A kunoichi was running in a forest at her top speed. She was Airi, whose cover was blown and now her life was in danger. She was able to escape the castle and now she is going towards the town.
[Airi inner Thought: I need to escape that snake bastard is dangerous and I have a really low chance of defeating him on my own.]
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
Behind her a continuous noise is being generated. As she looks behind…
[Airi inner Thought: WHAT THE? HE CAN SUMMON GIANT SNAKES?]
There is a giant snake chasing her while crushing everything in its path. On its head she can see the transformed snake sage.
Transformed Ryuga: YOU ARE NOT ESCAPING.
As running Airi thinks about her options. Whether she could engage or set traps.
[Airi inner Thought: I can't fight that giant snake. I can't set traps either. I am also low on chakra. Looks like the only way to live is to enter the town and rendezvous with Naohiro. He was to come with some clan members to prepare for the operation. Because I got caught, things became complicated.]
Ryuga: Hmm ... .What is this ... .So many chakra signatures coming towards this direction?
The chakra signatures he was sensing were farther than 1 km.
[Ryuga inner thought: Something is wrong.]
He ordered the snake to stop and decided to think this through.
Airi noticed that the snake chasing her stopped and she was increasing her distance with it.
[Airi inner Thought: What is happening?]
But she didn't stop and continued to run. After running a few hundred meters, she started to sense chakra signatures as well. She also stopped and hid. She even erased her chakra signature so that others won't be able to sense her.
[Airi inner Thought: Is this the reason why that snake bastard stopped? Why are so many chakra signatures coming this way. I sense close to 60 coming from this direction. Hmm...Naohiro and some of my clan members as well? I need to join them.]
She then got out of her hiding place and moved towards her clansmen. At the same time, the snake sage was also thinking about what he is gonna do.
[Ryuga inner thought: Due to so many chakra signatures I don't know whether they are our allies or enemies. Looks like I need to hide.]
He un-summoned his snake and hid. He also erased his chakra signature. As a snake sage, this is something that he was taught. To become one with the nature and hide. This is something that the toads don't have and can't teach to their sages. Although, Sasuke learned something similar himself because he realised that toads don't have skills related to this and these skills are important as well.
[Ryuga inner thought: Now let's wait and see whether they are allies or enemies.]
What Ryuga doesn't know is that the old diamyo has spread the information that there are mines in his territory so the parties that got hold of this information have mobilised their shinobis and a battle is about to take place. The old diamyo told this information to Sasuke when he was trying to recruit him, he told him this is the way he will destroy the foundations of Hikari's power. Now the plan the old diamyo set up is in motion and showing results.
...
Airi ran for a while and then she joined with Naohiro.
Airi: Naohiro.
Naohiro: Airi, thank god you are alright. We didn't receive any update so I was getting worried.
Naohiro was happy when he found Airi. He has become older as well. Both he and Airi were of same age, 18 years old now.
Naohiro with 60 shinobis stopped. The shinobis were from the allies of their clan. They were from Hagoromo, Uchiha, Fuma, Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Sarutobi and Shimura clans became allies a few years back. Her brother who is married to the sister of a diamyo has increased the number of their allies and number of shinobis in their clan as well.
Airi: What is this? why are there shinobis from all of our allies here?
Uchiha Raid Leader: Is she the spy we were told about? We didn't receive any reports from you for a while so we thought you were captured, tortured and dead. Naohiro was so adamant that you haven't died and we should do a rescue operation. Looks like he was right.
The Uchiha raid leader was a woman in her 30s.
Airi: What? You mean all of you were on your way to rescue me?
Uchiha Raid Leader: Heh, No. You are not that important. You are just lucky. We will tell you why, but first give us new information. Now let's be on our way. We have to get there before other parties.
Airi: A raid? what is happening?
Naohiro: I will tell you on our way let's move. There are shinobis from other diamyos as well. We need to move now.
Airi: No, we can't.
Uchiha Raid Leader: What? Why?
Airi: I don't really know what is going on but you have to first update me. Also, Hikari's strongest shinobi was chasing me. He stopped and I can't sense him so either he went back after sensing all of your chakra signature or he is hiding and waiting for us.
Uchiha Raid Leader: Hmph, what can a sole shinobi do?
Airi: He is not your average shinobi. He is really strong. From the information I have, he once stopped close to 100 shinobis alone so that Hikari's forces can retreat. He did this without getting seriously injured.
Uchiha Raid Leader: Hmm...Is he the one that summons snakes?
Airi: Yes.
