I After the After-Story: Kam's Daily LifeKonoha Year 152, spring.Kam of Suna, 16, officially assigned to Konoha ANBU Field Unit — "Rift Observation Squad", code: [Gate-Keeper · 2nd Gen]His "wandering gate" has been refitted by sealing division as "controllable short gate", coverage stable at 15%, monthly submission of "Rift Whisper Log" — and "Song of Home" pitch report.Yes, that "tick-tick-tick" wordless lullaby
still echoes in his chest,
a heartbeat that never loses signal.II New Signal: Subject No.04A deep-night receiver blared: 「Rift surge: B+级 Source: Land of Lightning · Cloud-Thunder Gorge Sync wave: 04 Code: Unknown」Kam snapped awake —
"Subject 04… finally."III Assignment Order: 2nd Gate-Keeper's First MissionHokage emergency council:Target: confirm 04 identity, assess sync, bring back if necessaryTeam: Kam (lead), Lightning-special jōnin · Inabikari, sensor Hyūga · White-EyeSupport: remote rift suppression "Cat" squadWindow: 72 h Failure: signal uncontrollable, B+ gate-storm disasterKam took the mission scroll, fingertips trembling —
not nerves, but the Gate's excitement.IV Cloud-Thunder Gorge: Lightning & Rift ResonanceLand of Lightning border, Cloud-Thunder Gorge. Perpetual storms, lightning and rift energy resonate, sky shows dark-gold arcs like torn starfields.Signal origin: gorge-bottom abandoned "Thunder-Gall Mine", entrance split by lightning, rift light seeping from underground, weaving a giant "♾️" sigil with thunder.System tag: 「Secondary Gate · B+ (lightning variant) Controller: ??? Function: lightning amp Side: gate-storm」V First Contact: Face of 04Mine deepest, lightning & rift intertwine, a girl hovers amid lightning, silver-blue hair, skin etched thunder runes, pupils rotating "♾️", two "rift thunder blades" floating beside.System ID: 「Subject 04 candidate: Cloud · Amare (15) Sync: 68% Status: semi-gate (lightning)」Girl opens eyes, lightning and whispers speak: "Another gate-keeper? Perfect timing."VI Duel: Thunder Blades vs Wandering GateAmare lifts hands, blades slash, lightning & rift energy merge, each strike tearing space.Kam dodges, inner "wandering gate" auto-opens, dark-gold mirror reflects lightning, but blades crack the mirror —
Jack's face appears, whispering: "Lightning… needs 'conduction'."Kam realizes, palms together: "Rift Weave · Lightning-Conduct Mirror!" Dark-gold mirror becomes conductive mesh, channels lightning into ground, dispersing rift energy!System: 「Battle won (skill) Gain: ①DP 80 ②'Lightning-Conduct' skill +1 Side: coverage +2%」VII Dialogue: Not Enemy, but KinLightning calms, Amare lands, blades disperse into light. She looks at Kam, eyes complex: "You too… chosen by the gate?" Kam nods: "I chose to wander, not be imprisoned."Girl silent, then extends a hand: "Then take me wandering,
to turn lightning's end,
into the road home."VIII Epilogue: New CountdownReturn to Konoha en route, Kam's pocket-watch rings again —
not "tick-tick", but "beep——" like a hospital heart-monitor, steady and firm.Dial shows: 「Subject 04 logged
New countdown: 10 years」—Not lifespan,
but "wandering term":
within 10 years must find "Subject 05",
otherwise — lightning and rift
will detonate together.Kam grips the watch, gazes at lightning outside the window, whispers: "10 years, enough.
I will lead every serial number
toward home."