---
After the Kiss
The news spread faster than a high-level ninjutsu.
By morning, half the school whispered:
"Raiden kissed the new girl."
"She kissed him."
"They fought first!"
"It was hot!"
Raiden ignored the gossip.
But people were staring now.
Ino avoided him entirely, only glancing at him with fire in her eyes. Hinata sat beside him in class but barely spoke. Even Shiro wasn't his usual smug self—he just watched Raiden from behind, jaw tight, gum unmoving.
And Ayaka?
She hadn't shown up to class.
She vanished after the kiss.
---
A Sudden Mission
"Raiden. You're being assigned to a temporary team."
The Hokage's voice was firm.
Tsunade tossed a scroll onto the table. "We need someone discreet for a trip to the Land of Iron. There's been… strange chakra activity. Something non-native."
Raiden read the file.
It wasn't a regular mission.
The coordinates matched exactly with the system's ping.
> Subject Two Detected: Chakra Signature — Unstable
Warning: Hostile Mental State Possible
He nodded. "When do I leave?"
"You'll have two companions," Tsunade said. "One you know. One… you don't."
---
Team Reveal
That night, Raiden met his temporary team.
Ayaka stood at the gates, her silver hair tied tight, mask back on. She didn't speak—just nodded.
The other member?
"Ino?!" Raiden blinked.
She crossed her arms. "Don't get the wrong idea. I volunteered."
Ayaka smirked faintly. "Jealous, are we?"
"Of you? Not a chance," Ino snapped.
Raiden sighed. "This is going to be exhausting."
---
Journey Begins: Hidden Tension
The three traveled in silence.
Ino and Ayaka constantly exchanged icy remarks.
Ayaka: "Your chakra control is… passable."
Ino: "At least I have emotions."
At one point, they both looked at Raiden.
"Who do you trust more?" Ino asked.
"…Myself," Raiden said flatly.
Ayaka snorted.
Ino just glared.
Still, they worked well in combat—clearing bandits with cold efficiency. They even began to sync, though they'd never admit it.
---
Subject Two: Awakening in Iron Snow
By the fourth night, they reached the snowy plains of the Land of Iron.
There, amid the frost and silence, Raiden felt it—a pulsing aura of rage and confusion.
> Subject Two Located
Name: Jin
Status: Highly Unstable
Kekkei Genkai Fusion: Magnet Release + ???
Then they saw him.
A boy stood atop a frozen hill, surrounded by crushed samurai armor and torn earth.
Hair like obsidian.
Eyes like a void.
"Zero…" he muttered when he saw Raiden. "You're here to finish me off?"
"No," Raiden said calmly. "I'm here to wake you up."
Jin grinned.
"Then wake me through blood."
----
To be continued...