Uchiha Raid Leader: Hmm...Then things got complicated. Ok, let's wait for other parties to run ahead and test the waters for us.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
As the Uchiha leaders stopped speaking, they heard the sounds of explosions. Airi looked back.
Airi: So he was hiding.
Uchiha Raid Leader: What do you guys sense?
Airi: He is outside 1 km sensing rage.
Naohiro: Based on the explosions I would say he ran into shinobis from some other diamyo and decided to confront them.
Uchiha Raid Leader: Ok then, let's first share information. We will then decide the next step.
...
A few minutes prior....
Ryuga was hidden completely and was waiting.
[Ryuga inner thought: 60 chakra signatures stopped. But some other are still moving.]
He looks towards his 9'O clock direction. The castle was at his 6'O clock.
[Ryuga inner thought: More chakra signatures are coming from 9 and 10'O clock. What is happening? They can't be our allies. Maybe Hikari's enemies have decided to join hands and attack her? If that happened then this is really bad. Hmm...8 coming this way. I should take these out and return towards the castle to inform Hikari.]
WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH
Shinobis moved towards him. As they were right above him. Ryuga made some hand signs.
[Ryuga inner thought: Fire-Style: Fire Dragon Bullet]
A basic Fire Release technique, where the user exhales a flame breath from their mouth. Just like how it is for other jutsus, a technique that is weak when executed by some could be deadly when executed by others. Those who have mastered the technique to a higher level or have the affinity with the chakra nature. For Ryuga this technique, showed that he not only has the fire chakra nature affinity but also have mastered the technique to a higher level. The result of all this coupled with when the jutsu was executed as a surprised attack means an attack that could not be dodged.
The flame breath came out of no where from below towards the sky, its angle 60 degree and area wide enough that 4-5 people can stand together and they would get engulfed. Here the shinobis were not standing together but they were in the line of fire.
[Enemy shinobi 1]: What the....
[Enemy shinobi 2]: OH NO! SCATTER!
BOOM
But it was too late, the fire breath went right through 3 shinobis also devastated any trees in its path as it made its way towards the sky. The 5 shinobi hid.
One shinobi was hiding, he decided to look towards the direction the jutsu came, suddenly he felt a presence behind him. He looked back.
Ryuga: Too late.
Ryuga just swept his right hand from left to right and a wind jutsu was activated without any hand signs.
[Ryuga inner thought: Wind-Style: Gale Palm]
The wind was released in a straight line and it was as if it was more of a shockwave. The shinobi was pushed back to the tree but the wind was continuously passing, increasing the pressure and crushing him.
[Survived Enemy Shinobi]: AAAAHHHHHH
The wind crushed the shinobi to a pulp and even affected the tree trunk.
[Another enemy shinobi]: The enemy is there.
Some shinobi came and they threw kunais with paper bombs attached. Ryuga saw the shinobis at his 9'O clock only 10 meters away and disappeared. The kunais struck where he was standing.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM
Ryuga hid again.
[Ryuga inner thought: Only 4 remain.]
The shinobis were standing on the tree branches, around the trunk he disappeared from.
[Enemy shinobi 1]: Where is he?
[Enemy shinobi 2]: Let's destroy this whole area.
Ryuga: No you won't.
Ryuga appeared behind the shinobi that said to destroy the whole area, he grabbed his head and smashed it into the tree trunk behind him also making a dent in it. The shinobi died.
[Enemy shinobi 1]: NOOOOOOOOO!
The last three jumped at him, one took out his sword, another two daggers, last one his kunai. They teamed up and attacked him. Ryuga shifted slightly left first dodging the sword slash as he was moving back, then ducked as the shonibi with dual daggers was behind him and was using both to slash intending to behead him. Ryuga while down on his two hands and left leg, used his right leg to perform low spinning sweep kick. He unbalanced the shinobi with the daggers. As he was getting up and going for the kill, the last shinobi came from above, having kunai in both hands and its pointy end towards the ground. Ryuga stopped the kunai by grabbing the arms of the shinobi but due to the momentum, both were now falling towards the ground. Ryuga took control and both of their bodies started spinning. At the end, Ryuga was somehow behind the shinobi and had the shinobis head in a choke hold. Stopping him from breathing as both are falling towards the ground and spinning.
BOOM
The shinobi's head was smashed straight into the ground and his upper half was inside the ground.
[Shinobi with Sword]: Did he get him.
[Shinobi with daggers]: It's difficult to see due to the smoke that rose when they hit the ground.
Ryuga: He didn't get me.
