Chapter 114

As the Raikage and his elite squad approached the barrier with caution, every step seemed to echo in the eerie silence of the desolate canyon. The rocky terrain stretched before them, barren and unforgiving, adding to the sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air.

Suddenly, Ay, the formidable leader of Kumogakure, raised his arm abruptly, signaling for his team to halt. Dodai, his trusted advisor, moved swiftly to his side, concern etched on his weathered features.

"What is it, Raikage-sama?" Dodai inquired, his voice tinged with urgency.

Ay's steely gaze scanned the surroundings, his senses keenly attuned to any potential threat lurking in the shadows. With a deep breath, he flared his chakra to its maximum, a tangible aura of power radiating from him and enveloping the entire squad.

The remaining Kumo ninja mirrored their leader's actions, drawing their weapons in anticipation of imminent danger. The tension in the air was thick and suffocating, as if the canyon itself held its breath in anticipation.

Then, as if carried on a sinister breeze, the faint scent of blood wafted through the air, causing Dodai to tense up. He uttered a single word, barely more than a whisper.

"Blood."

Ay's brow furrowed in contemplation for a moment, his mind racing with possibilities. With a decisive nod, he turned to one of the ninja specializing in fuinjutsu, issuing a command that cut through the silence like a blade.

"Break the barrier."

The ninja wasted no time, their hands moving with practiced precision as they channeled their chakra into the barrier, seeking to dismantle it and reveal the horrors that lay beyond.

As the barrier shattered with a burst of energy, the Raikage and his team rushed in, their hearts pounding with a mixture of anticipation and dread. What they encountered inside would forever haunt their nightmares.

The scene before them was a nightmare brought to life. The once-proud compound of the Chinoike clan lay in ruins, the air thick with the stench of death and decay. Blood stained the walls and floors, pooling in grotesque puddles amidst the carnage.

Severed limbs littered the ground, grotesque reminders of the brutality that had unfolded within these walls. But it was the sight of the Chinoike clan members themselves that froze the blood in their veins.

Every member of the clan, men, women, and children alike, lay lifeless and mutilated, their eyes gouged out with ruthless precision. The brutality of the massacre was evident in every grisly detail, a chilling testament to the depths of human depravity.

The Raikage and his team stood in stunned silence, their minds struggling to comprehend the sheer scale of the atrocity before them. It was a scene of unimaginable horror, one that would haunt them for the rest of their days.

"Dodai, what do you think? Who could have done this?" The Raikage's voice trembled with frustration as he surveyed the gruesome scene before him. His plans to recruit the Chinoike clan into Kumogakure had crumbled in the face of the brutal massacre.

Dodai, his trusted advisor, rose from his examination of the carnage, his expression grave. "Raikage-sama, based on the state of decay, it appears that the incident occurred nearly a week ago. I fear there may be no survivors left to be found," Dodai reported solemnly, his gaze scanning the surroundings for any clues.

"From the lack of resistance, it seems there are two possibilities," Dodai continued, his tone measured. "Either the Chinoike clan was betrayed from within, or they faced an enemy of overwhelming power. Either way, it spells disaster for our plans."

The Raikage mulled over his advisor's words, his mind churning with the implications of the massacre. With a heavy sigh, he turned to address the rest of the squad.

"Split into teams of four and comb through the village," the Raikage ordered, his voice commanding yet tinged with sorrow. "Search for any survivors and remain vigilant for any sign of the enemy. If you encounter resistance, signal for backup immediately. And gather any scrolls or resources that may be of use to us. The Chinoike clan may be gone, but their legacy may still serve a purpose for Kumogakure."

As the teams dispersed to carry out their orders, the Raikage made his way towards the center of the village, his heart heavy with the weight of responsibility. Whatever had transpired here, he vowed to uncover the truth and ensure that justice was served for the fallen Chinoike clan.

Meanwhile, back in the Leaf Village within the Nara compound, the sparring between young Naruto and Shikamaru had escalated. With Kazuki personally overseeing the match, Shikamaru knew he couldn't afford to slack off, lest he incur his brother's wrath in the name of training.

