In a matter of seconds, Kyō's Ketsuryūgan1Blood Dragon EyeNinjutsu acutely struck Rei's serpent!
Oddly enough, the summoned creature made no attempts to dodge, obeying its master's orders. The latter in question rely smiled, acting as if they weren't being attacked at all, much to his team's confusion
It was soon after sothing inconceivable had taken place...
RIP!!
"NOW YOU ALL DI--eh...?" Kyō's jaw dropped
"H-Huh?" Suzu's reaction was no better
The large red creature had miraculously split apart, completely dividing in two!
"What just--?!"
Just as Tai intended to ask how this could be, the phenonon repeated itself again, and again, and again! With each attack, the artificially-created serpent split in two!
None muttered a word, completely dumbfounded at the spectacle transpiring before their eyes. Eventually, there were eight "Imugis" to combat Kyō's hydra-shaped fabrication of red water
"Zōfuku Kuchiyose no Jutsu2Amplification Summoning Technique"
"Zōfu--what?" Tai was clueless to origins of said Ninjutsu
"I've never heard of...how'd you do it?" Suzu couldn't take her eyes away
"Well..."
Rei went on about the origins of the incredible technique, how old and rare it truly was. The Ninjutsu allowed a summoned creature to replicate every ti soone attacked it
But successfully applying said technique required great skill. Plus, the number of tis it could replicate also depended on the quality of the summoned creature. Not even Rei knew how many tis his new "pet" could split apart
Despite revealing this knowledge, he deliberately left out key details, such as the knowledge of future events being his sole ans to acquire this power. For it was his observation of Nagato, the true face behind Akatsuki's proxy leader Pain, that he learned of the technique
Deeming it useful for his project, Notitia provided all information pertaining to Pain's Rinnegan3Sa??sāra Eye-based "Six Paths of Pain" Ninjutsu. Nagato, being paraplegic, controlled six corpses to act as his will, each bearing a different ability
The one designated as the Animal Path utilized the very sa Amplification Technique
"It's impressive, but I still think it's a little cold to let it get hit on purpose"
"Relax Suzu, its body is incredibly durable. I doubt such attacks would even scratch" {I spliced DNA from those experintal scorpions on Summoning Island. Though not possessing the sa level of dexterity, its scales can easily stop blades}
"HISS!!"
Without warning, every Imugi besides the one they stood on attacked Kyō and his blood creature. Overwhelming him with powerful, relentless attacks. When they weren't biting or tearing his blood-based Ninjutsu, they released streams of fire from their mouths
But Kyō's Ninjutsu simply reconstituted itself over and over again
"Rei...If a single dragon is that tough as you say, can you spare one for ?" grasping his chin, Tai juggled an idea
"I can, but what are you planning to do?"
Tai removed a scroll from his pouch
"What's in that?"
"So things I acquired when Dodai-sama had
working. Rember our first encounter with a Chinoike mber? After seeing those eyesfor the first ti, a few ideas sprouted in my mind, but I didn't have a chance to test them all. HQ needed my bombs to route out the other saboteurs..."
"And...?"
"Well, I successfully made them, but in the process...there was plenty of leftover materials. It's a long shot, but I may have a sothing that could put an end to this"
??????
The limited batch of Kumogakure forces on the front steadily made progress. After F successfully organized a small campaign to move the inmates out of Kyō's reach, squads began neutralizing them one by one
They couldn't afford for any them do die yet, as their deaths only served to make Kyō stronger. Suzu clearing the steam fog earlier increased visibility, making their jobs all the more easy
But said entities ford from Kyō's Ketsuryū Shōten4Blood Dragon Ascensiontechnique were still a problem. Now even stronger thanks to chakra he took from killing other LIFT users, they blocked the way for many. Preventing most from assisting Team Tango
BOOSH!
Finally recovering so strength, Yugito's figure erupted with energy, transforming her into a smaller type of Tailed Beast Mode. This Version 2 form took on an appearance of a dark red, nearly black layer of chakra mimicking her beast
A miniature Two-tails best defined her now...
"Nekozu5Cat Claw!" Yugito blasted from the ground, striking a batch of dragon heads with her "claws"
"They're cornered Mabui! You got it?!"
"I'm ready! Stand clear!" Mabui warned after her team assisted in halting another batch
WEAVE!
With the forming of hand seals, several weapons she placed in front of her were engulfed in waves of light, vanishing without a trace until...
"Tensō no Jutsu6Ethereal Transmission Jutsu!"
CLANG!
...another wave, reminiscent of lightning, sent them hurdling down at her intended target, destroying the fabrications in her sight. Reducing them into red puddles
"Haaah...huff...huff...!"
