Uzushiogakure
Dark clouds had gathered above Uzushio. Below, the landscape was the scene of carnage, different elemental Jutsus clashing with each other.
Shinobi were falling by the dozen; blood and corpses littered the once vibrant forest.
It had been more than an hour since the war started.
Kenji was overlooking the battlefield from above, and from the scroll simultaneously.
He then shifted his hands on the scroll and on the battlefield, between a squad of enemies suddenly a paper bomb appeared and—Boom— detonated.
They didn't even have the chance to evade. Similar scenes were playing out across the front lines—a cold, calculated retribution orchestrated through ink and chakra.
A group of people arrived behind Kenji. He sensed them much earlier but did nothing because—
"Kenji-sama"
"I remembered giving orders to evacuate through tunnels" Kenji said without looking back or more like he couldn't, only he knew how much this seal was taking from him; 25% of chakra gone in less than 2 hours. And it was only in the physical aspect.
Mentally it was much worse because he was maintaining 3 different barriers simultaneously. Yes, not one but three.
First, the visible barrier that surrounds the village. Second is invisible, that encompasses the whole forest. Third one is the forbidden Jutsus itself that encompasses the whole Island.
"Then what?" said a little girl.
Kenji finally turned his head and looked at the girl, a girl no older than 7, Kushina's age. He knew her, she was one of few who awakened healing bite, but not like Saki or Kushina. Hers was natural not mutated like them.
He was going to introduce her to his daughter in a few days. God knows she needs some friends. But now? He sighed inwardly.
"Wait for reinforcement or the vultures to pick us up to their village as breeding stocks or chakra batteries." Finished a young man behind the girl.
Kenji clenched his jaws but couldn't deny their words.
"If we are going to be used as batteries at the end, then it will be our honor to be used for Uzushio." Said another.
"Besides only those who could contribute are here, others are still evacuating." Said another
Dip. Dip. Dip.
The rain began—a light drizzle that turned into a heavy downpour within seconds. No one moved. No one cared.
"Please, Kenji-sama. Let us do this much for Uzushio." They all bowed in unison, a perfect ninety-degree bow.
Kenji didn't look at them, instead he focused on the front, eyes red, drops trailing down his face.
Kenji extended his hand and another strand of seals appeared from it in a straight line in front of the group.
"Taketurns" he said, his voice hoarse.
==========
On the other side of the battlefield
The seas were restless as the rain began to fall. The once calm waters now showing their fury, waves growing larger by the minute.
On the ships, the atmosphere was tense. The rain and rough seas were nothing — they were shinobi. But the silence from the forest was a different matter entirely.
It had been almost two hours, yet the forest was far too quiet for a war. They could see scattered fights here and there. Some Uzushio shinobi exploding in their final breath. But the commanders could feel the wrongness of it — instincts honed through countless battles screaming that something was off. They just couldn't pinpoint what.
Then suddenly, scrolls opened in the skies above Uzushio's shores.
From the first came fire release. From the second, wind release.
The first few who were unprepared were reduced to ashes within seconds.
The experienced Iwa ninja began their hand signs immediately.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide."
The earth itself began to shift. Towering walls erupted around the shores.
Not all of them held — some collapsed under the assault — but new ones rose to take their place.
After a few seconds the scrolls emptied and vanished, leaving behind scorched earth and silence. Even in this heavy rain the destruction was extensive.
The three commanders stared at the scene, shaken — both by the raw power and the seal work behind it.
"We cannot wait any longer." Sanji's jaw was tight. "Order a retreat from the front."
He turned and looked at the two jinchuriki.
"It'stime."
===========
Around the area of the front gates. It was a different kind of battle altogether. There were no flashy jutsu or some earth splitting jutsu.
It was a silent battlefield, mostly covered in mist, rain and blood. The distant clashing and earth shaking,they didn't give much thought to it. Well, not for long.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough"
Sakuko, who was leading the defensive formation, shouted and swung her massive blade. From it came the gust of wind that almost uprooted all the trees. And stopped the rain for a few seconds before it started again.
But for the Kiri ninjas, they clicked their tongue in annoyance. Their cover was gone with just one jutsu — What monsters.
But they were at an advantage because of the heavy rainfall. They wouldn't need to spend more chakra.
They did just that.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique"
"Water Release: Water Bullet Technique"
They launched water jutsu at them. But only the AOE attacks were landing on the enemies, the single targeted Jutsus were off the mark. It was as if they were under a Genjutsu.
.
Shoto, who was dealing with the squad leaders and placing different kinds of seals — mostly explosive tags and barrier seals — noticed the lack of incoming enemies.
Suddenly, another Shoto appeared beside him.
"What's the news?" Shoto asked, as he threw a seal-marked kunai — Thud — it passed through a jōnin's head, killing him instantly and lodged itself into the tree and merged with it.
The curious part was that his squad had not reacted and kept moving as if nothing had happened.
"Some civilians offered help to Kenji-sama. He should be able to hold on for a few more hours." The clone said in an even tone. "Saki-sama is holding the north side alone with her clones, and the enemies were running in circles — but it seems they've noticed and are pulling back."
Shoto sighed. "They noticed.. hah." He looked at the walls. "Are the tasks done?"
"Kushina-hime refused to leave the village."
Shoto sighed again. 'That girl. Well, what did he expect from Saki's students.'
"Inform everyone about the enemy's movement and the possibility that they've figured something out — they may deploy heavy hitters soon." And— poof — the Shoto popped and the 'clone' remained.
Then he also vanished.
===========
In the west side of the forest, the real Shoto was fighting two jōnin.
Around him lay dead Kumo ninjas, drenched in blood and rain. Some had kunai through their hearts, a few had their throats pierced from behind. All were one-shot kills.
The remaining ninja were severely injured — all except the two still standing before him.
They were Kumo special ops, intercepted before they could enter the village.
"Hah." He almost scoffed. "Should have guessed the bandits would be first. So — what were you after?"
""....""
But no reply came. Of course they were special ops not some low-ranking thugs that were being fed into the front lines. Though he had not escaped unscathed, the cut marks still unhealed, the burn marks from lightning release scorched into his clothes told the same story.
Zrrr. Zrrr
They activated their lightning cloak technique and vanished. In the next instant, a kunai appeared a few inches from his face. And another from behind.
Poof — he popped, in his place was a log —sizzle— with exploding tags. And
Boom — from the blast's smoke they appeared one after another — splash— landed in a puddle of water. Just as they landed —swish— chains erupted from below. One got instantly skewered. the second, twisted his body at the last second and dodged it. But the chains still grazed his skin. And that was all it took.
From that scratch came seals and instantly enveloped him and —shick— from behind a kunai came through his neck.
The whole exchange took only a few seconds. Then he finished the remaining ones.
Now only Shōto remained surrounded by dead bodies.
Cough. Cough.
Suddenly he coughed blood into his hands.
"Tch… poison." He ignored it, now was not the time. He just received some worrying news.
He opened his palm and struck his chest, seals appeared around his palm and spread to his whole body. Stabilizing his condition.
=========
On the North side of Uzushiogakure,
Saki was another hell altogether. She was a nightmare for the Kumo forces. She single-handedly faced all of them.
Where Kenji and Shōto used their wits and dismantled their enemies. She had the brawl and techniques, and Kumo Ninja were her best opponents to slaughter.
She was a blur of motion. Wherever she went, bodies fell.
She was a crimson death reaper. Her red eyes now glowed with intent in the rain. She left behind red afterimages.
Even for Kumo, who was known for their speed and strength, they were no match. Saki would appear for a moment, killing a few with her spear and disappear; then reappear and bisected a ninja and the tree behind him in a single diagonal stroke of her katana, then vanish again. A kunai here. A kill there. She continued her slaughter.
==========
Atop of Uzushio walls amidst the heavy rainfall,
Kenji, who was soaked, just received the intel from Shoto's 'independent' clone. He then looked at the mask that was hanging from his waist. His fingertip touched the mask before he thought otherwise.
He looked at the people with him. All tired. Chakra exhausted. But still taking turns to lessen his burden.
When suddenly he felt it, his eyes widened.
"Shit…" he cursed, hands moving frantically to the scroll and he poured more chakra into the barrier seals.
From the horizon came a black mass of destruction. A Bijuu Dama. Straight for them.
"Everyone behind the seals now." He roared, around the village the previous dim barrier light intensified, gained a new life.
The Bijuu Dama that was launched from the seas took a few seconds to reach the shores but the destruction left in its wake devastating everything it touched.
When it reached the invisible barrier, the barrier shattered like glass.
When that happened enemy commanders were horrified, the supposed 'battle' they had been observing was just an illusion.
Finally it reached the village barrier and
Boooom
The blast shook the barrier and the sky parted, dispersing the rain clouds; revealing the blood red moon, but the barrier held on. Shockwaves travelled around the village. Devastating all the forest around. It didn't discriminate between allies or enemies, it consumed them all.
The blast lasted for a few seconds. The only thing left were the wails of the survivors for their friends who didn't make it.
Kenji looked at them with pained eyes. Then the villagers who were helping him.
Dip.Dip.Dip
Blood and tears running down their faces, both because of sudden chakra exertion and for the death of their fallen members.
Well they didn't get much time to mourn, Kenji abruptly cut the seal connection from them.
And —clap— clapped his hand together.
"Release" A diamond shaped mark appeared in his forehead and extended through his body and connected with the scroll.
He extended his hand in pushing motion. The barrier lit up again. And with it came the second one. The other people were horrified. The only thing in their mind was. 'It was their end.'
And the Biju-dama collided with the barrier. And
Boooom…
But not for Kenji. He roared and pushed, and as if sensing his intent. The barrier reacted, the surrounding barrier dimmed and all the power concentrated at the point of the impact.
As if he was shouldering the weight of the blast. —splurt— Blood began to flow from his mouth and nose. But the barrier held on with some cracks. After a few seconds the blast subsided. The once vibrant forest, now in ruins. The village held on with some big fissure appearing on the walls by the shock waves.
But Kenji didn't stop, he wiped the blood around his mouth with his hands. Drew a long line along his hands with his blood and wherever the blood passed the seals began to activate.
Now in his both hands circular seals were coiled around like a snake.
On the horizon was a Bijuu-Dama, larger than the previous two.
He didn't have much time, with sealed hands he touched the lying scroll, the seals crawled from his hand to scroll and the seals inside the scroll began to light up. Simultaneously around the battlefield the buried seals lit up. Then Kenji pulled the seals from the scroll, the seals blinking like stars inside the scroll began to float at his hand movement, the scene was mesmerizing.
Around the whole battlefield seals began to float from ground, defying gravity itself.
He then shifted his hand and began arranging the seals. Then they connected, forming a hexagonal shield made out of smaller hexagons. These seals were fragile compared to the village barrier but they were much more flexible.
Cough. Cough. Cough.
Kenji coughed more blood, now even his eyes and ears began to bleed. But he held strong.
He then separated his hands, the big shield broke apart into smaller ones. They began to stack one after another in a mesmerizing display of control. Then the collision happened.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Shields began to break apart, Kenji shifted his hand and the remaining shield tilted to forty-five degree right. Slowly but surely the direction was changing. But it will not be enough; it will still collide with the village.
The Bijuu Dama was still closing in, breaking everything. At the last five shields. Kenji again moved his hand and made a single hand sign.
The shields became flexible like leaves. The last five shields formed an 'L' shape. Like a rain drop sliding through leaves. It also slid at the last second.Launching to the right side of the village.
Booooom
A large mushroom cloud appeared at the blast point. Another shockwave devastated the village. A much bigger shockwave, it cracked the remaining walls and the right side of the walls collapsed.
But the price Kenji had to pay for it.
Thud.
He collapsed to his knees. Bloodied and battered. His hands and legs were a mess, his blood vessels ruptured throughout his body.
"Kenji-sama" the surrounding people shouted and came to treat him but he slapped their hands away. His vision was blurring around the edges.
His hand reached to his waist for something but found nothing. He began desperately finding it in his waist then looked around… He found it, a few feet behind him. He extended his trembling hand but couldn't reach it. His knees refused to move or more like couldn't.
"Kenji-sama, please you have done enough." A woman said from behind him with a trembling voice and tear-streaked face. He didn't know who she was, his ears were ringing.
In the next second he felt a soothing feeling. A healing jutsu. But he didn't stop because he knew something was coming — something much worse— he felt it. The three attacks were nothing compared to it.
He then looked at the mask again, moving with his knees. But it was not there. He froze 'where…did—' then he felt it. A small tap.
He turned, and came face to face with the same girl he was about to introduce to Kushina.
The surrounding people stopped.
Then she grabbed his still trembling hands and placed the wooden mask in them.
Now some of his vision returned, he saw her tear-streaked face. But she still smiled at him and said.
"Thank you for everything, Kenji-sama" she said with a serene smile.
Looking at her, he couldn't help but gave a smile himself. He didn't know what she saw in his smile, her tears started anew. He patted her head with his trembling hands and donned the mask.
The mask stuck to his face like it had life of its own. Then he turned to the coming disaster.
Then he began his hand signs, his last jutsu.
Suddenly an image appeared in his mind. An image of a newborn girl, in his arms and her mother breathing her last breath.
"Kenji… protect her… protect our Kushina" she said with hoarse voice, tears in her eyes. "Tell her I love her very much."
"Yes…. I Will"
Then came the memories of him raising her, her happiness, her sorrow, her annoyed expression, her determination. Her calling him dad with a beautiful smile.
Tears began to flow from his eyes, mixing with his blood. But his hands didn't stop.
'I wish I could see her one last time.'
Kenji was about to finish his last hand signs when suddenly, a streak of red came from the north destroying everything in its path and stepped in front of the Bijuu-dama's path.
Kenji's eyes widened behind the mask. Even for her, it was a suicide..... But he also knew if anyone could do it then it was her. With gritted teeth, he stopped.
Saki, who was looking at the coming attack, had only one thought.
'I must cut it… I must cut it… I must cut it… I will cut it for my family…'
She then stopped and planted her feet to the ground and released all her seals' power.
Booom — Craaack.
Ground splintered around her, by her chakra release alone.
She then extended her hand behind and drew it from her back seal — an Odachi — it was as long as her and the beauty of it. Oh the beauty.
The odachi was massive,Its unusually long, two-handed hilt was bound in a tight, metallic silver-grey braid that seamlessly matched the upper half of its scabbard. Below the twin carrying rings, the sheath transitioned into a polished, abyss-black lacquer accented by intricate silver fūinjutsu knotwork. Resting beside a cloth embroidered with deep purple anemones, the sleek, single-edged blade gleamed coldly in the dim light—a heavy, lethal masterpiece perfectly suited for her.
She then seared her blood into the hilt —in fūinjutsu network— the whole blade turned red, and seals extended from her back traveled through her hand to odachi and connected to it.
Booom
The crater expanded around her, the sheer density of her chakra spider-webbing the earth beneath her sandals. Chunks of stone and dust began to defy gravity, floating upward in the crushing pressure of the aura.
Her hands tightened around the red-braided hilt of the massive odachi. As she leveled the heavy weapon, the sleek, single-edged blade hummed, reflecting the chaotic energy swirling around her—ready to unleash a devastating, sweeping strike.
She looked behind one last time at the village —her village— and smiled before looking at the closing devastation.
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Yo hello guys
This chapter took a lot out of me, like a lot.
I literally cried 3 times writing Kenji's scene. An if u didn't cry then i ruined an epic scene with my trash skills. 😭
Well whatever. That's life. You learn from experience.
Well see you next week...