Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Embracing Life, Confronting Death
Hikari flew back to Yami, who was waiting for her in the clearing. She landed gracefully on the ground and reported, "There's a child at the bottom of the ravine, Yami. He looks badly injured. We need to help him quickly."
Yami listened intently, nodding his head at every detail. "Thank you, Hikari. You did well to report this to me. I will follow you there shortly. Please go ahead and see if you can offer any help."
Hikari hesitated for a moment, looking back at Yami with concern. "Are you sure, Yami? The child seems to be in a lot of pain. I think we should go together."
Yami placed a hand on Hikari's head and smiled reassuringly. "I'll be right behind you. You go ahead and do what you can. I trust you."
Hikari nodded and took off towards the ravine.
As Yami made his way towards the ravine following Hikari's report, he noticed the presence of four hidden figures with his perception jutsu. His senses were on high alert as he realized that these were most likely enemy ninjas. Yami took a deep breath, centering himself and prepared for the incoming attack.
He quickly scanned his surroundings, but there were no weapons in sight. Yami's mind raced with possibilities as he tried to come up with a strategy to defend himself. He knew that he had to rely on his own skills and training if he was going to get out of this alive.
Yami's senses were on high alert as he noticed the four masked ninjas approaching him with ill intent. His hands were empty of any weapons, but his body was tensed and ready for the fight. The first ninja lunged at him with a swift strike, but Yami was able to evade it with his quick reflexes. However, the other three immediately took advantage of the opening and began to attack from different angles, forcing Yami to focus on defending himself.
Yami could feel the pressure of the four ninjas bearing down on him. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, anticipating their movements. He kept his eyes locked on them, reading their intentions with his perception jutsu.
The first ninja charged at him, aiming a punch at Yami's face. Yami sidestepped the attack and countered with a swift kick to the ninja's abdomen. The ninja staggered back, gasping for breath, but Yami didn't give him a chance to recover. He followed up with a series of punches and kicks, landing each blow with precision.
The other three ninjas were circling around him, trying to find an opening. Yami felt their eyes on him, calculating and assessing. He knew he had to be careful. One mistake and he could be taken down.
As he continued to fight, Yami's mind began to wander. He remembered the feeling he had when he fought the Senju children years ago. A sense of power had welled up inside him, driving him to fight with a ferocity he had never known before.
He didn't want to fall back into that state. He knew it was dangerous, that it could lead him down a dark path. But as the fight dragged on, he felt that same surge of power building up inside him once again.
The ninjas were becoming more aggressive now, sensing that Yami was weakening. They were attacking him from all sides, trying to overwhelm him with sheer numbers.
Yami gritted his teeth and fought back with all his strength. He could hear the sounds of bones cracking and flesh tearing as his attacks landed. The ninjas were skilled, but he was more skilled. He could feel them weakening under his assault.
As the fight continued, Yami felt his body enter a trance-like state, the world around him seeming to slow down to a crawl. He moved with incredible speed and agility, effortlessly dodging the attacks of the four skilled ninjas. Yami's body seemed to move on its own, as if guided by an otherworldly force.
His senses became heightened, and he could hear the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds with astounding clarity. The colors around him became brighter, more vibrant, and the air itself seemed charged with energy.
Yami's movements became more fluid and graceful, as if he was dancing instead of fighting. He struck his opponents with a series of swift, precise blows, his hands and feet moving faster than the eye could see.
Finally, with one last burst of energy, Yami launched a devastating attack that sent all four ninjas flying. They crashed to the ground, motionless.
As the last of the four ninjas fell to the ground defeated, Yami emerged from his trance-like state, feeling exhilarated and yet somehow drained at the same time.
Yami stood there, panting and covered in sweat. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He looked down at the defeated ninjas and felt a twinge of sadness. They were just doing their jobs, after all.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He had to focus on finding the injured child. He turned and began to run towards the ravine, hoping that he wasn't too late.
As Yami tried to shake off the disgust and refocus his perception, he felt a heavy weight settle in his mind. It was as if a thick fog had settled around him, clouding his senses and muddling his thoughts. He struggled to tune into the natural energy around him, feeling like he was groping around in the dark for something he couldn't quite grasp.
