With Ōnoki and the other leaders launching their attack, the Land of Whirlpools was plunged into chaos. Wherever they went, the invaders killed any Uzumaki they found, using this as a tactic to strike fear into the hearts of the remaining populace.
In each captured town, they left a few shinobi to gather resources, planning to transport everything of value back to their respective villages once the campaign concluded.
This brutal invasion wasn't just about defeating the enemy—it was about seizing everything they could while leaving no chance for the Uzumaki to recover. The so-called expression of 'killing the chicken to take the egg' was vivid here.
As they pushed forward, countless Uzumaki clan members fell, and the numbers of Uzumaki dwindled swiftly.
When word of these massacres reached Uzushiogakure, outrage swept through the village. Many of the Uzumaki were ready to charge out and face the enemy head-on, but Uzumaki Suihei and the other leaders knew better.
Their priority was to remain behind the protection of the sealing barrier surrounding Uzushio, buying time for Konoha's promised reinforcements to arrive in three days.
With their bloody advance, it took only a few hours for Ōnoki's forces to reach Uzushio itself.
"So this is Uzushio," Ai said, standing at the gates with thirty elite ninja. "Once we breach this place, everything we came for will be ours." Ai's assigned path led him straight to Uzushio's main gates, where he was also responsible for taking on Konoha's feared "Ghost."
"I wonder where the others are," he muttered. "Though, it's better if they take their time. Less interference that way."
At his command, one of his shinobi launched a lightning jutsu, aiming to blast open Uzushio's gates. But before the attack even reached the gates, a barrier blocked it, dissipating the attack on impact.
Inside, an Uzushio elder sighed in relief and called out, "I recognize you—Ai of the Hidden Cloud! Does your village intend to start a war?"
Although they had a good idea of why these outsiders were here, the Uzumaki would try diplomacy first, hoping to buy a little more time.
"A war? With the likes of you? Land of Whirlpools?" Ai scoffed, sizing up the barrier as he considered how to break through it.
The elder continued firmly, "Perhaps on our own, we would be no match for you, but don't forget that our allies are the Fire Nation and the Hidden Leaf. Konoha's forces are already on their way, and you'll pay dearly for this attack."
The mere mention of Konoha's name irritated Ai. "Konoha? As if we're afraid of them!"
The last war between the Hidden Cloud and Konoha had been a bitter memory for him, marked by the loss of close friends and their ultimate defeat. The reminder only strengthened his resolve.
"Just you wait! The Uzumaki will remember this day, and you'll live in fear of our revenge!" the elder called out, enraged by Ai's response and utter disregard for Konoha's and Uzumaki's power.
"Revenge?" Ai said dismissively, raising his hand slowly, his fingers extended toward the barrier. "The Uzumaki have no future. Are you threatening me with ghosts?"
In an instant, blue lightning surged around him, coiling along his limbs. This technique cloaked him in an armour of lightning, amplifying his body's physical abilities to the extreme.
Known as the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, this armor increased both his defensive abilities and his speed while boosting his reflexes.
Within moments, Ai's body was engulfed in flickering blue lightning, giving him a powerful, almost otherworldly aura.
To the Uzumaki watching from within the village, it seemed as if a thunder god had descended before them. Nervously, they exchanged glances, sweat forming on their brows as they sensed the sheer force radiating from their opponent.
"What... what is he planning?" one of the Uzumaki ninjas muttered, his voice shaking.
"That's Lord Ai's Hell Stab! He's getting serious!" a Hidden Cloud shinobi near Ai remarked, excitement gleaming in his eyes. It had been some time since he'd seen Ai use this technique, but the memory of its destructive power remained vivid.
"Hell Stab: Four-Finger Thrust!" Ai called out, his hand glowing with concentrated chakra at his fingertips. In a flash, he closed the distance between himself and the barrier, moving with such speed that his form was almost indistinguishable from a streak of lightning.
A sharp crack echoed as Ai's attack connected, sending spider-web cracks rippling across the barrier's surface.
The Uzumaki on the other side stared in horror and disbelief. This barrier was known for being able to withstand attacks from multiple Kage-level shinobi at once.
It was the Uzumaki's strongest defence, their guarantee of security—yet Ai had nearly shattered it in one blow.
"Thank goodness it held!" someone murmured, exhaling in relief. Though the barrier appeared damaged, it remained intact, with the cracks already beginning to repair themselves.
This barrier possessed a unique self-repairing mechanism, and despite its appearance, Ai's attack hadn't fully penetrated it.
Ai took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the barrier. He could tell it was far more resilient than he'd initially expected.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll just have to hit harder," he said, his eyes gleaming with determination. Ai refused to believe that this barrier was beyond his ability to break.
He wasn't alone in facing this challenge.
On the other side of Uzushio, Ōnoki, the Third Mizukage, and the Third Kazekage were encountering similar obstacles.
All were focused on finding a way to breach the barrier protecting Uzushio.
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