The screams of dying filled the air, interrupted by the blasts of paper bombs and the sharp ringing of steel on steel as shinobi clashed.
Ruka blade in hand cut down two more Mist shinobi, while her husband Takeshi used his chakra chains to pierce and throw a pair of Cloud ninja as if they were ragdolls. This path should have been clear of any enemies. Yet here they were fighting off pursuers and ambushes.
Takeshi would never bring it up, but she knew what it meant. It means that secret passages that linked the other clans to the escape tunnels had been breached. Which meant the other clans in the village had already been slain or overran. Which included her own clan, the Rengoku clan. She had been so happy when she had been selected to marry the promising second son of the main branch of the Uzumaki clan, Takeshi. Yet now it just brought her pain as now it just meant that she would live while everyone of her kinsmen would be dead.
She put aside the thoughts. The entire village was lost. They likely could have repelled an attack from any single of the Great Nations, as they had in the past. But the combined assault from the Hidden Cloud and Mist was too much. Even the Uzumaki clan's legendary sealing arts and adamtine chains could not halt the power of four tailed beasts and their jinchuuriki.
Takeshi said, " We got another pair up ahead right behind the doorway to the grotto".
Ruka said "Got it", she took a deep breath as she channeled her chakra through her blade turning it into roaring flames, " Fire Style: Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire"!
She lept in a hazy blur, their ambushers surprised by her speed couldn't even react before she twisted her body in a circular slash decapitating both in leaving only charred stumps.
Landing gracefully she yelled, "It's clear"!
Katuso and Chiyoko ran past her and down the steps. Chiyoko was carrying her children, Hayate and Honka. While Katuso carried another pair of Uzumaki children. Then they were followed by Kenji and Yuina, each carrying a pair of Uzumaki children. These four children were the eldest of the Uzumaki clan's youth who had yet to begin formal training. Finally Takeshi arrived.
Takeshi said, "It's not going well, my love. I can sense less and less of our kinsmen. The Elders of the clans are holding their ground, but they will not last much longer".
Ruka said, "I know. Enemy nin wouldn't have been able to find the tunnels unless one or more of the clans' compounds had been fully overran".
Takeshi said, "At least we managed to get the children out. Along with the scrolls containing my clan's sacred treasures, at least the ones that were unclaimed. Go with them. I got to seal the passage way.", he gave her a sad look, "We're the last".
Ruka knew what he meant. There would be no more evacuation groups coming, only enemy nin.
She said, "Alright, but come as soon as you finish, the tide is going out and with it our cover".
Takeshi said, "Yeah, I know".
He then began performing the necessary hand seals to engage the seals and barriers that would close off the passages.
He stopped, "There is someone coming. THE WATER"!
She turned and it was truly her worst fear, made manifest. The mist had sent a kill team to kill anyone trying to escape. She wasn't a true sensor type like Takeshi, but even she felt the power and killing intent of the squad leader.
Takeshi said, "He is the three tails Jinchuurki. The rest are jonin".
The chunin that were carrying the children proved that they weren't sent with the children because they were weak. They were the clan's best brightest young shinobi and to protect their kin they would fight to the death.
The Jonin engaged them, but the Jinchuurki just kept eyeing them. Likely hoping to kill them as they rushed to help their subordinates.
Takeshi said, "The jonin have already fought to get here. They're chakra is low. Trust the young bloods. We got to deal with the Three tails".
Ruka said, "Right".
They opened with their favored attack combination, one that gave the advantage to them.
They performed their hand seals.
Takeshi said, "Wind Style: Kamikaze Palm"!
She said, "Fire Style: Flaming Tiger"!
Her fire style jutsu's power was vastly increased and even with the grotto's water it would still obfuscate the battlefield.
As expected, the three tails jinchuurki defended with a large barrier of water. Which played directly into their hands. As a massive amount of steam was released when the attack was blocked.
She took a deep breath, igniting the chakra she channeled into her sword, before saying " Fire Style: Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire"!
She leapt at the jinchuuriki with her flaming slash. Flying through the steam, she was on him. She brought her katana down in a wide slash. Building as much power she could. She was about to take his head off, but it was intercepted by a water clone. More steam was generated and her strike was easily deflected as it lost nearly all of its momentum cutting through the chakra infused water.
The three tails thrust his palm forward and said, "Coral Palm"!
She quickly brought her blade back into a guard position to block. But it was unneeded.
A high pitch sound cut through the sound of battle and a crescent blast of high pressure wind cut through the steam. She knew the technique instantly. Wind style: Kamikaze slash
It took the jinchuuriki's arm at the elbow. Blood spurting from the wound. She leapt back to plan another attack. They had managed to trick the jinchuuriki as it assumed that one or both of them would rush to the aid of their subordinates.
Takeshi landed next to her, "We got to keep the pressure up. They seemed to have not done their homework if they're this cocky. I sent a shadow clone to help secure the boat. We need to finish this quick. Chaotic Typhoon formation".
She didn't bother to respond, they used the body flicker to get to another position to get a different angle of attack.
