116- 20 vs 2000 (1)

On a cold, chilly night, figures could be heard moving through the dense fog brought about by the dropping temperatures. The moonlight barely managed to illuminate their swift movements, casting only fleeting mirages of their forms as they darted through the mist. 

Their speed was astonishing, making it difficult for any observer to discern their true shapes or numbers.

The wind rustled all around them. It whipped through the trees and across the ground, creating a natural symphony that masked all traces of their presence. 

The rustling leaves and shifting branches absorbed the sounds of their footsteps, making them nearly impossible to track by ear. Even their scents were carried away by the ever-moving air, leaving no trail for any would-be pursuers to follow.

The fog, thick and impenetrable, provided an additional layer of concealment, wrapping around them like a cloak.

As time trickled on, the figures continued their relentless charge through the thinning fog. The fog gradually began to lift, revealing the rugged terrain they had been navigating. 

Eventually, they reached a vantage point on one of the larger rocks in the cluster that they had been travelling on. The leader signalled a halt, and the group came to a silent stop. They stood atop the rock, gazing out at the breathtaking view that unfolded before them. 

The view was picturesque, a stunning contrast to the monotonous foggy landscape they had been traversing.

Before them, where the long ranges of mountains met the vast expanse of the desert, lay a scene of unparalleled beauty. 

The rocky terrain gave way to the orange sands of the desert, which seemed to shimmer under the moonlight. The transition from the rugged, rocky landscape to the smooth, rolling dunes of the desert was a sight to behold.

However, amidst the awe-inspiring scenery, Miwa, the shinobi leading the procession, remained focused on the task at hand.

'We are close.'

She scanned the horizon, assessing the terrain and plotting their next move. The vantage point provided an excellent view of the surrounding area, allowing them to see potential threats or obstacles in their path. 

It had been nearly three weeks since they had embarked on this mission, and the majority of that time had been spent gathering information. Their objective was to locate the hidden stronghold of the elusive Kurogane clan.

With them being a nomadic clan that moved around the borders of the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, it took Konoha spies a while before they could narrow down the precise location.

Miwa's mind raced as she considered their next steps. They would need to approach the stronghold with caution, wary of the traps and defences that likely awaited them. 

But Miwa was confident in her team's abilities. They were highly skilled shinobi, trained to handle even the most challenging of situations. Together, they would overcome whatever obstacles stood in their way and bring justice to those who had committed unspeakable crimes.

Miwa turned to the group of shinobi assembled behind her, her gaze sweeping over each of them with a steely determination. "Listen up," she began, her voice firm and commanding. 

"We're close to the Kurogane clan hideout. But we can't afford to let our guard down now. The enemy is cunning and dangerous, and we need to be prepared for anything."

The other shinobi nodded in agreement, their expressions resolute as they absorbed Miwa's words. 

Miwa continued with a grave tone. "As we near the hideout, we need to conceal our chakra. We can't afford to alert the enemy to our presence before we're ready to strike."

With a final nod from Miwa, the group set off towards the Kurogane clan hideout, their movements swift and silent.

At last, they reached their destination. The settlement itself appeared to be nestled within the hollowed-out peak of the mountain, its structures built into the very peak itself. 

It was clear that the Kurogane clan had made their stronghold atop this unique geological formation, utilizing the natural barriers provided by the outer region of the mountain range to fortify their position.

From this vantage point, Miwa could see the outline of buildings and structures, illuminated faintly by the soft glow of torchlight.

As they neared the Kurogane clan hideout, Miwa's keen eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any signs of traps. In the distance, she spotted a conspicuous formation. Unfortunately for the Kurogana clan, this trap did not prove formidable against the fuinjutsu experts in their group.

Miwa glanced at her fellow shinobi, her eyes reflecting their shared determination. "This is it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let's finish this."

'They wanted Renjiro's Sharingan's, right? I brought more to them. Let's see if they have the strength to take them.'

Of course, this mission was not fuelled by Miwa's anger since one of them attempted to get a hold of Renjiro's eye. It was allowed by the Hokage since they had attacked Ishigakure. Nevertheless, this did not stop Miwa from channelling her rage to fuel her during this mission.

They had earlier agreed to separate into smaller groups, leaving Miwa, Sinoda, and Fujioka as the vanguard. With a silent nod of understanding, the rest of the group dispersed, each team making their way to their assigned positions, ready to attack the settlement from multiple sides.

Miwa's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the towering walls of the settlement, noting that they were not as high as she had initially Thought. Sensing an opportunity, she signalled to Sinoda and Fujioka, her fellow vanguard members, before accelerating her pace and focusing chakra into her feet.

With a burst of speed, Miwa propelled herself forward, her movements swift and graceful as she raced towards the base of the settlement's walls. As she neared her target, she leapt into the air, her chakra-infused feet propelling her to even greater heights.

High in the air above the settlement, Miwa took a moment to assess her surroundings. From her vantage point, she could see the layout of the settlement below, the structures illuminated by the flickering glow of torchlight. 

'There are around two thousand people in the settlement, considering that they are housing women and children here, their shinobi numbers should at most, be a quarter of their total number.'

Since she was planning to release a jutsu, Miwa did not feel the need to conceal her chakra anymore. Her presence was immediately picked up by the Kurogane sensors who were keeping watch.

"Intruders!!" They shouted.

The clan sensors sprang into action. Alarms blared throughout the settlement, jolting the Kurogane clan members from their slumber as they scrambled to assess the situation.

Without hesitation, she formed a series of hand signs, her movements fluid and precise as she called upon the power of her Majestic Destroyer Flame jutsu.

Torrents of scorching flame erupted from Miwa's outstretched hands, cascading down towards the unsuspecting inhabitants below. The flames roared to life. 

The power behind the attack was far greater than what Renjiro had achieved. This showed that despite both of them mastering the same jutsu, Miwa's experience was able to make the jutsu more powerful.

Despite the ferocity of the flames that Miwa unleashed, her majestic display of destructive power was met with an unexpected obstacle, a formidable barrier erected by the Kurogane clan.

The barrier, invisible to the naked eye, had withstood the onslaught of the flames, much to the relief of the clan members housed within the settlement.

'It was good that we finished putting up the barrier as soon as we reached here a month ago. But the fact that the enemy is this aggressive to the point of attacking our barrier means that they are a strong force. Thankfully, the barrier will buy us a little bit of time for us to get in our formations.'

One of the elders of the Kurogane thought as he witnessed Miwa's actions. They were a mercenary clan, so they did not even bother identifying the enemy attacking them.

As relief of their barrier working began washing the Kurogane clan members, Sinoda who was next to Fujioka close to the settlement walls just smirked.

'There she goes, giving them hope.' He thought.

Miwa's flames continued to grow, spreading rapidly across the surface of the barrier. The air crackled with the sound of burning embers as the flames enveloped the entire settlement, casting a hellish glow across the landscape.

A moment later, an incident occurred that washed away the relived expression on the settlement's residents, replacing it with a horror-stricken one.

"Crack!"

A crack echoed all over the settlement, much to the horror of the clan members housed within the settlement.

As Miwa continued to unleash torrents of flame upon the barrier, the cracks that had begun to form widened and multiplied until finally, with a resounding crack, the barrier shattered into a thousand pieces. With its protection gone, the flames surged forward with renewed ferocity, engulfing the village in a blazing inferno.

'I've done my part, now it's up to you guys.'

Miwa thought as she fell to the ground landing on her feet. With the first wave of attack unleashed, Miwa knew that the battle was far from over. It had only begun.

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