Knock… Knock…
Someone knocks on the door.
"Come in."
Elder Genji replies in his frail voice.
A ninja completely draped in blue garbs enters the room. He bows in front of Genji, awaiting his orders.
"You may report." Elder Genji nods to him.
"Genji-sama, after the Terumi clan princess left the village with her subordinates, a group of shinobis from various other noble clans followed her.
I am unsure of their intention but I doubt it to be friendly."
Fuji frowns and turns towards the ninja.
"Tell me everything in detail." His expression turns gloomy.
Gulp…
The ninja gulps his saliva and fills Fuji in detail.
"Damn! Those High noble clans."
Fuji quickly walks out of the room and gathers a squad of ninjas and sends them to the borders.
Sigh…
Genji sighs to himself as he remembers his past days.
"Byakuren-sama founded the Kirigakure. I got the fortune to be one of his aides and stand alongside him. Byakuren-sama worked tirelessly to establish the village as one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations."
Sigh…
"Since then, Kiri has continued to degrade, and it has reached this state of infamy as the 'Bloody Mist'. Sigh…
If only Third Mizukage-sama was still alive, then he would have sorted out this situation."
Genji continues to contemplate the future of Kirigakure.
Cough… Cough…
Fuji coughs slightly to get Genji's attention. His emotions have calmed down a little.
"Elder Genji, what are your thoughts on this move by the Noble clans? I can see they want to weaken our power and influence in the village.
But if they do so and create unrest in the village, then Kirigakure will be open to other villages. Kirigakure will be engulfed in the flames of the war."
Fuji ponders over the intention of the Noble clans.
"Those power-hungry people are only seeking their benefit. The citizens of the village worship them because they are the descendants of the First Mizukage.
I can't see the legacy of First Mizukage-sama degrading in their hands. It was the part of the reason I joined your faction."
Genji calmly explains to Fuji.
"As for your daughter, don't worry about her. I will summon one of my most trusted and skilled ninja and make him her bodyguard."
Fuji skeptically looks at Elder Genji.
Elder Genji makes some hand signs and taps his staff on the ground. A strange sealing formula appears on the ground. The eyes on the staff lit up.
Shortly later, a middle-aged man enters the room.
"You summoned me, Genji-sama." The newcomer bowed to him.
The newcomer has blue hair styled in a moused-up manner. His left eye is blue and the right-eye is covered with a black eye-patch. He wore large Talismans with the word 'To Hear' in kanji on both of his ears.
The rest of his outfit includes a standard striped grey suit with a green haori that had white trimmings till halfway down. He wears the standard shinobi sandal with a Kiri forehead protector tied on his forehead.
"You came right on time, Ao. I have a mission for you. But first, let me introduce you to the Terumi clan leader." Elder Genji introduces Ao.
"He is Ao. One of the orphans I picked up during the Second Shinobi War. His skills speak for themselves.
During the Third Shinobi War, he defeated the main branch Hyuga clan member of Konoha and stole his Byakugan as a spoil of war.
Later, I implanted this eye in his right eye-socket."
Elder Genji points at the eye-patch. Ao removes the eye patch to show his byakugan.
"What if Konoha tried to retrieve the Byakugan? Many powerful shinobis in Konoha are capable enough to overpower Ao and steal his Byakugan." Fuji points out.
"Haha… you don't have to worry about that."
Elder Genji chuckles and points at the Talisman on Ao's ears.
"You can see those large talismans hung around his ear."
"Yes, what's so special about them? I can see some sealing formulas on them. Though I am not a sealing expert, but I have never seen such strange seals before." Fuji curiously looks at the seals.
"Those seals aren't the ordinary sealing seals. They are special talisman seals created by me. Even the most famed Uzumaki clan known for their Fuinjutsu capabilities won't be able to decipher these seals." Elder Genji proudly stares at the seals.
"These seals are my masterpiece, and I am very proud of them." Elder Genji chuckles.
"Now, as for their abilities. When Ao's Byakugan is under any kind of threat, the seals will cover his right eye and destroy the Byakugan.
