Katsumi shook her head as she studied the battle plan Izuna had laid out on a makeshift table in the middle of their tent. Shock waves and the thunder of explosions and ninjutsu reached her ears. The map of the terrain showed the positions of the hairy humanoid forces as red triangles. Their positions were represented by green squares.

The rest of the map was a simple two-dimensional representation of the surrounding area's geography.

It did nothing to convey the grim devastation that had left the areas around the red triangles and green squares virtual wastelands, ravaged by battle. Three great battles had taken place high above in the canopy, scattering debris from one side across the next of the surroundings. Scorched and twisted boles that had once been great trees had crashed into the lush forests, igniting wildfires that had some areas to charred and burned soil. This territory, despite its meager size, had become of major importance to both the humanoids and them. Strategically located on the edges of their territory, it also stood at what most considered the border between the dangerous lands, and their safe and secure compound.

This was a symbol. Conquering it represented the inevitable advance of the humanoids and their conquest of the terrain. Keeping it away would be the shining example of their ability to drive the invaders away and protect their land. The result was an endless cycle of battles, with neither side willing to admit defeat. The first battle had seen the invading humanoid army rout their forces using the elements of surprise and the strength of their taller and brawnier members. The second battle saw them reclaim control of the area, driving the enemy's superior numbers and firepower into corners. The third battle in the canopies above marked the emergence of Mikito, Madara, and many others.

Instead of just guards and fighters, the hairy humanoids found themselves facing a force made up primarily of three per unit fighters lead exclusively by the leaders present for battle. The civilians who had joined them were no match for the brute force, and their territory was saved...For a time. The hairy humanoids had responded to them by amassing the full numbers into a single army, then unleashing it on the whole territory. The battles that had ravaged the world from the canopy, moved down to the surface, with far more devastating consequences.

Compared with canopy battles exclusively, ground combat was brutal and bloody.

Izuna slammed his fist down on the table. "Damn it."

"Calm down." Katsumi nearly barked.

"Their current positions are too well defended...We need to seal off the entrance those damn Senju made. As it stands...They have all the advantages because of that damn thing." Izuna went on angrily.

"Entrenched fortifications, that will always do the trick. We can still win this battle! We're maintaining our hold on the canopy. We have the high ground. They are spreading themselves too thin." Saki replied

Izuna studied the map in more detail and realized Saki was right. The hairy humanoids perimeter extended too far out from the entrance.

"What we need is you making a plan. Not throwing your-"

Izuna cut Katsumi off by throwing his kabuto helmet against the ground, shaking his head.

"Helmet." Katsumi finished dryly.

Izuna massaged his temples and closed his eyes, keeping himself together by a thread. He was one of the few that could steer everyone in the right direction, but it was so draining lately, and these hairy beasts were driving him crazy. He didn't have his wife at the compound with him. She was off with the Uzumaki and Souji trying to push a mountain, he was stuck here in this battle that neither side wanted. The two Senju provoked it. The hairy humanoids were more than happy to keep it going, and it came down to him to get them back where they came from.

He could easily kill all of them, but they weren't getting anywhere. Whatever these damn things were, they weren't dying right away and they were evading their ninjutsu every single time. Madara, Mikito, and a few others were brave enough to get right in their faces and start hewing them down, but when that started, so did the screeching. These hairy humanoids would screech and yowl every single time they were struck or their own was cut down.

Izuna took a deep breath, bracing his fingers against the makeshift table. "We're going to seal that hole."

Saki nodded her head, eyes narrowing as she kept her composure. It had been three days of nonstop fighting so far. There were no casualites on her side, but the injuries were multiplying faster and faster. Broken arms, broken legs, broken ribs, sprained ankles, sprained wrists, bruised ribs, bruised forearms, and the list went on. Mikito and Madara were more than happy to show off their powers, but once they started to smash the landscape Ahiko had them rein it back in so their comrades weren't caught in the blast radius.

Now they were playing the waiting game because of that, but if Ahiko hadn't stopped the two of them, the whole canopy would've been coming down like a curtain.

"How do you suggest we do that?" Katsumi asked, her eyes narrowing as she started to channel her anger. "We've got to get close enough."

Izuna bit his tongue to hold back his retort. Bantering wouldn't get them anywhere right now. He scrunched his brows together, rifling through his mind like a scroll. The entrance wasn't causing this, but it was going to lead to monsters and beasts coming closer than they needed to. They couldn't hew through these damn things every single time while risking the life of one of their comrades.

Madara would suggest that they fight their way through and seal it by force, but Izuna knew against these foes that wouldn't be applicable. They were too fast, too strong, and the sounds they made were too terrifying. Between the screeches in the night and the yowls during the day, it was becoming an echoing ground for all of their tumult. They couldn't back down. If they did these damn things would be claiming this as their territory and by the entrance that those two damn Senju made.

"These damn Senju! I hope someone got to them before Mizuki!"

"I'm fast enough. I can seal it." Saki said, looking at the two carefully.

Katsumi shook her head. "You're fast, but not that fast."

"If one of us can execute an earth jutsu and seal the entrance...The next one can use a water jutsu to solidify our barrier and seal it off for good. It'll be like a natural formation." Izuna said.

"I can do that." Saki said with the utmost confidence.

"Not on your own." Katsumi said with a light growl.

"Katsumi-"

"She's right. You'll need someone to accompany you."

A reverberation shook everything around them, but the trio managed to stay on their feet. The ground cracked by Izuna's feet and it took everything he had to keep his teeth clenched and his ankles absorbing the shock waves. Once it became too much he hissed in frustration, spread his feet wider, and slammed his elbows on the makeshift table.

Nobody argued against him for doing that. He was the only one with enough sense to slam his feet and hands onto something. Saki and Katsumi both fell, and when another bursting explosion rocked their ear drums, they found themselves completely on the ground. Even with their chakra, the reverberations were just too much to stand.

Izuna lowered himself into a crouch, letting out a sigh.

"We got big problems!" Aito called, pushing one side of the tent aside as he entered with haste.

"Talk to me." Katsumi said.

"It's the canopy. They're starting to make movements towards it. I killed one. Mitsuki killed one. Madara and Mikito killed two. We all killed one or two of them, and the rest are in a frenzy. Mikito, Madara, and a few others are unleashing ninjutsu right now." Aito said.

Izuna struck his fist into his palm. "We have to seal that hole."

"Disuke and Yosuke did this." Aito said, anger breaching his voice. "This has their names all over it."

"Can Mitsuki use water jutsu?" Izuna asked.

"She can unleash." Saki replied, giving Izuna another careful look.

Take Mitsuki with you, Saki." Izuna suggested.

Saki nodded her head.

Aito nodded, clenching the hilt of his sword a little tighter.

The battle had been fast and furious, but now it was getting long. His Uchiha blood always hungered for a worthy foe, but not a foe like this. He was dealing with monsters not another person holding a blade. Even when those damn things would strike and move, it was so creepy and frightening at the same time. The only way he could describe it was like they were moving through the space, rather than striking, and the sounds they made...

He wasn't going to show it, but he was starting to feel a sliver of uncertainty. He heard stories about the menk as the Domou and Subatsu both called it, but he knew these things weren't that. They were hairy and humanoid, but that's where the similarity ended.

"Mitsuki!"

"I'm coming!"

Izuna paced out of the tent towards the commotion. he kept his steps brisk and quick, he clenched Aito on the shoulder and nodded towards the compound. "I need you to go to the compound. If Disuke and Yosuke are there, don't come back here. This battle is over."

Aito nodded slowly. "Anything else?"

Izuna nodded. "You're going to command with Katsumi. I need to go out there and assist."