Chapter 16

As the sun cast its first light upon the leafy canopy, the victorious Konoha defenders regrouped. The infiltrators, their cloaks stained with defeat, faced the consequences of their ill-fated mission. The residents of Konoha, still oblivious to the nocturnal struggle, would wake up to a village that had weathered another clandestine threat.

The aftermath of the battlefield lay silent, a haunting canvas stained with the remnants of a night's skirmish. Tsunade Senju, one of the legendary Sannin, strode amidst the echoes of conflict. Her presence commanded respect, and the Uchiha police force, clad in their distinct attire, surrounded her in a stoic formation. From their ranks emerged Uchiha Fugaku, the leader of the Uchiha clan's police force.

As Tsunade walked through the scene, the gravity of her aura seemed to cut through the tension-laden air. The ground beneath her sandals bore the indelible marks of the clandestine battle that had unfolded beneath the Forest of Death's looming canopy. The cloak she wore, now stained with the remnants of enemies, was a testament to the ferocity with which she had defended the village.

Fugaku, his Sharingan eyes ablaze with an unwavering resolve, stepped forward from the ranks of the Uchiha defenders. His stern expression reflected both duty and acknowledgement of the legendary Sannin's authority. Tsunade, her gaze sharp and unyielding, addressed the Uchiha leader with a question that carried the weight of urgency.

"Were we able to retrieve anything?" Tsunade's inquiry resonated with authority—a demand for answers in the aftermath of the covert assault.

Fugaku, meeting the legendary Sannin's gaze with a respectful nod, responded, "None, Tsunade-sama. Every body has been destroyed by some kind of technique. There are no traces left."

The revelation hung in the air, a sombre acknowledgment of the methodical eradication of evidence. The Uchiha clan, despite its discontent with the village's higher-ups, held an unwavering loyalty to Tsunade Senju, one of the three legendary figures who had left an indelible mark on the Shinobi world.

Tsunade's gaze swept across the battlefield, her acute senses absorbing the gravity of the situation. The absence of evidence hinted at a calculated enemy—an adversary who left no trail for investigators to follow. Her mind, sharp and analytical, processed the information as she considered the implications of the attack.

The Uchiha police force, a silent and vigilant presence, awaited further instructions from their legendary Sannin. The forest, which had been witness to the clash of shadows and the dance of lethal jutsu, seemed to exhale a sigh of relief in the wake of the Hokage's scrutiny.

As Tsunade continued her inspection, her thoughts delved into the shadows of the Shinobi world. The forest, with its gnarled branches and concealed pathways, held secrets that transcended the battlefield. The Uchiha, once regarded with suspicion, now stood as guardians of the village, their loyalty proven through action.

Fugaku, recognising the unspoken burden that Tsunade carried as one of the legendary Sannin, spoke with a solemn yet respectful tone. "Tsunade-sama, we are at your disposal. The Uchiha clan stands ready to assist in any way necessary to safeguard Konoha."

The legendary Sannin acknowledged his words with a nod, her expression revealing a mix of gratitude and concern. The village, though momentarily spared from the immediate threat, now faced the challenge of unravelling the mysteries concealed within the shadows.

The Forest of Death, having borne witness to the clash between unseen forces, stood silent but not indifferent. Its secrets were intertwined with the very fabric of Konoha, a reminder that the village's guardians must remain vigilant against the ever-present threats that lurked in the dark corners of the Shinobi world.

As Tsunade and the Uchiha police force retreated from the battlefield, the Forest of Death enveloped the scene in a shroud of mystery. The echoes of the night's conflict lingered, a haunting melody that would resonate in the memories of those who guarded the village hidden in the leaves.

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Forest within Fire Country.

The dense forest, once tranquil, bore witness to a desperate chase. A lone Jonin, burdened by the unconscious form of his junior Asuma, pushed forward through the foliage, a trail of blood marking his faltering steps. Behind him, a relentless pursuit unfolded, with the menacing figures of Kumo Shinobi closing in with deadly intent. Among them, the ominous presence of Yugito Nii, the two-tailed Jinchuriki, added a layer of dread to the pursuit.