No one… no one beside me is capable of removing these seals." Elder Genji strokes the pommel of his staff. The eyes on the staff lit up.
"So, that's how it is." Fuji nods his head.
"I am always surprised by your capabilities, Elder Genji." He praises Elder Genji.
"Enough chit-chat… Ao quickly departs for the Kiri borders. Your sole task is to protect the Lady Mei of the Terumi clan. She will be the future leader of the Terumi clan and would play an important role in the future." Elder Genji orders Ao.
"Yes, Genji-sama." Ao bows his head and flickers out of the room.
---------------------
At Kiri borders,
Huff… Huff…
Mei is breathing heavily as she confronts the Kaguya clan leader. Most of her subordinates and teammates are either dead or are not in a condition to continue the fight.
'I severely underestimated their abilities. Their Bone Manipulation ability is very hard to fight against.'
Swish… Swish…
Mei jumps back and avoids various bone bullets launched at her.
Huff… Huff…
'I can't get hit by those. These bones can easily penetrate my defenses and decalcify my bones.'
Mei warily stares at the Kaguya clan leader.
'We have whittled down their number, but the loses are unbearable.'
The Kaguya clan members turn to his remaining clan members.
"Are we the only survivors…?"
He notices around twenty to thirty of his clan members standing behind him.
"We have no choice… make them pay with their blood. Haha…"
The Kaguya clan leader laughs maniacally.
"Hanh… KILL… KILL… KILL…"
Kaguya clan members raise their hands and shout in excitement.
"We will have them entertain us as long as possible! Hanh!…"
Another round of slaughter starts as Kaguya clan members go into a frenzy.
KILL… KILL… KILL…
Huff… Huff…
Kimimaro weakly stares at the back of his clan members.
'Is this my worth? I am a weapon meant to be used on the battlefield to slaughter my enemies…
Is this how my life will come to an end?... if so, then I won't go down without a fight.'
Haah…
Kimimaro yells and dashes towards the Kiri ninjas.
Slash… slash… slash…
He continues to attack one Kiri ninja after another.
"Look out for that kid. That kid has killed many of our comrades, we can't allow him to rampage on the battlefield. Surround him and kill him."
A small group of Kiri shinobis surrounds Kimimaro.
Kimimaro emotionlessly looks at the group of Kiri shinobis.
'Dance of the Willow'
Various long hardened bones sprout out from his entire body.
'Carmilla Dance of Death'
Kimimaro sways his body like the branch of a willow and easily parries and evades the attack of the Kiri shinobis. He counters their attacks with bones sprouting from his palms.
One of the Kiri shinobis tries to sneak attack him from his blind spot.
'Got you!' The Kiri shinobi smirks in delight.
'You have killed my friend. Now join him in the afterlife.'
Stab… Puchi…
The Kiri shinobis throw out a mouthful of blood. He looks at Kimimaro with wide eyes.
A long hardened bone is protruding from Kimimaro's neck. The bone punctures Kiri shinobis heart instantly killing him.
Plop…
His body falls lifelessly on the ground.
Swoosh… Swoosh… Swoosh…
The rest of the Kiri shinobis jumps back to avoid the attacks.
"This kid is even more dangerous than the rest of the Kaguya clan members. Quickly deal with him."
Slash… Slash… Slash…
The fight continues as more and more people fall in the battle.
'Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique'
Mei makes some hand signs and spews out lava from her mouth.
Sizzle… Sizzle…
The lava melts the bones shielding the Kaguya clan leader.
Huff… Huff…
'I am running out of chakra. They already outnumber us, and with their tenacity, it is getting even harder to get rid of them.
I don't want to disappoint father and shoulder some of his burdens.'
Mei resolutely looks at the Kaguya clan leader.
Gulp…
She swallows a chakra pill and takes out a kunai from her holster.
'I have no choice but to fight in close range until my chakra recovers.'
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A/N:- WN bugged out yesterday. I wasn't able to sign in to my account and read any book. Thankfully, it was resolved.