-3rd Pov-
On the other hand, Kashiki is fighting five ninjas from Hidden rock.
The sound of clashing weapons and the scent of rain-soaked earth filled the air as the battle between Kashiki and the Hidden Rock ninjas unfolded. Kashiki's movements were swift and precise, his shurikens flying like a deadly symphony, never missing their mark.
"Fire release: fire dragon bullet." Kashiki using jutsu to fight against five Hidden rock ninjas.
*Roar*
The fire dragon shot out from Kashiki's mouth, twisting and turning through the air as it pursued the ninjas.
"Earth release: Earth wall!" One of the Hidden Rock ninjas roared as he slammed his hands into the ground, creating a formidable barrier to shield his comrades from the onslaught of fire. The dragon slammed into the wall, its fiery breath dissipating as the earth absorbed its power.
"Earth release: Earth Bullet Barrage!" The Hidden Rock Ninjas countered, sending a barrage of rock bullets towards Kashiki.
*Whoosh* *whoosh*
Kashiki trying to dodge a barrage of earth bullets.
The earth bullets flew like a storm of stone, aiming to pierce through Kashiki's body.
*Bang* *bang* *bang*
The earth bullet that Kashiki dodged hit the ground and the building behind him.
*Crumble*
The earth bullets continued to rain down on Kashiki, Kashiki countered by throwing them lots of kunai attached with explosive tags.
*Swish* *swish* *swish*
The air is filled with smoke and the sound of explosion.
*Boom* *boom* *boom*
The ground shook with each explosion, sending clouds of dirt and debris into the sky.
Kashiki takes cover behind a damaged building, assessing the situation. The Hidden Rock ninjas, look at each other, unsure of their next move. One of them steps forward, "We can't let him leave this place alive!"
The rain had turned the battlefield into a muddy mess, making it difficult for the ninjas to keep their footing.
"Rock clone jutsu." Three of the five Hidden rock ninjas made rock clones and attacked Kashiki head-on.
Kashiki's eyes narrowed in anticipation of the oncoming attack. He knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down, not even for a second. The rock clones converged on him, their fists and feet flying in a continuous attack.
*Bang* *bam* *bang*
Kashiki, parrying and defending the rock clones' attacks, did not notice the explosive tags attached to the rock clones.
*Boom* *boom* *boom*
The ground shook with each explosion, and the sky briefly illuminated by the fiery bursts.
The coordinated attacks of the Hidden Rock ninjas were relentless, their strategic use of the environment showing their experience in warfare. Kashiki, though skilled, was visibly tired. He ducked behind a half-standing wall, panting heavily, his eyes scanning the battlefield for an opening.
"Damn." Kashiki gritted his teeth as he held his injured arm.
The five Hidden Rock ninjas took the chance to regroup, they prepared for a final push.
"I won't let you do anything." Kashiki said while throwing Kunai with an explosive tag.
*Swoosh*
The kunai that Kashiki threw was embedded in the Hidden rock ninja's earth wall.
*Boom*
The explosive tags on the kunai detonated, sending the earth wall crumbling down and And forced Hidden rock ninjas to keep their distance.
"This guy, he can still fight?" One of the Hidden Rock ninjas whispered to another.
"He's already injured, should we wait for him to reach his limit or end this quickly? It's getting tiresome," one of the Hidden Rock ninjas murmured to the others.
"We don't need to wait, we're superior in numbers, if only he hadn't kept his distance from us, this fight would have been over long ago." One of the Hidden Rock ninjas spoke with a hint of frustration.
"Also, what about the others? I didn't hear anything or reinforcements coming from our company." A Hidden Rock ninja whispered to the one who spoke previously.
"They're likely taking care of the others. We need to focus on the one before us." The Hidden Rock ninjas responded.
"Really? There are over a hundred of them just to fight one person? Why don't they come to help us? We could use some backup." One of the ninja whispered to another.
Their doubts grew as they realised something was amiss.
"C-could they lose?" The trembling voice of the hidden ninja echoed through the storm.
"Could it be that, the ninja we're after is one of the great ninjas of the hidden leaf? That would explain why would the leader bring so many ninjas, just to attack two Hidden Leaf ninjas." One of the Hidden Rock ninjas murmured.
"No, that doesn't make sense, if that was the case, then our previous battle with Konoha should have been more difficult. And we probably wouldn't have won." The Hidden Rock ninja's voice grew more assured, trying to dispel the doubt.
Neither of them initiated the attack, Kashiki was injured and forced the Hidden rock ninjas to keep their distance, he took cover and tried to hold them off, while the Hidden rock ninjas hesitated to attack and thought about the possibilities.
