"What do you want now Denki,I'm busy"
Tora said
"We trained for 10 days under Minori nee-san,it's time for our first mission" Denki said
"Yeah,we're so much stronger" Shinji said even though he was first surprised.
"Kids,I don't think you're..." Tora said but was interrupted by Minori entering the room.
"Don't worry Socho-sama,i can vouch for them and it'll be more like a mock to test their abilities and I'll be with them."
" Alright "Tora said
The next day's morning mist clung to the earth as Shinji, Denki, and Minori stood at the threshold of Kaminari Mura, the village gates closing softly behind them. Today marked a significant step in their training—a mock mission to eliminate a few shadows that had been spotted near the outskirts. Tora had given his approval, trusting Minori's judgment that they were ready. The weight of this responsibility settled on Shinji's shoulders, but he remained focused, his mask securely in place.
Minori led the way, her movements fluid and purposeful. Shinji and Denki followed closely, their senses heightened, every rustle in the underbrush drawing their attention. The path was familiar, yet the air felt different—charged with anticipation.
Hours passed without incident. The sun climbed higher, casting dappled light through the trees. Just as fatigue began to settle in, Minori halted, her hand raised in a signal for silence. She crouched low, her eyes scanning the surroundings with practiced precision.
"There," she whispered, pointing to a cluster of trees where shadows seemed to writhe unnaturally. "The shadows are near."
Shinji's heart raced. This was it—the moment they had trained for. He exchanged a glance with Denki, who gave a subtle nod, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a focused intensity.
Minori unsheathed her sword, its blade gleaming in the filtered sunlight. "Stay close," she instructed. "Observe, learn, and be ready."
They approached cautiously, the shadows growing more distinct with each step.
She took down all of them swiftly, hardly exerting any strength.
"Now you two try to take down those two Shadows" she said as they both came out.
Suddenly, the air shifted—a presence, dark and oppressive, materialized before them.
A figure emerged from the darkness, tall and imposing, his features obscured by a mask. His eyes, however, were unmistakable—piercing and filled with a cold, calculating malice.
Shinji's breath caught in his throat. The figure was none other than Tobisora—the very demon who had slaughtered his clan.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The weight of recognition settled heavily upon Shinji. The memories of that night—the flames, the screams, the loss—flooded back with overwhelming force.
Tobisora's lips curled into a smirk as he regarded Shinji. "So," he mused, his voice dripping with disdain. "But tell me, boy, who are you really? The mask you wear hides more than just your face."
Shinji's hand instinctively moved to the mask that concealed his identity. He then moved his hand to his sword but now, in the presence of Tobisora, it felt like a symbol of weakness.
Tobisora chuckled darkly, his gaze flicking to Minori and Denki. "You brought children to face me?" he sneered. "How quaint. But I have no discrimination against children, so I'll fight you"
Minori stepped forward, her sword raised in a defensive posture. "Shinji,Denki at my signal ,you two run away as fast as you can," she stated in a silent voice and they both nodded in affirmation.
Tobisora's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading into a scowl. "Very well," he said, his voice laced with menace.
The challenge hung in the air, thick with unspoken threats. Shinji hesitated, his fingers trembling as they brushed against the edges of his sword,Denki beside him too was trembling in fear.
Minori held her sword in a firm defensive stance as Tobisora dashed towards her with his long and sharp claws.
As soon as he got close to her , he slashed vertically but she dodged by bending down before moving to his right side but instead of attacking, she stood there in a defensive posture as he auched yet another attack but it was dodged just like the last one.Immediately,he started attacking consecutively but all his attacks were dodged by Minori .
"You've got some moves but I sense no elemental Hakki behind them,so it means you're not a descendant of the guardians " Tobisora said in the middle of his attack making her face darken .
Immediately,he aimed for a thrust but Minori, immediately sensing his intention,jumped to the side and used this opportunity to cut off his hand
"Now" she shouted as immediately,Shinji and Denki ran away at their top speed.
Tobisora then stood upright and raised his hand up, immediately regenerating it and said
"So you were buying time for them to escape,i respect that so I won't chase after them ,at least not until I kill you" as they continued their attacking and dodging and occasional blocking .
The scene changed to show Shinji and Denki running at top speed through the forest when Shinji suddenly stopped
"I know nee-san said she'll take care of it but I can't help but think she can't keep it up much longer,we need to go back and help her"
"Even though,the best thing we can do for her is to run away and besides what can we do, we'll only hold her back " Denki said but seeing Shinji's unwavering face ,he said
"Fine,let's go ,I know there's no convincing you" as they
The night air felt colder against his exposed skin. The mask was gone, but the burden remained.
Tobisora's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Now you are nothing more than a boy," he sneered. "A boy with no power, no legacy."
But Shinji stood tall, his resolve hardening. "I am the son of Kyojuro Rengoku," he declared, his voice unwavering. "And I will carry his flame."
A tense silence enveloped the clearing. Then, without warning, Tobisora lunged forward, his movements swift and lethal. Minori intercepted, their swords clashing with a resounding crash. Denki moved to flank, his eyes scanning for an opening.
The battle was fierce, each strike a test of skill and will. Shinji's heart raced as he faced the demon who had taken everything from him. But with each swing of his sword, he felt the presence of his father, his ancestors, guiding his hand.
Finally, with a coordinated effort, Minori and Denki managed to land a blow, sending Tobisora retreating into the shadows. He vanished as quickly as he had appeared, leaving behind only the echo of his mocking laughter.
Breathing heavily, Shinji stood amidst the aftermath, his sword lowered but his spirit ablaze. He had faced his past, confronted his demons—literally—and emerged stronger.
The journey back to the village was quiet, the weight of the encounter settling heavily upon them. Upon arrival, they reported their findings to Tora, detailing the confrontation with Tobisora and the revelation of Shinji's identity.
Tora listened intently, his expression unreadable. When they finished, he remained silent for a long moment, his gaze distant as if pondering the implications of what had transpired.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and contemplative. "The shadows you face are not just creatures of the night," he said. "They are manifestations of your fears, your regrets, your past. To defeat them, you must first confront yourself
Shinji nodded, understanding the weight of Tora's words. The path ahead would be fraught with challenges, but with each step, he would carry the flame of his ancestors, lighting the way forward.