43 Midnight Assault (2)

Running across the ground at top speed both the Sound ninja and the ROOT were running as separate groups through the forestry. Sai who upfront noticed that the land began to smooth out as the trees became less and less noticeable. Eventually, it got to a point that the ground was covered in smooth stone.

"Getting rid of this place so soon was a good idea. With such an open area like this, it would be extremely easy to defend if it was populated." With that statement being said Guren narrowed her eyes as she spotted something in the distance. Behind Guren with the rest of her team, Rinji spoke up as he saw the rows of buildings in the distance. "So that's where the brats were after are?"

"Yup all we have to do is get in there and grab them and well be done with this mess." Guren made it sound simple however things took a turn when they actually arrived. Coming to a stop just a few dozen meters away from the residential area, Sai, Kabuto, and Guren all stepped forward. "It doesn't seem as if our presence has alerted them."

Speaking in his normal tone Sai continued to watch for any movement. "You five go and survey the area." Kabuto turned around and pointed to five Sound ninjas in the group behind him. Nodding their heads they began to move while spreading out into different directions. Jumping into the air they planned on landing on the roofs of the empty buildings.

However, the moment they crossed the threshold into the residential area a pulsing sound shout out in every direction. It was then followed by a brilliant flash of white light. A transparent wall became visible for a split second around each place the Sound ninja ran into it. "Gah!" As if rejecting them the Sound ninjas were sent flying back with an insane amount of speed.

Flying over everyone's heads including the main group all five fell to the ground before rolling to a stop. Smoke was rising from their bodies as they remained completely motionless. "A barrier huh, and a lethal one at that." Knowing there was a barrier there Guren looked at Kabuto. "So what do we do now? Do we breakthrough just like the wall or what?"

"Actually you guys don't have to do anything." An unknown voice answered Guren's question before anyone else could speak. Following the voice, Seiki's figure appeared jumping onto the roof of a building just behind the barrier. Appearing on separate roofs after Seiki was Fuyumi and Ren who looked down at the group of ninja.

"Well, it looks like we did get your attention after all." Speaking in a sarcastic tone, Guren was the first one to talk to the three of them. "Look we got through your wall and I'm sure this barrier isn't going to be able to hold up half as long as it did. How about you just come from behind it and surrender after all where not here to kill you… Yet at least."

Hearing Guren's words the three of them easily ignored her provocation, one thing that caught them off guard was what the ninjas behind her were wearing. They would never forget those headbands and especially their clothing. The people that burned down their clan, killed their parents and friends, along with having them experimented on in that dark lab.

Just knowing that made anger begin to boil up inside of them. They were ready to attack at a moment's notice. However, they held back as Ren tried to act rational and replied to Guren. "Don't make a mistake, we are not here to talk to any of you. Where just giving you a warning. If you even attempt to take this barrier down, we'll kill you on the spot without mercy."

"Interesting, It seems you harbor hate for all of us here..." Sai pointed notice to the amount of emotion Ren was holding back in his voice. This in turn caused Kabuto to smile. "It seems as if we both know what's going to happen here. So let us not delay the inevitable." Glancing over at Guren, Kabuto's eyes conveyed all she needed to know.

As much as she hated taking orders to such scum she followed through. Raising her hand she spoke in a voice everyone there could understand. "Attack and capture those three immediately!" Following after her own order Sai gestured for the ROOT ninja behind him to do the same. With their order's given the group attacked at the same time.

Rushing forward like a wave some jumped into the air while weaving Jutsu hand signs. In an all-out barrage, they used multiple elemental Jutsu aimed directly at the barrier. On impact, a massive explosion erupted creating a cloud of dust blocking the ninja's view. "Hmm?" One of the ninjas spotted something in the wall of smoke ahead of them but it was too late.

Cutting through the smoke as if it was a physical object a strange moon arching slash flew directly towards the ninjas still in the air. Not being able to dodge in time, they could only watch as over a dozen of them were cut clean in half. A few seconds later their bodies fell to the ground and fully separated creating a gory scene on the stone.

"We gave you your warning." Dashing out of the smoke so fast it left a trail Fuyumi already had her Zanpakuto in its released state. Landing on the smooth stone ground outside of the residential area she glanced around identifying all of the ROOT and Sound ninja in the area. Stabbing her blade into the ground she commanded a massive release of water.

From its origin being the blade itself, the water flooding from the blade began shooting up into the sky like geysers. Being on guard the ninja around Fuyumi watched the geyser's carefully as they reached their maximum altitude. Then in mid-air without so much as a warning, each body of water in the sky began morphing into giant drill-like structures.

Removing her sword from the ground Fuyumi didn't even have to do anything more as the drills of water fell to the ground like meteors. Auto-locking onto large groups the ninja tried to disperse and while some got away others weren't as lucky. Impaled by the amount of high-pressure water or having skin and clothing alike ripped away because of how fast it was spinning.