As he tried to sense the energy, he noticed that the image he usually saw in his mind's eye was blurry and indistinct. The movement of the energy felt sluggish and uncoordinated, like he was trying to navigate through molasses. It was a frustrating feeling, and he gritted his teeth in frustration as he tried to clear his mind and regain his focus.
Yami stumbled towards Hikari, his eyes still clouded with the remnants of his mystical state. His movements were slow and unsteady, as if he was wading through deep waters. When Hikari saw him, her eyes widened in shock and concern. She rushed to his side, her hands reaching out to steady him.
"What happened, Yami?" Hikari asked, her voice trembling with worry.
"I was ambushed," Yami said, his voice hoarse. "Four covered ninjas attacked me."
Hikari gasped, her eyes scanning Yami's body for any signs of injuries. "Are you hurt?"
Yami shook his head, wincing slightly as a wave of nausea washed over him. "No, I managed to fend them off."
Yami and Hikari made their way down the ravine towards the injured child, carefully navigating the treacherous terrain. As they got closer, they could see that the child was in a critical condition, with deep cuts and bruises all over their body. The child's breathing was shallow and their pulse was weak.
Yami attempted to generate medical energy, but he found that his mental state had made it difficult to focus and his attempts were unsuccessful. He turned to Hikari, her eyes widening in surprise at the realization that she would have to be the one to heal the child.
He looked on with concern as Hikari worked tirelessly, her wings glowing with a bright light as she infused the child with her healing energy. He could sense the immense power that Hikari possessed and was amazed by her strength and ability.
After what seemed like hours, Hikari finally withdrew her wings and the child lay there, healed physically, but still lost in his own mind. Yami placed a hand on Hikari's shoulder, silently acknowledging her incredible healing abilities.
After the physical wounds on the child were healed, the pair noticed that the child did not show signs of waking up. Seeing this, they decided to bring him back to the village and continue there. Hikari noticed that the child's spirit was still injured, and the wounds went deeper than the physical ones.
"Hikari, what do you sense?" Yami asked, noticing the raven's unease.
"I sense that the child's spirit is still damaged," Hikari replied, her wings rustling in agitation. "His wounds go deeper than the physical ones."
Yami nodded, "I had a feeling that was the case. We'll have to find a way to heal him on a deeper level."
Yami couldn't help but feel guilty for his mental state that prevented him from healing the child. Hikari, sensing his emotions, placed a wing on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Yami," she said softly. "You did everything you could. And now we will bring the child back to the village and get him the help he needs."
Yami nodded, grateful for Hikari's words of encouragement. As they made their way through the forest, the child remained unconscious in his arms. Yami couldn't help but notice Hikari's wings as she flew effortlessly over obstacles and branches.
Yami and Hikari finally arrived at Yami's home, which was a traditional Japanese-style house with a small garden in the front. Yami's parents were sitting in the living room when they walked in. His father, a tall and muscular man with short black hair, stood up when he saw the child in Yami's arms. His mother, a shorter woman with long black hair, rushed to his side to see what was going on.
"Yami, what happened?" his father asked, noticing the child's injuries.
"We found him in the ravine. He was badly injured, but Hikari and I managed to heal him," Yami replied, trying to sound calm.
"Is he going to be okay?" his mother asked, looking worried.
Yami hesitated for a moment before answering, "Physically, yes. But his spirit is still injured. We need to find a way to heal him."
His father looked at Yami with concern and said, "We'll help you in any way we can."
Yami thanked his father and handed the child over to his mother, who took him to the spare room to lay him down. Yami sat down on the floor, feeling exhausted from the day's events. Hikari perched on his shoulder, sensing his fatigue.
"How are you feeling, Yami?" his father asked, sitting down next to him.
Yami took a deep breath and replied, "I'm okay. Just a little tired."
His father looked at him with a serious expression and said, "You need to take care of yourself. You can't help anyone if you're not in good shape."
Yami nodded, knowing that his father was right. He looked at Hikari and smiled, grateful for her presence. They had been through a lot together, and he knew that he could count on her.
As they sat there in silence, Yami's mother came back into the room and sat down next to them. "The child is resting now," she said, "We'll keep an eye on him."
Yami nodded, feeling relieved that the child was in good hands. He knew that they had a long road ahead of them, but he was determined to do whatever it takes to heal the child's spirit.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone