The battlefield was a mosaic of fire and blood. Blazing flames erupted from Uchiha Yoruki's blade, carving intricate patterns into the air. The fiery arcs shimmered brilliantly, almost mesmerizing, yet their beauty masked the deadly intent behind each strike.
Under normal circumstances, this level of swordsmanship would have forced even the most seasoned warriors to retreat. But Biwa Juzo and Kushimaru Kuriarare, hardened members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, were unyielding. They recognized that Yoruki's strikes, though fierce, lacked their usual power. His chakra reserves were still depleted, and his body bore the strain of battle.
"He's strong, but not strong enough," Juzo sneered, his grotesque face splitting into a feral grin. He licked his lips, savoring the challenge before him. With a guttural laugh, he hefted his massive beheading sword, meeting Yoruki's fiery slashes head-on.
"Ding! Ding!"
The clash of blades sent sparks flying in every direction. The heat from Yoruki's flames made the air shimmer, but Juzo's monstrous strength kept him steady.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Kushimaru hurled his long needle-like blade. Its thin profile and incredible speed made it nearly invisible as it sliced through the air toward Yoruki.
"Swish!"
Yoruki's Sharingan caught the attack just in time. His scarlet eyes spun rapidly, analyzing the needle's trajectory. He twisted his body to avoid a fatal hit, but the wire attached to the needle lashed across the back of his hand, leaving a deep, stinging cut. Blood dripped onto the charred ground.
Gritting his teeth, Yoruki ignored the pain. His eyes darted across the battlefield, assessing the situation. The Konoha forces were struggling. Fugaku, Shikaku, and the others were locked in desperate combat against the remaining five members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Each clash pushed them closer to their limits.
Suddenly, the battlefield grew more chaotic as two new combatants entered the fray.
Terumi Ryuunosuke and Hozuki Haoyu of Kirigakure surged forward, their presence sending ripples of tension through Konoha's ranks.
Terumi's gaze locked onto Fugaku, her movements fluid and precise. Fugaku met her head-on, his Sharingan blazing with intensity. Normally, they would have been evenly matched, but the effects of the poison left Fugaku at a disadvantage. After a brief exchange, Terumi's strikes broke through his defense, sending him skidding backward.
"Heh, it seems you're not in the best condition," Terumi taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.
Fugaku's eyes burned with frustration. Normally reserved, he couldn't suppress the anger boiling within him. "There's no pride in relying on a rogue ninja from another nation to gain the upper hand!" he spat, his voice laced with contempt.
Ignoring her taunts, Fugaku formed a series of hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A barrage of fireballs roared toward Terumi, their intense heat distorting the air. Though diminished in size and power, the flames forced her to retreat, creating a temporary buffer.
As the battle raged on, Konoha's forces found themselves increasingly overwhelmed. The hundred elite ninjas who had initially held the line were nearing exhaustion. Their chakra reserves, already stretched thin, began to wane.
Just as the line threatened to break, reinforcements arrived from the rear. Hundreds of Konoha ninjas, still recovering from the effects of Sasori's poison, charged forward with renewed determination.
"Don't let them recover!" Terumi shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
The Kirigakure forces responded with relentless aggression. The Mist ninjas, embodying the brutal ethos of the Blood Mist Village, surged forward with reckless abandon. They stepped over the bodies of their fallen comrades, their eyes burning with a deadly resolve.
The battle descended into brutal, close-quarters combat. The Konoha ninjas, though skilled, struggled to hold their ground against the sheer ferocity of the Mist's assault.
Amid the chaos, Shisui Uchiha darted through the battlefield. His movements were a blur, his small frame allowing him to evade attacks with uncanny agility. But even his remarkable speed couldn't keep him unscathed. Cuts and bruises littered his body, blood staining his clothes.
His eyes, once black, glowed with the crimson light of the Sharingan. A single magatama spun within them, a sign of his awakening amid the horrors of war. Despite his injuries, Shisui fought on, his determination unyielding.
Uchiha Yoruki's blade moved with a ferocity that matched his burning rage. Each strike sent waves of heat rippling through the air, forcing Juzo and Kushimaru to stay on the defensive. Injuries littered Yoruki's body, but he fought as though pain meant nothing.
"Is he using sheer willpower to push himself beyond his limits?" Juzo muttered, his tone a mix of frustration and respect.
Kushimaru nodded grimly. "He's getting faster. We had the upper hand, but now..."
Yoruki's blade ignited with a renewed ferocity, flames swirling around him like a blazing inferno.
"Uchiha Style: Blazing Flame Dance!"
The attack erupted in a storm of fiery slashes, forcing Juzo and Kushimaru to retreat. Even Juzo's massive sword began to crack under the relentless onslaught.
Just as Yoruki prepared to strike again, a shadow darted toward him. Jinpachi Munashi, wielding the explosive blade Shibuki, grinned wickedly as he closed in.
"Die!" Jinpachi roared, his blade glowing with an ominous red light.
"Swish!"
Shikaku extended his shadow in a desperate attempt to stop Jinpachi, but his depleted chakra limited its reach.
"Yoruki!" Choza Akimichi bellowed, his voice filled with urgency. But Yoruki, fully focused on his assault, didn't hear him.
"Bang!"
The explosive blade detonated, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
When the smoke cleared, a bloodied figure stood between Jinpachi and Yoruki.
It was Uchiha Yoru.
His body was broken, his armor shattered, and blood poured from his wounds. Yet his face bore a faint, peaceful smile.
"Arrogant boy," Yoru rasped, his voice weak but steady. "You're always so reckless."
...
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