The storm raged on, adding to the tension of the battle. Rain pelted their faces, making it difficult to see, but none of them dared to make the first move. The Hidden Rock ninjas had lost their earlier confidence and now approached with caution.
Kashiki's eyes darted around the battlefield, searching for a way out. His breathing was ragged, his chest heaving with the effort of maintaining his defensive stance. He knew he couldn't last much longer.
"I'm in a bad situation right now." Kashiki said that to himself with a chuckle, as the rain soaked his clothes and the pain from his injuries grew more intense.
"Whatever happens to them, our mission must succeed." The hidden rock ninja voice was firm.
"Agreed," the others murmured in unison, their determination renewed.
"We can't approach it rashly, as it has likely set up many explosive traps around it. We must be careful." One of the Hidden Rock ninjas, warned his comrades.
The other ninjas nodded, "Then, let's bombard him with jutsu." They said in unison.
The five Hidden Rock ninjas formed hand seals and unleashed a barrage of earth-based jutsu.
"Earth release: Earth Bullet Barrage!" The three Hidden Rock ninjas called out.
*Swoosh* *swoosh* *swoosh*
"Earth release: Earth Dragon," the hidden rock ninja called the forth jutsu, a large dragon of earth shooting towards Kashiki.
*Roar*
"Earth release: Swamp!" Another Hidden Rock Ninja shouted, the ground beneath Kashiki's feet began to shake and twist, making it difficult for him to move.
Kashiki's eyes widened as the earth bullets and the dragon approached him. His mind raced, searching for a countermeasure. He knew that if he didn't act quickly, he would be buried under the onslaught of their combined power.
"Damn it! I have to retreat." Kashiki grunted, his eyes narrowing in determination as he assessed the overwhelming force heading his way.
The barrage of earth bullets and the monstrous earth dragon closed in, the ground beneath him turning to a swamp.
*Bam* *bang* *bang*
Kashiki retreated, but he was even more injured as a result. The Hidden Rock ninjas didn't give chase, instead, they turned their attention to the destruction around them. They were unsure if they had won or lost.
"Did he retreat? Or is he playing dead?" One of the Hidden Rock ninjas spoke up, his voice cautious.
"We can't be sure," another replied, peering into the murky darkness.
"Earth release: flying thrown stones!" Gentoku voice pierced through the storm as the ground trembled and stones shot towards the hidden rock ninjas.
*Swish* *swish* *swish*
The Hidden Rock ninjas looked around in alarm, unable to pinpoint the source of the incoming attack.
Stones danced through the air, propelled by an unseen force. They had underestimated their opponents once again.
"Earth release: earth wall!" The Hidden Rock ninjas shouted in unison, raising their hands to form a wall of earth and stone to shield themselves from the incoming barrage. The stones slammed into the barrier with a series of dull thuds, sending tremors through the ground and dust into the air.
*Bang* *bang* *bang*
But what they don't know is that, every rock that strikes them has explosive tags attached to it.
*Boom* *boom* *boom*
The Hidden Rock ninjas' eyes widened in shock as the explosions shook their earth wall, sending rocks raining down on them from all sides. The earth wall crumbled under the pressure, leaving them exposed to the relentless onslaught.
The hidden stone ninjas who were unprepared for it, were hit by the explosion. The storm had turned into a curtain of dust and debris, obscuring the view of the battlefield. The earth rumbled and trembled, as if in protest of the violence that had been inflicted upon it.
"How about that Konan?" Gentoku asked, as the explosion echoes through the stormy night.
"Good shot." Konan's voice was filled with admiration.
"How about Hidden rock ninjas?" Kashiki asked, his voice was weak due to injury.
Konan tried to locate them by sensing their chakra. "There were three survivors."
"Are you going to use that jutsu again?" Gentoku asked, his voice filled with hope.
"Yes." Konan nodded, "please cover me." Konan began to perform a series of hand seals.
Nagato and Gentoku nodded in unison.
"Paper Rats: Homing blast." Konan murmured. The three rats scurried through the storm, unnoticed by the Hidden Rock ninjas as they approached the survivors.
However, unbeknownst to them, one of the hidden rock ninjas made a dummy to deceive Konan and the others, he moved underground preparing to attack Konan.
The three rats reached the survivors, their explosive tags poised for detonation. But as they approached, the ground erupted around Konan and the others, and a figure emerged from the earth. It was the Hidden Rock ninja, who had survived the initial onslaught.
"Earth release: Earth Flow Spear," the ninja bellowed, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
The ground split open as dozens of spikes shot towards the trio, aiming to impale them where they stood.
Konan and the others were not expecting the surprise attack from the hidden rock ninja, they saw the attack, but their bodies were not fast enough to avoid it.
If Konan had not lost her focus she could have avoided the attack, but because she was also exhausted, she lost focus for a few seconds.
