Ghostly Figure

Chapter 25: A Shattered Sanctuary

-3rd Person-

The tower stands like a silent sentinel, looming against the encroaching dusk, its dark silhouette a strong contrast to the fading light of the evening. The air around it is thick with tension, the kind that makes even the bravest hesitate. But Kakashi has no time to hesitate.

His heart races, each beat a reminder of the urgency driving him forward. His mind is filled with one singular thought: Find Yui.

He moves swiftly, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. His team follows closely behind, their steps echoing in the narrow, dimly lit corridors.

Every shadow, every flicker of movement, is scrutinized with a sharp gaze. But despite the danger that could lurk around any corner, Kakashi's focus is entirely on the young girl who has been stolen away into this place of nightmares.

"Yui!" Kakashi's voice breaks the silence, his tone a mix of desperation and hope. He is calling out to her, willing her to hear him, to know that he is close. But the tower's oppressive walls swallow his voice, leaving only the faint echo behind.

The team reaches a junction in the hallway, and Kakashi pauses for the briefest of moments. His heart hammers in his chest, and he knows he can't afford to make a wrong turn. But then, as if guided by an instinct far deeper than logic, he chooses the path on the right, the door at the end barely ajar.

Kakashi's breath catches as he reaches it. The room beyond the door feels like a void, pulling him in with a force that makes his stomach twist.

He pushes the door open, his eyes scanning the space in a heartbeat. What he sees next makes his blood run cold.

The room is a scene from a nightmare. Blood splatters the walls, dark and visceral, marking the violence that has taken place. Two ANBU bodies lie crumpled on the ground, their masks askew, the life drained from their eyes. Their lifeless forms are a grim testament to the power of Yui's ability, a power she can neither understand nor control.

But it isn't the blood or the bodies that hold Kakashi's attention. In the corner of the room, huddled against the wall, is Yui.

Her small frame shakes uncontrollably, her white hair matted with sweat and blood, her once-bright crimson eyes now dimmed by exhaustion and fear. She trembles like a leaf in a storm, clutching her knees to her chest as if trying to make herself as small as possible, as if by shrinking away, she can escape the horrors surrounding her.

"Yui...?" Kakashi's voice softens to a whisper, thick with emotion. He steps into the room, his heart breaking at the sight of her. He can feel the tears prickling at the edges of his vision, but he forces them back. This isn't the time to break down. Yui needs him to be strong, to be there for her in a way that no one else can be right now.

Yui doesn't move and doesn't respond. She seems lost, trapped in a place of fear and trauma. Her breathing is shallow and ragged, and Kakashi can see the terror in her eyes, even as they stare blankly at the ground.

He moves closer, his Sharingan activated out of necessity, to shield himself from the remnants of her uncontrolled ability. But his focus isn't on protecting himself; it's on her. He needs to reach her, to pull her back from the edge of whatever abyss she's teetering on.

Kakashi kneels down beside her, keeping his movements slow and deliberate. He doesn't want to startle her, doesn't want to add to the fear that is already consuming her. "Yui, it's me. Kakashi," he says softly, his voice a gentle balm.

"I'm here now. You're safe. I promise."

Yui's eyes flicker with a faint recognition, a small glimmer of hope breaking through the haze of her fear. But it is fleeting, and she quickly buries her face in her knees, her body shaking with silent sobs.