The Jonin couldn't fathom how the mission had spiralled into this nightmare. What was meant to be a routine B-rank bandit extermination had morphed into a meticulously laid trap. As an elite Jonin, he grappled with the weight of helplessness, haunted by the memories of his fallen comrades. The chunin under his command had been mercilessly slaughtered, and he had sacrificed not only his partner Shiromaru but also one of his arms to save Asuma.

Blood loss sapped his strength, yet sheer will propelled him forward. Asuma's unconscious form, draped over his back, was a reminder of the cost paid in the chaos that had unfolded. The Inuzuka Jonin struggled to recall the precise moment when everything went awry. Now, with the shadows of Kumo closing in, his thoughts raced, focusing on the immediate need to survive.

Suddenly, an electrifying attack cut through the air, a Raiton technique aimed at ending the desperate flight. The Inuzuka Jonin, with heightened senses and alertness, instinctively dodged using his own technique, a swift and evasive Gatsūga. The abrupt evasion disrupted his stride, leaving him vulnerable as the six Kumo shinobi closed in, encircling the faltering Leaf shinobi.

Amidst the encirclement, Yugito Nii, the Jinchuriki, taunted the beleaguered Jonin. "It's true what they say about dogs; they sure can run. Are all of the Konoha ninjas cowards like you?" Despite the mocking words, the leaf Jonin remained silent, his focus on the encircling threat, calculating the moment to break free.

"Enough playing around. Quickly finish them both; we need to retreat before their reinforcements arrive," the leader of the Kumo hit team urged Yugito. The urgency in the leader's voice hinted at the gravity of their mission.

Yugito, acknowledging the advice, signalled it to her comrades. The six Kumo Shinobi unleashed their individual raiding techniques, a synchronised assault meant to overwhelm and obliterate. The encirclement tightened, and Jonin braced for the impending onslaught, resigning himself to what seemed an inevitable fate.

Yet, just as despair threatened to consume him, salvation emerged from the shadows. Out of nowhere, two black, metallic-like constructs materialised, surrounding the beleaguered Jonin. With astonishing speed, the constructs erected a protective barrier, absorbing the onslaught of raiding attacks. The sudden turn of events left both the Kumo Shinobi and the Jonin astonished.

The barrier, a testament to an unknown ally's intervention, held firm against the storm of lightning. The Jonin, gripped by a mixture of relief and bewilderment, watched as the black constructs absorbed every attack meant for him. In that fleeting moment, a renewed surge of hope coursed through him.

The leader of the Kumo hit team, frustrated by the unexpected turn, barked orders to regroup and retreat. The encirclement dissolved as the Kumo Shinobi, begrudgingly acknowledging the unforeseen obstacle, faded into the shadows.

The constructs lowered the protective barrier, and Jonin, now free from the immediate threat, slumped to his knees. The weight of exhaustion and the toll of the harrowing ordeal pressed upon him. He spared a grateful glance at the mysterious saviour, whoever they may be, and silently expressed his gratitude.

[Katon: Haisekishō](Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning)

As the ashen veil blanketed the battlefield, obscuring the chaos that had transpired, the six Kumo ninja moved swiftly to regroup. Amidst the settling ash, one of the Kumo Shinobi became momentarily distracted, unaware of the ominous shadows that concealed a deadly threat. In a sudden and silent ambush, multiple shadow thorns skewered him from various angles, rendering him injured.

The remaining five Kumo ninja, shaken by the unforeseen attack, regrouped swiftly. Three of them closed in on the exhausted Inuzuka Jonin, whose breaths were heavy and his strength was waning. The battlefield, now shrouded in tension, awaited the next surge of action.