-3rd POV end-
-Nagato POV-
Everything seems slow to my eyes. The drops of rain, the spikes of earth shooting towards us, the expressions on my comrades' faces.
Is this the time when people will die? As I watched the spikes approaching.
If I die, what will happen to my parents?
"...."
They must be sad.
Isn't it the same with the parents of the dead?
"...."
They are sad because their children, family and friends have died because of the war.
What about Kashiki-san and Gentoku-san? Their families must be sad if they die.
"...."
What about Konan?
"...."
Ame, Ranko and Haruto would be sad if Konan died.
If Konan dies...
"...."
'While Konan is protecting you, Can you also protect her?' That's what Haruto asked me.
I'm sorry Haruto, I can't do what you want.
I closed my eyes, preparing for this inevitable death.
"...."
Miraculously, I can remember everything that happened in the past. My father, my mother, then later Haruto, Konan, Ame and Ranko, then Kashiki-san and Gentoku-san.
"...."
I can see and remember them clearly.
"...."
'I believe in you.' that's what Haruto said to me.
"...."
'I believe you can do it.'
"...."
No... I can't.
'You can.'
No... I'm not strong enough...
"...."
'Then train harder.'
"...."
'I'll be with you for every step of the way.'
"...."
'I believe in you, Nagato.'
-Nagato POV end-
-3rd POV-
Nagato opened his eyes and shouted, "No!!!"
*Bam*
In a flash, Nagato's Rinnegan activated. His eyes glowed as he unleashed his power. The spikes shattered due to the strong repulsive force.
Konan and the others watched in amazement, as the spikes, were now nothing more than shattered shards of rock.
'Haruto... I did it.' Nagato said in his heart before he fell unconscious.
*Thud*
Gentoku, who realised it wasn't over yet, moved quickly towards the hidden rock ninja.
*Dash*
The ninja, caught off guard by Nagato's sudden power, didn't notice Gentoku's swift attack.
*Stab*
He barely had time to react before Gentoku's kunai was embedded in his chest.
*Thud*
The hidden rock ninja's body hit the ground, lifeless.
Konan also activated the explosive tag on her paper rats, that targeting the Hidden Rock ninjas.
*Boom* *boom*
The explosions from the paper rats echoed through the night, the force of the blasts sending shockwaves through the already devastated landscape. As the dust cleared, the once-menacing figures lay lifeless on the rain-soaked ground.
Konan closed her eyes, not wanting to see that scene again. The air was thick with dust and the scent of burnt earth. Nagato's unconscious form lay on the ground. The Hidden Rock ninjas were no more, their lifeless bodies scattered.
"Are there any survivors?" Gentoku asked Konan.
Konan tried to sense their chakra. "I don't feel any of them alive." Her voice was shaky, the weight of the battle still heavy on her.
Gentoku sighed in relief, "Let's get Nagato and Kashiki back to the clinic."
They carefully picked up their unconscious comrades.
-3rd POV end-
Fortunately, I was able to easily clean up the area after the battle.
Perfectly Clean, like nothing happened.
Well, not completely perfect, as there was still a slight smell of blood and traces of chakra left.
*Sigh*
How do I clean that?
"...."
Can I store it?
"...."
But I can't touch its form, right? How do i store it?
"...."
Wait, can I store the air? I mean, the smell of blood and the traces of chakra are in the air, I can't touch them directly, but through the air that comes into contact with my skin, I can isolate it and store it in my inventory.
"...."
I imagined the air around me stored in my inventory.
"...."
*Sniff*
There was no smell of blood.
I checked my inventory and found that there was air stored.
"...."
It works.
"Hmm..."
I can extract the air too and I can get Dry air, nitrogen, etc.
Well, even the extraction results, there are some that don't have names, is that because my knowledge is linked to the inventory?
"...."
So this inventory takes the names of things from my knowledge?
That's too bad.
Because I don't have a lot of scientific knowledge.
"...."
Oh, there is also chakra, perhaps this is a trace of chakra from the use of jutsu. Even the Earth Flow Spear from the Ishiyama jutsu can be extracted into chakra, and there are two other jutsu like Earth and Stone Dragon and Rock Armour in my inventory.
I have a small reserve of chakra, at least with this I'm not afraid of running out of chakra, because in the options menu there is something called infusion, I can infuse chakra from my inventory into my body.
But there was something unexpected, from the air that I extracted, I found a natural energy.
Of course it's only a fraction of natural energy, but it's natural energy. And I can copy it too.
Can I infuse chakra into the others?
This... Wait, can I infuse someone else's blood?
It can, right? Because I have blood that I extracted from a dead ninja. But the point is not that, I can infuse my blood with Nagato's.
Well, Nagato is an Uzumaki and he has a large reserve of chakra.