"[Kage Nui no Jutsu]" (Shadow Sewing Technique) Three Shikamarus, standing back to back, unleashed multiple shadow tendrils to pierce through the sea of clones surrounding them. Despite his technique's lack of mastery, Shikamaru used it to keep Naruto's clones at bay, though the attack wasn't as potent as he hoped.

Naruto and his clones danced and dodged, evading the shadow tendrils with nimble movements. As Shikamaru hurled special shurikens in a haphazard pattern, Naruto shouted in surprise.

"What! Hey, Shikamaru, how did you figure out which one's me?" Naruto's voice echoed amidst the chaos, making it easy for Shikamaru to pinpoint the real Naruto amidst the clones.

"Because of your loud mouth, you moron. Who asked you to announce your every move?" Shikamaru retorted, seizing the opportunity to strike. While it would typically be difficult to discern the real Naruto among the clones, Naruto's boisterous nature made him an easy target.

"Hehe, so what if you found me? You..." Before Naruto could finish his sentence, one of Shikamaru's kunais pierced Naruto's shadow, prompting a swift response from the young ninja.

"[ Kagemane Shuriken no Jutsu ]" (Shadow Imitation Shuriken Technique) With precision, the shuriken pierced Naruto's real body's shadow, instantly paralyzing him. As Naruto's body froze, Shikamaru smirked, his strategy proving successful in the heat of battle.

Naruto wasn't one to back down when faced with a disadvantage. With his chakra flaring, he focused his energy, causing the tag on Shikamaru's shuriken to crumble to dust under the strain of restraining him. Shikamaru's makeshift tag couldn't withstand Naruto's determination, a fact not lost on the observing Kazuki, who meticulously noted each move and countermove in the spar.

With his shadow now free, Naruto let out a roar and launched himself forward, determined not to fall for Shikamaru's trick again. He unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, raining blows upon the three Shikamaru clones while surrounded by his own multitude of clones. Though Shikamaru had undergone the ritual to increase his chakra, he found himself overwhelmed by Naruto's sheer volume of attacks, especially with Kurama no longer hindering Naruto's growth.

"Tch, such a drag. Fine, I give up," Shikamaru grumbled, ready to admit defeat under Naruto's relentless assault. He didn't fancy being pummeled by Naruto in the name of training, reminiscing about the simpler days when Naruto didn't know the Shadow Clone technique and Shikamaru could simply harass him with his clone.

But just as Shikamaru was about to raise his arm in surrender, Kazuki's voice echoed through the training ground, halting his actions. "Surrender now, and I'll increase your training intensity by ten times." His big brother's voice rang out, casting a demonic shadow over the little Nara.

Renewed with vigor at the prospect of even more grueling training, Shikamaru abandoned the idea of surrender and dove back into the fray with Naruto, the comical struggle between the two friends continuing amidst the backdrop of Kazuki's watchful eye.

The spar raged on for another dozen minutes or so, with Naruto and Shikamaru each striving to gain the upper hand. Naruto relied on his overwhelming strength, while Shikamaru attempted to outsmart the little Jinchuriki. However, Shikamaru knew that, at best, he could only stall Naruto in his current state.

"[Fūton: Daitoppa]" (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough) Naruto unleashed a powerful gust of wind, channeling a significant amount of chakra into the technique as he aimed it toward Shikamaru.

Realizing the imminent threat, Shikamaru quickly reacted, employing an earth release technique he had recently learned from his brother. "[Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu]" With a series of hand signs, he vanished into the earth, escaping the path of Naruto's attack just in time.

Though Naruto's technique was classified as a mere C-rank ninjutsu, the sheer amount of chakra he infused into it bordered on the effectiveness of a peak B-rank technique. Even a skilled chunin might struggle to withstand such an attack head-on and emerge unscathed. Having access to an almost infinite pool of chakra certainly had its advantages, as Naruto's relentless assault demonstrated during their spar.

By the side, Choji and Ino watched the spar with relish, finding enjoyment in the intensity of the battle. For them, such fierce combat was a regular occurrence, thanks to the rigorous training they received under Kazuki. When Ino first joined the training group, she never imagined the vast difference in skill between them and their peers. Even Choji, with his exceptional strength, stood head and shoulders above the average ninja his age.

