The Crystal Serpent [Naruto X Oc] |Book 1

Chapter 90: Shadows of Earth and Crystal

Kei's voice cut through the cool morning like a blade."We're under attack!"

Akira and Kaito shot to their feet, their reflexes honed from training for years of training to become shinboi. Akira grabbed her kunai scanning the treeline for movement and focusing on chraka. Kaito grabbed his sword ready to defend their client Kenji. Mud balls flew toward their camp, smashing into the ground with heavy thuds, scattering dirt and debris.

Kei's hands flew through a sequence of hand signs without hesitation as she inhaled sharply."Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" She said in her mind. A powerful gust of wind erupted from her mouth blasting forward and colliding with the incoming mud balls. The wind scattered them in all directions, causing the sticky earthen projectiles to splatter harmlessly against the trees and ground.

Kei watched as Yoru carefully slithered up Kei's leg as she avoided the flying mud balls and made her way up to Kei's arm as she awaited further orders."Good work, Yoru you. You're free to return to Ryuchi Cave." Yoru hissed in acknowledgment before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

"What's the plan, Kei?" Kaito asked, tension clear in his voice getting a stance, ready to act. His gaze flicked toward the surrounding forest, trying to pinpoint the enemy's location.

Kei's mind raced as she evaluated the situation. They had the advantage of knowing they were under attack, but the assailants were still hidden in the trees. A direct approach would be too risky. Kei's golden snake-like eyes scanned the shadows, searching for movement for any sign of the attackers as she closed her eyes to try to focus on the vibrations to sense their enemies. 

"Akira, get Kenji to safety. Kaito, you're with me. We going to draw them out," Kei commended in a firm tone.

Akira nodded, her eyes scanning for the safest route  as she took Kenji by the arm."Stay close to me I keep you safe," She whispered, her tone steady despite the chaos erupting around them. As Akira led Kenji away from the center of the attack. The forest seemed eerily quiet, even for early morning, with no birds singing only the faint sounds of distant rustles of leaves.

Kaito shifted his stance, his sword at the ready."How do you plan to flush them out?" He asked, his eyes narrowing as he followed Kei's gaze.

Kei's mind worked swiftly."We will need to use a combination of strategy and force," She said."I will use my wind style to create a diversion, and you will be a frontline attack. We force them into the open," She said low enough for only Kaito to hear the plan.

Kaito nodded, his expression serious."Got it."

Kei made quick hand signs."Wind Style: Gale Palm!" she said, thrusting her palm forward as a concentrated gust of wind shot from her hand, tearing through the foliage and creating a whirlwind that stirred up the forest floor. The disturbance was enough to force the hidden attackers to reveal their positions. 

As the wind howled, Kei and Kaiti moved with precision. Kei's eyes remained vigilant, scanning for any signs of movement. Kaito,  word at the ready, followed closely prepared for any enemy that might reveal themselves.  The trees trembled under the force of the wind, and once hidden enemies were now forced into the open, their positions becoming clear.

Two figures emerged from the forest edge. One was male, and the other was female,  both clad in distinct outfits that matched. The male was tall and lean with fair skin, short silky black hair, and black eyes full of intensity. The female was shorter with a slender build, long brown hair tied up in a ponytail, and green eyes full of determination as she was ready for combat.

"Well, look at this: the Hidden Leaf sent Genin, an inexperienced Chunin, to protect the medic," The man sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Wait, Menma.  The Chunin take a closer look at her. She resembles that rouge Sannin, Orochimaru.  She might be a fun opponent, " The female said her curiosity piqued.

Kei's eyes narrowed at the mention of her father.'So my father is even known by these shinboi.' She thought, her mind is racing.'I must maintain a calm mind and not get distracted.' She felt a brief flare from her mark, a reminder of the dark power her father bestowed upon her, getting annoyed with the constant comparison to her father. Despite no hatred for him, she didn't like being compared to him.

"You're right, Ayame. This could be entertaining to see if she has a skill like Orochimaru, " Menma replied, glancing at the woman.

"We're not here to entrain the likes of you," Kei said coldly, focusing on the mission at hand. Her charka surged as she prepared for her next move, signaling Kaito to be ready.

"Talk all you want," Kaito muttered under his breath as his grip tightened on his sword."We're not letting you hurt the client!"

Menma grinned wickedly, his fingers twitching as he performed hand signs."Let's see if you can handle this." The ground beneath Kei and Kaito rumbled,  and a wave of earth surged toward them. The earth rose like a tsunami, threatening to engulf them in its sticky, crushing mass.

"Get ready," Kei said, her mind working rapidly to plan a counterattack. She made hand signs as an idea came to her."Wind Style: Air Bullets!" She released several rapid bursts of compressed air, each one slicing through the incoming mud, breaking apart the wave before it could reach them.

Kaito didn't wasteany time. As soon as the mud faltered, he dashed forward, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Menma blocked with hid kunai, sparks flying as steel clashed against steel. Kaito pressed forward, pushing Menma back with swift, powerful strikes.

Meanwhile, Ayame had already made her move, circling around to flank Kei. However Kei was ready. She spun around, her eyes locking onto Ayame."Crystal style: Jade Crystal Blade!" She thrusting her arm forward as she aimed the sharpen blade at Ayame.

The Rouge kunoichi leaped backward,  avoiding the brunt of the attack barely avoiding getting hit.

"So you know Crystal style always believed it didn't exist anymore," Ayame sated looking at Kei even more intrigued."However seems that not the case. Anyway I'm not done yet." Her eyes glinted dangerous as she began making hand signs. 

Before Ayame could finish, Kei moved swiftly, closing the distance between them with impressive speed. She thrust a kunai at Ayame,  forcing her to abandon her jutsu and defend. 

The battle raged on, each side exchanging blows with deadly intent. The air was thick with tension,  the sounds of steel clashing and earth trembling under the weight if powerful jutsu.

'Something up. This two are strong yet there attacks seem like there testing us not to stop us.' Kei thought feeling something wasn't completely right about this fight.

Suddenly,  from the shadows behind Ayame,  a thrid figure with a slim and tone buold with shoulder length brown hair with black eyes. He made rapid hand signs and Kei eyes widened realizing it was a trap.

"Kei look out!" Kaito shouted his voice filled with urgency before getting knocked back by Menma. 

"Kei" Akira exclaimed as she rushed over towards Kei and  pushed her out of the way as a massive pillar of stone shot upward and sending her hurling into the air, her vision spinning as the world around her became a blur of tree and sky. She heard Kaito and Kei voice calling out to her, but it was distant. 

"Striking shadow snake!" Kei exclaimed as a medium-sized purple snake shot of the sleeve of her shirt catching Akira before she hit the ground.

 Hey, lovely reader here we have chapter 90 of  The Crystal Serpent. In this chapter, Kei and her team are attacked by two rouge Hidden Stone shinboi, Menma and Ayame, with a third enemy lurking in the shadows.  The Kei quick thinking and teamwork with Kaito help them survive the assault,  but Akira selfless acts to protect Kei. I hope you enjoy the chapter and this mission arc.

Thanks for reading!

Question of the chapter: How do you think Kei will get her team out of this situation?

word count: 1,350