Or I can use Fuso's blood.
Infusing may be possible, but will the results be the same as I expected? What if nothing happens? Or something bad happens?
I'll think about it later, I have to check on the others.
I went to the back of the village with Ame and Ranko, and found the fighting here had ended, with many buildings destroyed. I decided to clean up this area as well.
---|||---
Finally, it's done, It's time to go back.
"Let's go Ame, Ranko." I called out, as we made our way back to the clinic.
After arriving in front of the clinic, i saw Konan and Fuso. Their faces were full of worry.
Konan who Saw me coming, rushed over. "Haruto! Are you okay?" She looked at me with a mixture of relief and concern.
"I'm fine." I replied, a hint of a smile playing on my lips.
Fuso looked at me, her eyes searched my body for any injuries. "Your arms seems to be injured." She said, her voice filled with motherly concern.
"I thought so too." I nodded, showing her my slightly bruised arms.
"Let's get inside," Fuso urged, leading the way into the clinic, with Konan, Ame and Ranko by my side.
As we entered the clinic, Ame and Ranko went straight to their favourite spots.
"Let me treat your injuries first," Fuso said.
"How about Nagato and Kashiki? Are they okay?" I asked as Fuso began to examine my bruises.
"Nagato fainted and Kashiki-san was injured, Ise took care of him. They're both stable for now." Fuso explained as she gently applied some ointment to my bruises.
I nodded, "Thank you, Fuso-san."
Her gentle touch brought a bit of comfort to me as she tended to my bruises. I felt a warmth spreading from the ointment, soothing the pain that had been bothering me since the battle. Her eyes met mine, filled with a motherly concern that was hard to miss.
"How do you deal with all of them out there?" Fuso questioned, her hands never stopping their work.
"That's a secret." I replied with a wink, trying to lighten the mood.
Fuso chuckled, "I knew you had something up your sleeve, Haruto."
As she finished bandaging my arms, I took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Fuso-san," I said, looking around the dimly lit clinic.
"You're welcome, Haruto-kun," Fuso said warmly. "Now, go get some rest. We'll keep an eye on Nagato and Kashiki-san."
I nodded, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on me.
"Haruto." Konan called out to me, her voice softer than usual.
I turned to her, "What's wrong?"
She hugged me tightly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Thank you for protecting us."
I could only smile about it, "It's not just me, but you're also protecting yourself and others." I also hugged her gently.
"Yeah, but we're all nothing compared to you." Konan said, her voice muffled against my shoulder.
"Don't say that," I whispered back, "We all have our own strengths." I added, "You are strong, smart and beautiful. I learn a lot from you."
Konan pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She looked at me with a small smile, "Thank you, Haruto. You always know what to say." Her face was flushed, but she quickly regained her composure.
I nodded, "Let's get some rest, and how about Gentoku-san?" I asked.
"He accompanied Ise-san who was taking care of Kashiki-san." Konan informed me.
"Ah, I see." I nodded, feeling a bit of relief. "Alright, let's go get some rest."
Konan and I decided to sleep, our bodies exhausted from the day's events.
---|||---
The next morning, we woke up with a sense of relief, the storm had passed. We gathered around the clinic's small kitchen table, sharing a silent breakfast. Kashiki's injuries were severe, but Ise's medical expertise had kept him stable. Nagato's condition is also stable, but his chakra levels were dangerously low.
That's why I tried the option of infusing chakra into others. I took out the chakra I had stored in my inventory and carefully approached Nagato's unconscious form.
"I hope this works," I murmured to myself, and began the process.
I touched Nagato's hand and there was a menu option for infusion. I chose to infuse chakra into Nagato.
"...."
Thankfully it worked, because I can see the chakra bar of Nagato, and now it's full.
After that, I left Nagato to rest and turned to Kashiki, who was still unconscious but breathing steadily. I approached him with the same intention, then successfully infuse the chakra into his body.
"Done." I stepped back from Kashiki's side.
Konan, who had been watching me, raised an eyebrow. "What did you just do?"
I looked at Konan, "Just give them some chakra." I said simply.
Konan's eyes widened, "You can do that?"
I nodded, "Yes."
"You're so amazing Haruto." Konan said with awe in her voice.
"Thanks," I replied, feeling a bit awkward under her gaze.
"Oh, right. How about the Paper Rats Jutsu? Is that useful?" I asked, trying to change the subject from my abilities.
Konan nodded, "Very useful, except I need more layers of explosive tags to protect it from the rain. Also because of that, it can't be too far away if it's in an open area."
"I see." I said, considering the limitations of her jutsu.
"I'll think about it." I assured her, knowing that I had to find a way to make her jutsu more reliable in any weather.
The stronger Konan is, the safer it will be.