The distant explosions rattled the ground beneath their feet as Naruto and Kikidori sprinted toward the source of the chaos. Smoke billowed into the sky, a dark cloud that hung ominously over Konoha, marking the beginning of an attack. Kikidori's heart raced in his chest. Whatever was happening, it wasn't good.
Naruto's expression was hard as steel. His Hokage robes whipped behind him as he moved with purpose. Kikidori, still a little unsteady from his earlier encounter with the Rasengan, struggled to keep up. He felt the adrenaline pumping through his veins, pushing him forward despite the lingering pain from his injuries.
As they neared the village gates, they saw them—ten ninjas in dark, tattered robes with symbols embroidered along their sleeves. Their faces were hidden behind masks, their chakra ominously dark. Kikidori's eyes narrowed as he recognized the markings on their clothing.
"That's the Furoako Clan," Naruto muttered, his voice cold with recognition.
Kikidori's mind raced. The Furoako Clan was known for their stealth, their powerful jutsu, and their ability to move unseen in the shadows. They were an elusive and dangerous group of rogue ninjas, and now, they were attacking Konoha.
"They must be after something," Kikidori said, glancing at Naruto. "They wouldn't just attack without a reason."
Naruto didn't reply immediately, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. "We'll figure that out later. For now, we need to protect the village."
As the two approached the frontlines, Naruto waved his hand to signal the incoming forces. The ninjas of Konoha, ready and equipped, quickly began to organize. Naruto's voice rang out, loud and commanding.
"Everyone, get into teams of two! We need to hit them hard and fast!"
Kikidori glanced around, seeing familiar faces—ninjas who had fought alongside him in the past. But it was Konohamaru who approached him, nodding firmly.
"Kikidori, we're together on this one," Konohamaru said, adjusting his headband with a grin. "Let's show these guys what Konoha's made of."
Kikidori smirked, cracking his knuckles. "You're on, Konohamaru. Let's make this quick."
Naruto pointed toward the Furoako Clan's ninjas. "There are ten of them, and we're splitting them into five teams of two. You and Konohamaru take the left flank. Be careful—they're strong."
"Got it, Hokage-sama," Konohamaru said, his voice serious for once.
As Naruto quickly deployed the rest of the teams, Kikidori and Konohamaru moved into position, each of them gathering their chakra in preparation. Kikidori could feel the burn of the energy flowing through his body, but it felt different—more powerful than it had before. It wasn't just his own chakra. There was something else in him, something that hummed beneath his skin, waiting to be unleashed.
Konohamaru glanced over at Kikidori, his face set in determination. "You've got that Rasengan technique down, right?"
"Yeah, but no more rogue ones," Kikidori said, grinning. "I'll try to keep control this time."
They rounded the corner and came face-to-face with their first opponent—a tall, lean figure dressed in the dark robes of the Furoako Clan. His mask was shaped like a snarling wolf, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
"So, the kids are here to play," the masked ninja sneered, his voice cold and calculating. "Let's see what you've got."
Kikidori clenched his fists, ready for the fight. "Oh, you'll see."
The Furoako ninja moved quickly, vanishing in a blur of motion. Kikidori's eyes darted to the side as he tracked the ninja's movement, his body reacting on instinct. A shadow clone suddenly appeared in front of him, but Kikidori was faster. He launched himself forward with a burst of speed, dodging the clone's strike.
Konohamaru was right behind him, his kunai flashing through the air. The two of them worked in perfect sync, attacking from different angles, forcing the Furoako ninja on the defensive.
The masked ninja's eyes narrowed. "You're quicker than I thought, but not quick enough."
With a swift movement, he threw a kunai imbued with a dark, swirling chakra toward Kikidori. It was aimed straight for his heart. But Kikidori wasn't about to let that happen.
"Not today!" Kikidori shouted, summoning a burst of chakra into his palm. He dodged the kunai, his Rasengan already forming.
The sphere of swirling energy materialized in his hand, much more stable this time. Kikidori thrust it forward, slamming the Rasengan into the Furoako ninja's chest. The blast of energy sent the ninja crashing backward, smashing into a nearby wall.
Konohamaru jumped into the fray, sending a flurry of shuriken toward the downed ninja. "Nice job, Kikidori! Let's keep going!"
The two of them moved together as a team, sweeping through the battlefield with precision and speed. Meanwhile, Naruto and the other ninja squads were dealing with the remaining Furoako members, each one engaging in their own fierce battles.
Despite the chaos around them, Kikidori couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a random attack. There was something deeper, something more calculated behind the Furoako Clan's appearance. But for now, he had to focus on the battle at hand.
With one final push, Kikidori and Konohamaru took down their opponent. The Furoako ninja crumpled to the ground, unconscious but alive. They didn't have time to linger, though. The other teams were still fighting, and Naruto was shouting orders.
"We need to finish this," Naruto called out from the distance. "Kikidori, Konohamaru, move to the center! We're ending this now."
The two of them nodded, rushing toward the center of the battlefield where the remaining Furoako ninjas were making their last stand. Kikidori's heart was pounding in his chest, adrenaline surging as he prepared for whatever came next.
But one thing was clear: This battle wasn't over. And whatever the Furoako Clan wanted, they weren't going to stop until they got it.
The end of Chapter 12