Unfortunately it was for naught. As a roar erupted from where the jinchuuriki was located followed by a massive shockwave of chakra and air. It cleared the area of the steam and on the water was now some kind of monster made of some kind of deep crimson and black chakra. She got an evil feel from it. It reminded her of the stories her father told her of the days before the Rengoku clan allied with the Uzumaki clan and managed to slay or seal away the demons that feasted on human flesh.
The severed arm seemed to have healed as she couldn't see the severed limb.
Takeshi yelled at the boat, "Set off now and don't turn back. We'll hold back the beast"!
Katuso replied, "But Sensei.."
Takeshi said, "That is a direct order! Get out of here"!
Katuso said, "Yes, Sensei".
Releasing the seal on the aft and a massive gust of blew them away from the dock and the battle. Towards the mouth of the grotto. They had just enough room to get the boat through, but she still worried.
Takeshi looked at her not saying anything.
She knew what he was thinking. They would die here, but that hardly mattered so long as their children got away safely.
Takeshi pointed his left arm and made a one handed seal and unleashed his kekkai genkai against the beast.
Instinctively the beast knew to avoid the chains but it left itself open to another attack from her.
Taking a deep break she ignited her katana again, "Fire style: Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe"!
The beast blocks with its tails but the powerful strike created a massive burst of flame and shockwave. The Beast flicked its tails to throw her off. She landed on her feet sliding across the water's surface.
Takeshi attacked, summoning another sword from a scroll, "Uzumaki hidden technique: Spiraling Bladestorm Dance"!
The rapid and chaotic bladework of the technique made it almost impossible to fully defend against or evade. Takeshi also took it to a higher level incorporating wind style into the strikes, increasing its cutting power and speed. Yet the demon was fighting back, attempting to strike Takeshi but the high speed and chaotic nature of the technique made it impossible to hit the user.
The technique came to an end and Takeshi attempted to retreat to a safe distance, but was sent flying with a flick of one of its tails. She did not fail to take notice of the beast. Takeshi had managed to pierce the chakra armor of the beast but the cuts were shallow.
She took a deep breath, igniting her katana. She said, "Fire Style: Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger Slash"!
Leaping forward she launched her barrage of slashes. Aiming for the cuts her husband had left, before the chakra armor could heal.
Flames engulfed the beasts, but her assault still did little to slow it down. She realized that she would need to use her clan's ultimate technique. As soon as she withdrew, she saw her husband leap at the beast. He had the same thought. Unleashing the Uzumaki clan's ultimate sword technique. Demon Aura: Asura's Blade Dance.
The beast was pushed back by the heavy barrage of sword strikes. It was said this technique was too fast for even the Sharingan to follow.
The attack was certainly powerful but she knew it also consumed an extremely high amount of chakra.
As the attack wore on, she noticed the attacks were slowing down and less strength was behind them. The Beast did not fail to notice and launched a counter attack. That was when Takeshi launched another assault at full strength and tempo.
Ruka knew what her husband was doing. He was pushing the technique far beyond what it had designed for. Every second he bought meant more distance for the children to cover. Yet she knew that he had to be running on fumes. They had been fighting even before they got into the tunnels and were constantly fighting off ambushes and pursuit units. Now fighting a tailed beast sure had to be taxing.
Takeshi managed to sever the beast's arm and a tail. Yet in a rage the beast lashed out and ran it's remaining arm through his chest.
Ruka yelled, "NO!"
She summoned every bit of strength she had left. Setting her heart ablaze. Chakra blazed from her body as she took her stance. The water around her rapidly started boiling.
Ruka said, "Esoteric Sword Art: Flame Breathing, Ninth Form: Rengoku"!
The flames took the form of a mighty dragon as she leapt towards the beast. The surrounding water turned to steam as she moved. The first strike was aimed for its neck but the beast managed to redirect her slash. Thinking to absorb the blow on its shell.
Foolish beast, this technique was designed to cut through anything. Her ancestors have used to cut everything from demons to the armor of the Susanoo and even cut the tails of the eight tails during the days of the Warring states. Even just the kinetic energy from her charge was overwhelming. It cut through the chakra shell and armor. Cutting all the way down to the beast's waist, before she turned the strike upwards. Cutting again through the beast's body.
As she was attacked the beast thrust the arm stained with her husband's blood through her stomach.
Ignoring the pain, she was determined to take the demon with her. She summoned even more fire. Holding nothing back. She sliced through his body, cutting through chakra, flesh, and bone. She directed the cut up the neck and bisected the skull of the beast with the last of her strength.
As the flames cleared away. She realized that she was back at the shore. The stone behind her was cracked and some were melted. Adrenaline and chakra exhausted, she felt the full damage of her wound. She dropped her katana and collapsed. Knowing she had done her duty. Avenging her husband and saving her children.
Author's Note: This was originally just going to be a pure Naruto fic, but I've been watching a fair amount of One Piece and Demon Slayer recently. So I will be borrowing quite a few techniques from both IPs. This will also be labeled a crossover/fusion with Demon Slayer to give the Uzumaki clan some more weight behind why they were famed and feared for their sealing techniques. Also no solid title yet, so if it is suddenly deleted and I upload another Naruto fic shortly after, it is probably just this with a different title. Also finally a comeback to Naruto fics. In addition to this I will probably post a one shot if Naruto believed Sakura's confession and maybe finally finish Chapter 9 for An Imperfect Reflection in the coming months.