Summon: The Red Dragon
Kyro didn't waste time.
The forest clearing was already compromised from the short battle , the chūnin's body hidden as best as possible, the air still faintly disturbed by Chakra but waiting here for long meant death.
He knelt and opened the system.
[Summon Confirmed]
(baby) Juvenile Red Dragon – 14 SP
Bond Type: Contractual / Growth-Based
The circle flared with potent magic, much higher density than Miku.
Heat rolled outward in a wave like pulse.
The air simmered around the area as the process intensified..
And then
A small shape tumbled into existence, landing awkwardly on the summoning seal with a surprised chirp.
The dragon was tiny.
Barely the size of a large cat, with oversized wings folded clumsily against its body. Its scales were a deep ember-red, dull rather than shining, still soft in places. Smoke puffed from its nostrils as it sneezed, then looked around wildly.
Its eyes were bright with life , molten gold reptilian eyes locked onto Kyro.
The dragon froze.
Kyro smiles slightly as he slowly removed his gloves.
"…Hey there little guy ," he said quietly.
The hatchling tilted its head then slowly moved closer to kyro, sensing a strong urge to bond...
A faint warmth pressed against Kyro's chest, like feeling of recognition the little guy in his arms now..
The bond snapped into place like a shared pulse of awareness.
[Bond Established]
Name Pending
The dragon chirped again, toddled forward, and pressed its forehead clumsily against Kyro's chest..
Kyro exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
This little red dragon is cute...
Miku peeked out weakly. "I-it's… warm and cute …"
Elektra allowed herself the faintest smile. "it's a good partner for the future and something tells me. You'll need it."
Then..
She stiffened, her instincts were going crazy right now...." Someone was coming... No.... Multiple chakra signatures are heading this way..Fast and disciplined." she said..
Kyro turned to face her.. Eyes hardening...
"This isn't a patrol," Elektra said sharply. "it's a response unit ."
Kyro used the shared sense ability of miku and felt it too.. three, no. five signatures,
moving through the forest in a spread formation.
This is cloud shinobi, the pressure coming from their direction feels heavy..
They moved fast and nimble... ANBU-adjacent speed.
The dragon sensed it as well, wings flaring instinctively, a tiny flame leaking from its mouth in a startled hiss.
Kyro cursed under his breath.
"Fuck.. They're here already."
Elektra turned to him instantly. "Go I'll hold them of long enough for you escape... ."
Kyro froze. "What.. No.. "
"Go." Her voice cut like steel. "You have a another summon to protect you . A future. I don't."
"That's not how... "
She grabbed his collar and pulled him close, eyes fierce, unyielding and her breath hot on his face..
"You must survive," she said smiling softly now . "That's the deal remember."
Another chakra surge.. closer now.
The dragon let out a frightened squeal.
Kyro's hands shook like a leaf...
"…Hold them off," he whispered, voice breaking despite himself. "Just long enough then escape.. ."
Elektra released him and stepped back, sai already in her hands.
"I always do."
Kyro turned and ran as fast as he's legs could carry him ...
The forest blurred as he pushed himself past exhaustion, the baby dragon clutched claws against his chest beneath his cloak, its warmth steadying him and reminding him he wasn't alone...
Miku popped up from his collar once, he was shaking as well.. She looked around before hiding back in his clothes preparing to cast illusions.. .
Behind him..
Lightning cracked from cloud ninjas using their justsu. .
Shouts of techniques and commands were heard as steel rang against steel.
Miku forced illusions blindly, misdirecting pursuit paths, bending shadows, burning herself out to keep Kyro unseen as they escaped, running for their lives..
Kyro didn't look back.
He couldn't, because if he did he would slow down and hesitate... And that would be terrible.
Elektra met them head-on.
Three chūnin.
One tokubetsu jōnin.
She killed the first before they realized she wasn't retreating.
A blade through the throat.
A kunai redirected into an eye.
But numbers and Chakra mattered in this fight.
She moved like a ghost, drawing blood, buying seconds, then minutes but the outcome was inevitable.
The tokubetsu jōnin caught her mid-dodge.
A lightning-enhanced strike pierced through her side easily...
She grunts at her a attacker as the pain hits her...
She staggered but didn't fall.
Instead, she smiled.
"You're too late," she told them.
And then she charged one last time.
When the forest finally fell silent, her body lay still among scorched leaves and broken branches slowly fading into particles...
The Cloud reinforcements stood breathing hard.
"…Find the summoner," one ordered grimly.
But Kyro was already long gone.
__
Miles away, Kyro collapsed beside a riverbank, vomiting bile, hands shaking uncontrollably..
The dragon whimpered, nudging his chest with its head.
Kyro pressed his forehead to the dirt, tears streaming down his face..
"…I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
Something warm curled against him.
The dragon coiled awkwardly around his arm, wings draping over his shoulder like a blanket.
Not understanding death yet but sensing it's masters sad emotions...
The bond pulsed, quietly .
A promise of fire.
Of growth and of vengeance for its master as dragons don't forget, especially red dragons.. ,
And far behind him, Cloud shinobi searched the forest, unaware that the boy they were hunting for had just lost his last restraint after tonight.