"Retreat!"
The single word spilled from Terumi Ryuunosuke's bleeding mouth, carrying both desperation and finality.
His strained voice echoed across the battlefield, and the remaining members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist reacted instantly. Without hesitation, they disengaged from the battle and bolted toward the seaside, abandoning their fight.
This was the unyielding rule of Hidden Mist Village: no retreat unless explicitly ordered by the commander. Under the current circumstances, it was clear the rest had been yearning for this command.
Discarding their masks, they unleashed powerful Water Style jutsu to obstruct their worn-out pursuers.
Nawaki stood amidst the chaos, his hands trembling as he pulled his kunai from the chest of a now-lifeless Jinin Akebino. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision swam. He turned his bloodshot eyes toward the fray, instinctively searching for his next target.
But his body screamed in protest. He had already expended much of his chakra chasing after Kirigakure's Jinin Akebino, and though his will urged him forward, his physical limits were undeniable. Yet, when he saw the slaughter of Konoha ninjas—his comrades, defenseless and falling one after another—something within him ignited.
Rage replaced exhaustion. Tears blurred his vision, but the fury in his heart burned clear. This isn't war. This is a massacre.
Despite knowing that taking on another of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was suicide in his current state, Nawaki roared and threw himself back into the chaos.
Uchiha Yoruki wasn't faring much better. The strain of wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan had taken its toll, leaving him barely standing. Yet, when he saw Nawaki's resolve, Yoruki forced himself to move. He gritted his teeth and charged into the fray, his crimson eyes locking onto his targets.
Elsewhere, Uchiha Fugaku was locked in a fierce battle with Terumi Ryūnosuke. Anger fueled his every strike as he relentlessly pressured his opponent.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Technique!"
From Fugaku's mouth erupted a torrent of flames, weaving into dragon-like forms that encircled Terumi, cutting off any escape routes.
"Lava Style: Dissolving Mist Technique!"
Terumi spat forth a corrosive liquid that erupted into a wall of acid, meeting Fugaku's fire dragons in a violent clash. Steam and smoke billowed into the air as fire and acid consumed each other.
Taking advantage of the diversion, Terumi turned and fled, his battered body vanishing into the mist.
"Kill them!"
Terumi's retreat signaled a broader withdrawal by the Kirigakure forces. But for the Konoha ninjas, this was no time for mercy. Fueled by grief and fury, they pursued their fleeing enemies with unrelenting determination.
Young Shisui Uchiha was among them. Though not yet a seasoned warrior, his speed rivaled that of most Chunin. The Sharingan in his eyes spun as he darted through the enemy ranks, his blade flashing with deadly precision.
"You little brat, die already!"
An enraged Mist ninja lunged at Shisui, clashing blades with him. The force of the blow sent Shisui stumbling back. Exhaustion dulled his movements, and even the Sharingan struggled to keep up.
The Mist ninja spotted an opening in Shisui's defense and moved in for the kill.
But before the fatal blow could land, a shadow flashed behind the attacker. Steel pierced through flesh, and the Mist ninja's eyes widened in shock before he crumpled to the ground.
Uchiha Yoruki lowered his blood-stained blade and turned to Shisui. "In your current state, you're nothing but a liability. Fall back."
Yoruki didn't wait for a response. He vanished into the chaos, reappearing moments later beside another enemy ninja. Even in his weakened state, his blade was swift and merciless, ending the fight in an instant.
Nearby, Nawaki joined the fray, cutting down another Mist ninja with a savage swing of his sword.
The battlefield was a hellscape. Many of the Konoha ninjas staggered as they fought, their bodies barely holding together, but none were willing to retreat. Too many of their comrades had fallen for them to let the enemy escape unscathed.
The pursuit only ended when the Kirigakure forces reached the coastline. With chakra reserves depleted, the Konoha ninjas could no longer maintain their pace across the water.
The sea's surface was stained red with blood, and countless bodies floated in the waves—a grim testament to the battle's cost.
A few kilometers from the battlefield, a figure watched from the shadows. Sasori, the rogue ninja of the Sand, clenched his fists in frustration.
Damn it!
Sasori had spent days ensuring the potency of his poisons, tailoring them to weaken the Konoha ninjas. But the chaos of battle had diluted their effects, leaving his efforts wasted.
Now, he had no choice but to retreat. He knew that Konoha's retaliation for this tragedy would be relentless.
Back on the battlefield, the surviving Konoha ninjas stood amidst the carnage. Their faces were pale, their eyes hollow as they gazed upon the bodies of their fallen comrades.
Uchiha Yoruki staggered, his legs buckling beneath him. Fugaku caught him before he could fall, steadying his fellow Uchiha.
"You've done enough, Yoruki," Fugaku said quietly, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Yoruki said nothing. His eyes scanned the battlefield until they landed on a mangled corpse—a familiar figure twisted in death.
Uchiha Yoruki's typically stoic expression crumbled. Tears welled in his crimson eyes as the weight of loss finally broke through his composure.
The words of Uchiha Yoru, spoken just before his death, echoed in Yoruki's mind.
"Arrogant boy, you're always so reckless."
For the first time in years, Uchiha Yoruki wept.
The battle was over. For Konoha, it was a victory—a hard-fought and costly victory. But for those who had survived, it felt hollow. The price paid was far too steep.
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