30. Records of the Past

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Kakashi's eyes widened in shock as he processed Byakuya's words. "A Road Poneglyph?" he repeated, more to himself than to anyone else. The revelation that there were different types of Poneglyphs was staggering. The existence of these ancient stones was already shrouded in mystery, and now it seemed there were others, with different purposes and secrets. But where were they? And who else knew of their existence?

Byakuya, sensing the growing tension in the air, began to turn away, his interest in the stone seemingly gone. He moved with the same calm, measured steps, as if he hadn't just disrupted an entire battlefield.

But before he could leave, Kakashi stepped forward, his stance firm. "You're not going anywhere, Byakuya Kuchiki. You're coming back with us to the Hidden Leaf for questioning."

Byakuya paused, glancing over his shoulder at Kakashi. His eyes held a glint of amusement, as if he were dealing with a particularly stubborn child. "And do you really believe you can make me, Kakashi Hatake?"

The challenge hung in the air, the tension between the two men thickening. The remaining Cloud Shinobi watched with bated breath, unsure of what would happen next.

Kakashi's grip tightened on his kunai, his resolve clear. "You've interfered with a mission that involves both Konoha and the Cloud Village. You owe us answers."

Byakuya's smirk widened slightly. "You misunderstand, Kakashi. I owe you nothing."

Before anyone could react, Byakuya's form seemed to blur, his speed surpassing what the eye could follow. In an instant, he had closed the distance between himself and Kakashi, their faces mere inches apart. The aura of power radiating from Byakuya was almost overwhelming.

"It is you," Byakuya whispered, his voice carrying an edge of cold steel, "who owes me an explanation for your presence here."

Kakashi barely had time to respond before Byakuya stepped back, his movements as fluid as water. The other shinobi were too stunned to react, the gap in power between them and Byakuya becoming painfully clear.

Seeing no other option, Kakashi prepared himself for battle. "We can't let you leave."

Byakuya simply chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of those around him. "You're welcome to try."

For a moment, it seemed like the entire battlefield would erupt into chaos once more. The tension was palpable, the air charged with anticipation. But Byakuya, with a slight wave of his hand, dismissed the idea.

"I have no interest in prolonging this farce. Consider yourselves fortunate," he said, his tone dismissive.

With that, Byakuya vanished from sight, his speed and mastery of the Soru technique leaving the assembled shinobi bewildered. He was gone before anyone could mount a response, leaving only the echoes of his mocking laughter in his wake.

The shinobi of both Konoha and the Cloud Village stood in stunned silence, the weight of what had just occurred settling heavily on their shoulders. Kakashi remained where he was, his mind racing with questions. The presence of Byakuya Kuchiki had turned a straightforward mission into something far more complicated and dangerous.

Sei, still reeling from his earlier encounter with Kakashi and the revelation of Byakuya's intentions, cursed under his breath. "Who does he think he is? How can he be so shameless, walking onto a battlefield like he owns it?"

Kakashi could only shake his head, his thoughts mirroring Sei's frustration. "I don't know who he is," Kakashi admitted, "but we need to find out. This mission just became a lot more complicated."

The remaining shinobi regrouped, their minds burdened with the knowledge that something far greater was at play. The Poneglyph was no ordinary artifact, and the man who sought it was no ordinary shinobi. As they began to process what had happened, it became clear that the true battle had only just begun.

And as the shinobi prepared to leave the Land of Grass, the mystery of the Poneglyphs, and the enigma of Byakuya Kuchiki, would continue to haunt them, pushing them deeper into the shadows of the unknown.

The air was thick with tension as Byakuya vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a battlefield charged with unresolved conflict. Kakashi Hatake's mind raced as he tried to process the implications of Byakuya's cryptic words and his effortless departure. Just as he began to conside their next move, a new presence swept over the battlefield-an unmistakable surge of chakra that made every shinobi freeze. Cloud Village's ANBU had arrived. Sei, who had been recovering from his encounter with Kakashi, immediately sensed the new arrivals. His face pale as he recognized the chakra signatures Reinforcements had come, but they weren't here to back up the remaining Chunin and Jounin-they were ANBU, a

clear indication that the Cloud Village was taking no chances.

Without a moment's hesitation, Sei knew that staying would be suicidal. "Retreat!" he barked to his remaining shinobi, his voice laced with urgency. He knew that with the arrival of the Cloud ANBU, the situation had escalated beyond his control. As much as he hated to leave the battlefield, he had no choice but to fall back and regroup. The remaining Cloud Shinobi followed Sei's lead, quickly retreating into the forest. Kakashi watched them go, his mind already calculating the implications of their withdrawal. But before he could consider his next move, the leader of the Cloud ANBU made his presence known. With a flicker of movement, the ANBU captain, his face hidden behind a fearsome mask, appeared before Kakashi. Without a word, he launched a lightning jutsu, a spear of pure electrical energy aimed directly at Kakashi's chest.

"Lightning Release:Lightning Spear!"