At first, Ino felt disheartened, believing that, as a young kunoichi, she wouldn't stand a chance against her male counterparts. However, Tenten proved her wrong. As the big sister of the group, Tenten's strength wasn't just due to her age but also her skill and determination. While she might not possess monstrous strength like Choji, an immense chakra pool like Naruto, or the intelligence of Shikamaru, her proficiency in fuinjutsu surpassed that of all three boys combined. And yet, Tenten was only a year older than them.

Inspired by Tenten's example, Ino discarded her feelings of inferiority and threw herself into Kazuki's training with renewed determination. She realized that she had her own strengths to contribute to the group, and she was determined to prove herself worthy of her role as their friend.

As the spar between Naruto and Shikamaru intensified, the air crackled with tension. Naruto, fueled by his determination to emerge victorious, pushed his limits further. With a roar, he tapped into the power of his tailed beast, allowing the chakra to surge around him, enveloping him in a fiery cloak.

Kazuki watched with a mixture of awe and concern as Naruto entered the one-tailed chakra cloak. While he admired Naruto's tenacity and strength, he knew that such power could be dangerous if left unchecked. With a decisive motion, he intervened, swiftly throwing a sealing tag at Naruto.

The tag landed squarely on Naruto, its intricate design glowing with a faint light as it began to take effect. Unlike Shikamaru's tag, which faltered under the strain of Naruto's immense chakra, Kazuki's sealing tag held firm, its power unyielding.

As the chakra cloak began to dissipate and Naruto's power waned, Shikamaru collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The intensity of the spar had pushed him to his limits, and the sudden intervention by their brother had caught him off guard.

"Smack!" Kazuki flickered behind Naruto, his expression stern, as he delivered a firm blow to the boy's head, intending to curb his playful antics.

"Ouch! Kazuki-niisan, that hurts!" Naruto exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head vigorously.

"Really, Naruto? A tailed beast cloak for a spar? Are you trying to cripple my little brother?" Kazuki's tone was firm, tinged with concern. He knew Naruto had a tendency to get carried away, even though he could handle the power of the one-tailed cloak, his young body wasn't yet fully developed to manage the strain safely.

"Hahaha, Kazuki-niisan, I'm sorry, I just got carried away," Naruto chuckled, extending a hand to help his friend, who lay sprawled on the ground in exhaustion.

"Shikamaru, you lost. I hope you remember the bet," Naruto teased, delighted with his victory. But the mention of a bet piqued Kazuki's interest.

"Ah, Shikamaru, what did you promise him this time?" Kazuki sighed, feeling a headache coming on. He knew Shikamaru had a knack for taking advantage of others, spinning situations to make it seem like they were getting the upper hand when, in reality, it was all part of his plan to avoid work.

Shikamaru understood all too well that he couldn't escape his brother's sharp intellect. He could fool others, even his own father, at times, but Kazuki was an exception. Just when he thought his plans were about to crumble, a saving grace arrived in the form of a Nara clan member.

"Kazuki, Sandaime-sama has come to visit. He has requested your presence," the Nara member relayed the message, and Kazuki thanked him before gesturing for the Nara member to carry on with his work.

Kazuki was puzzled, wondering why the old man had sought him out. The Sandaime was supposed to be focused on cleaning up the Daimyo faction. Perhaps he needed help with the matter, Kazuki mused.

"Would you guys like to meet the old man?" Kazuki asked the kids, opening the invitation to his young companions. Shikamaru, seizing the opportunity for escape, eagerly jumped at the chance.

"Yes, brother! Who wouldn't want to meet Sandaime-sama, especially now that he's in charge of the Ninja Academy? We'll be starting there soon, remember?" Shikamaru exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable.

Kazuki's smirk widened as Shikamaru's words sparked an idea in his mind. "Ah, so that's why the old man has come looking for me. I wonder if any of those kids did something amusing," he mused inwardly, already envisioning the chaos that might have ensued in his absence.