_SENJU PARK_
The rain hammered down, each drop exploding against the already sodden earth of Senju Park. A chilling wind, biting with the icy bite of a winter storm, whipped through the desolate landscape. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the earthy scent of damp soil. Dead shinobi lay scattered across the park, their lifeless forms a grim testament to the ferocity of the battle. The air was heavy with the weight of death, the silence punctuated only by the rhythmic drumming of the rain and the occasional groan of a wounded shinobi.
Naruto, bathed in the golden glow of his Kurama Link Mode, stood amidst the carnage, his form a beacon of strength against the encroaching darkness. His eyes, narrowed against the driving rain, scanned the battlefield. Kurama's chakra pulsed beneath his skin, a raw, untamed energy that crackled with latent power. Gamakichi, a colossal orange-and-blue presence, loomed beside him, his eyes fixed on the distant figure of the Rinnegan man.
Kakashi's eyes scanning the scene, stood alert. The rain plastered his hair to his forehead, and his cloak clung to him like a second skin. Hanabi's Byakugan pulsed, her gaze sweeping across the battlefield, searching for any sign of danger. Sai, his ink scrolls at the ready, remained poised, his expression grim. Temari, a whirlwind of contained energy, stood with other shinobi, their faces a grim mask of determination. Choji, Udon, Himekawa, and a host of other jonin-level shinobi waited, their expressions a mix of fear and determination.
"Konohamaru and Gamakichi," Naruto said, his voice a low rumble, amplified by the raw power surging within him. "We'll need your combined power."
Kurama's voice, a deep growl, resonated within Naruto's mind. "Don't underestimate him, Naruto. He's conserving chakra for something big."
Konohamaru, atop Gamakichi, nodded, his resolve hardening. "Right. We're ready."
Kakashi's mind raced, analyzing the situation. 'He's fast, incredibly fast. And his chakra... it's unlike anything I've felt. We need to find an opening, a weakness. But where?'
"Choji," Naruto said, "be ready to use Super Expansion Jutsu when I give the signal. We'll need your size."
Choji nodded, his expression serious. "Right."
The Rinnegan man, at a distance, sat cross-legged, a quiet intensity radiating from him. He seemed oblivious to their preparations, his chakra swirling around him, a menacing vortex of dark energy.
"We'll surround him," Naruto said, his voice low. "Konohamaru and Gamakichi, Choji, and I. Three sides. No escape."
Hanabi interrupted, her Byakugan scanning the Rinnegan man. "Naruto-nii, he's infusing chakra. We need to move now!"
"Right," Naruto confirmed, his eyes narrowing. "Konohamaru and Gamakichi, Choji, and I, close the distance. We'll form a wall. Temari, you and the others, wait for the opening."
Kurama's voice rumbled again. "Naruto, close the gap quickly. His chakra is building dangerously. We need to disrupt him."
"When we create the space," Naruto instructed, "Temari, you move in. Udon, you and three others, a barrier. Seal him in."
"Hanabi," he continued, "try to knock him down with Gentle Fist. If that fails, Sai, seal him."
Kakashi's voice, laced with a hint of humor, broke the tension. "Lord Seventh," he asked, "and what are my orders?"
Naruto, mirroring his tone, replied, "Lord Sixth, I believe you can handle the necessary on your own, dattebayo."
"Ara Ara," Kakashi chuckled lightly, "I forgot I was more superior than you."
Kakashi's thoughts were more serious. 'We need to project calm. For them. For everyone. To show them we have this under control.'
The Rinnegan man stirred, rising to his feet. 'The fools. They think they can stand against me? This world will bend to my will,' he thought, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
Rain lashed down, a relentless drumming against the sodden earth of Senju Park. The air, thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of ozone, crackled with anticipation. The Rinnegan man stirred, and the tension in the park intensified, a palpable weight pressing down on every shinobi present.
Naruto watched the Rinnegan man intently. The raw power surging through him heightened his senses, warning him of the danger ahead. Konohamaru and Gamakichi moved into position, their combined weight shaking the ground with each deliberate step.
Kakashi, with a slight, almost nonchalant shrug, turned to Himekawa. "Mind if I borrow that sword for a moment?" he asked, his voice casual. "Promise I'll give it back in one piece, or at least, mostly one piece."
Himekawa, despite the tension, couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "Of course, Lord Sixth!" he replied, his voice a little shaky. He handed over his katana, its polished steel reflecting the rain-streaked light.
The atmosphere shifted, the brief moment of casual interaction replaced by a grim silence. The Rinnegan man rose to his feet, his chakra surging, a dark and menacing aura that threatened to overwhelm them all. Naruto felt a chill crawl down his spine. This was no ordinary foe.
