VI

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Arc VI Chapter 10

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“Captain, should we pursue them?” Taki turned to Yoshio, their squad leader.

The Oto squad assembled on the roof of the arena. They were awaiting Yoshio's orders.

Orochimaru-sama assigned them a special mission. Their objective was to secure Uchiha Ssuke, the last Uchiha, in case of emergency. Konoha was under attack and a dangerous place.

Orochimaru-sama didn't want his future body to be damaged. Uchiha were a precious resource these days. Hard to come by.

Yoshio observed the three genin. They moved away from the arena.

A dog, a pink-haired girl, this Naruto, and the Nara boy. The Nara had taken quite a beating, barely able to keep up with his friends. A fatal mistake.

His wounds and bruises slowed them down and made them an easy target. Intercepting them would be child’s play.

Yoshio grinned beneath his mask. ”You are right, time to move out ...”

“An excellent idea~. I hope you won’t encounter unexpected difficulties on your way. That would be ... unfortunate~.” Her voice was sweet and tender.

The Oto-nin stiffened. A girl in black that had joined their group without invitation.

Asami grinned in evil delight and extended her arm. Crackling lightning covered her palm, a sphere of electric sparks. The lightning danced.

The discharge was imminent and the Oto-nin sensed the danger. Their hair stood up amidst the polarised air.

”I wonder who is faster, my lightning, or you~.” Asami clenched her fist. She knew the answer.

The Oto-nin dispersed, but it was too late. The flash blinded them and her lightning turned the roof into a sea of pure white. Her electric tendrils expanded and cut through the air. It was over. Her lightning won.

Asami smirked, pleased by the outcome. Her lightning got them without exception. Eight Oto-nin died, their flesh burned alive. Only a mass of unrecognizable charred corpses remained of the enemy.

Asami stepped forwards and inspected the village, the battlefield, analysing the tactical situation.

Chaos gripped entire village. Death and destruction spread everywhere.

Suna-nin, Oto-nin, Konoha-nin, ANBU fought clashed across the village. They fought house to house. Explosions. Denotations. The village burning.

A giant three-headed snake crashed through the wall and wracked havoc on Konoha.

Oto-nin infiltrated the arena and caused confusion. They slipped through Konoha’s useless security.

Hiruzen was trapped inside a magic barrier together with Orochimaru and his guards did nothing.

No intelligence was available as communications were cut off. The enemy's strength, their movements, their intentions were unknown.

Everything was going according to plan. Chaos, confusion, disorganisation were what she needed. The trap was set and her prey remained ignorant.

Asami unsheathed her sword and headed east. Linking up with Fumihiko was the priority. He and his men were located at the eastern gate.

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Akihiro led the vanguard of the relief force. His Suna-nin advanced through the streets and approached the arena.

Orochimaru was crucial to the invasion plan, but even the famed Sannin couldn't win the war on his own. He required support.

They received orders to relieve Orochimaru and his men if things didn’t go as planned.

Orochimaru had the brilliant idea to attack the Hokage directly during the chunin exams behind enemy lines with only a handful of ninja. For some mysterious reason, the Kazekage approved his suicidal plan.

Akihiro and four companies were ordered to the arena to break Orochimaru out.

The arena appeared on the horizon. Heavy fighting had already commenced.

Akihiro clicked his tongue. Stupid orders.

”Captain, unidentified subject approaching!” Hideki joined him and reported.

Akihiro grumbled, “Friend, or foe?”

“Unknown, but we suspect foe.”

Akihiro scanned the area and detected a single girl in a black kimono. The girl and her sword rapidly closed the distance. They would clash soon.

Akihiro ordered. ”Get ready! We will make contact!”

His men unholstered their kunai and increased their speed.

Akihiro threw three kunai. They connected, but they struck … a barrier. A purple shield deflected his attack ... A purple shield ... A purple shield ...

Akihiro’s eyes widened. “Fuck!” He knew the girl. They all knew her.

Konoha, Kunoichi, short girl, black kimono, sword, princess, purple. It was Konoha's grim reaper. They were not just fucked. They were royally fucked.

A purple sphere intercepted them. The construct emanated the strong presence of chakra and Akihiro sensed the danger. ”Disperse! Disperse …”

The sphere contracted and Akihiro braced himself against the detonation.

The shock wave threw Akihiro back. He slid across the sandy ground while the rest of the squad didn’t share his luck.

The blunt force, the trauma killed them, hurled against a concrete wall like lifeless dolls.

Ahikiro coughed blood. Sharp stinging pain filled his lungs ...

Her blade pierced his head and Asami continued her advance without pause.

Asami turned left, right, left, right, navigating through Konoha's labyrinth of streets and dark alleys.

Dispersed Suna squads blocked, but their resistance proved negligible. They didn’t last long, and they were dispatched easily despite their increasing numbers.

Asami clicked her tongue. They lurked behind every corner like a plague. Annoying.

Asami extracted four shuriken and turned around the corner. Her shuriken claimed four Suna-nin from point-blank. Her swords finished the rest. They didn't expect her and shock paralysed them.

Asami marched on and passed the next corner. This time, she nearly tripped as she was forced to an abrupt halt.

An entire battalion greeted her and stopped her advance, but Asami didn't care. The enemy would yield, and if by sheer force alone.

Asami clapped her hands together and her eyes coloured red. Her chakra shot through her veins. Three purple spheres darkened the sky. Their ominous presence suffocated.

”Get … out … of … my … way.”

Asami released her jutsu. For the fraction of a second, her spheres burned brighter than the stars themselves. They summoned the light of the sun.

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Orochimaru chuckled and looked down on his former sensei.

“What's so funny?” Hiruzen panted.

“You have grown old, sensei.” Orochimaru smirked.

“Such a pitiful end, even the once hailed God of shinobi can’t escape the curse of old age. …”

Explosions shook the ground and unbalanced Orochimaru. The foundations of the arena trembled. Shock waves in the distance and three columns of burning ash rose into the sky.

Hiruzen grinned pleased. He also had a few aces up his sleeve. Konoha’s little princess had finally become active.

Hiruzen's forces returned. “You are right, I can’t escape old age, but I don’t need to.“

Because I don't stand alone, Orochimaru. The entire village will fight you.”

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