Mabui almost fell to her knees before Samui took her arm, placing it over the shoulder as she helped her friend stand
"Are you alright? It was never ant to used in such a violent manner" Samui noted
"I'm...fine"
Mabui knew what Samui was hinting at better than anyone. Her signature Ninjutsu wasn't for combat. It took far too much ti to prepare, and she only had one shot. If the target were to move right before she used it, it would inevitably miss
Along with substantial chakra consumption, the support-type technique was ill-suited for drawn out conflicts such as this. Mabui had nearly burned through most of her reserves
GURGLE!
"Oh no...get back Yugito!"
"Right!"
"Not again...there's just no end!" Mabui grit her teeth in frustration
The figure she had just destroyed began reconstituting, much to her chagrin. In seconds, the powerful entity was back to normal, poised to resu its attack
"Here it cos!"
"No other choice, it's risky in my current state, but I'm gonna do a full transforma--?!"
BOOOOM!
Just as Yugito attempted to transform again, a giant red serpent arrived abruptly, shattering the blood construct once more. But what surprised Team Mabui was the addition of Rei and Tai, standing on its head
"Who...?!"
"Tai, Rei?! What are you doing?!" Yugito asked after undoing her transformation, returning to human form
"Saving you from the looks of it!"
The pair jumped down, letting their scaly ally continue to thrash the blood creature, preventing it from fully regenerating
Upon seeing her cousin, Mabui separated from Samui. Carefully examining his body for injuries. After confirming he was alright, she raised her arm...
WHACK!
"Ow! What the--?!"
"You dolt!"
...and smacked him on the head
"You jump into the middle of a warzone, AFTER sneaking out of the hospital, to engage the leader of the Chinoike Clan?!"
"Agh...forgot how hard you hit! And in my defense, it wasn't my first encounter with him! Besides, I was feeling fine, and I had sothing that could help everyone" Rei retorted, ekly pointing to his summoned creature
"That brings
to my next point, what the hell is that thing?! Where the hell did you get that thing?! So kind of...dragon?!"
"Aha! I knew it was dragon!" Tai gigged from watching Rei get scolded
"Shut up, Tai. And get to work"
"Yeah, yeah!"
POOF!
Moving aside, Tai stood near the red puddle being smashed by the Imugi, summoning several tal canisters from a scroll he placed on the ground
"I don't wanna say you've done sothing completely absurd, because every damn ti I do, you take it as a personal challenge! Why can't you...can't you...huff...huff...!"
"Whoa, whoa! Nee-san!" Rei caught the weary young woman as she nearly fell from exhaustion
"Ugh...damn it. I've used too much chakra today, I can't even see straight...let alone yell at you right now"
"I'll accept any punishnt later. For now, Tai has a plan to--?!"
Mabui wrapped her arms around Rei, hugging him as she shed a tear
"Don't you know how much you make
worry? It wouldn't hurt if you were a little more sensitive to these things"
"...Sorry"
"Hmph! You're not sorry. I bet it won't be long before you...do sothing like this...again. You brat...uhhhhh" She finally fainted
Samui took her from Rei's arms, informing him that ever since they encountered an ambush on Genbu Island, her mind held nothing but thoughts and fears of his safety
Now that she finally saw him up close since the siege began, it was as if all the stress and anxiety in her body vanished
"I'll take her to supply chain where our dics are waiting"
"...Thanks, I appreciate it"
"Yugito, stay with them"
"Was already planning on it"
ZWIP!
After Samui dashed away with Mabui, Yugito tapped Rei's shoulder
"So? What's this I hear about a plan?"
"You'll have to defer to my colleague on that matter. Tai?"
"Just a sec, I have to try it out first!" {Suiton: Mizurappa7Water Style: Wild Water Waves!}
SPLOOSH!
After opening the tal canisters, Tai spat out a small jet of water. Upon splashing his target, the blood began to distort, and to the surprise of the pair watching...ceased regenerating
"What just...huh?" Yugito was dumbstruck, the creatures she'd been struggling with were destroyed so easily
"Okay. You. Explain. Now."
Tai went on about his ti at headquarters, Dodai supplied him with a slew of ingredients to make his bombs tailored for the Chinoike. But one key elent he lacked was hydrogen. Fortunately, it was the Intelligence Division they used for a makeshift HQ, which just so happened to house the lab for energy research
Resting inside were a batch of the old liquid batteries the village previously used before partnering with Tetsuo Mori. And with them, giant tubes of sea water
"Now I get it, you've perford that kind of science project" Rei recalled a concept he fiddled with in his previous life
"I knew you'd get it. Everything I required was already there"
Tai had placed sea water in a tube, along with carbon electrodes normally used for the batteries, before electrifying it with help from several Raiton8Lightning Styleusers present
The electrical currents split the water into gases, one of those being hydrogen
"That's ingenious, really Tai. But...how does hydrogen help us?" Yugito wondered
"It doesn't. The gas in the container isn't hydrogen. It's actually-"
"Chlorine gas, right?" Rei already uncovered what Tai had done
"?!"