Choji readied himself, his massive form tensing. Temari, her fan unfurled, prepared for a long-range assault. Sai, his ink scrolls at the ready, poised for any eventuality. Hanabi, her Byakugan activated, scanned the battlefield, searching for any hidden threats.
As the Rinnegan man began to move, his steps deliberate and measured, Naruto, Konohamaru/Gamakichi, Choji, Temari, Sai, and Hanabi, along with the other jonin-level shinobi, began their coordinated charge, closing the distance. Kakashi remained stationary, his gaze fixed on the Rinnegan man.
In a parallel visual, a fair-skinned hand gripped Himekawa's katana, its unadorned blade glinting in the rain. Simultaneously, another hand, pale and firm, held a katana sheathed in a sleek, black scabbard (saya).
Suddenly, a blur of motion. Kakashi vanished, appearing behind the Rinnegan man, Himekawa's katana raised high, ready to strike.
A sharp clang echoed through the park. Kakashi's attack was intercepted. The Rinnegan man's obsidian-sheathed katana blocked his strike with a force that sent sparks flying.
Kakashi stumbled back, his eyes widening in surprise. The Rinnegan man, seemingly unfazed by the attack, hadn't even turned around. He countered with a swift, backward swing.
He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto Kakashi. A single, crimson drop of sweat traced a path down his cheek, disappearing into the folds of his collar.
The rain continued its relentless drumming, the silence deafening. The air crackled with unspoken tension, the fate of the village hanging in the balance.
Kakashi retreated, his eyes narrowed, analyzing the Rinnegan man's movements. In a swift motion, the Rinnegan man unleashed a barrage of Phoenix Flower Jutsu, a storm of fire aimed directly at Kakashi.
Kakashi, reacting instantly, countered with a Water Style: Water Wall, creating a thick, swirling mist that obscured their surroundings. The sudden silence was heavy, broken only by the hiss of dissipating steam.
From within the mist, a series of kunai flashed towards Kakashi. He dropped to one knee, narrowly avoiding them, but the brief respite was shattered by the Rinnegan man's smirk.
As Kakashi attempted to rise, the Rinnegan man tugged on unseen strings, the kunai snapping back, their trajectory altered.
Kakashi, caught off guard, lost his balance and crashed to the muddy ground.
"Who trained you?" the Rinnegan man asked, his voice a low, chilling drawl.
Kakashi, pushing himself up, mud streaking his face, replied, "The Fourth Hokage."
By then, Naruto, Konohamaru, and Choji had surrounded the Rinnegan man, Temari and the other jonin in position. Yet, the Rinnegan man seemed unconcerned, his eyes fixed on Kakashi.
"The Fourth Hokage?" he repeated, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Who was he?"
Kakashi, shocked, replied, "Namikaze Minato."
A brief silence followed, then the Rinnegan man smiled. "He trained his students well," he said, his voice laced with a dark amusement.
Kakashi, ignoring the taunt, launched another attack, while Naruto, Konohamaru, and Choji closed in.
The Rinnegan man, however, seemed annoyed by their persistence. His hands moved in a blur, forming seals too fast for anyone to decipher.
Naruto, his eyes widening in horror, shouted, "Everyone, retreat! Get back!"
But it was too late.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu," the Rinnegan man intoned, his voice echoing through the park.
A plume of dark smoke erupted, and from within it emerged a colossal snake. Its body, a sleek, mysterious black, was adorned with patches of bluish-black scales that shimmered like the darkest night sky. Its eyes, glittering jewels in the dark landscape of its face, gleamed with predatory intensity.
"Go, Beru," the Rinnegan man commanded.
The shinobi, their faces pale, stared up at the monstrous snake, disbelief and fear etched into their features. "Hey, you've gotta be kidding me," one of them whispered.
"Hahahahaha," the Rinnegan man laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the park. "Don't tell me you've all given up?"
Beru, the giant snake, coiled around Choji's enlarged form, its massive body crushing him to the ground. The three shinobi, including Udon, who were preparing to form a barrier, scattered, abandoning their positions to avoid being crushed. Beru's scales shimmered like obsidian, reflecting the flickering flames of the destroyed buildings, its eyes, twin orbs of malevolent light, scanned the battlefield, its tongue flicking out, tasting the air, the fear.
Beru then turned its attention to Gamakichi, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Sensing the danger, Gamakichi leaped high, drawing his sword. His eyes narrowed, a fierce determination etched onto his frog-like features, as he prepared to face the monstrous snake. Konohamaru, thrown off balance, tumbled to the ground, unharmed but disoriented. Beru's movements were unnaturally swift, its massive body coiling and uncoiling with terrifying ease, crushing all in its path.