Kakashi barely had time to react. His Sharingan flared to life, allowing him to

sidestep the attack with the narrowest of margins. The ground where he had stood cracked and sizzled from the power of the jutsu, the air filled with the acrid smell of ozone. Kakashi knew they were in trouble. Three ANBU teams-one from the Leaf, Two from the Cloud. The Cloud Village had

clearly invested heavily in securing whatever secrets the Poneglyph held. How much information could be inscribed on that stone to justify this level of manpower?

As Kakashi engaged the ANBU captain, Takeshi's nerves were on edge. He knew his Genin team was outclassed, and in the face of this elite force, they were nothing more than cannon fodder. But they had to survive. Somehow, they had to find a way through this. Takeshi turned to his Genin, ready to give the order to retreat, but before he could speak, Kira stepped forward, his expression resolute and determined. "They won't let us retreat," Kira said, his Voice calm but firm. "It's better to make our stand here." Without waiting for a response, Kira darted forward, his speed blurring as he activated Soru, a technique he had been perfecting. The sheer velocity of his movement was shocking-far too fast for a Genin, far too fast for the eyes of those watching to follow. Kira's sword flashed in the moonlight as he wielded it with deadly precision.

"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide!" As Kira swung his blade, a visible arc of water followed the movement, slicing

through the air with a hiss. The Water Breathing Technique wasn't just for

show-it was a tangible, deadly force, and the water slash it created was bot beautiful and lethal. The Cloud ANBU who had been closing in on Kira never saw it coming. The

speed of Soru, combined with the power of the Water Breathing Technique, caught them completely off guard. In one fluid motion, Kira's blade cleaved through the neck of an ANBU, the head separating from the body before the shinobi even realized what

had happened. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

The battlefield was silent, the shock of what had just occurred rippling through both the Konoha and Cloud shinobi. This was a Genin-a mere child-and yet he had just decapitated an elite ANBU operative

with a single strike. Kakashi's visible eye widened in surprise. He had heard rumors of the Water Breathing Technique, but seeing it in action, combined with Kira's speed

was something else entirely. What is the Kozuki Clan feeding this kid? he wondered, though there was a flicker of pride beneath his surprise.

The Cloud ANBU were equally stunned, their confidence shaken by the sudden brutal efficiency of Kira's attack. This wasn't just any Genin-they were facing someone with power and skill far beyond what they had anticipated.

But Kira wasn't complacent. He knew that his success had been due to the element of surprise. He couldn't rely on that a second time. The ANBU were elite, trained to adapt quickly in battle, and they wouldn't be caught off guard again. Hiro and Mei snapped out of their shock, their own resolve hardening as they watched their teammate charge into the fray. They knew they couldn't afford to hesitate any longer. Mei's Sharingan spun to life, analyzing the battlefield with cold precision, while Hiro activated his Byakugan, the veins around his eyes bulging as his vision extended in all directions."We fight together," Mei said, her voice firm as she moved to support Kira. "Let's go, Hiro!" Hiro nodded, his usual calm replaced with steely determination. "Right behind you." The two of them followed Kira into battle, their skills complementing his speed and power. Mei's Sharingan allowed her to anticipate the movements of the Cloud shinobi, providing openings for Kira to exploit, while Hiro's Byakugan ensured that they wouldn't be caught off guard by any surprise attacks. The rest of Team Ro watched in silent awe as the three Genin engaged the Cloud ANBU. Despite their initial misgivings, it was clear that these were no ordinary Genin. They were fast, coordinated, and deadly, their movements precise and their teamwork

flawless. "Kira's speed is remarkable," Yamato observed, his tone calm but impressed. "And that Water Breathing Technique...It's more than just a style. It's an actual elemental attack."

Kakashi, still engaged with the Cloud ANBU captain, couldn't help but smirk beneath his mask. "Looks like we've got some hidden talents in the younger generation." But the battle was far from over. The remaining Cloud ANBU, though rattled by the loss of one of their own, quickly regrouped, their movements disciplined and focused. They were still dangerous, and the fight was about to escalate even further. Kira, fuly aware of the situation's gravity, knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down. His success had been a combination of skill and surprise, but

now the ANBU would be ready for him. He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him, the tension in the air thickening as the shinobi prepared for another round of combat.

The Water Breathing Technique had given him an edge, but Kira knew he had to be strategic. He couldn't rely solely on speed and power-he needed to outthink his opponents, to anticipate their moves and strike where they least expected. As the battlefield erupted into chaos once more, Kira's mind raced, calculating his next move. He could sense the eyes of his teammates and his enemies on him, their expectations and doubts mingling in the air. With a deep breath, Kira tightened his grip on his sword, his resolve hardening like steel. He was ready to face whatever came next, to push himself beyond his limits and prove that he was more than just a Genin.

And as the next wave of battle crashed over the field, the shinobi of Konoha and the Cloud Village would come to realize that the fight for the Poneglyph was just the beginning of a much larger conflict-one that would test their strength, their resolve, and their very understanding of the world.