Chapter 20: The Price of Power
The first light of dawn filtered through the thick forest canopy, casting dappled shadows on the weary faces of the convoy. The air was tense, every footstep weighted with caution. Shin moved among his comrades with practiced calm, but inside, a storm brewed.
He could feel it—the invisible weight settling deeper into his bones. Ever since he unleashed the power of the Djinn's Tribe, the world had shifted beneath his feet. That brilliant pink flame, that miraculous healing… it had saved lives, yes, but it had also painted a target on his back.
I knew this day would come, Shin thought, his jaw tightening. Power like that never goes unnoticed. And now, I have to live with the consequences.
Shisui's voice cut through his thoughts. "Shin, walk with me."
The two moved to a quiet clearing, away from prying eyes and ears.
"You did well in the last fight," Shisui said quietly, eyes sharp. "But you must understand—showing that kind of power comes at a cost. People will want to control it. Others will want to destroy it. You're no longer just a shinobi. You're a symbol. A weapon."
Shin met his gaze steadily. "I knew that from the start. I didn't expect it to be easy."
Shisui's eyes softened ever so slightly. "Good. Because the enemies you face now aren't just on the battlefield. They're in the shadows, waiting for you to slip."
Nearby, Kakashi and Hikari secured the convoy's perimeter. The tension was thick.
"Do you think we'll see another attack?" Hikari asked quietly.
Kakashi shrugged, his single visible eye scanning the tree line. "Root won't stop. And neither will anyone who fears what Shin represents."
Hours later, the convoy reached a narrow pass carved between rocky cliffs. The perfect spot for an ambush.
Without warning, kunai and shuriken rained down from the cliffs above.
Shin's breath caught. Here it comes.
As the battle erupted, he fought with precise efficiency, carefully gauging how much of his strength to reveal.
Not yet, he reminded himself. If I go full Djinn now, the whole war will chase me.
Instead, he pushed his body to the limit with subtle magoi enhancements—speed, reflexes, strength—enough to protect his comrades but not enough to draw dangerous eyes.
Shisui's Sharingan flashed, Obito and Kakashi moved with lethal coordination, and Hikari fought with fierce determination.
The attackers fell back, frustrated but unbroken.
That night, as the camp settled, Shin sat apart, staring into the dying embers of the fire.
Hikari joined him quietly. "You didn't use your full power today. Are you scared?"
Shin shook his head slowly. "It's not fear. It's survival. If I show everything I have, I lose more than just the fight. I lose control of my future."
She nodded, understanding the burden he carried. "You don't have to carry it alone."
Shin's smile was faint but genuine. "I know."
Far away, in Root's hidden lair, Danzo's fingers drummed impatiently on the desk.
"The Hattori boy is growing more cautious," he murmured. "But caution won't save him forever. Soon, we will decide his fate."
The war dragged on, and with every passing day, Shin's resolve hardened. He would protect his friends, his family, and his village—but only on his own terms.
Because power came at a price, and Shin was determined to pay it—without losing himself.