The forest stretched before me like a living labyrinth, its branches reaching out and intertwining over my path. My breathing was quickened, and every step I took felt insufficient to arrive in time.
The humidity in the air was suffocating, as if nature itself were holding its breath. The first drops of rain struck my face, cold and relentless, heralding the approaching storm.
My feet sank slightly into the muddy ground, but stopping was not an option. Every time my gaze lifted toward the horizon, the weight of uncertainty crushed my chest. Were they safe? Had I arrived too late? These questions hammered in my mind, denying me peace even for a moment.
The rain intensified quickly, turning into a torrent that erased all sound except the constant pattering of the falling drops. The forest began to blur into shadows and flashes; lightning momentarily lit the path while thunder resonated like war drums in the distance.
When I finally reached the top of a hill, the Hagoromo clan settlement appeared before my eyes, and the scene I saw made my heart sink.
From where I stood, I could see smoke rising in black columns, carried away by the wind. The structures, some reduced to ruins, were outlined in the gloom. In the distance, the cries and clamor of battle mixed with the roar of the storm.
A lightning bolt illuminated the field right in front of me, revealing despair in all its rawness. The Hagoromo clan ninjas fought bravely but were outnumbered by their adversaries. Each electric discharge seemed to briefly light up the scene of chaos and tragedy, showing the sacrifice and effort of the few who remained standing. I knew I couldn't waste any more time.
The sky roared with every luminous flash, as if nature itself recognized the magnitude of the struggle taking place on the land.
The Hagoromo clan was completely alone in this battle, facing a coalition of five powerful clans that sought their eradication. Despite the odds, not a single Hagoromo ninja was willing to surrender. This was their home, their legacy, and they would defend it to the end.
On the right flank, a contingent of the Sarutobi clan led a devastating attack with their mastery of fire-style ninjutsu. They unleashed the "Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku" (Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation), a tide of flames that advanced like a voracious monster, devouring the terrain and any Hagoromo ninja who didn't move fast enough. The flames evaporated the rain upon contact, creating a veil of steam that impaired vision.
Right Flank Commander: "Don't give up ground! Form a defensive line and keep moving, or those flames will consume us all. Lightning-style specialists, prepare a counterattack now. I want those flames extinguished and their formations fractured in less than two minutes. Quickly!"
The Hagoromo ninjas responded immediately, launching lightning-style jutsus that pierced the Sarutobi defenses, partially weakening their offensive. However, a young ninja ran toward the commander, his face covered in sweat and mud.
Hagoromo Clan Ninja: "They're regrouping farther back, it looks like they're preparing another massive attack!"
Right Flank Commander: "I know. That's why we'll eliminate them before they can move. You three, follow me! The rest, cover our rear."
In the center of the enemy formation, the Nara clan ninjas used their "Kagemane no Jutsu" (Shadow Imitation Technique) to immobilize the most skilled Hagoromo warriors. Shadows stretched out like living snakes, trapping and paralyzing several ninjas at once. This allowed the Nara allies to launch direct attacks, eliminating the trapped ones.
Center Commander: "Beware of the shadows! Don't let them immobilize you. If you feel something strange, break eye contact with your allies immediately. The Yamanaka are trying to take control of our minds!"
Despite being trapped by the Kagemane no Jutsu, the Hagoromo ninjas managed to improvise using explosives and throwing weapons. This disorganized the Nara formations and freed some of their companions from the shadows.
After the explosion that broke the shadows and destabilized the Nara, the commander shouted again: "All squads, move forward! Keep pressure on their lines and don't give them time to regroup!"
Further ahead, a Yamanaka clan team deployed strategically, seeking to dismantle the Hagoromo clan's organization from within. With the "Shintenshin no Jutsu" (Mind Transfer Technique), the Yamanaka took control of some Hagoromo ninjas, forcing them to attack their own allies, which sowed chaos in their ranks.
However, the Hagoromo clan leaders reacted quickly, recognizing the signs of mental interference and neutralizing the affected ones before the damage became irreversible.
On the left flank, the ground trembled under the weight of the Akimichi clan giants. Using their "Baika no Jutsu" (Partial Expansion Technique), they advanced like unstoppable titans, crushing the Hagoromo defenders who tried to stop them. Each step of a massive Akimichi ripped chunks from the ground, and their attacks were devastating.
