Initial Homitz
Forty miles is too close for a ninja.
Even though the Konoha ninja made every effort to set traps and slow down the advancing enemy, the combined forces of Kumogakure and Sunagakure arrived a mere thirty minutes later.
Konoha Village, surrounded by mountains and forests, benefits from its natural geographical barriers, making it both a protective haven and an excellent battlefield. Konoha ninjas, renowned for their mastery of forest combat, hold a significant advantage in these dense, wooded areas.
As soon as the Kumogakure and Sunagakure forces arrived, they deployed their elite ninjas. These experienced warriors wasted no time using their chakra to overwhelm the barriers set by Konoha, clearing the way with destructive ninjutsu.
This surprise attack was a calculated effort, with both the Kumogakure and Sunagakure forces coordinating their efforts on the frontlines. The longer the battle dragged on, the more it would tip in Konoha's favor, as reinforcements from Konoha's Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would arrive eventually, shifting the balance of power.
If Konoha's reinforcements could not reach the village in time and the allied forces of Kumogakure and Sunagakure had not already broken through the defenses, their defeat was all but guaranteed.
Once the barrier was shattered, the coalition forces from the two villages spread out their formations. They used small units of ninja teams to form larger detachment groups, all headed toward Platycodon Mountain in an organized manner.
If they could break through Platycodon Mountain, they would be in reach of Platycodon Castle, a historical landmark on the outskirts of Konoha. This would not only deal significant damage to the village, but the deeper they penetrated, the greater the destruction they could cause.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Bang, bang, bang…
As the Kumogakure and Sunagakure forces advanced through the forest, they triggered various traps set by Konoha ninjas. These traps included kunai, shurikens, explosive tags, and even traps powered by elemental ninjutsu.
In mere moments, explosions and screams filled the air as the once peaceful forest, full of vibrant spring life, turned into a brutal battlefield. The wildlife scattered in fear, abandoning the once safe forest as a warzone unfolded.
Despite taking heavy losses, the Kumogakure and Sunagakure forces pressed on, their strength still numbering around 1,200 after enduring the traps set by Konoha. This force was approximately 200 stronger than Konoha's defenders, and they were operating at full strength.
Konoha's high-ranking combatants held a decisive edge, however. Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi himself had entered the fray, and the Konoha defenders fought with all their might, prepared to sacrifice everything to protect their homeland.
The battle between the two sides quickly escalated into a fierce and bloody conflict, with both sides showing remarkable resolve.
In the Uchiha clan's defensive area, Uchiha Gen lay in wait. Using the Camouflage Concealment Technique, he silently observed as several waves of Kumogakure ninjas passed by without detecting his presence.
"I'm not strong enough yet," Gen thought to himself. "For now, I must target the weak and gradually harvest their souls. Then, I can become more unrestrained."
The Camouflage Concealment Technique was a specialty of the Uchiha clan, learned during the long years of war, though few from other villages, such as Iwagakure, were familiar with it.
A few minutes later, a small Kumogakure team of three passed by. Gen, a seasoned veteran, seized the opportunity. The moment they leapt into the air, three shurikens shot out, heading straight for them.
"Careful!" one of the Kumogakure ninjas, a young man with dark skin and an average face, shouted. He swung his sword and deflected the shurikens with a metallic clang.
Unfortunately, the other two Kumogakure ninjas were not so fortunate. Caught off guard, they failed to react in time. The shurikens pierced their lower backs, blood spurted from the wounds, and they collapsed with a scream.
Uchiha Gen swiftly drew his sword and charged toward the remaining Kumogakure ninja, who had landed on a nearby tree trunk. Undeterred, the Kumogakure ninja leaped toward him, ready to engage.
Mid-air, Gen's eyes shifted to the blood-red Mangekyō Sharingan, his gaze locking onto the Kumogakure ninja. Realizing too late, the ninja attempted to look away, but it was futile.
Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi!
With the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Gen trapped the ninja in an intense illusion. His body froze in place, his sword arm dropping weakly. The two ninjas passed each other, and with a sudden slice, blood splattered as Gen struck, causing the illusion to shatter.
The Kumogakure ninja screamed, his body falling to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
The remaining two ninjas, though injured, were not fatally harmed due to Gen's controlled restraint. They slowly got back to their feet, weapons in hand.
With a quick movement, Gen sheathed his sword and completed a series of hand seals as he landed on the forest floor.
Narakujō no Jutsu!
This low-level Genjutsu inflicted fear in its targets, causing them to see horrifying, unwanted visions. Three Kumogakure ninjas were caught instantly, their faces contorting in terror.
As the genjutsu took hold, Gen unleashed the power of the Soul Soul Fruit—a technique that allowed him to extract both the soul and lifespan from his victims. Transparent blue souls and white light representing their life force appeared above the heads of the three ninjas, before merging with Gen's own body. Their lifeless forms collapsed into heaps of flesh.
Gen unsheathed his sword again, giving the three ninjas a final, fatal strike through their hearts or throats to ensure they would not revive. The injuries inflicted by the shurikens were not lethal, but he made sure they were beyond recovery.
With the deed done, he quickly retreated into a nearby tree hollow, where he had previously scouted for a hiding place.
Inside the hollow, Gen eagerly pulled out a selection of shurikens from his ninja pouch and placed his sword on his lap.
Soul Infusion!
With a wave of his hand, white orbs of light, resembling dumplings, poured from his palm. These were not ordinary light spheres; they carried the souls and lifeforce he had harvested.
Soon, two strange eyes manifested on his shuriken and sword, as if the weapons were alive.
"Mom, mom, mom…" the shuriken and sword chattered, their voices echoing.
Gen scowled, irritated by the tone. "I'm a man. Don't call me that! Call me 'Master!'"
His frustration was palpable, but he could not deny his satisfaction. The infused shuriken would now track and lock on to their targets automatically, while his sword, effectively a flying sword, would attack on its own. Even if an enemy could dodge for a short time, they would eventually be caught.
Gen's use of these living weapons—Homitz—was still in its early stages, and their true potential was far from being realized. He needed more powerful souls to craft even more dangerous Homitz, possibly at the elemental level, something far superior to these basic weapons.
However, he knew he had to proceed cautiously. Using too much of his own soul could attract unwanted attention. A soul as potent as his own would need to be treated with care, for his goal was to harvest more souls and grow stronger, ultimately creating a weapon capable of shifting the balance of the ongoing war.
With his newly infused weapons in hand, Gen left the tree hollow and resumed his hunt, knowing that collecting more souls would be vital for his rise in the brutal ninja world.
After all, a ninja who keeps their weapons hidden is a ninja who survives.