The Crystal Serpent [Naruto X Oc] |Book 1

Chapter 89: Shadows Before Dawn

The sun had begun its descent into the horizon, casting shadows across the dense forest as Kei, Akira, and Kaito journeyed toward Kurokiri. The mid-afternoon light fluttered through the canopy, creating a mosaic of dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air was filled with the sounds of chirping birds and the occasional rustle of leaves as the team made their way through the rugged terrain.

Kei walked to the front, her senses on high alert. The weight of leadership was on her shoulders, but she was determined to prove herself worthy of being a Chunin. Her keen eyes scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger. Kaito and Akira followed closely; their expressions focused yet relaxed, and a testament to their trust in Kei's leadership was clear. 

"Kei, how long do you think we should keep going?" Akira asked, looking at the descent sun on the horizon.

"I suggest we stop before sunset. The terrain farther ahead will soon become too dangerous to travel at night," Kei replied. 

Kaito, walking next to Akira, nodded."Right from the looks of the path ahead, it looks like it changes to more uphill terrain. It'll be tougher to navigate in the dark," He commented.

As they continued, Kenji, the medic they were escorting, was walking in the middle of the group. He seemed calm, his expression one of gratitude and anticipation. "I appreciate your efforts," Kenji said, breaking the silence. "Kurokiri has been struggling for a while now. The people there need this medical aid desperately."

"I'm glad we could help, " Kei replied with a reassuring nod."We'll make sure you get there safely. "

"So Kenji, where are you exactly from?" Akira asked, glancing at Kenji."Have you always been a traveling medic?" 

Kenji smiled wistfully."I grew up in a small village near the borders of the Land of Hotsprings. I spent my childhood studying medicine, and since I was seventeen, I spent time traveling to help those in villages without proper medical care. Kurokiri is a place close to my heart. My girlfriend grew up there, and when I heard about the trouble they were in, I was determined to help them." 

Kaito raised an eyebrow, intrigued."Sounds like you've seen a lot. We heard they were attacked, but why attack a small village?" He asked. 

Kenji's expression darkened slightly the weight of the situation evident in his eyes."Kurokiri is located near a strategic trade route run by a guy named Daijiro, and if I have to guess, he is trying to take control of the area and hired Rouge Shinobi to assist him. It could have been a warning or an attempt to weaken the village's already weak defenses."

Kei's narrowed her golden snake eyes in thought."That makes sense. From here on out, we need to be on guard because if they figure out the village contacted for help, those rouge will try to attack us," She stated.

The group continued their journey in silence as the gravity of the situation settled in. The forest around them grew denser, the trees taller, and the underbrush thicker. The sounds of the forest seem to grow louder as if the woods themselves were closing on them.

~~~~

The sun was now dipped lower in the sky, and the shadows grew longer, stretching out like dark fingers across the path. The temperature began to drop, and a chill crept into the air. Kei noticed the change in the atmosphere and glanced back at her teammates.

"We should start looking for a place to set up camp," She suggested."We don't want to be caught out here in the dark."

"Agreed, " Kaito agreed, scanning the area for a suitable spot. "It looks like there is a clearing. It looks promising. It's sheltered and close to a fresh stream to fish for dinner and refills on water." 

The group made their way to the clearing. The area was indeed promising, with enough space to set up camp and a clear view of the surrounding forest. As they began to prepare for the night, Akira and Kaito worked efficiently to get settled for the night, while Kei got some fish for tonight's dinner.

Just as Kei was about to head back over to where Akira and Kaito were setting up camp, a sudden ominous feeling ran down her spine. Kei's instinct kicked in as she scanned the area, her senses on high alert, and she felt as if someone was watching them.

'There is someone out there.' Kei thought as she quickly made hand signs and summoned a medium-sized green snake.

"Lady Kei, you summoned me?" The green snake hissed, looking at her summoner.

"Yes, Yoru," Kei replied."I sense someone out there scanning the area report to me if you find anything," she commanded. 

"Understand," Yoru said as she slithered off farther ahead in the forest. 

Kei walked back to where Akira and Kaito were finishing setting up camp with the fish she collected.  She could sense that something was not right, but she kept her expression calm as she joined her teammates and their client, Kenji. 

"We should remain vigilant, " Kei said quietly."I don't  believe we're alone." 

Akira looked up from the fire she was preparing."What do you mean?" She asked.

"What did you detect something?" Kaito asked, grabbing the fish from Kei to start cooking them with the fire Akira prepared.

"I'm not sure, but I sensed something as if someone was watching me when I gathered the fish," Kei replied."I sent a snake to scan the area, but we should be prepared for a possible attack."

The night fell quickly, and the forest became an eerie silhouette against the darkening sky. The crackling fire cast flickering shadows on the trees, and the sounds of the forest seemed to grow more intense. The group ate their dinner in relative silence, the tension palpable. 

As the stars began to twinkle in the sky, the sound of the stream provided a soothing backdrop. While Kaito, Akira rested along with Kenji. Kei decided to keep watch a bit longer in case Yoru came with a report of any sign of trouble out there. The atmosphere was tense, but Kei was determined to prove that she was worthy of her new Chunin rank.

Hours passed before Kei's eyes grew heavy, but she didn't allow herself to fall into a deep sleep.  She listened to the sounds of the forest around her even in her sleep. 

Suddenly,  as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Kei was jolted awake by the sound of Yoru's voice and a tumbling sound.

"Lady Kei were being attacked!" Yoru exclaimed 

Kei's heart raced as she shot. she roused her teammates as a barrage of mud balls came flying towards their camp."We're under attack!" 

Hey, lovely reader here we have chapter 89 of  The Crystal Serpent. In this chapter, Kei and her teammates, as they were making their way toward Kurokiri, were suddenly under attack by suspicious enemies. In the next chapter, Kei's leadership will be put to the test as must face a direct attack from an unknown shinobi. 

Thanks for reading!

Question of the chapter: How many shinobi do you think are attacking, and what village do you guess they are from?

word count: 1,192