Two black constructs, manipulated by the skilled puppeteers Shikaku and Jin, advanced purposefully to engage the Kumo shinobi. The metallic puppets, enigmatic in their origin, moved with a fluid grace that belied their seemingly rigid structure. The Kumo team, cautious and wary, exchanged glances during the initial confrontation with the mysterious constructs.

Simultaneously, Taiki, the third member of the Leaf team, ignited a sudden and potent ash-based attack. The ashen veil spread rapidly, burning the entire battlefield. Amidst the confusion, the distracted Kumo ninja, who was already injured, failed to notice the dancing shadows. The concealed threat culminated in the swift skewering by multiple shadow thorns.

The Kumo team leader, a seasoned ninja with keen observation skills, quickly recognised the puppeteering mastery behind the rescue attempt—Nara Shikaku, the Leaf Jonin Commander, and his skilled companion Jin Nara. A sly smile crept across the Kumo leader's face, realizing that their hunt for the exhausted Inuzuka Jonin might yield an even greater bounty than anticipated. The fallen comrade seemed like a trivial cost in the grand scheme of their mission.

The engagement intensified as the Kumo ninja, now on guard, faced the dual threat of the metallic puppets and the determined Nara Jonins. Shadows danced across the battlefield, blending with the settling ash and the dappled moonlight filtering through the canopy.

The black constructs, guided by Shikaku and Jin's strategic minds, executed a synchronised assault. Swift and precise, they countered the Kumo Shinobi's every move, showcasing a level of coordination that hinted at the expertise of their puppeteers. The Kumo team, though cautious, found themselves pressured by the relentless barrage.

As the two Nara Jonin, accompanied by their enigmatic black metallic puppets, held back the relentless assault of the five Kumo Shinobi, Taiki swiftly fell back into the shadows. Unfurling multiple scrolls with practiced efficiency, he initiated a rapid healing process for both Asuma and the exhausted Inazuka. The scrolls glowed with restorative energy as Taiki worked his scroll magic, mending wounds and revitalising the weary shinobi. Without a moment's pause, he reached into a pouch, retrieving a handful of medicinal pills provided by the Jonin Commander earlier and deftly administering them.

Asuma, though still in the clutches of mental fatigue, showed signs of stirring. His eyelids twitched, a testament to the revitalising effects of the medicinal intervention. The Inazuka Jonin, now fully restored to a fighting state, stood guard over Asuma, a silent sentinel protecting his comrade's vulnerable state.

The Sarutobi Jonin, having ensured the young master's safety, didn't linger. With a swift and determined motion, he propelled himself back into the fray to reinforce his Nara comrades. The forest echoed with the clash of steel and the hum of chakra, a battleground where shadows and puppets danced in tandem.

The Kumo team leader, though commanding, found himself at an impasse. His attempt to find the chakra threads controlling the metallic puppets proved futile. The Jonin Leader's voice sliced through the chaos, echoing his frustration. "What are you guys doing? Someone, sever those chakra threads! They are puppets; once we sever the connection, we can overwhelm them!"

"It's not chakra manipulation; they are using shadow manipulation to control the black puppets." Yugito Nii, a perfect Jinchuriki, was able to find out how the puppets worked with the help of Matatabi, and the two-tailed bijuu warned her owner to be aware of those black puppets as they were emitting ominous energy. The kumo ninjas were confused about how the hell they were supposed to sever shadows.

Confusion gripped the Kumo ninja as they grappled with the enigma before them. The black puppets resisted physical blows, actively absorbed incoming ninjutsu, and were brimming with concealed weapons and poisons. Doubt crept into their minds—when did the Nara clan master the art of puppetry? The Nara, with their shadow manipulation, seamlessly controlled both their puppets and engaged in combat simultaneously, presenting a formidable challenge.

The Kumo team found themselves gradually overwhelmed, with the metallic constructs proving to be resilient adversaries. Frustration etched across their faces as they struggled to find a way to sever shadows. The Kumo team leader, recognising the urgency of the situation, issued a decisive order: "Yugito, there's no need to hold back anymore. Quickly release the two tails."