol's effects are kicking in!"

Looking at Hinatabi and Tenzou, Kaiton saw they were in the same condition—faces flushed, movements unsteady.

Gritting his teeth, Kaiton attempted to form hand signs, but his fingers refused to cooperate. Using ninjutsu was too risky in this state.

Just then, Tenzou hurled a kunai at the bear, drawing its attention.

"I'll distract it! Kaiton, think of a plan!" he shouted, dodging the bear's massive paw.

Hinatabi joined in, throwing more kunai to support Tenzou.

Kaiton racked his brain. What can I use that doesn't require hand signs? Wait—the Eight Gates!

Activating the First Gate, Kaiton felt the effects of the alcohol dissipate as his body regained full control. With his enhanced speed and strength, he charged at the bear.

"Tenzou, Hinatabi, cover me!" Kaiton shouted, leaping into the air. He delivered a powerful kick to the bear's neck, causing it to roar in pain.

Enraged, the bear lashed out wildly, swiping at Kaiton. He dodged skillfully, with Hinatabi and Tenzou providing cover fire with shuriken.

Kaiton realized the bear's thick hide was absorbing most of the damage. He needed a more effective strategy. Drawing two kunai, he waited for an opening.

As the bear turned to face Tenzou, Kaiton sprang onto its back. He plunged the kunai into its eyes, blinding it.

The bear roared in agony, thrashing violently and knocking down nearby trees. Kaiton leaped off just in time, regrouping with his teammates.

With its vision gone, the bear's attacks grew frantic but less accurate. Working together, Kaiton, Hinatabi, and Tenzou launched a coordinated assault, exploiting its blind spots.

Finally, after a grueling battle, the bear collapsed, defeated.

Exhausted, the three ninjas sank to the ground, catching their breath.

Turning to Akirai, they saw him still snoring peacefully.

"Hey… don't run away!" Akirai mumbled in his sleep, a goofy grin on his face. "Beauty, wait for me!"

The others exchanged incredulous glances before bursting into laughter.

---

With the danger over, the group set about cleaning up.

"Guess we're eating bear paw for dinner after all," Kaiton said with a grin.

"And no more wine before battles," Hinatabi added, shaking her head.

As they prepared their meal, the team couldn't help but reflect on the day's events. Despite the challenges, they had worked together seamlessly, their bonds as teammates growing stronger.

The Forest of Death had tested their abilities, but it also proved their resilience and cooperation—a lesson they would carry with them on the path to becoming stronger ninjas.

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End of Chapter 30

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