It was obvious the battle had started for real. Further down each side of the barrier, more ninjas were encountered by Ren and Seiki who were holding their own. "Keep pushing them, they can't do this forever." Kabuto seemed undisturbed by the fact dozens of their own were dying as he simply watched from afar.

"Why don't you let me fight them? I could deal with that little girl easily." Guren looked as if she was itching to get involved however Kabuto stopped her. "No, you're not here to fight them. You're here to deal with the aftermath, not the conflict." Focusing back onto the battle Seiki by far had the most amount of ninja focused on his capture.

Using the sheath of his Zanpakuto in accordance with the blade itself he used it like a polearm. Spinning it across his back five of the ninja attacking him were blown away with an insane amount of blunt force cracking bones. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" A ROOT ninja who had jumped into the air above Seiki began shooting miniature fireballs out of his mouth.

Each one flew with precision towards Seiki who noticed them because of the orange glow. Using his Zanpakuto as leverage he jumped backward and pushed off the ground with his blade. Dodging in the nick of time all of the fireballs hit the ground all at once causing an eruption of fire until fading to black smoke.

"There's so many of them." Landing on the ground again Seiki wasn't given a chance to breathe, two ninja-bearing Kunai rushed him from both sides. Throwing their Kunai just slightly off from Seiki's position he noticed they had strings attached to their ends. Just as the Kunai passed Seiki's back and front the ninjas pulled on the string's causing the Kuani to do a U-turn.

Seeing what they were trying to do Seiki immediately released a burst of Reiryoku from his body. The pinkish-red Aura immediately cracked the ground under his feet as the two Kunai and their strings were blown away. "What?" The two ninjas were surprised by the sudden force being released from Seiki's body as he jammed his Zanpakuto into the ground and let go if it.

Seiki pointed both of his fingers at the ninja on either side of him. "Hado #16: Akai Dangan!" Firing like bullets, two bursts of energy flew from his fingers and hit the two ninjas dead on. On impact, the shots pierced straight through their bodies killing them. "Earth Style: Fist Rock!" Caught off guard by the sudden attack Seiki turned his gaze forward. Two ROOT ninja had their arms raised with a massive fist made of rock prepped.

"Crap!" Punching towards Seiki and his Zanpakuto he was sent flying backward like a rocket and slammed through multiple building walls. Hearing the massive boom like sound both Fuyumi and Ren glanced over toward where Seiki was fighting. 'We can't keep fighting separated like this but these guys won't even give us a chance to think.'

Dodging a strike from a ninja's sword Ren took a step back and pointed his finger at the ninja's head. "Hado #4: Byakurai!" Lightning shot from his finger penetrating the ninja's head and frying his brain. As smoke poured out from the hole Ren wasn't given a moment to take a breath before he was attacked again.

All three of them fought for two hours straight and even though the number of enemies decreased, the number of wounds on their bodies only grew. Moving slower due to fatigue and using up way too much Reiryoku due to them having their Shikai's released for so long. Eventually, the three of them were forced to fall back behind the barrier.

And as they did the destruction from all the fighting spread. Entire areas were destroyed and things were lit ablaze. Any other barriers created by Rei lasted minutes barely giving them time to recover. Within a couple more hours they had reached the last point they could fall back to.

Looking around it would take a moment for anyone to guess, but at that moment the three of them had ended up retreating to the top floor of the central building. Rei had told them how important it was that it was so they made sure to fall back in a fashion that let them take a stand there.

Littering the ground and walls were weapons like Kunai and Shuriken along with fallen debris from the building around them. All three of them were heavily injured at this point with Seiki bleeding out enough that his clothes were beginning to stain red. Fuyumi and Ren got away slightly easier being faster than the latter however that came at the cost of energy loss and fatigue.

Surrounding the three of them were the bodies of Sound and ROOT ninja alike. Even though they were on their last legs that didn't mean they hadn't done more than expected. With both groups included they had managed to kill almost every single ninja Kabuto and Sai had brought with them leaving only sixteen left.

"You two have been guarding that door for so long I'm interested in what's behind it. A library maybe? Or the secret behind why all of you including Rei can do what you do." Kabuto's voice was like a taunt and Seiki barely had the energy to refute. "Why don't you stop… Hiding under that damn cloak like a coward and come see for yourself."

Kabuto's gaze narrowed as he paused for a moment. "A brat like you would never understand the pain I have to go through every day… Compared to that what I'm going to do to you will be like a fleeting dream. Now then I know Danzo didn't just send you here to watch. We need them to submit so don't kill them just keep them within an inch of their life." Directing that toward Sai, Kabuto watched as he began to walk forward.

Drawing his sword off his back Sai spoke to each one of them. "It's a shame all of that commitment has been misplaced. I'm sure once Lord Danzo hears of my report on all of you he will gladly let you join us." Hearing how emotionless Sai was when speaking Fuyumi grits her teeth. "Every last one of you is sick…"

"Maybe so, but this is how the world works and no force is going to change that..."