"You'll naturally acquire more than one gas when undergoing an experint like that. But chlorine gas is very dangerous, that is...unless you have soone who can control vapors and fus with chakra...right Tai?"
"Hehe! I'm too modest to boast"
Releasing chlorine gas, controlling it through chakra, and mixing it with Water Style. The elents rged to form a customized sodium hypochlorite. Combining Chemistry and Ninjutsu, this was Tai's specialty
The Ketsuryūgan didn't control blood, but iron-enriched substances. His chemically modified solution acted as a glorified bleach, targeting the very thing Kyō utilizes with his eyes, rendering them useless
But to end this troubleso Ninjutsu, they must be broken down first. The "dragon heads" were encased by a layer of protective chakra, their source of strength
Rei deduced they temporarily divert the chakra protecting them for healing whenever their forms are destroyed. Only after being reduced to a puddle, do they reconstitute...this was the key window for Tai's solution to work
"This ti, I was lucky. But I won't be able to control the gases and unleash my Suiton at the sa ti. I need another Suiton user to help while I focus on controlling these dangerous fus. Even now, I'm keeping the gas from spreading" {It's a relief HQ is sending
a steady supply of chakra to help, gotta thank Tango-sensei later}
"And that second person is...?"
"It's , Yu-nee. Tai and I will ride on my new pet as it escorts us through the field. Our combined Suiton will prevent these things from coming back, but we'll need your--everyone's help to destroy them"
"...Alright. I'll be the spear while you three--wait...where's Suzu?" she shook her head, looking for their missing teammate
"She and Rei are fighting with seven more of his summoned dragons. Keeping Kyō occupied so he doesn't sew more chaos"
"Rei has SEVEN more of these...things?! Where they heck did you find--wait. H-Hold on, she and...but Rei's right here?"
"The
you see in front of you is a clone. The original is with Suzu"
Seeing how Mabui had reacted, he didn't want to worry her further by revealing the "real" him was still fighting Kyō
Whether it him becoming more sentintal, or so kind of influence from the body he possessed, his older cousin remained the sole person he had trouble dealing with in this world
TING!
{Hm? This chakra is...!} "Pfff...! Haha!"
"?" Yugito and Tai looked at Rei with confusion as he abruptly laughed
"Tai, this crazy plan of yours just might work out after all"
TAK! TAK! TAK!
Another group of shinobi landed on the ground to greet them, so with familiar faces that were most welco
{Ah?!}
{No way...!}
"I take it you guys heard everything you needed to?"
"Yeah..."
RIZZZZ!
His body buzzing with electricity, the Raikage had finally arrived on the front lines! And at his side, a squad of shinobi straight from the Yotsuki clan, with Tomoe leading them
"Mom! You're here!"
"Raikage-sama!"
A, after glancing around, simply walked past them as his eyes bead towards Kyō, who was in the midst of his battle with Suzu and Rei. Without even bothering to turn around, he spoke to the clone
"Can you and Suzu hold on long enough?"
Every fiber of his being wanted to go over there, and drive his fist directly into Kyō's face. But even he knew killing the Chinoike leader would be difficult with the latter's chakra now at levels even higher than his own
Furthermore, the expanding blood pool spawning nurous "dragon heads" needed to be dealt with. Otherwise, their casualties would continue to rise
Even at this very mont, the pool continued to grow, edging ever closer towards the village walls. It'll be inside Kumogakure before long
The LIFT was a troubleso equalizer...
"I just said so, didn't I? You've got bigger priorities, so there's no use standing there like an idiot"
"R-Rei?! You can't talk to him like--oof!" Tai tried to warn Rei before Tomoe patted him on the back
"Nonsense Tai, this is war, Rei's got the right idea. Now is the ti to shut up and act"
"As usual Tomoe-san, you and I are of like mind. It couldn't have been easy rushing over her from the north, but we're all grateful"
"It's worth it if I get to see you Rei-chan. You and your squad have perford admirably" Tomoe broke her stern deanor the instant Rei spoke to her, rrily smiling in response
{H-H-Hm?!} Tai's eyes were glued at the pair upon noticing his mom acting so joyfully
"When this awful ss is finally taken care of, you should co over"
"I do so enjoy your tea ceremonies, I'll definitely drop by"
{HMMMMMMM?!}
During their banter, Tai caught the sight of Rei sneaking a glance at him, wearing a clearly mocking smile
{Y-Y-Y-YOU LITTLE...!!}
"Raikage-sama, my clan and I will clear they way for my son. Feel free to act as you see fit"
Being the natural leader she was, Tomoe quickly took charge of situation, taking Yugito along with her clan mbers as they split up, targeting various patches of the blood pool
Though he had so words for Rei, Tai begrudgingly put them aside as he picked up his gas-filled canister. The red "Imugi" inched closer to the boys, acting as a mount, presenting its head for them to ride on
Accepting the invitation, Tai hopped on, waiting for Rei to do the sa
A turned around, facing the young man
"That's one hell of summon. I've never seen anything like it before. Yours?"
