"Though we will vacate if necessary."
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Yagura / Mei's POV (Rebel Hideout - Land of Water)
Noon
"Oh, it won't be. I do intend to kill you and all of the other Rebel scum that have made this place your home." Yaguara answered as he allowed his killing intent to flood the area, freezing all three in place with terror. These methods were detestable, but a true hero did not allow filth to escape. "I can't decide whether you're foolish or brave enough to think you could bluff your way past me. That young man could barely restrain his hatred; him not bowing was merely proof of such."
"We had figured we could not fool you, Yagura-sama, " the older woman replied, her tone calm and reasonable despite her trembling. However, running away was never a true option. You may not recognize the three of us, but at one time, we served as part of your personal guard."
"To have had the honor of serving under me and the gall to betray me. Did our years as comrades mean nothing to you?" Yagura asked with hurt and betrayal slipping into his voice.
"My grandparents served with both diligence and loyalty for years. They only waned after you chased the pointless death of countless others. Our parents attempted to make you see the reason. To understand that having a Bloodline is a gift and not a curse. You repaid them for their earnest feedback by executing them for treason." The young man snapped. "We won't run the same way they didn't. Victory or death, we will face you today."
"If you truly were loyal, you'd have faith in my decision. You'd realize that any with those unique abilities are time bombs, ones I refuse to leave active. As the hero and leader of this land, that is all that needs to be said." Yagura answered coldly.
The words proved to be the tipping point. The odd couple stomped their feet in unison, and smoke burst as Yagura was surrounded by fifty men. "Finally, " he told them before they attacked.
Yagura watched the literal storm of offense close in from all sides. Kunai, water ninjutsu, paper bombs, shuriken, arrows, and stones. Every attack closed in, so much so that defending against or evading it was absurd. But Yagura had learned the best response to overwhelming offense was the offense that surpassed even that. With a twirl of his staff and a burst of his chakra, he felt his jutsu begin. With a twirl of his large, uneven, hooked staff and a burst of chakra, his technique was prepared. "Blossoming of the Coral Reef." He called.
Yagura marched past the remains of the battle afterward. Coral snaked through the island, covering it, forming a complex series of reefs throughout the area, and spearing and tearing apart all but Yagura himself. The technique was one of absurd speed and power; they had never stood a chance. In truth, he could've simply obliterated the island, but a point was to be made. The war was not merely a physical one. Yagura had to crush their spirits. So, he would destroy everything on this island and kill everyone who dared to reside here.
Digging through the Reef to find the stronghold had been slightly less heroic, but eventually, he found a small hatch hidden underneath one of the tents. Venturing underneath made it clear this was an underground stronghold. The lack of movement inside sealed the fact. They were here and had decided to wait for him.
The bare underhalls of the underground bunker were deathly silent as Yagura marched through them. The bright torches lit the room and showed signs of recent use. In fact, they made traversing the corridors easy, as only a single path was lit for him. Yagura was quite certain he was at the back of the fort by the time he arrived, where they were guiding him.
Yagura walked into a well-lit room full of long-lasting food, construction supplies, and weapons of all sorts. Truly, this rebel fort had been well-supplied and guarded. It was fate that he had arrived here.
In the center of the room sat a beautiful woman and two heavily scarred men. All three had matching dark hair and eyes. The trio stared at him fearlessly and with determination—the normal zealous nature of the impure, he supposed.
"Mizukage-sama." The woman acknowledged. "We were waiting for you, I imagine you finished murdering our comrades."
"One cannot murder the villainous and less than pure. I offer you only freedom for the wickedness which controls you. Besides, in war, casualties are to be expected." Yagura responded calmly. "The same as your defeat is to be selected."
"We cannot accept defeat, " one of the men said angrily. Today, we shall finally slay the vicious dictator of Kirigakure."
"The loss of men was a shame but necessary for our little ploy to work." The other added.
"Indeed, fellow Yuki's," a younger voice called out to the group. Yagura eyed the new arrivals as they slowly slinked in from behind him. There were three more, it seemed. Now we have him surrounded in an enclosed space."
"An unfortunate circumstance for some," Yagura admitted. "But a hero welcomes adversity."
"There are only seven of us remaining. The once infamous and powerful Yuki Clan has been reduced to nothing. But even with these small numbers, we can achieve a lot. Enough to free this land. We will bombard you with everything we have. Enough ice to freeze you instantly; in the same instant, you will be crushed and torn apart equally." The woman informed him. "Even you can't survive this!"
"Do you worse." Yagura flippantly replied.
"Ice Style: Flowing Glacier!" The three called. Instantly, two massive piles of sharp ice filled the large room, the two masses racing forward to meet with Yagura trapped in the middle. There was an enormous crash with shattering happening during the fact. However, the ice shattered as they met. The Yuki could only watch in morbid shock. As the ice collapsed, Yagura was revealed with an orbit of slowly moving glowing blue shells around him.
"An impressive attack." Yagura complimented before the shells shot forward, crushing each Yuki except for their leader. She collapsed fearfully as Yagura walked forward, whistling as if on a stroll. "But a hero never fails…"
Mei's POV
She gripped her hands so tightly they bled, and she shook as rage filled her being. The sight before her had been what she expected, but it was crushing. Ao had found out about a Royalist spy in their midst. After interrogation, the man had exposed that he had snaked out of this hideout.
Yet the sight of coral peaking out above the island was all too familiar. It was a telltale sign of Yagura's presence, and if he had been here, the end result would have been obvious: There would be no survivors.
"Ao!" Mei barked.
"Sorry, mam. He is leaving the premises as we speak. He is the only living human I spot on the island…" Ao reported grimly.
"Too late again. That damn psycho didn't even slow down." Zabuza cursed.
"To think Huma, Hoko, and Hokotomo did not even prove a challenge..." Haku spoke with remorse. "I shall avenge them one day."
"We should leave," Ao said with a grimace. Yagura will be leaving soon, and we can't afford to be spotted."
"We will. One day, this war will end." Mei spat. "Even if it cost me my life…"