Naruto, watching the chaos unfold, his plan unraveling, felt a surge of anger. 'This isn't going according to plan! What are they doing? We need to protect the village!' he thought, his frustration boiling over. "What are you doing?" he yelled, his voice laced with frustration. "We have to protect the village!"
Kurama's voice, a low rumble, echoed in his mind. "Calm down, Naruto. Anger won't win this fight. You're going to make a mistake."
Taking a deep breath, Naruto regained his composure. 'Kurama's right. I need to think clearly.' "Everyone, retreat!" he commanded, his voice firm. "We need to regroup." Naruto's blood ran cold. 'This is bad,' he thought, his eyes widening in horror. 'We're outmatched. This thing, it's chakra, it's immense.' His plan, their only hope, was crumbling before his eyes.
The shinobi, their eyes wide with terror, scrambled back, their movements frantic and disorganized. They stumbled over fallen debris, their breaths ragged, the monstrous snake, Beru, a looming shadow of death in their panicked retreat.
_KONOHA HOSPITAL _
The Konoha Hospital's emergency ward pulsed with a frenetic energy, a stark contrast to its usual sterile calm. The air, thick with the metallic tang of blood and the sharp scent of antiseptic, hummed with the frantic activity of medic-nin and genin assistants. Injured shinobi lined the corridors, their faces pale and drawn, their bodies bearing the brutal marks of the ongoing battle.
Boruto and Mitsuki entered, carrying Shizune, her usually vibrant face ashen and gaunt. They laid her gently on an empty gurney, the stark white fabric a stark contrast to the grime and blood staining their own clothes. The room echoed with the groans of the wounded and the urgent commands of the healers.
"Sakura-san!" Boruto called out, his voice strained, echoing through the chaotic room. 'Where is she? We need her now,' he thought, his anxiety growing with each passing moment.
But Sakura was nowhere to be seen. They scanned the room, finding only a sea of wounded and weary healers. Sarada, her brow furrowed in concentration, was assisting a medic-nin, her hands moving with practiced precision, her expression grim. Sumire, her gentle features set in a mask of grim determination, was healing a heavily injured shinobi, her chakra glowing softly like a faint, protective aura against the encroaching darkness of injury. Inojin, his expression drawn and serious, was also assisting a medic-nin, his normally playful demeanor absent, replaced by a grim focus.
Boruto's gaze lingered on Sumire for a moment, an unspoken acknowledgment of her skill and dedication. The soft, ethereal glow of her healing chakra illuminated her face, highlighting the delicate lines of concentration around her eyes. He noticed the gentle yet firm way she worked, the calm and focused energy she radiated, a stark contrast to the frantic activity around them.
'She's really stepped up,' he thought, a flicker of admiration mixing with a sense of unease.
Sarada, noticing Boruto's gaze, approached them, her eyes widening as she saw Shizune. "What happened?" she demanded, her voice sharp with concern, her eyes flashing with worry. "How did this happen?"
Mitsuki explained, "We found her like this, near Hinata-san. She was unconscious."
Sarada's expression turned grave, her eyes darting between Shizune's pale face and the worried expressions of Boruto and Mitsuki. "Medic-nin!" she called out, her voice urgent, cutting through the din of the ward. "Shizune-san needs immediate attention!"
A medic-nin rushed over, examining Shizune's condition, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Her chakra... it's almost completely drained," he said, his voice laced with concern, his eyes tracing the faint, residual chakra signature. "And there's a strange residual chakra presence... I need to investigate this further."
Sarada turned to Boruto, her voice tight, her eyes searching his. "Did you find Hinata-san?"
"Yeah," Boruto replied, his voice heavy.
"Then why are you here?" Sarada asked, her eyes searching his, her voice laced with a mixture of concern and frustration. "You should be with your mother."
"There was an announcement," Boruto explained, his voice heavy, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "All genin were ordered to assist at the hospital."
Sarada's expression softened, remembering the announcement that had been made while she was with Mitsuki. 'Of course. He's trying to help,' she thought, a flicker of guilt mixing with her worry, her eyes softening.
"And Himawari chan?" Sarada asked, her voice softening, her eyes reflecting concern.
"She's safe with Hinata-san," Mitsuki replied, his voice calm, his eyes reflecting the seriousness of the situation.
"What do we do now?" Sarada asked, her eyes searching Boruto's, her voice laced with urgency.
Before Boruto could answer, he asked, "Where's Sakura-san? I haven't seen her."
"She went with Shikamaru," Mitsuki replied, his voice calm. "Towards the battlefield."
"When?" Boruto asked, a flicker of unease in his eyes.
"Before you arrived," Shikadai explained, his voice laced with concern.
'They went to the battlefield? That's dangerous,' Boruto thought, his anxiety rising.