"Obviously"
"And the other seven fighting with the real you and Suzu?"
"Mhm"
"In that case...I'll end things here quickly"
"We'll do our part and buy you enough ti. B will be here soon enough" Rei said as he jumped on the serpent's head
"Hmph! You know we have much to discuss once this is over..."
"..." {I figured as much}
BOOM!!
The ground blew up from his feet as A bolted away, moving faster than the eye could see. Already locating his first prey...
"Lightning Straight!"
BLAM!
...piercing right through it with his fist
"Wow...and I thought you were fast"
"I am"
"He wasn't kidding, this might end in no ti at all..."
"Only if you and I do our part. You ready?"
"As I'll ever be, let's get this over with so we can go ho and nap forever..."
"I'll drink to that" {Though I'm still not allowed to in this young body}
??????
ZWIP! ZWIP!
"Co on, move it!"
"We're almost at the rendezvous!"
Further west of the continent, a group of shinobi moved in the dark, hidden under the cover of night. Fleeing with haste from the Land of Lightning, each carrying a large Shuriken on their backs, for they were mbers of the Fūma clan
These shinobi were apart of the very squad responsible for attacking the northern coastline by the country's border. After hours of struggle with Tomoe "The Beheader" Yotsuki, their defeat beca assured when the Raikage arrived
The leader of Kumogakure ca with a vengeance, and combined with the Yotsuki, it wasn't long before the order to retreat was issued
"Ugh...it's hard to concentrate. Can't believe I'm having trouble running through a re forest"
"What do you expect? It's still a large unknown..."
In order to survive, they had no choice but to take the LIFT pills provided to them by their employers. Though initially hesitant at first, desperation rose when their numbers began to dwindle
Over a day of fighting, negative effects naturally manifested
"Damn...feel like I'm gonna throw up"
"If you're gonna, run behind ! I'm not getting your lunch all over my--?!"
FWP! THK!
Without warning, a small shuriken erged flying from the shadows. Lodged in a tree right in front of their path, thrown with the clear intention of stopping them, but not attacking them
"Defensive positions!"
"Contact! Ten o'clock!"
"You, co out!!"
VWOOO!
The evening wind was tense, and with blades in hand, the Fūma waited for the stranger to reveal himself. As he feebly stepped into the moonlight, he muttered words
"Unlike the unworthy, the true warrior embraces the fray..."
"Uh?! Our code...can it be...?"
"Quiet!"
"Captain, if you'll..."
In response to the stranger, the captain of the group stepped forward
"For it is they, that truly remain victorious..."
"Only then, can we remain faithful, to our truest selves" At the final phrase, the two spoke in unison
The man revealed his face, beaten and injured, tattered clothes, and an open wound still bleeding. The others were overjoyed after chancing upon a clanmate, and not just any clanmate, but their leader himself
It was the supposedly deceased, Nobuyuki Fūma...
"You lot, patch him up quickly!"
"Yes sir!"
"Nobuyuki-sama, please sit down"
The n imdiately attended to his wounds, sitting him down, back against a tree. As they worked, the captain had the others maintain watch while he questioned Nobuyuki
"How are you here? Word was you'd been killed by Ganjō Yotsuki"
"I almost was, but this isn't the first ti I faked my death. My suicidal explosion was a ruse. Though I had to take that pill at the last second in order to survive, switching places with a Kage Bunshin9Shadow Clone"
"And with no trace of your body, Kumogakure believes you dead. That'll co in handy later. And what of the rest? Most on my side managed to get away safely"
"I took so losses on my side, but we're still okay. By all accounts, our job has been complete. The others are already back with the rest, having received our paynt and making a na for ourselves, I'd say this has gone rather we--eh?"
Nobuyuki's attention was taken away at what appeared to be a white butterfly. Shortly after, another one appeared
And another, and another, and another until an entire horde of them flew over the group, blanketing the sky. Without warning, a subtle, honeyed voice spoke aloud...
"What an interesting conversation you're having"
"?!"
...but none could pinpoint its origin
"Who said that?! I can't see them, these bugs are in the way!"
"This isn't a normal swarm, stay on guard!"
"Is it Kumogakure?! Did they track us down?!"
{These aren't bugs. They're...paper?} Nobuyuki realized after catching one
A woman wearing a black cloak with red clouds erged from the nurous sheets of paper, her body seemingly made of them
"May I join in?"
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