Staying Overnight

Kakashi leaned against the wall, his hand already touching the hilt of the short sword.

Something's not right.

This is the Konoha Ninja Academy, one of the most heavily guarded places in the entire Land of Fire.

Even if there are many more outside Ninja in the village during the Chunin Ninja Exams, it's impossible for anyone to just barge in.

Moreover, the guards, Anbu, and patrols outside made no move whatsoever.

Besides, the fact that I'm staying overnight today is quite strange.

Kakashi's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness as he slowly drew his short sword.

The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

The leading figure turned his head and looked in Kakashi's direction.

Then, an invisible pressure exploded from that person.

In an instant, the entire classroom felt as if it were being suffocated by something; the air became thick and heavy, making it difficult to breathe.

Kakashi's breath hitched, his fingers began to tremble, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

The dagger was still in his hand, but his arm felt like it was filled with lead, and he couldn't lift it at all.

The classroom fell completely silent.

In the midst of this deathly silence, a voice rang out.

"Huh?"

Everyone was stunned for a moment.

Shin-chan stood in the middle of the classroom, tilting his head. "What are you guys here for? To deliver blankets?"

The leading figure in black paused for a moment.

"No."

"So you've come to the wrong classroom?" Shin-chan thought for a moment. "The second-grade classrooms are on the second floor. Are you going to the second floor?"

The shadowy figure beside him whispered, "This kid is a bit strange."

"I can tell."

Shin-chan took two steps forward, moved a little closer, and looked up at the leader.

"Are you here to find someone?"

"No."

"Did they come to borrow something?"

"No, not at all."

"Then what are you doing here?" Shin-chan blinked. "If we don't go home so late, Mom will scold us."

The leader of the shadowy figures looked down at him, his voice devoid of emotion.

Aren't you afraid?

What are you afraid of?

"They're afraid of us."

Shin-chan tilted his head and thought for a moment, "You guys aren't green peppers, why should I be afraid?"

The leader of the dark figures twitched his lips, raised his hand, and waved it to the side.

A dark figure rushed out from the side and reached out to grab Shin-chan's shoulder.

Shin-chan dodged to the side, and the hand just brushed past his clothes without even touching them.

The shadowy figure paused for a moment, then reached out with its other hand.

Shin-chan took a step back, as if he had slipped on something, and swayed, but his grab missed again.

This has happened twice.

The shadowy figure's expression changed.

He sped up, reaching out with both hands simultaneously, grabbing at Shin-chan from the left and right.

Shin-chan spun around in place, like he was dancing, and squeezed through the gap between the two hands.

The leader of the shadowy figures watched this scene without saying a word, but his murderous aura intensified.

Kakashi pressed his forehead against the table, his whole body trembling.

That murderous aura was so strong that my body simply wouldn't obey my commands.

That won't do.

He bit his lower lip, the taste of rust spreading in his mouth, the stinging pain shooting from his lips to his brain.

Kakashi slowly stood up, gripped his short sword tightly again, and pointed the tip at the leading figure in the shadows.

Uchiha Toru next to him was also trembling, but after several attempts, his body simply wouldn't obey him.

He gritted his teeth, pressed the Kunai handle against his palm, and thrust it forcefully.

The pain shot through me like an electric current, dispelling some of my fear.

He was panting, but he could finally move his body.

The leader of the dark figures glanced at them.

"Interesting."

He raised a finger.

A dark figure standing at the very back moved.

Kakashi gripped his short sword tightly, crouched slightly, and swung the sword upwards.

The dark figure dodged to the side.

Kakashi's sword changed direction in mid-air and slashed horizontally.

The shadowy figure took a step back.

Kakashi took another step forward.

The two figures crossed paths in the moonlight, their blades flashing intermittently, occasionally clashing together with a crisp sound.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Toru was also being targeted.

The dark figure stood in front of him, arms crossed, as if he didn't take him seriously at all.

Uchiha Toru gritted his teeth and, the moment he threw the Kunai, began Hand Seals.

Fire Style:

But the shadowy figure was faster, grabbing his wrist and throwing him aside.

Uchiha Toru slammed into the wall with a muffled groan, but immediately stood up again.

He wiped his mouth, his eyes fixed on the dark figure.

The very back corner of the classroom.

Adai sat in the chair, his snot slowly growing longer.

Then, a hand reached out from behind and pressed down on his shoulder.

"Don't move."

The sound was very soft, right behind his ear.

Adai's body stiffened for a moment, and his snot went back in.

In the middle of the classroom.

Shin-chan was still circling around that dark figure.

The shadowy figure lunged again, Shin-chan dodged to the side, grabbed an eraser from the table, and threw it at the shadowy figure.

The eraser hit the shadowy figure on the forehead, bounced, and fell to the ground.

The sound of "thud" was particularly loud in the quiet classroom.

The dark figure's face turned bright red.

"You!!!"

"Are you going to catch me or not?" Shin-chan asked. "If you catch me, I'll be the ghost."

The dark figure gritted its teeth and charged forward again.

Shin-chan leaned back and crawled under the shadowy figure's arm, patting him on the back as he did so.

"Come on."

The dark figure suddenly turned around and grabbed at the same time with both hands.

Shin-chan squatted down, and the two hands swept over his head without even touching his hair.

"Just a little bit closer." Shin-chan squatted down, looking up at him. "Do you want to get a little closer?"

The shadowy figure's breathing became heavier.

He looked down at Shin-chan squatting on the ground, his fists clenched.

Shin-chan blinked. "Are you tired? Do you want to sit down and rest for a bit?"

The shadowy figure didn't speak, but simply walked towards Shin-chan step by step.

Shin-chan stood up, dusted off his pants, and took a step back.

The two people, one walking and one retreating, circled around the classroom.

When Shin-chan passed by Kakashi's side, he also took a quick look.

The dark figure chasing behind him was panting heavily, but he just couldn't catch him.

That's enough.

The leading figure in black looked at Shin-chan, then at Kakashi and Uchiha Toru.

Three people.

One of them had excellent Blade Techniques, with clean and efficient movements.

He's from the Uchiha Clan; he's brave, but he relies too much on Ninjutsu.

There's one more.

The leading figure in black looked at Shin-chan.

He couldn't figure out what this kid was up to.

There's no set method, but you just can't quite grasp it.

The leading figure in black was silent for two seconds, then raised his hand.

"Withdraw."

The shadowy figure beside him hesitated for a moment. "But..."

"Enough." The leader of the shadowy figures turned and walked out. "Our objective has been achieved."

The several dark figures exchanged glances and could only follow them outside.

As they reached the door, the leading figure in black glanced back.

His gaze lingered briefly on Kakashi, Uchiha Toru, and Shin-chan.

Then it disappeared into the night.

The oppressive, suffocating murderous aura also vanished.

The classroom was quiet for a while.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the voice of the leader of the dark figures drifted in from outside.