Left Flank Commander: "Avoid their steps! Do not face the giants directly. Attack their legs, immobilize them, and aim at the ground to destabilize them. They are strong, but they are also slow!"
A group of ninjas stopped as they saw an Akimichi lift a massive rock to throw it at them.
Left Flank Commander: "Dodge that rock! And surround their positions now! I want to ambush them before they can cause more damage. Move!"
As they tried to maintain their position, a ninja approached hastily.
Hagoromo Clan Ninja: "They are advancing too quickly! They're pushing us toward the center!"
Left Flank Commander: "I know. Increase your speed. If they concentrate us in the center, we will be surrounded. We need time to regroup. Push those titans back!"
Despite being outmatched in brute strength, the Hagoromo clan used clever tactics and their superior speed to evade attacks and counterattack with electrical discharges, causing the Akimichi to stagger.
At the central front, the warriors of the Senju clan advanced with overwhelming physical force. Their mastery of taijutsu was relentless. Every punch or kick knocked down several Hagoromo ninjas at once.
Central Front Commander: "Stay alert, do not underestimate their taijutsu! Stay in groups and don't let them separate you. If you see a Senju charging, aim for their legs and avoid direct combat. Use them against themselves!"
A group of Hagoromo ninjas tried to maintain their formation, but a veteran Senju broke through with a powerful charge.
Central Front Commander: "Reinforce that position now! Squads two and three, flank the Senju before they can divide us further!"
Another ninja approached in haste.
Hagoromo Clan Ninja: "There are too many, commander! If we stay here, we won't hold out much longer."
Central Front Commander: "Not yet. As long as we have strength, we will fight. If we flank them and stop them here, the other fronts will have a chance. Do not retreat!"
Despite being outnumbered, the Hagoromo ninjas fought with a ferocity born from the stark choice to either resist or perish.
Every technique, every strike, every maneuver was executed with precision forged in desperation and pride.
Their lightning-style skills, such as the Raiton: Kaminari Seidan (Lightning Style: Thunder Strike), continued to devastate their opponents when least expected, and even as they fell, they took as many adversaries down with them as possible.
The terrain, transformed into a blood-soaked quagmire, was the tangible reflection of the conflict raging on.
However, amidst the chaos and destruction, the Hagoromo clan stood firm, fighting for every fragment of their territory, every member of their family.
The five enemy clans boasted superior numbers and exceptional abilities, but the indomitable spirit of the Hagoromo continued to shine, like a lightning bolt defying even the wildest storm.
Jomei threw himself into the battlefield, his gaze full of determination and his heart pounding fiercely. He extended his right hand and began concentrating an enormous amount of chakra into it, channeling his energy into crackling lightning that resonated like the cry of a thousand birds—Chidori. It was a formidable technique, but it required a combination of precision and speed to achieve its maximum effectiveness.
Breaking through enemy lines, Jomei sped toward the left flank, where ninjas from the Nara and Yamanaka clans dominated the battle with their manipulation of shadows and minds.
With the Chidori crackling in his hand, he weaved through obstacles and launched himself directly at the core of the enemy ranks. The hum of the Chidori alerted some enemies, but by then it was too late. Jomei pierced through several foes with precise impacts, breaking their formation and freeing the Hagoromo warriors who had been trapped.
The strength of the initial attack unleashed chaos among the enemy ranks. Ninjas who witnessed the Chidori instinctively backed away, trying to reorganize, but Jomei granted them no time. Taking advantage of his superior speed, he attacked small groups before they could regroup, eliminating several Yamanaka who were preparing another Shintenshin no Jutsu.
Jomei began preparing the Raikiri. As he advanced through the battlefield, the pressure on the Hagoromo clan ninjas decreased, but the enemy coalition maintained its numerical advantage.
The Akimichi giants on the right flank were destroying Hagoromo defenses, while the Senju led hand-to-hand assaults that disorganized the remaining formations. Jomei understood that only a devastating technique could tip the scales in their favor. He retreated to an elevated position to gather his energy and prepare the Raikiri.
With his limbs already numbed from the continuous use of Chidori, Jomei channeled all his remaining chakra into his right hand. The lightning began to concentrate with overwhelming intensity, radiating a blinding light that illuminated the battlefield under the storm. It was an extraordinary effort, but Jomei knew it was the only chance to give the Hagoromo clan a fighting shot.