Sarada and Shikadai shared their experiences from the battlefield, describing the Rinnegan man's power and the devastation he had caused. Inojin and Cho-Cho listened, their expressions growing increasingly grim, their eyes reflecting the horrors they had heard.
A medic-nin, overhearing their conversation, called out to Boruto, his voice urgent. "You, assist me with this patient."
Boruto nodded and went to help, leaving the others to talk, the sounds of the wounded and the healers filling the space around them.
"This is crazy," Shikadai muttered, his eyes scanning the chaotic scene, his voice laced with frustration. "What's going on out there?"
"The enemy is powerful," Mitsuki said, his voice calm but serious, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "We need to be careful."
When Boruto returned, his face grim, he thought, 'Sakura-sensei and Shikamaru went there? They must be facing something terrible.' He then asked, "What were you guys talking about?"
They all dodged the question, their eyes shifting, a silent agreement to keep him from worrying further. The air in the hospital ward was thick with unspoken tension, the weight of the ongoing battle pressing down on them.
Inojin, his patience wearing thin, reiterated, "We need to go out there." He gestured towards the hospital doors, the sounds of distant explosions and screams echoing through the corridors, a grim reminder of the chaos outside.
"No," Sarada said firmly, her voice laced with concern, her eyes reflecting worry. "We're needed here. It's too dangerous." She glanced at the injured shinobi being carried in, their faces pale and drawn, their wounds a testament to the enemy's power. A medic-nin struggled to staunch the bleeding from a shinobi's mangled arm, while another frantically applied chakra to seal a deep gash across a patient's chest.
"What if we die?" Cho-Cho asked
"What if we die?" Cho-Cho asked, her voice trembling, her eyes wide with fear. The fluorescent lights of the hospital ward seemed to amplify the pallor of her skin, making her look even younger and more vulnerable.
"Don't say that," Inojin tried to reassure her, his voice strained, but Cho-Cho's fear was palpable, a tangible presence in the room. He looked around, seeing the exhausted medic-nin, the grim faces of the genin assistants. The air was thick with the coppery scent of blood, and the groans of the wounded filled the corridors. A young medic-nin, her face pale, worked tirelessly to heal a shinobi whose leg was twisted at an unnatural angle. The weight of their responsibilities was heavy.
"She's right," Boruto said, his voice heavy, his eyes reflecting the shadows of the wounded. "It's a battlefield out there. I almost died." He remembered the moment Kakashi had saved him, the terror of the battlefield still fresh in his mind, a cold knot in his stomach. The memory of the Rinnegan man's power, the sheer force of his attack, made him shudder.
Cho-Cho, her face pale, shook her head. "I... I can't," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm staying here. It's too dangerous."
The others exchanged worried glances, the tension in the room thickening. The sounds of distant explosions echoed through the hospital, a grim reminder of the chaos outside.
Inojin, his expression grim, stepped forward. "Cho-Cho," he began, his voice gentle. "We can't just leave everyone out there. We need to help."
"But... what if we die?" Cho-Cho repeated, her voice trembling, her eyes wide with fear.
Sarada placed a hand on Cho-Cho's shoulder, her touch reassuring. "We'll be careful," she said, her voice firm. "We'll stick together."
Shikadai nodded, his eyes narrowed, a strategist's resolve etched on his face. "We'll work as a team," he said. "We'll cover each other."
Boruto, his expression serious, stepped forward. "We're going," he said, his voice firm. "We can't leave anyone behind."
Cho-Cho looked from face to face, her eyes searching for reassurance, but her fear was stronger. She shook her head. "No," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm staying here."
A tense silence filled the room. The others exchanged worried glances, but they understood her fear.
"Then we leave without Cho Cho." Shikadai said, his voice serious, adjusting his headband, a silent declaration of his determination.
They nodded, a grim determination settling over them. They left the hospital, stepping back into the chaos of the outside world. The hospital doors swung shut behind them, leaving Cho-Cho staring after them, her face a mask of fear and worry. The sounds of battle grew louder, the air thick with smoke and the scent of burning wood. The once familiar streets of Konoha were now a warzone, a stark contrast to the sterile, controlled environment they had just left. As the doors closed, Cho-Cho felt a wave of isolation wash over her. They were going into hell, and she was staying behind. 'Am I a coward?' she wondered, her heart pounding in her chest. 'No, I'm just scared.' She looked at her hands, still shaking.
---
Quiz Question
* Where was Sakura when Boruto and Mitsuki brought Shizune to the hospital?
a) Assisting in the emergency ward
b) Treating other injured shinobi
c) She went with Shikamaru towards the battlefield.
d) She was unconscious
Please share your answers in the comments below!