Ryuga's voice came from behind them. As they turned around they saw him finish a sweeping motion in the air with his right hand from his left to right. Same as before, a wind jutsu was executed without any hand signs. Fast wind was generated and sent both of them flying back. They hit the tree trunk but both were stuck as the wind continuously passed. Then both were crushed.
All the encounter and the fight finished in 7 minutes.
Ryuga: Now then, time to return to the castle and take out any shinobi while I am going back. I think Hikari's enemies have joined hands may be.
He then started moving towards the castle.
...
Airi: WHAT? There are mines in the territory?
Naohiro: Yes, at least that's what the information everyone got. Many of Hikari's enemies got that information and everyone is now in a race to kill her and somehow take control of this territory.
Uchiha Raid Leader: We should also move.
Airi: Wait, Wait, Wait, Do you know what this means?
Uchiha Raid Leader: Of course, we need to kill Hikari and get control of this territory. The old diamyo is dead and Hikari have control of the castle. So we kill her and take the castle.
Airi: Yes, but didn't you said there are shinobis sent by other diamyo as well. That means everyone is targeting Hikari. Even if a party succeeds in killing her, I believe then all the remaining shinobis will fight each other for the control of the castle.
Uchiha Raid Leader: Our clan heads, know this. Don't you see that is why there are 60 shinobis sent for this.
Airi: I think even 60 are less. Each Hikari's enemy have sent shinobis, this is death game where all the parties are going for the castle and you just told me that all the diamyos who have sent shinobis are not allied. So this means when our force encounter any competition then we are to kill them. This is a battle royale of shinobi parties.
Uchiha Raid Leader: What is your point?
Airi: I think we should sit back and let the competition take each other out. We will swoop in when there is less competition.
Uchiha Raid Leader: I have thought of that as well. But I believe our force of 60 shinobi is among the bigger parties. We will take out smaller ones and keep our casualties to minimum or zero. I don't think Hikari will go down easily. So in the meantime, we will take out the weaker parties, frogs who dream of eating a swan.
Airi: Ok, that is acceptable. I thought we are gonna attack the castle straight away.
Uchiha Raid Leader: Rest assured, we won't. We will wait for other idiots to do that.
...
Ryuga was hiding in the trees. He can see about 12 shinobis on his 12'O clock and at a -45 degree angle from him, meaning he was above them, at 45 degree angle from them and at their 6'O clock. 4 were on some tree branches, while the rest were on the ground and strategising.
He then turned back and went a few meters back and landed on the ground.
Ryuga: Now then, I should take out this party next.
He made some hand signs and pressed both hands to the ground.
[Earth-Style Summoning]
From his hands normal summoning array appeared but nothing happened. Although, effects started to appear towards the enemy he was targeting.
...
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE
[Enemy Shinobi]: What the? Is this an earth quack?
8 shinobis were sitting in a circle and looking at the diagram in the centre. Suddenly, They were eaten by a snake head that came out of the ground and moved towards the sky. The shinobis on the branch retreated.
[Surving Enemy Shinobi 1]: NOOOOOO
[Surving Enemy Shinobi 2]: Hey, concentrate.
The giant snake then moved towards them.
[Surving Enemy Shinobi 1]: Everyone use Fire-Style.
[4 Enemy Shinobi]: [Fire-Style: Fireball Jutsu]
All of them executed the jutsu together and started spewing a stream of fire from their mouths. But the giant snake did not stop and moved towards them. Suddenly, 2 became afraid and they stopped spewing fire and retreated.
[Enemy Shinobi 1]: HEY WHAT THE....
He didn't had the chance to finish as he and another shinobi were eaten.
[Remaining Shinobi 1]: Let's return. Our party was killed and we can't complete the mission ourselves.
[Remaining Shinobi 2]: Let's not report that we retreated first.
As they were talking something really fast passed by them. They only saw a flash of something shining that was swung by a human. Their heads started flying and their bodies fell.
Ryuga: Sorry, but you are not returning.
Ryuga said as he swung the sword to release the blood on it.
Ryuga: Now then. I have taken out in total 20 shinobis. But I can sense quite a lot of them that have surrounded the castle from all sides. Some of them are also fighting each other. It is hard to believe that Hikari's enemies from the centre can send so many shinobis here. Meaning there are shinobis sent by some diamyos that are not the main enemies and are not among the top 5 of her enemies that we usually face in the centre. What is happening? What made so many diamyo send their shinobis here. I need to return to the castle and discuss this with Hikari. Let's also take out any other party in the way.