---
The Duel Begins
Beneath the academy grounds, in a long-forgotten training hall shrouded in shadow, two figures stood face to face—Raiden, and the girl with golden eyes: Ayaka.
No witnesses.
No rules.
Only quiet hostility and questions they were afraid to ask aloud.
"Still time to back out," Raiden said coolly.
Ayaka smirked. "I never back down from curiosity. Especially when it's dangerous."
She moved first.
With a flick of her wrist, threads of silver chakra spun from her fingers—shimmering like spider silk but as sharp as razors. Raiden dodged, weaving through the threads, eyes glowing faintly with Aura Sense.
> New Bloodline Detected: Ketsuryūgan Mutation + Chakra Thread Control
Ayaka launched herself forward, a needle-thin sword forming from her threads.
"Don't hold back, Subject Zero!" she shouted, slashing downward.
---
Power Unleashed
Raiden activated Ultra Instinct's base form. His movements became a blur—calm, fluid, perfect.
She didn't expect his speed.
He was suddenly behind her.
Ayaka pivoted, threads forming a spiral barrier around her.
Raiden pressed two fingers to the ground. A surge of icy wind blasted from beneath her—Hyōton: Frozen Pulse—a jutsu he'd never used before.
Ayaka froze mid-motion, her boots crusted with frost.
She blinked. "That's… Ice Release?"
Raiden didn't answer.
He just struck.
Ayaka caught the punch—but her arms trembled.
Their eyes locked, breathing heavy.
"You're… not like the others," she said softly.
"You either," Raiden replied.
---
Meanwhile: Watching Eyes
Above ground, on the school roof, Hinata, Ino, and Shiro stood in silence.
They had followed Raiden out of curiosity—and saw him vanish with the strange new girl.
Ino's arms were crossed. "They're not training. That's a duel."
Shiro chewed his gum thoughtfully. "And they're serious."
Hinata clutched her sleeves. "She's… strong. But so is he."
Ino glared downward. "What is she to him? Some secret mission partner? A girlfriend?!"
Shiro gave a side glance. "You're jealous."
"I am not!" Ino hissed, face flushing.
Shiro just grinned. "I think I might be jealous. He never spars with me like that."
---
Emotions Collide
Back underground, the fight slowed.
Both Raiden and Ayaka stood with bloodied knuckles, cracked lips, and ragged breath.
"You're better than they made you to be," Ayaka said, voice low.
Raiden stared at her. "We were made?"
Her smile trembled. "You still don't remember, do you?"
"…No."
She took a shaky breath. "Then let me remind you—"
She stepped forward—and kissed him.
Just a brush. Just one second.
It wasn't passionate. It was sad. Hollow. A touch between two broken machines pretending to be whole.
Then she stepped back, shaking.
"I wanted to know if I could feel something again," she whispered. "But I still don't."
Raiden didn't speak.
Because neither did he.
---
Aftermath
When Raiden left the underground hall, his cloak fluttering, the three waiting students stepped out of the shadows.
He paused.
"…You were watching?"
Hinata stared at the ground. "W-We didn't mean to—"
Ino stepped forward, eyes hard. "So that's what you're doing at night? Running off with random girls and kissing them?"
"I didn't kiss her," Raiden said simply.
"You didn't stop her, either," Ino snapped, turning on her heel.
Hinata looked up, eyes trembling. "Raiden-kun… do you like her?"
Raiden didn't answer.
Shiro, unusually serious, stepped up beside him. "You know, people around you are starting to feel things. Whether you do or not."
Raiden watched him quietly. "Are you?"
Shiro smirked. "I might be."
Then, Raiden was alone again, surrounded by people but completely apart.
---
System Update
> Subject One Status: Partially Stabilized
Bond Level: 1
New Ability Unlocked: Threadweave Shield (Temporary)
Subject Two Ping Detected: Location — Land of Iron
Bloodline Tree Update: Emotion Trigger Detected — "Connection"
Raiden looked at the horizon.
One mystery resolved, another just beginning.
---
To Be Continued…